Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Chillin With All-4-One

Between 1997-1999 I was the associate editor of a teen magazine called SuperTeen. I'm sure I've told you this but for my newer followers here's the quick lowdown ...  For about three years I interviewed teen idols/stars like Hanson, 'N Sync, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, etc. It was great fun and not only did I get to meet lots of talented kids, I traveled back and forth to Disney on a regular basis. Pretty cool, right?

One day these guys came into our offices for an interview, and I swear (no pun on their big hit "I Swear") I didn't know who they were. Why? Because they were popular in 1994/95 and it was 1997. I'm a fan of alternative rock, emo and indie bands, never gave a hoot about R & B. I knew all about teen pop because my work depended on it.  

SuperTeen magazine focused mostly on younger stars which meant even Kevin of the Backstreet Boys was a bit old for our readers--everyone loved Nick and Brian. These All-4-One guys appeared possibly even older than me and at the time--I was in my early 20s.

The sad thing about All-4-One, was that they truly were a group of nice guys. In my heart I wished I could plaster them on the cover or in a huge centerfold, but I knew they weren't in demand. SuperTeen was an overpriced monthly mag limited in space which needed to be filled with as much Backstreet and 'N Sync as possible. 

Curious to catch up with the guys, I found they have an All-4-One website where I discovered the guys are alive and well--still touring and making music today. On a personal note I'm glad to see they're still doin' their thing, even if I'm not a fan of that style of music.

Bravo All-4-One!

12 comments:

  1. My brother liked them when they first came out. Not my kind of music, but not bad if you like that kind of thing.

    Plus the whole scene in Just Friends... can't beat that.

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  2. Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god! You met All-4-One!!!!

    Have you ever seen 'Just Friends' with Ryan Reynolds? I remember cranking up the radio and singing 'I Swear' into my hairbrush.... Yeah yeah.... Ha ha....

    They were the poor man's 'Boys II Men'. I loved them! Even when my sister would walk by my room and yell at me because 'I Swear' was originally a John Michael Montgomery song....

    I remember that the CD had 'I Swear' followed by the crudest song ever called 'Skillz'.... But I was 15 and it made me laugh every time I heard it....

    You are so lucky!

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  3. I have no idea who they are ACK! I mean I am old enough to know I just don't for some reason

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  5. Am I lame if I admit I sing that song in the shower from time to time? To tell you the truth I used to get them mixed up with O-town. Oh and yeah, big time jealousy happening right now.

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  6. Dude you are friggin famous meeting all these celebs

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  7. Never even heard of All-4-One, but still super jealous of your job at the magazine.

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  8. "And I Swear..." that his was the big prom song for my senior year. That fact just dates me right there.

    ASBLACK beat me to the "Just Friends"reference too. =)

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  9. wow I remember those guys! lol That song was HUGE

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  10. OH MY GOSH! I was a HUGE Backstreet Boys fan!!! Their posters covered my wall like wallpaper!

    Anyway...I remember the song "I Swear" but perhaps they were a little old for me. I was a teeny bobber in the Backstreet Boy & N'Sync age.

    Love it!

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  11. The only song I knew of All-4-One was I Swear. I never really got into the R&B Crooners songs but awesome you actually met them! Can you hang out with me and get me in to meet some of my favorite hockey players? ;)

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  12. Wow! All-4-One! Did they sing the song "I Wanna Sex You Up?".

    Oh no wait, that was Colour Me Badd!

    Good to hear they are doing well still!

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