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Inconsolable

{{Short description|2007 single by Backstreet Boys}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Inconsolable

| cover = Cover_inconsolable.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Backstreet Boys

| album = Unbreakable

| released = {{start date|2007|8|27}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = Pop

| length = 3:36

| label = Jive

| writer = Emanuel Kiriakou, Lindy Robbins, Jess Cates

| producer = Emanuel Kiriakou

| prev_title = I Still...

| prev_year = 2006

| next_title = Helpless When She Smiles

| next_year = 2007

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|qGDF_QcsKVI|"Inconsolable"}} }}

}}

"Inconsolable" is a song by American boy band Backstreet Boys. The song was released as the first single from their sixth studio album Unbreakable (2007). It is the group's first single without Kevin Richardson, who had left the group in 2006. The single was released to US 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 song entered the top 10 in Italy and Switzerland, reaching numbers two and eight, respectively.

Background and composition

"Inconsolable" was written by Emmanuel Kiriakou, Lindy Robbins and Jess Cates and produced by Emanuel Kiriakou.{{cite news|title=Backstreet Boys' Unbreakable: An Undeniably Strong Album|url=http://voices.yahoo.com/backstreet-boys-unbreakable-undeniably-strong-album-618866.html?cat=33|access-date=May 12, 2012|newspaper=Yahoo! Voices|date=October 26, 2007}} It features the trademark emotional boy band romantic lyrics{{cite web|last=Paddley|first=Gemma|title=BBC - Music - Review of Backstreet Boys - Unbreakable|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/xcmq|access-date=May 12, 2012|work=BBC Music|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=November 8, 2007}} with heartfelt vocals.{{cite web|last=O'Leary|first=Matt|title=Backstreet Boys: Unbreakable review - Album Reviews - Music - Virgin Media|url=http://www.virginmedia.com/music/reviews/backstreetboys-unbreakable.php|access-date=May 12, 2012|publisher=Virgin Media}}

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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.pandora.com/backstreet-boys/inconsolable/inconsolable |title=Inconsolable - Backstreet Boys on Pandora Internet Radio - Listen Free |access-date=December 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228061803/http://www.pandora.com/backstreet-boys/inconsolable/inconsolable |archive-date=December 28, 2013 |url-status=dead }} The song's verses are in the key of G major, whilst the chorus is in the relative key of E minor.{{cite web|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0068877|title=Inconsolable|first1=Robbins|last1=Lindy|first2=Cates|last2=Jess|first3=Kiriakou|last3=Emanuel|first4=Backstreet|last4=Boys|date=October 20, 2008|website=Musicnotes.com|access-date=December 19, 2018}}

Critical reception

The song was well received by critics. Bill Lamb of About.com wrote: "It only takes one cut like the first single 'Inconsolable' to realize the group is concentrating on fleshing out their most comfortable pop territory."{{cite web|last=Lamb|first=Bill|title=Backstreet Boys - Unbreakable|url=http://top40.about.com/od/albums/fr/backstreetunbr.htm|work=About.com|publisher=New York Times Company|access-date=May 12, 2012|archive-date=March 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306005702/http://top40.about.com/od/albums/fr/backstreetunbr.htm|url-status=dead}} 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."{{cite web|last=Battaglia|first=Andy|title=Backstreet Boys: Unbreakable | Music | Music Review|url=https://www.avclub.com/backstreet-boys-unbreakable-1798203316|access-date=May 12, 2012|publisher=The A.V. Club|date=November 6, 2007}} 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." Simon Vozick-Levinson from Entertainment Weekly called it a "soggy adult-contemporary power ballad",{{cite web|last=Vozick-Levinson|first=Simon|title=Unbreakable Review | Music Reviews and News|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20154249,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225124736/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20154249,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 25, 2007|access-date=May 12, 2012|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|date=October 26, 2007}} while Matt O'Leary from Virgin Media named it "a textbook Backstreet Boys song, a huge, glossy, shiny thing, with very heartfelt vocals." Yahoo! Music wrote: "It is an extremely catchy pop song, a perfect track to reintroduce the group to the marketplace."

Music video

The music video, directed by Ray Kay, was shot in Venice Beach, California on August 16, 2007. The music video features the group both individually and together. In the beginning, Nick Carter is shown lying on the beach during a solar eclipse, Brian Littrell is in a house looking out, AJ McLean is on the street with a car, much like in "Incomplete", and Howie Dorough is shown sitting with his back against a wall near the beach. At various intervals in between, when the chorus is sung, the four are seen together on the Venice Pier. After the leads are sung, the scenes shift between the group individually and together; at the end of the video, the eclipse ends. The city wakes up and they walk towards the ocean together on the pier.

