Chances (Backstreet Boys song)

"Chances" is a song by American boy band Backstreet Boys. It was released on November 9, 2018, as the second single from DNA, their ninth album (eighth in the US). The song was written by Ryan Tedder, Shawn Mendes, Zach Skelton, Fiona Bevan, Casey Smith, Geoff Warburton, and Scott Harris, while also produced by Tedder and Skelton. "Chances" peaked at number seven on the Billboard Bubbling Under 100, number nine on Dance Club Songs, and number 19 on the Adult Top 40.

"Chances"
Single by Backstreet Boys
from the album DNA
ReleasedNovember 9, 2018
Recorded2018
Studio
  • Patriot, Los Angeles, U.S.
  • Westlake, Los Angeles, U.S.
GenrePop
Length2:52
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Tedder
  • Skelton
Backstreet Boys singles chronology
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart"
(2018)		 "Chances"
(2018)		 "No Place"
(2019)
Music video
"Chances" on YouTube

Background and release

AJ McLean first met Ryan Tedder while working together on the former's debut studio album Have It All in 2009.[1] He suggested Tedder to send several of his written songs to the Backstreet Boys. One of the songs included "Chances", which the group immediately fell in love with.[2] It was written by Tedder, Shawn Mendes, Zach Skelton, Fiona Bevan, Casey Smith, Geoff Warburton, and Scott Harris.[3] The single and accompanying music video were simultaneously released on November 9, 2018, following the announcement of the DNA World Tour.[4][5]

Composition

In an interview with Billboard, McLean explained that it was similar to their first single "Don't Go Breaking My Heart", but also felt distinct. He stated that it was "more of that realistic love story about chance, to find that person in the most precarious of scenarios. It’s a really beautiful love song."[2] However, member Brian Littrell stated that "both songs are completely different" in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, further acknowledging that the band were "either known for dance songs or something that tugs on your heartstrings".[6]

Fist-pumping synths are used throughout the song, as the band ponder over the chorus, "What are the chances that we’d end up dancing? Like 2 in a million, like once in a life".[7] The song is based on 4
4 common time, the tempo is 110 BPM and is played in the key of B major.[8]

Critical reception

Mike Wass of Idolator described the song as "another irresistible, vaguely retro pop-anthem with a hands-in-the-air chorus and the kind of vocal harmonies that they perfected", and claimed that it would be a big song.[7] Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic praised "Chances", along with "Don't Go Breaking My Heart", stating that both songs are "some of Backstreet's finest, familiar in their delivery yet with a finger on the mainstream pulse of 2019",[9] while Jon Dolan of Rolling Stone described it as "plaintively throbbing".[10] In a mixed review, Josh Hurst of Flood Magazine referred to "Chances" as "slightly anthemic", but not jarring.[11]

Commercial performance

"Chances" peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles on November 24, 2018,[12] which was attributed to its strong sales and streams.[13] The song also reached number nine on the US Dance Club Songs on the chart dated March 9, 2019,[14] as well as number 19 of the Adult Top 40 on January 26, 2019.[15] "Chances" peaked on the Canadian Hot 100 at number 55,[16] eventually being certified gold by Music Canada for selling over 40,000 units.[17] The single bowed at number 63 on the Official German Charts,[18] while it peaked at number 82 in Switzerland.[19]

Music video

Background
The music video was shot in Union Station, where the dancers performed in the ticket lobby.

The music video was released simultaneously with the digital release of the song on November 9, 2018.[20][21] It was co-directed by McLean and René Elizondo Jr., which was the first video McLean directed for the Backstreet Boys.[2][4] It was filmed inside Union Station while it was still open to the public,[22] and was the first time all five members wore suits during a music video.[2] Elizondo wanted the video to be cinematic and showcase elements of film noir.[22]

Shooting lasted from 2:00pm to 4:00am on September 4, 2019. The dancers featured in the video are Madison Vomastek and Jake Tribus, both students from the Glorya Kaufman School of Dance at the University of Southern California.[23] They were filmed from 3:00pm to 5:00pm, while the Backstreet Boys were designated inside of the train carriage at 3:00am.[22] Both Vomastek and Tribus performed an uninterrupted choreographed sequence that was praised by both the band, their label, and management.[2] As of December 2019, it has over 28 million views on YouTube.[24]

Synopsis

The video begins as a woman runs down the steps of a train station in a Steadicam shot. She helps another woman pick up a bag that she dropped, as a man in front of her misses the train. As she continues to walk by, the man follows her throughout the station until they sit opposite each other on the station seats. The duo perform a dance in the ticket lobby, which they end with a kiss. The video ends as the two sit away from each other on the station seats; the dance sequence was figurative.

The Backstreet Boys appear throughout the video as the events occur. The two people in the station are unaware of their presence, as they are seen behind a pole, inside the moving train, and sitting on the seats adjacent from the two.

