Inconsolable

"Inconsolable"
Single by Backstreet Boys
from the album Unbreakable
Released	August 27, 2007 (2007-08-27)
Studio	Studio E at Chalice Recording, Westlake Audio (Los Angeles)
Genre	Pop[1]
Length	3:36
Label	Jive
Songwriter(s)	Emanuel Kiriakou, Lindy Robbins, Jess Cates
Producer(s)	Emanuel Kiriakou
Backstreet Boys singles chronology
"I Still..." (2006) "Inconsolable" (2007) "Helpless When She Smiles" (2007)
Music video
"Inconsolable" on YouTube

"Inconsolable" is a song by American boy band Backstreet Boys. The song was released as the first single from their sixth studio album Unbreakable (2007). It is the group's first single without Kevin Richardson, who had left the group in 2006. The single was released to US radio outlets on August 27, 2007. It was first confirmed on July 25, 2007, and premiered by Jive at Z-100 - New York's Hit Music Station on August 6. The song entered the top 10 in Italy and Switzerland, reaching numbers two and eight, respectively.

Background and composition

"Inconsolable" was written by Emmanuel Kiriakou, Lindy Robbins and Jess Cates and produced by Emanuel Kiriakou.^[1] It features the trademark emotional boy band romantic lyrics^[2] with heartfelt vocals.^[3]

The song is a piano-driven power ballad similar to "Incomplete". It features acoustic piano, strings, rhythmic acoustic guitars, heavy vocal harmonies and an emotional vocal performance.^[4] The song's verses are in the key of G major, whilst the chorus is in the relative key of E minor.^[5]

Critical reception

The song was well received by critics. Bill Lamb of About.com wrote: "It only takes one cut like the first single 'Inconsolable' to realize the group is concentrating on fleshing out their most comfortable pop territory."^[6] Andy Battaglia of The A.V. Club commented that the song "reach the stirring heights of old while maintaining Backstreet Boys' habit of mimicking, melodically and structurally, songs by Def Leppard."^[7] Gemma Padley of BBC Music wrote that the song "features the trademark emotional wrangling but thankfully resists boy band cliches like the diabolical key change."^[2] Simon Vozick-Levinson from Entertainment Weekly called it a "soggy adult-contemporary power ballad",^[8] while Matt O'Leary from Virgin Media named it "a textbook Backstreet Boys song, a huge, glossy, shiny thing, with very heartfelt vocals."^[3] Yahoo! Music wrote: "It is an extremely catchy pop song, a perfect track to reintroduce the group to the marketplace."^[1]

Music video

The music video, directed by Ray Kay, was shot in Venice Beach, California on August 16, 2007. The music video features the group both individually and together. In the beginning, Nick Carter is shown lying on the beach during a solar eclipse, Brian Littrell is in a house looking out, AJ McLean is on the street with a car, much like in "Incomplete", and Howie Dorough is shown sitting with his back against a wall near the beach. At various intervals in between, when the chorus is sung, the four are seen together on the Venice Pier. After the leads are sung, the scenes shift between the group individually and together; at the end of the video, the eclipse ends. The city wakes up and they walk towards the ocean together on the pier.

Track listings

UK CD1^[9]

1. "Inconsolable" – 3:36
2. "Close My Eyes" – 4:06

UK CD2^[10]

1. "Inconsolable" (album version) – 3:36
2. "Inconsolable" (Jason Nevins remix) – 4:14
3. "Inconsolable" (Soul Seekerz remix) – 5:49
4. "Inconsolable" (Eazy remix) – 6:08
5. "Inconsolable" (video enhancement) – 3:43

Australian and Japanese CD single^[11][12]

