As Long as You Love Me (Backstreet Boys song)
"As Long as You Love Me" is a song by American boy band Backstreet Boys. It was released as the second single from their debut album Backstreet Boys in the United States and Backstreet's Back internationally. It was released on September 29, 1997, internationally and on October 21, 1997, in the United States. It is one of the band's biggest hits and considered one of their signature songs.
"As Long as You Love Me" | ||||
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Single by Backstreet Boys | ||||
from the album Backstreet's Back (int'l), Backstreet Boys (US) | ||||
B-side | "Every Time I Close My Eyes" | |||
Released | September 29, 1997 | |||
Recorded | May 1997 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | Pop | |||
Length |
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Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | Max Martin | |||
Producer(s) |
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Backstreet Boys singles chronology | ||||
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Backstreet Boys US singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"As Long as You Love Me" on YouTube |
It peaked at number one in New Zealand and the Philippines, number two in Australia and Austria, number three in the United Kingdom, number four in Switzerland and Sweden, and number five in the Netherlands and Norway.
Background
In an interview with Billboard, AJ McLean noted that he was initially meant to sing the song's bridge, while Brian Littrell and Nick Carter would both sing the verses. However, he had been infected with strep throat, and was subsequently replaced with Littrell, whose vocals were featured on the album and single.[1] The song was a last-minute addition to the album, as Clive Calder, then-chairman of Zomba, heard the song and called Jive Records president Barry Weiss, who then contacted the band's manager, Johnny Wright.[2]
Due to an error on the part of someone in the production chain, an early mix of "As Long As You Love Me" was included on Backstreet's Back and the 1997 US Backstreet Boys album. The mistake was corrected in the second pressing of the US debut album released in 1998. This allegedly annoyed writer and producer Max Martin. This early version subsequently became the version released as a single to radio and video. It has different instrumentation and mixing, as well as a slightly different structure, very similar to their previous US single, "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)". The final version is usually listed as the "Radio" or "Video Version".
Critical reception
Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic stated that "As Long as You Love Me" "would have sounded perfect in any era".[3] He also praised the song's slick production, which he described "as irresistible as teen pop can be".[4] John Dingwall from Daily Record stated that the song reminded him of "the 90s New Kids On The Block".[5]
Commercial performance
"As Long as You Love Me" was never released as a commercial single in the US but became an MTV staple and radio airplay hit. It spent 56 weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart, peaking at #4. Due to the Billboard Hot 100 being off-limits to non-commercial singles at the time, including "As Long as You Love Me", it did not chart on the main chart.
The single has sold over 530,000 copies in the United Kingdom.[6]
Music video
Background
![](../I/Royal_Laundry_Complex_3.JPG.webp)
The music video was directed by Nigel Dick and filmed on June 15, 1997, in Pasadena, California.[1] AJ McLean learnt the lyrics of the song on the day of the shoot, as he was initially meant to sing the song's bridge. Six ladies were chosen for the video, with the number chosen to ensure that they would not appear to be matched up with the band members.[7] One of the ladies, Donna, was played by Leighanne Wallace, whom Littrell ultimately married in 2000.[1] As of June 2020, the music video has over 264 million views on YouTube.[8]
Synopsis
The music video begins with the Backstreet Boys auditioning before six ladies. The ladies named Donna, Jana, Linda, Fatima, Gina, and Nina videotape the performances and take notes. The band members primarily sing and dance, with each member performing in a short "screen test" vignette in which they dress up in a costume and perform various unusual activities. During the bridge, they switch places with the ladies and have them perform screen tests. The positions reverse again towards the end of the song. The choreography uses folding chairs. There are special effects utilized in the video, most notably morphing sequences, where the face of one member morphs into another's. There are also quick dissolves or straight cuts between footage of the members each doing the chair routine in the same exact position of the set. The cuts cause a working fan in the background to appear to stutter in its spin.
Cover versions
The Netherlands retro rock band The Kik recorded a live version in Dutch ("Als jij maar van mij houdt") in the 3FM studio, using only CASIO keyboards. Radio DJ Giel Beelen subsequently asked the band to release their version as a single.[9]
In 2019, the duo La Folie and singer Jordi Ninus recorded a version in Catalan of this song, under the title "Si em dius que m’estimes" ("If you say you love me"), for the CD edited by La Marató de TV3, a telethon devoted to raise funds for the research of incurable diseases.[10][11]
Track listing
As Long as You Love Me – The Remixes
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Note: It is unknown if this single was also released in CD format.
