I Want It That Way: Release Date, Lead Singer & 2025 Version

Few pop songs have sparked as much debate about what they actually mean as “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys. Released on April 12, 1999, the single became the group’s defining hit, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 (Mental Floss, a pop-culture magazine).

Release date: April 12, 1999 ·
Album: Millennium ·
Writers: Max Martin, Andreas Carlsson ·
Chart peak (US Billboard Hot 100): Number 6

The facts above come from multiple sources, and the pattern shows a track that peaked commercially but never faded culturally.

The table shows a song with well-documented specs, but the 2025 column is the one that raises questions rather than answers them.

Who is the original singer of I Want It That Way?

The song is performed by the Backstreet Boys as a group. Lead vocals are handled primarily by member Brian Littrell, though other members contribute to the harmonies (Wikipedia notes that Littrell is one of the group’s vocalists). The track was written by Swedish hitmaker Max Martin and Andreas Carlsson (Mental Floss).

Which Backstreet boy sang lead on the track?

• Brian Littrell is widely identified as the tenor voice on the song, but the group is credited collectively as the artist (Wikipedia, the crowdsourced encyclopedia).
• No single member is listed as the sole lead singer in official credits.

Who wrote I Want It That Way?

• Max Martin and Andreas Carlsson co-wrote the song (Mental Floss, pop-culture magazine).
• Martin produced the track alongside Kristian Lundin.

The implication: asking for a single “lead singer” of this track misses how 1990s boy bands operated — vocal roles were assigned, not credited.

What year was the song ‘I Want It That Way’ released?

The single was released on April 12, 1999, as the lead single from the album Millennium, which arrived on May 18, 1999 (Wikipedia, the crowdsourced encyclopedia).

When did the Backstreet Boys release Millennium?

• The album Millennium was released May 18, 1999 (Wikipedia, the crowdsourced encyclopedia).
• It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and sold 1.1 million copies in its first week, breaking a record (Mental Floss, a pop-culture magazine).

What was the release date of the single?

• April 12, 1999 in most markets; Japan received it on April 28, 1999 (Wikipedia, the crowdsourced encyclopedia).
• The music video debuted in the US on May 15, 1999 (IMDb, a movie database).

The catch: the single’s chart run was curtailed because no physical CD single was available for purchase in the U.S., according to Mental Floss.

Did the Backstreet Boys recreate I Want It That Way?

In 2025, a version of “I Want It That Way” appeared on YouTube with a release date of July 11, 2025 (YouTube listing). However, this upload is not verified as an official Backstreet Boys re-recording. The band’s official Facebook page marked the song’s 25th anniversary in 2024 but has not announced a 2025 remake (Backstreet Boys official Facebook). The status of the 2025 version remains uncertain.

What is the 2025 version?

• A YouTube video titled “I Want It That Way” claims a 2025 release, but the uploader is not the official Backstreet Boys channel (YouTube).
• No official press release or statement from the group confirms a re-recording.

Why did they re-record the song?

• If the re-recording is authentic, it could be part of a nostalgia campaign or a response to the song’s enduring popularity. But no reliable source has explained a motivation.

The paradox: the song’s own lyrical ambiguity now has a real-world echo in the uncertainty around the 2025 version.

What was the biggest hit for the Backstreet Boys?

“I Want It That Way” is widely regarded as the Backstreet Boys’ signature song. It peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped multiple other charts, including Adult Contemporary and Mainstream Top 40 (Mental Floss, a pop-culture magazine). Their earlier hit “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” (1997) was also a global success, but “I Want It That Way” remains their most streamed and covered track.

Which song made the Backstreet Boys famous?

• Their 1997 single “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” gave them international fame, but “I Want It That Way” solidified their legacy (Wikipedia, the crowdsourced encyclopedia).

What hit single did they have in 1997?

• “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” was released in 1997 as a single from their self-titled album (Wikipedia, the crowdsourced encyclopedia).

The pattern: the band had two massive hits — one that introduced them and one that defined them — but only the latter got a 2025 re-recording attempt, however questionable.

Timeline: I Want It That Way’s Journey

• 1997 – Backstreet Boys release “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)”.
• April 12, 1999 – “I Want It That Way” single released.
• May 18, 1999 – Album Millennium released.
• 1999 – Song peaks at No. 6 on Billboard Hot 100.
• 2025 – An unverified version surfaces online.

The pattern: a classic pop song that never fades, with a twist in 2025 that remains a question mark.

Clarity Check

Summary

“I Want It That Way” remains the definitive Backstreet Boys single — a perfectly crafted pop ballad that conquered charts and conversations. For fans searching for the 2025 re-recording, the evidence points to an unofficial upload rather than a group-endorsed project. The band has not confirmed the release, and until they do, listeners should treat the 1999 original as the definitive version.

Frequently asked questions