The Call (Backstreet Boys song): Difference between revisions

"The Call"
"The Call"
Single by Backstreet Boys
from the album Black & Blue
Released	February 6, 2001
Recorded	July 1 – September 2000
Studio	Polar (Stockholm, Sweden)
Genre	Pop, dance-pop, R&B, hip hop
Length	3:24 (Radio Version); 3:57 (Video Version); 3:53 (Neptunes Remix)
Label	Jive, Trans Continental
Songwriter(s)	Max Martin, Rami
Producer(s)	Max Martin, Rami
Backstreet Boys singles chronology
Music video
	"The Call" on YouTube

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"The Call" is a song by American boy band Backstreet Boys. It was released on February 6, 2001, as the second single from their album Black & Blue (2000).

Composition

According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Universal Music Publishing Group, the song has a BPM of 100 and is played in the key of B-flat minor (with a key change to C minor). The band's vocal range spans from the low note F₄ to the high note of A_b5.^[3]

The song's bass sound is the sound of Howie Dorough's flatulence while recording the vocals, which producer Max Martin then turned into his signature bass sound. In 2017, Dorough said of the incident: "I got in the booth, was breathing in really heavily singing my part, and I guess some extra air kind of came out. It made everybody laugh, and Max decided to take that and sample it to turn it into the 'dun dun dun, dun dun dun dun.'"^[4]

Music video

Background

The music video for "The Call" was directed by Francis Lawrence.^[5] For the video version of the song was edited to extend the length of the song. Additional telephone rings were added at the start, and one measure was added to both the break following the second chorus and the subsequent a cappella choral segment. A third repeat of the final chorus was also added.

Two cuts of the video were released. One featured the modified version, and the second featured the Neptunes Remix. The two versions were substantially the same; however, the differing arrangements of the two song versions resulted in the video being slightly re-edited to match. The Neptunes video also adds flashes of early in the video as callbacks near the end of the video; there is also an unreleased remix video using the Thunderpuss Club Mix and the Thunderdub of the song. Band member AJ McLean later admitted on The Oprah Winfrey Show, in an episode discussing his recovery from depression and drug and alcohol abuse, that he tried cocaine for the first time on the set of this video. The music video won at the MTV Asia Awards in 2002 for Favorite Video. The song also received two nominations at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards.

Synopsis

Complementing the lyrics to the song, the video tells the story of a man who is unfaithful to his girlfriend. He meets another lady in a nightclub and leaves the club with her instead of going home to his girlfriend (whom he calls to make up an excuse for being late home). Each member of the Backstreet Boys serve as the cheating man progressively.

Track listing

European maxi single^[6]

"The Call" (Radio Version) – 3:24
"Shape of My Heart" (Soul Solution Radio Mix) – 2:56
"Shape of My Heart" (Soul Solution Club Mix) – 7:03

The Call (Remixes) European maxi single^[7]

"The Call" (Radio Version) – 3:24
"The Call" (Fragma Remix) – 6:05
"The Call" (Tom Novy Remix) – 6:16
"The Call" (Neptunes Remix with Pharrell and Clipse) - 3:56
"The Call" (Kruger Mix) – 5:22
"The Call" (Thunderpuss Radio Edit) – 3:10
"The Call" (Thunderpuss Club Mix) – 8:26
"The Call" (Thunderdub) – 8:03

The Call (Neptunes Remixes) 12" promo single^[8]

"The Call" (Neptunes Remix with Rap) – 3:53
"The Call" (Remix Without Rap) – 3:55
"The Call" (Earthone III Remix) – 3:43

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the European maxi single's liner notes.^[6]

