A Rebel’s Guide to the Nick Carter Galaxy – Part Three: Nick and Knight

Welcome back to Part Three of your Rebel’s Guide to what we know as the Nick Carter Galaxy. If you’re just tuning in, you’ll want to read Part One and then Part Two before going any further on this post. Now here, as you can see by the title, I’m ready to dive in to what might have been Nick’s most contrversial project. Well, at least within the fandom…Nick and Knight. Is this truly a solo record? Okay not technically but it’s a project where the only Backstreet Boy involved was Nick so damn it, I’m counting it for this guide. Because if you don’t know by now, if there’s something I love to do? it’s talking about the music. It’s a love, it’s a passion, and honestly? I don’t think I’ll ever stop.

Nick and Knight is pretty unique a concept. Two members of two completely different boybands, coming together to make an album together. As far as I know, it was the first of it’s kind. And I don’t think anything like it came after. That’s what I like about Nick as a solo artist, to be honest. He’s not afraid to go there and he does what he wants to do, no matter what anyone says. He’s a creative that way and it shows.

The year? 2014.

I just did a holy shit because I just realized that was seven years ago. It’s fine. I’m fine. Nick had a lot going on that year, between the Boys being on their second leg of the In A World Like This world tour, the reality TV show he did with Lauren, and of course this project. Nick likes to keep busy, you know? It’s hard to say when those two made this happen but somehow, time was made for it. A lot of fans from both sides, didn’t know what to think about it. I know I didn’t. Because I’ll be the first to admit I’m not a New Kids fan, and the only voice I really like from that group was Joey McIntyre’s. So, suffice to say…I was admittedly skeptical.

But to be honest? I shouldn’t have been.

This album was such a solid creation, when you come right down to it. You can really see the eighties influences in the music. There’s a bit of a funk in several of the songs, whether it’s Switch, Deja Vu, or Drive My Car. There’s a fantastic ballad that deserved more attention when you look at Halfway There. I’m getting ahead of myself here, however. The duo ended up giving out Paper as a promotional song when you bought the album online. Which is a decent song but I do feel it didn’t showcase the album as well as another song could. So I’m not going to go into that one here. A song they should have used?

Switch.

If there was ever a song from this album that could have and should have been a single? It’s Switch. This song is fun, this song is funky, it’s different. And if you’re watching this performance, I do wonder if at one point it’d been in the plans to be single but ended up being scrapped. The pair absolutely embrace their boyband roots as well which I simply adore. No reason to be ashamed of who they are. Not to mention listen to how this song really showcases Nick’s vocals. Because Nick manages to slip in some small belts, because Nick couldn’t hide his talent if he tried. The way they choreographed this performance too with their musicians? it’s absolute perfection.

Think about what the music video could’ve been.

Sigh.

Speaking of singles, this album only got the one…which ended up being One More Time. Now I absolutely love this song. It’s just a fun bop that will get stuck in your head all day if you’re not careful. I think what surprises me most was, compared to many of Nick’s solo projects with the exception of Now Or Never this album got a good amount of media attention. Partly because of Jordan Knight’s part in it, and partly thanks to BSB and Nick’s reality show. Yet, there’s still so many fans who don’t know about this album. Hence me being here wanting to talk about it. It’s a bit mind blowing.

I feel like with this project, Nick just wanted to have some fun. And that’s part of what creating is all about. Not just the creating but the joy it can bring in the process. That feeling of just doing it because you want to, and you’re just like…yeah let’s go for it! It’s absolutely the vibe Nick brought on with this era. I won’t pretend I’ll know what Nick was thinking then. Hell, Nick if you see this feel free to chime in and let me know. Pretty sure after I’m done writing this, I’ll be humming Woo-Hoo, Woo-Hoo, Ohh! for at least an hour. Not that I’m complaining. Because that’s what One More Time is. It’s just a silly little ear worm that makes you smile.

 

There’s one more song that absolutely needs to be discussed here, and that’s Halfway There. And that’s because this was such a good freaking ballad. One so good that, well, I wish it was only Nick on the track. It’s got the power vocals, it’s got the simplicity that makes tracks like this work so damn well…I could go on and on. Selfishly, yes I wish it was only Nick belting his heart out on song.  I mean we know there’s a demo in existence of his song Beautiful Lie where he’s the only one on the track. Maybe there’s one for this too?

For now I’ll just keep playing this performance where it was just him. (Sorry Jordan fans, this song simply suits Nick so beautifully that yes I die each time listening to him kill the entire thing.)

 

The tour was an experience. One of my favorites. First off, VIP was next level. I don’t know if any of you have ever been to a VIP on a Nick solo tour before but this guy knows what fans want and does his damnedest to give it to them. There were different packages tailored to what fans wanted, including those like myself who preferred one over the other. So at Nick’s, he had us circle around him after we got our photo, our selfie, and he signed something we brought with us. Then he’d have us fire questions at him, answering what he could. Then? Then he’d make sure to do a soundcheck session. Honestly, Nick has the best VIPs. Even better than the BSB ones these days though I do love those too. He caters to the fans however he can. There was even a package where fans would watch him from the side of the stage during the show.

This is the only Nick show to date we have a great professional recording of. He was sick the day this streamed online, not that it makes him sound anything but fantastic. Only hardcores like myself can really hear the difference and it’s still such a great watch. If you haven’t seen this, please watch this after you’re done reading my forever rambles on this. It was simply put, a fun but low key put together show. It didn’t try to be anything but what it was.

One thing I won’t forget? The nineties medley part of the show. Now this actually started off originally as an eighties medley when it first started and I can see why. The album, as I said definitely had influences from that decade. But then they decided to change it, likely because a majority of the fans grew up in the nineties. I don’t know which one of the two made that call, or if it was both, whatever. Doesn’t matter. Best decision ever. It goes full ham. Just FULL ON here guys. And that’s why it’s so great. Nick’s rapping, getting all up to it like he’s in his bedroom shaking that thing.

Plus…Nick goes all out singing Pony.

Enough said.

See what I mean? And that’s why this whole era deserved attention. Because it was Nick doing what he did best, with the help of Jordan Knight. He was having fun, living his best life on that stage, giving fans the time of their lives. That’s why we all became fans of Nick. In his own words, he performs like it’ll be his last time on that stage and it shows in every show, in every song he sings. It’s why the pandemic has us missing him so much when it comes to performing. How can you not miss a passion like that?

Nick doesn’t sing these songs after this tour ended. But I’d like to make a plea to him to bring some of them back. Nick, if you read this, think about it. I know Jordan won’t be up on stage with you doing these but that’s okay. These songs are good Nick. They deserve better than to be forgotten with future tours. Let one or two come in there. You have such a diverse catalogue and given your last song 80s Movie, I think the retro vibe on these album wouldn’t be a bad fit on a set list some day. We would absolutely enjoy seeing them live again.

Because honestly, this project stands out from the others because Nick had never done anything like it before and hasn’t done anything like it sense. That’s why it’s great. He took a chance, did what he wanted, and went for it. That is what makes it a success. It’s the unapologetic way he put it out there. And it’s why fans need to give this album a listen if you haven’t before. It may be a collaboration album instead of a true solo record, but it’s also Nick all over the place and that is enough reason to give it a listen and enjoy it for what it is.

You won’t regret it.