Incomplete (Backstreet Boys song) 2005 single by Backstreet Boys
"Incomplete " is a song by American vocal group Backstreet Boys from their fifth studio album, Never Gone (2005). The power ballad [ 1] was released on April 11, 2005, as the group's first single since they decided to reunite after a two-year hiatus. It was written by Dan Muckala , Lindy Robbins , and Jess Cates , and it was produced by Muckala with Kevin Richardson on piano . According to Billboard magazine's Chuck Taylor , the song is an "emotion-packed, grown-up tome about relationship struggle and strife."[ 2]
"Incomplete" marked a stylistic change for the band, with member AJ McLean saying that the band wanted to break away from the image they had attained during the 1990s and early 2000s.[ 3] The song was a commercial success, peaking at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and earning a gold certification for selling over half a million copies in the US. It also reached the top 10 in several European countries. It debuted at number one in Australia, becoming the group's only number-one hit and receiving a double-platinum sales certification in 2020.
Critical reception
Chuck Taylor from Billboard magazine compared the band's vocals to those of Bryan Adams and Blessid Union of Souls , going on to say that the song would be refreshing to hear on the radio "like crisp white sheets."[ 2] British columnist James Masterton wrote that "Incomplete" proved that the band had not lost their talent following their hiatus, going on to call the track's production "bombastic."[ 4]
Music video
Directed by Joseph Kahn , the music video for "Incomplete" sets the band in an arid desert environment and features each of the band members in a different element or force of nature: Brian Littrell , water; Nick Carter , fire; Howie Dorough , rain; Kevin Richardson , snow; and AJ McLean , the Sun.
Track listings
UK CD1 [ 5]
"Incomplete" – 3:59
"Incomplete" (instrumental) – 3:59
UK CD2; European and Australian maxi-CD single [ 6] [ 7] [ 8]
"Incomplete" – 3:59
"My Beautiful Woman" (Paul Wiltshire , Victoria Wu) – 3:36
"Movin' On" (Howie Dorough , Wade Robson , Nate Butler ) – 3:30
"Incomplete" (video)
European CD single [ 8]
"Incomplete" – 3:59
"Movin' On" – 3:30
Japanese CD single [ 9]
"Incomplete" (album version) – 3:59
"Incomplete" (instrumental) – 3:59
"My Beautiful Woman" (album version) (Wiltshire, Wu) – 3:36
"My Beautiful Woman" (instrumental) (Wiltshire, Wu) – 3:36
Personnel
Personnel are lifted from the Never Gone liner notes.[ 10]
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Release history
Cover versions
In 2017, international symphonic metal supergroup Exit Eden covered "Incomplete" as the 3rd track of their debut album entitled Rhapsodies in Black .[ 76]
References
^ Vineyard, Jennifer (March 15, 2005). "Backstreet Boys Pick Power Ballad for Their Comeback Single" . MTV . Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2020 .
^ a b Taylor, Chuck (April 16, 2005). "Essential Reviews" (PDF) . Billboard . Vol. 117, no. 16. p. 44. Retrieved August 4, 2020 .
^ "The ARIA Report: Chartifacts!" (PDF) . ARIA . June 20, 2005. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2021 .
^ Masterton, James (July 3, 2005). "Week Ending July 9th 2005" . Chart Watch UK. Retrieved March 20, 2021 .
^ Incomplete (UK CD1 liner notes). Backstreet Boys . Jive Records . 2005. 82876 699272.{{cite AV media notes }}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link )
^ Incomplete (UK CD2 liner notes). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records. 2005. 82876 699282.{{cite AV media notes }}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link )
^ Incomplete (Australian maxi-CD single liner notes). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records. 2005. 82876 69248 2.{{cite AV media notes }}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link )
^ a b c "Backstreet Boys – Incomplete" . ARIA Top 50 Singles .
^ Incomplete (Japanese CD single liner notes). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records. 2005. BVCQ-29604.{{cite AV media notes }}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link )
^ Never Gone (CD booklet). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records. 2005. 82876-70534-2.{{cite AV media notes }}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link )
^ "Backstreet Boys – Incomplete" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40 .
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^ "Backstreet Boys – Incomplete" (in French). Ultratop 50 .
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^ Backstreet Boys — Incomplete . TopHit . Retrieved August 11, 2019.
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^ "Backstreet Boys – Incomplete" . Tracklisten .
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^ "European Radio Airplay" (PDF) . Billboard . Nielsen Music Control. August 6, 2005. p. 51. Retrieved December 31, 2024 .
^ "Backstreet Boys: Incomplete" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat .
^ "Backstreet Boys – Incomplete" (in French). Les classement single .
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^ "Top 50 Singles Eβδομάδα 18–24/9" (in Greek). IFPI . Archived from the original on September 24, 2005. Retrieved August 4, 2020 . See Best Position column .
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^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Incomplete" . Irish Singles Chart . Retrieved January 21, 2020.
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^ a b "インコンプリート | バックストリート・ボーイズ" [Incomplete | Backstreet Boys] (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved August 29, 2023 .
^ "The most popular songs in Latvia " (in Latvian). Lanet.lv. June 26, 2005. Retrieved September 3, 2024 .
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 25, 2005 " (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved May 13, 2019.
^ "Backstreet Boys – Incomplete" (in Dutch). Single Top 100 .
^ "Backstreet Boys – Incomplete" . Top 40 Singles .
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^ "Nielsen Music Control" . Archived from the original on June 25, 2007.
^ "Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Aug 18, 2005" . TopHit . Retrieved April 24, 2024 .
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^ "Backstreet Boys – Incomplete" Canciones Top 50 .
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^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved May 13, 2019.
^ "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Hot 100)" . Billboard . Retrieved April 21, 2017.
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^ "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)" . Billboard . Retrieved April 21, 2017.
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^ "Top Pop – Pop 100" (PDF) . Billboard . Vol. 117, no. 22. May 28, 2005. p. 46. Retrieved August 4, 2020 .
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^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2005" (in German). Retrieved May 13, 2019 .
^ "Rapports annuels 2005" (in French). Ultratop . Retrieved May 13, 2019 .
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^ "Classifiche annuali 2005 FIMI Nielsen, dominano gli artisti italiani" (in Italian). FIMI . Archived from the original on May 6, 2006. Retrieved January 15, 2021 . Click on Scarica l'allegato.
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^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles" (PDF) . Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved May 22, 2021 .
^ "Brazilian single certifications – Backstreet Boys – Incomplete" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved January 10, 2023 .
^ "Le cifre di vendita" (PDF) . Musica e dischi . January 2006. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 26, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2020 .
^ "American single certifications – Backstreet Boys – Incomplete" . Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved May 13, 2019 .
^ "Going for Adds" (PDF) . Radio & Records . No. 1601. April 8, 2005. p. 21. Retrieved May 18, 2021 .
^ "Going for Adds" (PDF) . Radio & Records . No. 1604. April 29, 2005. p. 19. Retrieved May 18, 2021 .
^ "30. maj 2005 – 19. juni 2005" (PDF) (in Danish). Sony Music Denmark . p. 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2005. Retrieved November 13, 2023 .
^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 13th June 2005" (PDF) . ARIA . June 13, 2005. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 19, 2005. Retrieved May 18, 2021 .
^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week . June 25, 2005. p. 23.
^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : "EXIT EDEN - Incomplete (Backstreet Boys Cover) | Napalm Records" . YouTube . August 3, 2017.
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