Track listings

UK CD1{{cite AV media notes|title=Inconsolable|others=Backstreet Boys|year=2007|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=Jive Records|id=88697 10660 2}}

  1. "Inconsolable" – 3:36
  2. "Close My Eyes" – 4:06

UK CD2{{cite AV media notes|title=Inconsolable|others=Backstreet Boys|year=2007|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=Jive Records|id=88697 10665 2}}

  1. "Inconsolable" (album version) – 3:36
  2. "Inconsolable" (Jason Nevins remix) – 4:14
  3. "Inconsolable" (Soul Seekerz remix) – 5:49
  4. "Inconsolable" (Eazy remix) – 6:08
  5. "Inconsolable" (video enhancement) – 3:43

Australian and Japanese CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Inconsolable|others=Backstreet Boys|year=2007|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Jive Records|id=88697169152}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Inconsolable|others=Backstreet Boys|year=2007|type=Japanese CD single liner notes|publisher=Jive Records|id=BVCP-29623}}

  1. "Inconsolable" (main version) – 3:36
  2. "Inconsolable" (instrumental) – 3:36

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (2007)

!Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|43|artist=Backstreet Boys|song=Inconsolable|rowheader=true|access-date=October 11, 2010}}
{{single chart|Austria|31|artist=Backstreet Boys|song=Inconsolable|rowheader=true|access-date=October 11, 2010}}
{{single chart|Flanders Tip|6|artist=Backstreet Boys|song=Inconsolable|rowheader=true|access-date=October 11, 2010}}
{{single chart|Wallonia Tip|9|artist=Backstreet Boys|song=Inconsolable|rowheader=true|access-date=October 11, 2010}}
{{single chart|Canada|68|artistid=171765|artist=Backstreet Boys|song=Inconsolable|rowheader=true|access-date=October 11, 2010}}
{{single chart|Billboardcanadaac|23|artist=Backstreet Boys|rowheader=true|access-date=January 7, 2019}}
{{single chart|CIS|24|artist=Backstreet Boys|song=Inconsolable|rowheader=true|songid=9311|access-date=August 11, 2019}}
{{single chart|Billboardeuropeanhot100|21|artistid=171765|artist=Backstreet Boys|song=Inconsolable|rowheader=true|access-date=October 11, 2010}}
{{single chart|Germany|17|artist=Backstreet Boys|song=Inconsolable|songid=349250|rowheader=true|access-date=October 11, 2010}}
{{single chart|Ireland3|36|artist=Backstreet Boys|rowheader=true|access-date=January 21, 2020}}
{{single chart|Italy|2|artist=Backstreet Boys|song=Inconsolable|rowheader=true|access-date=October 11, 2010}}
scope="row"|Japan (Oricon){{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/126967/products/708814/1/|title=インコンソーラブル {{!}} バックストリート・ボーイズ|trans-title=Inconsolable {{!}} Backstreet Boys|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=August 29, 2023}}

|29

scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/tipparade/2007/week-43|title=Tipparade-lijst van week 43, 2007|publisher=Dutch Top 40|language=nl|access-date=April 7, 2023}}

|5

{{single chart|Dutch100|38|artist=Backstreet Boys|song=Inconsolable|rowheader=true|access-date=October 11, 2010}}
scope="row"|Romania (Romanian Top 100){{cite web|url=http://www.rt100.ro/top-100-edition.html/|title=Romanian Top 100 – Issue nr: 40/2007 (15 Octombrie - 21 Octombrie 2007)|language=ro|publisher=Romanian Top 100|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017191305/http://www.rt100.ro/top-100-edition.html|archive-date=October 17, 2007|access-date=May 22, 2023}}

|93

scope="row"| Russia Airplay (TopHit){{cite web|url=https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/ru/weekly/20071026-20071101|title=Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Nov 1, 2007|publisher=TopHit|access-date=April 26, 2024}}

| 23

{{single chart|Scotland|24|date=20071103|rowheader=true|access-date=April 7, 2023}}
{{single chart|Slovakia|23|artist=Backstreet Boys|song=Inconsolable|year=2007|week=38|rowheader=true|access-date=October 11, 2010}}
{{single chart|Sweden|22|artist=Backstreet Boys|song=Inconsolable|rowheader=true|access-date=October 11, 2010}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|8|artist=Backstreet Boys|song=Inconsolable|rowheader=true|access-date=October 11, 2010}}
{{single chart|UK|24|artist=Backstreet Boys|song=Inconsolable|date=20071103|rowheader=true|access-date=October 17, 2022}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|86|artistid=171765|artist=Backstreet Boys|song=Inconsolable|rowheader=true|access-date=October 11, 2010}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|21|artistid=171765|artist=Backstreet Boys|song=Inconsolable|rowheader=true|access-date=October 11, 2010}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|37|artistid=171765|artist=Backstreet Boys|song=Inconsolable|rowheader=true|access-date=October 8, 2024}}
{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|34|artistid=171765|artist=Backstreet Boys|song=Inconsolable|rowheader=true|access-date=October 11, 2010}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!scope="col"|Chart (2007)

