"I'll Be Loving You (Forever)" by New Kids on the Block

#1 Alert!

Gold Record Alert!

Song#:  3854

Date:  04/01/1989

Debut:  68

Peak:  1 (1 week)

Weeks:  21

Genre:  Pop

Pop Bits:  After the initial failure of their self-titled '86 debut album, NKOTB were able to finally break through with their second album, Hangin' Tough. By this point in time the LP boasted a pair of Pop Top 10 hits including the #3 gold-selling "You Got It (The Right Stuff)." For a third single, the label opted to push out this ballad. Written and produced by the group's Svengali, Maurice Starr, the tune quickly caught on and made its way up the Pop chart. It would eventually peak at the top becoming NKOTB's first #1 single. It would also have success at AC (#3) and R&B (#12). The hit would give the group their second gold seller. During the run of this song, the album would reach an initial peak of #7 and would go triple-platinum. Both of those stats would go up later in the year.

ReduxReview:  This sweet tune was a perfect vehicle for the teen idols. Jordan Knight's swoon-worthy falsetto lead vocal was a highlight and it certainly played a part in getting the tune to #1. The song itself was sort of a throwback to the smooth R&B group ballads of the 70s enhanced with a little bit of bubblegum pop. Starr crafted a good tune for the boys and it turned into a #1 hit.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  This track had a lead vocal done by group member Jordan Knight. His falsetto take on the tune was reminiscent of of R&B groups like The Stylistics and singers like Smokey Robinson. After NKOTB broke up in '95, Knight was one of the members to later give a solo career a shot. In 1999, he would release a self-titled debut solo album. A part of the album was a collaboration with the songwriting/production team Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. The balance of the album was a collaboration between Knight and and another singer/songwriter that would soon have his own successful career, Robin Thicke. The first single from the album would be "Give It to You." The song was co-written by Jam & Lewis along with Knight and Thicke, and produced by Jam & Lewis. The track would reach #10 Pop (#35 Dance) and become a gold-selling single. The album would get to #29 and also go gold. "Give It to You" would end up being Knight's only single to reach the Pop chart, which sort of made him a one-hit wonder in regards to his solo career.

_________________________________________________________________________________