"Larger than Life" | ||||
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Single by Backstreet Boys | ||||
from the album Millennium | ||||
B-side | "If You Knew What I Knew" | |||
Released | September 3, 1999 | |||
Format | CD | |||
Recorded |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 3:52 | |||
Label | Jive | |||
Writer(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Backstreet Boys singles chronology | ||||
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"バラ色の日々" Barairo no Hibi" |
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Single by MAX | ||||
from the album Emotional History | ||||
B-side | "Wired" | |||
Released | September 6, 2000 | |||
Format | CD single | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 3:54 | |||
Label | Avex Trax | |||
Writer(s) | Yuko Ebine, Max Martin, Kristian Lundin, Brian Litrell | |||
Producer(s) | Max Matsuura | |||
MAX singles chronology | ||||
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"Larger than Life" is a song by American boy band Backstreet Boys, released as the second single from their third studio album, Millennium (1999). It was written by band member Brian Littrell with Max Martin and Kristian Lundin, who also produced the song along with Rami Yacoub. The song is a "thank you" for their fans' encouragement and devotion. Music critics praised its memorable melody, singalong lyrics and the band's vocal performance. It was also on Blender's list of the 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born.
Commercially, the song became a top-ten hit in over 14 countries. In the United States, it peaked at number 25. Its music video, directed by Joseph Kahn, holds a Guinness World Record for the 14th most expensive music video with estimated production costs of over $2,100,000 USD. It also broke the record for longest running #1 on MTV's Total Request Live. The song also serves as the opening track of the 2000 compilation album Now That's What I Call Music! 4
"Larger than Life" was originally written and composed sometime in 1998 by group member Brian Littrell. When the group traveled to Sweden in early November 1998 to record at Cheiron Studios, alterations and additions were later made to the lyrics by the producers Max Martin and Kristian Lundin. "Larger than Life" was initially registered and copyrighted in December 1998 as an unfinished demo, not being released on Millennium preview snippets.
Prior to February 1999, in order to traditionally follow up the template of releasing upbeat numbers as lead singles (i.e. "We've Got It Goin' On", "Everybody"), "Larger than Life" was intended as the first single from the upcoming album. However, the decision changed upon hearing the completed version of "I Want It That Way" in a meeting with Max Martin and Andreas Carlsson in February 1999. Thus, plans were canceled and "Larger than Life" was later released as the second single.