Max Martin – songwriter, producer, recording, mixer
Rami – songwriter, producer, recording, mixer
John Amatiello – assistant recording engineer, Pro Tools engineer
Henrik Janson – guitar
Stockholm Session Strings – strings
Tom Coyne – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2001)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[9]	19
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[10]	23
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[11]	30
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)^[12]	6
Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS)^[13]	4
Croatia (HRT)^[14]	8
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[15]	15
Germany (GfK)^[16]	17
Ireland (IRMA)^[17]	17
Italy (FIMI)^[18]	6
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[19]	9
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[20]	9
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[21]	19
Norway (VG-lista)^[22]	8
Poland (Music & Media)^[23]	4
Poland (Polish Airplay Charts)^[24]	7
Portugal (AFP)^[25]	10
Romania (Romanian Top 100)^[26]	1
Scotland (OCC)^[27]	8
Spain (PROMUSICAE)^[28]	2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[29]	5
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[30]	30
UK Singles (OCC)^[31]	8
UK Indie (OCC)^[32]	1
US Billboard Hot 100^[33]	52
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)^[34]	19

Year-end charts

Chart (2001)	Position
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[35]	50
UK Singles (OCC)^[36]	182

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)^[37]	Platinum	8,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ Manning, Kara (June 30, 2000). "Howie D. Chats About Candid BSB Photo Book". MTV News. Archived from the original on September 20, 2008. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
^ MTV News Staff (September 19, 2000). "Backstreet Boys To Get "Black And Blue" On New LP". MTV News. Archived from the original on August 3, 2001. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
^ "The Call". Musicnotes.com. August 18, 2003. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
^ "How Max Martin Turned a Fart Into the Epic Beat in Backstreet Boys' 'The Call': AJ McLean Tells All". Billboard. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
^ "BSB Taps Outkast for Next Single". Backstreet.net. December 15, 2000. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
^ ^a ^b The Call (booklet). Backstreet Boys. Europe: Jive Records. 2000. 9251702.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ The Call (Remixes) (booklet). Backstreet Boys. Europe: Jive Records. 2000. 9251912.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ The Call (Neptunes Remixes) (booklet). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records. 2000. RTD199.3127.0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ "Backstreet Boys – The Call". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
^ "Backstreet Boys – The Call" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
^ "Backstreet Boys – The Call" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
^ "Backstreet Boys – The Call" (in French). Ultratip.
^ "Canadian Top 20 in 2001" (PDF). Cross Canada Countdown. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 7, 2005. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
^ "HR Top 20 Lista". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on March 22, 2001. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
^ "Backstreet Boys: The Call" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
^ "Backstreet Boys – The Call" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Call". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
^ "Backstreet Boys – The Call". Top Digital Download.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 5, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
^ "Backstreet Boys – The Call" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
^ "Backstreet Boys – The Call". Top 40 Singles.
^ "Backstreet Boys – The Call". VG-lista.
^ "Major Market Airplay – Week 11/2001" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 11. March 10, 2001. p. 19. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
^ "Poland: Airplay Chart - Lista Krajowa 10/2001" Peak position #7 in week 09/2001. (Retrieved September 4, 2015)
^ "Music & Media: Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved May 1, 2018.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ "Romanian Top 100 Singles Airplay Chart - Top of the Year 2001". Archived from the original on December 9, 2002. Retrieved December 9, 2002.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
^ "Backstreet Boys – The Call" Canciones Top 50.
^ "Backstreet Boys – The Call". Singles Top 100.
^ "Backstreet Boys – The Call". Swiss Singles Chart.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
^ "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
^ "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
^ "Årslista Singlar – År 2001" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
^ "Guld og Platin 2001". IFPI Denmark (in Danish). Archived from the original on October 5, 2002. Retrieved July 14, 2022.

[Howie-1] Manning, Kara (June 30, 2000). "Howie D. Chats About Candid BSB Photo Book". MTV News. Archived from the original on September 20, 2008. Retrieved October 6, 2011.

[LP-2] MTV News Staff (September 19, 2000). "Backstreet Boys To Get "Black And Blue" On New LP". MTV News. Archived from the original on August 3, 2001. Retrieved October 6, 2011.

[3] "The Call". Musicnotes.com. August 18, 2003. Retrieved February 24, 2020.

[4] "How Max Martin Turned a Fart Into the Epic Beat in Backstreet Boys' 'The Call': AJ McLean Tells All". Billboard. Retrieved October 17, 2018.

[5] "BSB Taps Outkast for Next Single". Backstreet.net. December 15, 2000. Retrieved February 23, 2014.

