Incomplete (Backstreet Boys song)
Encyclopedia
"Incomplete" is a song by American vocal group Backstreet Boys
from their comeback album, Never Gone
. The power ballad was released in April 2005 as the group's first single since they decided to reunite after a three year hiatus. It was written by Dan Muckala, Lindy Robbins
, and Jess Cates
, and it was produced by Muckala. The song became one of their most successful singles, peaking at number thirteen on the US Billboard Hot 100
, and charting within the top 10 of thirteen countries. It debuted at number one in Australia, becoming their first number-one hit in the country. The song has sold 250,000 units worldwide, which earned it gold certification. In the US, it was their last successful single of the 2000s
, as the song still receives airplay on fewer adult contemporary radio station
s in the United States and Canada.
UK CD single #2
Japanese CD single
, the music video for "Incomplete" sets the band in an arid desert environment, and features each of the band members in a different element of nature. Joseph Kahn used each element to represent the different personality of the singers. He decided that A.J. McLean embodies the band's rock and roll sensibilities, with his "fiery light and Hollywood cool", so he framed McLean by the sun as he drives a classic car down the highway. "The elements are sort of embracing their performance, so it feels like emotions." Nick Carter
is "very volatile at times, beautiful to look at, but dangerous if you get too close", so he is represented by fire. In the video, Carter torches McLean's '68 GTO. Howie Dorough
, the "slick guy in the group," according to Kahn, became rain. He sits under an old Joshua tree as a gust of wind picks up and the downpour starts. Kevin Richardson
, "the most mature and reserved" Backstreet Boy, is "colder," so he became snow. He plays a white piano in the midst of a smoldering forest as a flurry starts and smoke rises from the ground. Brian Littrell
, who Kahn describes as "this big ball of energy, you can't stop him," became the crashing waves of the ocean. He stands with his feet in the water as thunderclouds assemble above him.
The video makes use of varied levels of daylight, and times of day. The group shot the video in Lancaster and Zuma Beach
, California
, racing from one location to another to take advantage of the fading sunlight. According to Kahn, the sunlight was not an effect, which meant the look they were going for was contingent on the sun, requiring an efficient use of time. In one sunset setup, they only had 15 minutes of light, and the crew lay on the ground so their shadows would not interfere with the shot. The approach was to simplify the video down to the bare bones so that it would be "a love letter to their fans," he said.
Source:
Backstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The band originally consisted of A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with their debut international album, Backstreet Boys...
from their comeback album, Never Gone
Never Gone
Never Gone was the eagerly awaited comeback album by US vocal group Backstreet Boys. Originally to be released in 2004, the release date was pushed back to June 14, 2005 for unknown reasons. The album varies musically from their previous albums, with a rock sound to the album...
. The power ballad was released in April 2005 as the group's first single since they decided to reunite after a three year hiatus. It was written by Dan Muckala, Lindy Robbins
Lindy Robbins
Lindy Robbins is a songwriter from Los Angeles. She has contributed many recognizable songs to popular culture.-Career:She started singing with her late, gifted musician father Walter Wissman when she was three-years-old, and was an acclaimed performer in NYC and LA before becoming a full-time...
, and Jess Cates
Jess Cates
Jess Cates is a Los Angeles based songwriter who has co-written multi-platinum selling songs such as Nick Lachey's "What’s Left Of Me", and the Backstreet Boys hit of 2006 "Incomplete". In recent years, Cates has worked in a commercially successful songwriting team with Lindy Robbins and Emanuel...
, and it was produced by Muckala. The song became one of their most successful singles, peaking at number thirteen on the US Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, and charting within the top 10 of thirteen countries. It debuted at number one in Australia, becoming their first number-one hit in the country. The song has sold 250,000 units worldwide, which earned it gold certification. In the US, it was their last successful single of the 2000s
2000s in music
For music from a year in the 2000s, go to 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09This article includes an overview of the major events and trends in popular music in the 2000s....
, as the song still receives airplay on fewer adult contemporary radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
s in the United States and Canada.
Track listing
UK CD single #1- "Incomplete" (Album Version) – 3:59
- "Incomplete" (Instrumental) – 3:59
UK CD single #2
- "Incomplete" (Album Version) – 3:59
- "My Beautiful Woman" (Paul WiltshirePaul Wiltshire-Singles:* 2010 'Devastated' - Sam Clark - * 2010 'Send Me A Sign' - Sam Clark - * 2009 'Broken' - Sam Clark - #39 AUS* 2007 'Addicted To You' - Anthony Callea #19 AUS...
, Victoria Wu) – 3:36 - "Movin' On" (Howie DoroughHowie DoroughHoward Dwaine "Howie D." Dorough is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, musician, entertainer, actor and member of American music group Backstreet Boys-Biography:...
, Wade RobsonWade RobsonWade Jeremy William Robson is an Australian dance prodigy, director, producer, songwriter, and award-winning choreographer. He began performing as a dancer at the age of five. He has directed music videos and world tours for numerous music artists such as 'N Sync and Britney Spears...
, Nate ButlerNate ButlerNate Butler is an established songwriter, music producer, vocal producer and recording artist based in Atlanta, Georgia.He has been a part of 45 million records sold worldwide...
) – 3:30 - "Incomplete" (Music Video) – 3:59
Japanese CD single
- "Incomplete" (Album Version) – 3:59
- "Incomplete" (Instrumental) – 3:59
- "My Beautiful Woman" – 3:36
- "My Beautiful Woman" (Instrumental) – 3:36
Music video
Directed by Joseph KahnJoseph Kahn
Joseph Kahn is an American music video, advertising, and feature film director.-Early life:Kahn was born in Jersey Village, Texas, a suburb of Houston. He is of Korean ancestry. He spent part of his childhood growing up in Livorno, Italy until his family moved to Texas...