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Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[62] | 3× Platinum | 210,000![]() |
Belgium (BEA)[63] | Gold | 25,000* |
Netherlands (NVPI)[64] | Gold | 50,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[65] | Platinum | 10,000* |
Sweden (GLF)[66] | Platinum | 30,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[67] | Platinum | 600,000![]() |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
References
- Weatherby, Taylor (August 10, 2017). "'It's What America Needed at That Time': Backstreet Boys Look Back on Their U.S. Debut, 20 Years Later". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
- Interview with Backstreet Boys, management, and others from Entertainment Weekly 10th Anniversary Issue.
- Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Backstreet Boys – The Hits: Chapter One". AllMusic. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Backstreet Boys – Backstreet Boys/Backstreet's Back". AllMusic. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- Dingwall, John (October 31, 1997). "Chart Slot; Top 10 Singles Chart". Daily Record.
- Myers, Justin. "Official Charts Pop Gem #73: Backstreet Boys". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
- Backstreet Boys: All Access.
- BackstreetBoysVEVO (May 25, 2011). "Backstreet Boys - As Long As You Love Me". Retrieved June 16, 2017.
- "GIEL! - The Kik hertaalt Backstreet Boys". giel.vara.nl. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
- "El disc de La Marató fa 15 anys picant l'ullet al Nadal". Ara.cat (in Catalan). November 14, 2019. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- "Si em dius que m'estimes - La Folie & Jordi Ninus (La Marató TV3) Official Video". November 15, 2019. Retrieved December 26, 2019 – via YouTube.
- "Australian-charts.com – Backstreet Boys – As Long As You Love Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- "Austriancharts.at – Backstreet Boys – As Long As You Love Me" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- "Ultratop.be – Backstreet Boys – As Long As You Love Me" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- "Ultratop.be – Backstreet Boys – As Long As You Love Me" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3437." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3445." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 3438." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- "Danishcharts.com – Backstreet Boys – As Long As You Love Me". Tracklisten. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- "Billboard". November 8, 1997.
- "Backstreet Boys: As Long As You Love Me" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- "Lescharts.com – Backstreet Boys – As Long As You Love Me" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Backstreet Boys – As Long As You Love Me". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- "Top 10 Hungary" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
- "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 247 Vikuna 13.11. '97 – 20.11. '97)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). November 14, 1997. p. 22. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
- "The Irish Charts – Search Results – As Long as You Love Me". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- "Hits of the World – Italy" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 110 no. 2. January 10, 1998. p. 34. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 44, 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved October 4, 2018.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Backstreet Boys – As Long As You Love Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
- "Charts.nz – Backstreet Boys – As Long As You Love Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- "Norwegiancharts.com – Backstreet Boys – As Long As You Love Me". VG-lista. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- "Romanian Top 100 – Topul anului 1997" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on January 22, 2005. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
- Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Backstreet Boys – As Long As You Love Me". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- "Swisscharts.com – Backstreet Boys – As Long As You Love Me". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
- "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
- "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
- "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
- "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
- "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
- "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- 1997 Australian Singles Chart (Retrieved April 20, 2010)
- 1997 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at (Retrieved April 20, 2010)
- 1997 Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved April 20, 2010)
- 1997 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved April 20, 2010)
- "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. January 10, 1998. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
- "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
- "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1997". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
- Steffen Hung. "Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
- "Årslista Singlar – År 1997" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
- 1997 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved April 20, 2010)
- "Official Charts - Homepage". officialcharts.com. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
- 1998 Australian Singles Chart "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 1998". Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2014. (Retrieved April 20, 2010)
- "RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 63 no. 12. December 14, 1998. p. 20. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
- "RPM's Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of '98". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- "RPM's Top 50 Dance Tracks of '98". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. January 9, 1999. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
- "End of Year Charts 1998". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
- "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1997". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
- "Dutch single certifications – Backstreet Boys – As Long As you Love Me" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved February 12, 2020. Enter As Long As you Love Me in the "Artiest of titel" box.
- "New Zealand single certifications – Backstreet Boys – As Long as You Love Me". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
- "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
- "British single certifications – Backstreet Boys – As Long as You Love Me". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 7, 2020.