Joey McIntyre, Danny Wood, Donnie Wahlberg Jordan Knight and Jonathan Knight from the group New Kids on the Block pose for a portrait during the 2008 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on November 23, 2008 in Los Angeles.
(Photo by Michael Caulfield/Getty Images for AMA)They're both from Boston. They had the same manager. They've even played concerts together. But they've never performed together. That'll change tonight when '80s boybands New Edition and New Kids on the Block will perform at the American Music Awards.
The story is well known. When New Edition parted ways with producer Maurice Starr, Maurice decided to form a version of the group with white kids. While Maurice and New Edition may have had their beef, the New Kids say there was never anything but respect for group. Donnie Wahlberg asked the Boston Globe "Does anyone go into the NBA thinking they’re gonna be better than Michael Jordan? They were our heroes, not somebody we were competing against."
It should be a special moment tonight with a medley of hits from the New Kids, New Edition and the spinoff version of the group that became Bell Biv Devoe. Here are 10 Q105 Saturday Night Dance Party jams we'd love to see performed!
#10: Hangin' Tough
It was usually the song the New Kids would end their show with. Tonight it would be a good kickoff song!
#9: Rub You the Right Way
I don't know if the group members' solo hits will be given any time, but if so, this was a great jam by New Edition's Johnny Gill!
#8: Cool It Now
It'd be kind of fun to see Bobby Brown hit those notes in 2021!
#7: Please Don't Go Girl
Pure '80s cheese... this one was really the song that put the group on the map.
#6: Do Me
This one might be a little too edgy for the prime time crowd in 2021. lol But it's my all-time favorite song that incorporates a Swatch Watch into the lyrics. Smack it up, flip it and rub it down. Oh noooooo!
#5: Call It What You Want
There's no way this song will make it in to the show tonight. No way. It wasn't a huge hit like "I'll Be Loving You Forever," "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" or "Step By Step." Heck even most New Kids fans probably don't remember this jam with C&C Music Factory's Freedom Williams!
#4: My Prerogative
Another solo banger that I hope they find some time to get in. This Bobby Brown classic is on the Mount Rushmore of Q105 Saturday Night Dance Party anthems!
#3: Candy Girl
This one has to be on the set list tonight for two reasons. It was one of New Edition's signature songs. But it also shows how much of an influence New Edition had on the New Kids.
#2: If It Isn't Love
A classic New Edition jam! This one just has to be in the set, plain and simple.
#1: Poison
Sure it wasn't officially a New Edition song, but it's a must! The first few seconds of this song when that beat starts gets me instantly amp'd up. And remember kids, never... and I mean ever, trust a big butt and a smile.