, the music video for "Incomplete" sets the band in an arid desert environment, and features each of the band members in a different element of nature. Joseph Kahn used each element to represent the different personality of the singers. He decided that A.J. McLean embodies the band's rock and roll sensibilities, with his "fiery light and Hollywood cool", so he framed McLean by the sun as he drives a classic car down the highway. "The elements are sort of embracing their performance, so it feels like emotions." Nick Carter
Nick Carter (musician)
Nickolas Gene "Nick" Carter is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, musician, entertainer and actor. He is best known as a member of the pop group, Backstreet Boys. He went on to release a solo album called Now Or Never during their hiatus. He has made occasional television appearances and...
is "very volatile at times, beautiful to look at, but dangerous if you get too close", so he is represented by fire. In the video, Carter torches McLean's '68 GTO. Howie Dorough
Howie Dorough
Howard Dwaine "Howie D." Dorough is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, musician, entertainer, actor and member of American music group Backstreet Boys-Biography:...
, the "slick guy in the group," according to Kahn, became rain. He sits under an old Joshua tree as a gust of wind picks up and the downpour starts. Kevin Richardson
Kevin Richardson (musician)
Kevin Scott Richardson is an American singer and a former member of the Backstreet Boys, model, actor, and composer. He was the oldest member of the band during his tenure.- Early years :...
, "the most mature and reserved" Backstreet Boy, is "colder," so he became snow. He plays a white piano in the midst of a smoldering forest as a flurry starts and smoke rises from the ground. Brian Littrell
Brian Littrell
Brian Thomas Littrell is an American singer-songwriter, best known as a member of the Backstreet Boys. He is also a contemporary Christian recording artist and released a solo album, Welcome Home, in 2006...
, who Kahn describes as "this big ball of energy, you can't stop him," became the crashing waves of the ocean. He stands with his feet in the water as thunderclouds assemble above him.
The video makes use of varied levels of daylight, and times of day. The group shot the video in Lancaster and Zuma Beach
Zuma Beach
Zuma Beach is a County beach located at 30000 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California. One of the largest and most popular beaches in the Los Angeles County, Zuma is known for its long, wide sands and excellent surf...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, racing from one location to another to take advantage of the fading sunlight. According to Kahn, the sunlight was not an effect, which meant the look they were going for was contingent on the sun, requiring an efficient use of time. In one sunset setup, they only had 15 minutes of light, and the crew lay on the ground so their shadows would not interfere with the shot. The approach was to simplify the video down to the bare bones so that it would be "a love letter to their fans," he said.
Personnel
- SongwritingSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
– Dan Muckala, Lindy RobbinsLindy RobbinsLindy Robbins is a songwriter from Los Angeles. She has contributed many recognizable songs to popular culture.-Career:She started singing with her late, gifted musician father Walter Wissman when she was three-years-old, and was an acclaimed performer in NYC and LA before becoming a full-time...
, Jess CatesJess CatesJess Cates is a Los Angeles based songwriter who has co-written multi-platinum selling songs such as Nick Lachey's "What’s Left Of Me", and the Backstreet Boys hit of 2006 "Incomplete". In recent years, Cates has worked in a commercially successful songwriting team with Lindy Robbins and Emanuel... - ProductionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, acoustic pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, strings arrangement and additional keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
– Dan Muckala - Recording – Dan Muckala, David Dillbeck
- Additional engineeringAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
– F. Reid Shippen, Skye McCaskey - Additional engineering assistant - Lee Bridges, Aaron Fessel
- MixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
– Chris Lord-AlgeChris Lord-AlgeChris Lord-Alge is a mixer who has worked on various albums. He is the brother of Tom Lord-Alge, another audio engineer. Chris Lord-Alge is known for his extreme use of dynamic range compression in both hardware and software plug-in versions.... - DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
– Joe Porter - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
– Brent MilliganBrent MilliganBrent Milligan is an Grammy Award-nominated, American record producer and session bass guitar player currently residing in Nashville, TN. He was born in Baton Rouge, LA, and moved to Nashville after graduating from Louisiana State University in 1992... - Electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
– Alex Nifong, Chris McMurtry - Acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
– Brandon HeathBrandon HeathBrandon Heath is a contemporary Christian musician from Nashville, Tennessee. He has released three studio albums: Don't Get Comfortable , What If We and "Leaving Eden" . He is best known for the No. 1 "I'm Not Who I Was" and "Give Me Your Eyes". He was nominated four times at the Dove Awards of... - MasteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
– Tom CoyneTom CoyneTom Coyne is an American writer and professor. Coyne has published three books, A Gentleman's Game, Paper Tiger, and A Course Called Ireland as of 2009. A Gentleman's Game was adapted into a full length film starring Gary Sinise and Dylan Baker...
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Charts
| Chart (2005) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia ARIA ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... Singles Chart |
1 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 6 |
| Belgium (Flanders) Singles Chart | 14 |
| Belgium (Walonia) Singles Chart | 13 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 1 |
| Danish Singles Chart | 3 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 4 |
| European Hot 100 Singles | 6 |
| Finnish Singles Chart | 14 |
| French Singles Chart | 19 |
| German Singles Chart | 3 |
| >align="center"|1 | |
| Irish Singles Chart | 5 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 2 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart | 12 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 8 |
| Spanish Singles Chart | 2 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 9 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 3 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
8 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 13 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
4 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks Adult Top 40 is a variation on the United States Billboard charts... |
21 |
| U.S. Top 40 Mainstream | 8 |