"Inconsolable" is the first single by the Backstreet Boys from their sixth studio album Unbreakable which was released on October 30, 2007. The single hit the U.S. radio outlets on August 27, 2007. It was first confirmed on July 25, 2007 and premiered by Jive at Z-100 - New York's Hit Music Station on August 6. The Single entered Top 10 in seven countries.
Contents[]
[hide] *1 Background and composition
Background and composition[edit][]
"Inconsolable" was written by Emmanuel Kiriakou, Lindy Robbins and Jess Cates and produced by Emanuel Kiriakou.[1] It features the trademark emotional boy band romantic lyrics[2] with heartfelt vocals.[3] The song is a piano-driven power ballad similar to "Incomplete". It features acoustic piano, strings, rhythmic acoustic guitars, heavy vocal harmonies and an emotional vocal performance.[4] The song's verses are in the key of G major, whilst the chorus is in the relative key of E minor.[5]
Critical reception[edit][]
Andy Battaglia of The A.V. Club commented that the song "reach the stirring heights of old while maintaining Backstreet Boys' habit of mimicking, melodically and structurally, songs by Def Leppard."[6] Gemma Padley of BBC Music wrote that the song "features the trademark emotional wrangling but thankfully resists boy band cliches like the diabolical key change."[2] Simon Vozick-Levinson from Entertainment Weekly called it a "soggy adult-contemporary power ballad",[7] while Matt O'Leary from Virgin Media named it "a textbook Backstreet Boys song, a huge, glossy, shiny thing, with very heartfelt vocals."[3] Yahoo! Music wrote: "It is an extremely catchy pop song, a perfect track to reintroduce the group to the marketplace."[1]
Music video[edit][]
The music video, directed by Ray Kay, is shot in Venice Beach, California. Like their previous hit Incomplete, the music video featured the Boys, now without Kevin Richardson, both individually and together. In the beginning, Nick Carter is shown lying on the beach at dawn; Brian Littrell is in his house looking out; A. J. McLean is on the street with his car, much like in Incomplete. Howie Dorough is shown sitting with his back against a wall near the beach. At various intervals in between, when the chorus is sang, the four are seen together on the Venice Pier. After the leads are sung, the scenes shift between the Boys individually and together; at the end of the video, the sun breaks and they look above in wonder. The city wakes up and they walk towards the ocean together on the pier.
Track listing[edit][]
- UK CD1
- "Inconsolable" (Album Version) - 3:36
- "Close My Eyes" - 4:06
- UK CD2
- "Inconsolable" (Album Version) - 3:36
- "Inconsolable" (Jason Nevins Remix) - 4:14
- "Inconsolable" (Soul Seekerz Remix) - 5:49
- "Inconsolable" (Eazy Remix) - 6:08
- "Inconsolable" (Video) - 3:43
Charts[edit][]
| Chart (2007) | Peak
position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[8] | 43 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[9] | 31 |
| Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[10] | 6 |
| Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[11] | 9 |
| Brazil (Brazil Top 20)[12] | 2 |
| Taiwan (Taiwan Top 10)[13] | 1 |
| Japan (Japan Top 20)[14] | 10 |
| World (World Singles Official Top 100)[15] | 28 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[16] | 68 |
| Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[17] | 21 |
| Germany (Media Control Charts)[18] | 17 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[19] | 36 |
| Italy (FIMI)[20] | 2 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21] | 38 |
| Portugal (Portugal Singles Top 50)[22] | 35 |
| Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[23] | 23 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[24] | 22 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] | 8 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[26] | 24 |
| US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[27] | 34 |
| US BillboardHot 100[28] | 86 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[29] | 21 |