My Thoughts After Watching The BSB Documentary In 2023

“We had some great pop songs,
and we sang the shit out of ’em”

It’s been a long time since I’ve watched Show ‘Em What You’re Made Of if I’m being completely honest. This is something I’ve been sitting on for awhile but other things came up, some a little more pressing. But with the tenth anniversary of In A World Like This coming up, it occurred to me that now is the perfect time for this post. This movie was filmed while they created that album, while they were prepping for their 20th anniversary.

Now they’ve reached their 30th. So much has changed since then. They were trying to rise up, to come back. This was their last album in what I’ve affectionally thought of over the years as their “underground” era. When the media was tossing them aside as done, where their Kevin-less albums were done dirty by their label at the time, and then with In A World Like This they didn’t even have a label. They released it on their own, and sold it using distribution deals.

They didn’t know how much things would change after they filmed this. But it’s crazy to think about. They knew they were coming up on a big year in this movie, being 20 years strong. Only a couple short years later the residency would come, which would break records and remind the world of the worldwide sensation they are. And thanks to that, their album DNA would be number one on the charts, would go into a worldwide stadium tour, and get them back on radio in a way they hadn’t seen in over a decade.

Watching their hometown journey touches my heart. They’ve never forgotten where they’ve come from, not even for a moment. Fact is, so many do and it’s easy for even fans to forget just how far things have come.

It all could’ve been so different.

In some ways. however, other things haven’t changed. Brian still has his vocal dystonia. But, it’s not as hopeless as it once seemed for so many of us. When the Christmas album came out, I was stunned with how good Brian sounded. When they posted the behind the scenes clips of Brian in the studio, showing that now, it wasn’t editing, it showed that breaks really help his vocals. We may never hear him back at 90s perfection but we can enjoy the talent he still has. He has his good days and his bad days but since this is definitely psychological, that’s okay. (I have a whole post dedicated to that subject.)

And in listening to DNA the ways they’ve learned to work with that rather than against it, especially when you look at Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, that really hits. They were still trying with In A World Like This but they hadn’t nailed it down yet. That’s one of the bigger differences that came since then.

I think another thing is how they utilize everyone shows very well two between the last two albums, especially their Christmas one. I feel like above everyone, Kevin and Howie shone. Again this was something they were sorting through at this point in the documentary, with Kevin being back. But now I think they’ve really found the best balance. Where everyone gets their chance to shine but not so much where it’s forced.

The way they stand by one another, at the end of the day also hasn’t changed, if anything it’s gottem stromger. I see people who try and misconstrue the now infamous fight on TikTok. People who don’t even pay attention. Friends fight. Brothers fight. But often time at the root of any really bad fight, is love. It’s like when AJ talks about that bond, it never went away. That’s why they survived in my opinion. And if you’ve paid any attention at all in the past almost six years, you can see how much that bond has really proven itself beyond all doubt. They could’ve called it quits, split and many people wouldn’t have blamed them. Instead, they’re still here, still going.

Watching the documentary now, in 2023 just humbled me as a fan. They could’ve wrapped everything all up with a neat little bow at the end of the In A World Like This era and we would’ve still been better off than most fandoms. And while I know they can’t make every fan happy, just remember the alternatives here. How many times this all could’ve simply, stopped. But that’s not who they are.

When sun light is fading
The world will be waiting for you
Just show ’em what you’re made of

This song fits them so well in that when people doubt them, when people try to challenge their accomplishments or bring them down, that’s what they do. And in my opinion, that’s what they’ll continue to do. So if you haven’t watched this in awhile, I think you should. It’s refreshing to be reminded of where they began, where they were, and think about where they are now.

And I can’t wait to see where they go in the next ten years.