Live performances

The Backstreet Boys performed "Chances" on the 15th season of The Voice on November 13, 2018.[25][26] They also appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in chicken costumes on January 24, 2019 while they performed "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" on the Manhattan streets and Rockefeller sidewalks,[27][28][29] before performing "Chances" in matching black and gray outfits.[30] The song was also included on the setlist of the DNA World Tour, which supported their studio album DNA.[31]

Track listing

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[3]

Charts
Chart (2018–2019) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[16] 55
Germany (Official German Charts)[18] 63
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] 82
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[12] 7
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[34] 27
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[15] 19
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[14] 9

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[17] Gold 40,000

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Australia November 9, 2018 Contemporary hit radio
[35]
United States January 8, 2019 RCA [36]
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References
  1. Vena, Jocelyn (January 13, 2010). "A.J. McLean Solo Debut Features Song By 'NSYNC's JC Chasez". MTV News. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  2. Weatherby, Taylor (November 9, 2018). "AJ McLean Explains Why Backstreet Boys' Upcoming LP 'DNA' Is 'One of Our Best Bodies of Work'". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  3. "Chances". Tidal. November 9, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  4. Billboard Staff (November 9, 2018). "Backstreet Boys Announce New Album 'DNA,' Tour and Drop Cinematic Music Video for 'Chances': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  5. Longmire, Becca (November 9, 2018). "Backstreet Boys Release New Single 'Chances' Written By Shawn Mendes, Ryan Tedder, Announce Biggest Arena Tour In 18 Years". Entertainment Tonight Canada. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  6. Highfill, Samantha (January 21, 2019). "The Backstreet Boys preview a return to form with new album DNA". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  7. Wass, Mike (November 9, 2018). "Backstreet Boys Announce 9th LP 'DNA,' Roll Out New Single "Chances"". Idolator. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  8. "Key & BPM for Chances by Backstreet Boys - Tunebat". Tunebat. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  9. Yeung, Neil Z. "DNA - Backstreet Boys". AllMusic. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  10. Dolan, Jon (February 7, 2019). "Review: Backstreet's Back With Contemporary-Pop Magic on 'DNA'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  11. Hurst, Josh (February 5, 2019). "Backstreet Boys, "DNA"". Flood Magazine. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  12. "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  13. Cantor, Brian (November 19, 2018). "Backstreet Boys' "Chances" Debuts On Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100". Headline Planet. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  14. "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  15. "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  16. "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  17. "Canadian single certifications – Backstreet Boys – Chances". Music Canada.
  18. "Offiziellecharts.de – Backstreet Boys – Chances". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  19. "Swisscharts.com – Backstreet Boys – Chances". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  20. Romano, Nick (November 9, 2018). "Backstreet's back with new Backstreet Boys album and world tour". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  21. Bowsher, Allison (November 9, 2018). "Backstreet Boys Release Shawn Mendes-Written Track 'Chances' And Announce Huge Tour". Much. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  22. "Shooting the music video for Backstreet Boys' 'Chances'". Lenspire Cinematography. September 4, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  23. "Student Blog: Starring in Backstreet Boys' "Chances" video". USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  24. BackstreetBoysVEVO (November 8, 2018). "Backstreet Boys - Chances (Official Video)" – via YouTube.
  25. Ding, Sophie (November 12, 2018). "Backstreet Boys to Perform 'Chances' on 'The Voice': Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  26. Matthews, Colleen (November 14, 2018). "Backstreet Boys Perform New Single "Chances" on The Voice [WATCH]". One Country. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  27. Kreps, Daniel (January 25, 2019). "Watch Backstreet Boys, Jimmy Fallon Cluck 'Everybody (Backstreet's Back)' Dressed as Chickens". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  28. Murphy, Sarah (January 25, 2019). "Watch the Backstreet Boys and Jimmy Fallon Dress Up as Chickens and Perform "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)"". Exclaim!. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  29. Calvario, Liz (January 24, 2019). "Backstreet Boys & Jimmy Fallon Perform All-Clucking Rendition of 'Everybody' -- See the Wacky Performance". E! Online. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  30. Acevedo, Angelica (January 25, 2019). "Backstreet Boys Wear Chicken Costumes, Perform 'Chances' On 'Tonight Show': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  31. Leimkuehler, Matthew (August 27, 2019). "Here's what we saw at the Backstreet Boys concert in Nashville". The Tennessean. Gannett Company. Archived from the original on October 6, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  32. "Chances (Official Video) by Backstreet Boys". Retrieved November 20, 2018 – via Apple Music.
  33. "Chances (Mark Ralph Remix) - Single". Retrieved May 17, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  34. "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  35. "Singles To Radio". The Music Network. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  36. "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on December 13, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
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