Twenty-five years after making millions of fans believe love could be larger than life, the Backstreet Boys are proving their cultural staying power extends far beyond nostalgic millennial playlists. The quintet recently became the first pop act to headline Las Vegas’s cutting-edge Sphere venue, where their “Into the Millennium” residency has been so successful they’ve already extended it with additional dates through February 2026. This ongoing triumph provides perfect context for understanding why a LEGO Ideas submission celebrating their most iconic music video feels both timely and inevitable.
H1GHDEF1N1T1ON’s “Backstreet Boys: I Want It That Way” MOC captures something essential about both LEGO culture and late-90s pop mythology. The build centers on a meticulously constructed white aircraft, complete with blue racing stripes and landing gear, situated on a gray baseplate that evokes the LAX runway from the legendary 1999 video. Five minifigures represent Nick Carter, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Kevin Richardson, and Howie Dorough, each sporting the all-white outfits that became synonymous with boy band perfection. The creator’s playful “Brickstreet Boys” moniker reveals the self-aware humor that makes fan-driven LEGO projects so compelling.
Designer: H1GHDEF1N1T1ON
What makes this MOC particularly fascinating is how it demonstrates LEGO’s unique ability to crystallize cultural moments. Adult LEGO enthusiasts understand that the best sets aren’t just about building techniques or part counts, they’re about emotional resonance and shared memory. The Backstreet Boys represented peak pop culture for an entire generation, selling over 100 million records worldwide and creating music videos that became cultural touchstones. “I Want It That Way” alone has generated over a billion streams, proving its enduring appeal transcends the typical lifecycle of pop hits.
The technical execution shows genuine LEGO craftsmanship. Building a convincing aircraft at minifigure scale requires careful proportions and creative part usage, especially for elements like the engines and wings. The creator has achieved clean lines and recognizable silhouettes while maintaining structural integrity. The diorama approach, complete with airport ground equipment and yellow runway markings, demonstrates understanding of how LEGO sets create narrative spaces rather than just static models.
LEGO Ideas has historically embraced pop culture references, from Friends apartments to Beatles tributes, but music-themed submissions face unique challenges. They need to translate audio-visual experiences into brick-built form while avoiding licensing complications. This Backstreet Boys project cleverly sidesteps those issues by focusing on a specific, iconic visual moment rather than attempting to represent the band’s entire catalog.
The timing couldn’t be better for this submission. The Sphere residency has reintroduced the Backstreet Boys to mainstream consciousness, while nostalgia for late-90s culture continues driving everything from fashion trends to streaming playlist dominance. With just over a 1,000 votes, this MOC managed to snag the Staff Pick title on the LEGO Ideas forum. Go ahead and cast your vote for it too and maybe LEGO’s internal team will turn it into a box set that’s small in size, but… larger than life!
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