[LinerNotes-6] The Call (booklet). Backstreet Boys. Europe: Jive Records. 2000. 9251702.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[7] The Call (Remixes) (booklet). Backstreet Boys. Europe: Jive Records. 2000. 9251912.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[8] The Call (Neptunes Remixes) (booklet). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records. 2000. RTD199.3127.0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[sc_Australia_Backstreet_Boys-9] "Backstreet Boys – The Call". ARIA Top 50 Singles.

[sc_Austria_Backstreet_Boys-10] "Backstreet Boys – The Call" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.

[sc_Flanders_Backstreet_Boys-11] "Backstreet Boys – The Call" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.

[sc_Wallonia_Tip_Backstreet_Boys-12] "Backstreet Boys – The Call" (in French). Ultratip.

[13] "Canadian Top 20 in 2001" (PDF). Cross Canada Countdown. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 7, 2005. Retrieved November 13, 2023.

[14] "HR Top 20 Lista". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on March 22, 2001. Retrieved February 14, 2024.

[sc_Finland_Backstreet_Boys-15] "Backstreet Boys: The Call" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.

[sc_Germany_Backstreet_Boys-16] "Backstreet Boys – The Call" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved November 19, 2018.

[sc_Ireland2_-17] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Call". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 19, 2018.

[sc_Italy_Backstreet_Boys-18] "Backstreet Boys – The Call". Top Digital Download.

[sc_Dutch40_-19] "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 5, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 19, 2018.

[sc_Dutch100_Backstreet_Boys-20] "Backstreet Boys – The Call" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 19, 2018.

[sc_New_Zealand_Backstreet_Boys-21] "Backstreet Boys – The Call". Top 40 Singles.

[sc_Norway_Backstreet_Boys-22] "Backstreet Boys – The Call". VG-lista.

[23] "Major Market Airplay – Week 11/2001" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 11. March 10, 2001. p. 19. Retrieved February 16, 2023.

[24] "Poland: Airplay Chart - Lista Krajowa 10/2001" Peak position #7 in week 09/2001. (Retrieved September 4, 2015)

[25] "Music & Media: Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved May 1, 2018.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[26] "Romanian Top 100 Singles Airplay Chart - Top of the Year 2001". Archived from the original on December 9, 2002. Retrieved December 9, 2002.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

[sc_Scotland_-27] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 19, 2018.

[sc_Spain_Backstreet_Boys-28] "Backstreet Boys – The Call" Canciones Top 50.

[sc_Sweden_Backstreet_Boys-29] "Backstreet Boys – The Call". Singles Top 100.

[sc_Swiss_Backstreet_Boys-30] "Backstreet Boys – The Call". Swiss Singles Chart.

[sc_UK_-31] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 19, 2018.

[sc_UKindie_-32] "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 19, 2018.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Backstreet_Boys-33] "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardpopsongs_Backstreet_Boys-34] "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.

[35] "Årslista Singlar – År 2001" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved November 24, 2021.

[36] "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved November 24, 2021.

[37] "Guld og Platin 2001". IFPI Denmark (in Danish). Archived from the original on October 5, 2002. Retrieved July 14, 2022.

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v t e Backstreet Boys singles
Discography
1990s	"We've Got It Goin' On" "I'll Never Break Your Heart" "Get Down (You're the One for Me)" "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)" "Anywhere for You" "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" "As Long as You Love Me" "All I Have to Give" "I Want It That Way" "Larger than Life" "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely"
2000s	"The One" "Shape of My Heart" "The Call" "More than That" "Drowning" "Incomplete" "Just Want You to Know" "Crawling Back to You" "I Still..." "Inconsolable" "Helpless When She Smiles" "Straight Through My Heart" "Bigger"
2010s	"Don't Turn Out the Lights" "It's Christmas Time Again" "In a World like This" "Show 'Em (What You're Made Of)" "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" "Chances" "No Place"
2020s	"Last Christmas"
Other	"Christmas Time" "God, Your Mama, and Me" "Matches"
Category