!scope="col"|Position

scope="row"| Brazil (Crowley){{cite web|url=https://maistocadas.mus.br/2007/|title=Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2007|date=April 3, 2018|publisher=Crowley Broadcast Analysis|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}

|87

scope="row"|CIS (TopHit){{cite web|url=https://tophit.ru/en/chart/airplay/yearly/2007-01-01/all/all|title=CIS Year-End Radio Hits (2007)|publisher=Tophit |access-date=August 11, 2019}}

|78

scope="row"|Italy (FIMI){{cite web|url=http://www.fimi.it/dett_comunicatistampa.php?id=15 |title=Classifiche Annuali 2007 FIMI-AC Nielsen: al primo posto Eros Ramazzotti con "E2" |date=January 10, 2008 |access-date=January 5, 2013 |publisher=Federation of the Italian Music Industry |language=it |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506002747/http://www.fimi.it/dett_comunicatistampa.php?id=15 |archive-date=May 6, 2012}} Download the attached file by clicking Scarica l'allegato.

|45

scope="row" | Russia Airplay (TopHit){{cite web|url=https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/ru/annual/2007|title=Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2007|publisher=TopHit|access-date=April 26, 2024|archive-date=April 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426131857/https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/ru/annual/2007|url-status=live}}

| 105

scope="row"|Taiwan (Hito Radio){{cite web|url=http://www.hitoradio.com/newweb/chart_2.php?ch_year=2007|title=年度百首單曲: 2007|publisher=Hit FM. Voice of Taipei Broadcasting|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108230209/http://www.hitoradio.com/newweb/chart_2.php?ch_year=2007|language=zh|access-date=February 3, 2025|archive-date=January 8, 2022}}

| style="text-align:center;"|24

scope="col"|Chart (2008)

!scope="col"|Position

scope="row"|Taiwan (Hito Radio){{cite web|url=http://www.hitoradio.com/newweb/chart_2.php?ch_year=2008&pageNum_rsList=1|title=年度百首單曲: 2008|publisher=Hit FM. Voice of Taipei Broadcasting|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109073948/http://www.hitoradio.com/newweb/chart_2.php?ch_year=2008&pageNum_rsList=1|language=zh|access-date=February 3, 2025|archive-date=January 9, 2022}}

| style="text-align:center;"|90

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|artist=Backstreet Boys|title=Inconsolable|award=Gold|relyear=2007|certyear=2022|access-date=January 10, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=ringtone|artist=Backstreet Boys|title=Inconsolable|award=Gold|relyear=2007|certyear=2008|certmonth=2|note=Full-length ringtone|access-date=May 23, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
scope="col"| Region

! scope="col"| Date

! scope="col"| Format

! scope="col"| Label

! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"| United States

| August 27, 2007

| Contemporary hit radio

| rowspan="4"| Jive

| {{cite web|url=http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=69239#2005|title=FMQB: CHR|website=FMQB|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602195200/http://fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239#2005|archive-date=June 2, 2013|access-date=October 17, 2022}}

scope="row"| Australia

| September 24, 2007

| rowspan="3"| CD

| {{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue916.pdf|title=The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 24th September 2007|publisher=ARIA|page=32|date=September 24, 2007|archive-url=http://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20080222222442/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20071020-0000/issue916.pdf|archive-date=February 22, 2008|access-date=August 29, 2023|url-status=live}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

scope="row"| Japan

| September 26, 2007

|

scope="row"| United Kingdom

| October 22, 2007

| {{cite magazine|title=Music Upfront: October 22|magazine=Music Week|page=23|date=October 20, 2007}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.backstreetboys.com Preview @ BackstreetBoys.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006041909/http://www.backstreetboys.com/ |date=October 6, 2009 }}
  • [http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1050541/backstreet-boys-plot-comeback-with-october-cd Billboard]

{{Backstreet Boys singles}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2000s ballads

Category:2007 singles

Category:2007 songs

Category:Backstreet Boys songs

Category:Jive Records singles

Category:Music videos directed by Ray Kay

Category:Pop ballads

Category:Songs written by Emanuel Kiriakou

Category:Songs written by Jess Cates

Category:Songs written by Lindy Robbins