1. "Inconsolable" (main version) – 3:36
2. "Inconsolable" (instrumental) – 3:36

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2007) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[13] 43 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[14] 31 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[15] 6 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[16] 9 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[17] 68 Canada AC (Billboard)[18] 23 CIS Airplay (TopHit)[19] 24 European Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[20] 21 Germany (GfK)[21] 17 Ireland (IRMA)[22] 36 Italy (FIMI)[23] 2 Japan (Oricon)[24] 29 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[25] 5 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[26] 38 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[27] 93 Russia Airplay (TopHit)[28] 23 Scotland (OCC)[29] 24 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[30] 23 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[31] 22 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[32] 8 UK Singles (OCC)[33] 24 US Billboard Hot 100[34] 86 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[35] 21 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[36] 37 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[37] 34

Year-end charts Chart (2007) Position Brazil (Crowley)[38] 87 CIS (TopHit)[39] 78 Italy (FIMI)[40] 45 Russia Airplay (TopHit)[41] 105

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[42]	Gold	30,000^‡
Japan (RIAJ)[43] Full-length ringtone	Gold	100,000^*
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
United States	August 27, 2007	Contemporary hit radio	Jive	[44]
Australia	September 24, 2007	CD		[45]
Japan	September 26, 2007			[24]
United Kingdom	October 22, 2007			[46]

References

1. "Backstreet Boys' Unbreakable: An Undeniably Strong Album". Yahoo! Voices. October 26, 2007. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
2. Paddley, Gemma (November 8, 2007). "BBC - Music - Review of Backstreet Boys - Unbreakable". BBC Music. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
3. O'Leary, Matt. "Backstreet Boys: Unbreakable review - Album Reviews - Music - Virgin Media". Virgin Media. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
4. "Inconsolable - Backstreet Boys on Pandora Internet Radio - Listen Free". Archived from the original on December 28, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
5. Lindy, Robbins; Jess, Cates; Emanuel, Kiriakou; Boys, Backstreet (October 20, 2008). "Inconsolable". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
6. Lamb, Bill. "Backstreet Boys - Unbreakable". About.com. New York Times Company. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
7. Battaglia, Andy (November 6, 2007). "Backstreet Boys: Unbreakable | Music | Music Review". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
8. Vozick-Levinson, Simon (October 26, 2007). "Unbreakable Review | Music Reviews and News". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 25, 2007. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
9. Inconsolable (UK CD1 liner notes). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records. 2007. 88697 10660 2.
10. Inconsolable (UK CD2 liner notes). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records. 2007. 88697 10665 2.
11. Inconsolable (Australian CD single liner notes). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records. 2007. 88697169152.
12. Inconsolable (Japanese CD single liner notes). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records. 2007. BVCP-29623.
13. "Backstreet Boys – Inconsolable". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
14. "Backstreet Boys – Inconsolable" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
15. "Backstreet Boys – Inconsolable" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
16. "Backstreet Boys – Inconsolable" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
17. "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
18. "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
19. Backstreet Boys — Inconsolable. TopHit. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
20. "Backstreet Boys – Chart Search" Billboard European Hot 100 Singles for Backstreet Boys. Retrieved October 11, 2010. ^{[dead link‍]}
21. "Backstreet Boys – Inconsolable" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
22. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Backstreet Boys". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
23. "Backstreet Boys – Inconsolable". Top Digital Download. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
24. "インコンソーラブル | バックストリート・ボーイズ" [Inconsolable | Backstreet Boys] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
25. "Tipparade-lijst van week 43, 2007" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
26. "Backstreet Boys – Inconsolable" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
27. "Romanian Top 100 – Issue nr: 40/2007 (15 Octombrie - 21 Octombrie 2007)" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on October 17, 2007. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
28. "Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Nov 1, 2007". TopHit. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
29. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
30. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200738 into search. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
31. "Backstreet Boys – Inconsolable". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
32. "Backstreet Boys – Inconsolable". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
33. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
34. "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
35. "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
36. "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
37. "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
38. "Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2007". Crowley Broadcast Analysis. April 3, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
39. "CIS Year-End Radio Hits (2007)". Tophit. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
40. "Classifiche Annuali 2007 FIMI-AC Nielsen: al primo posto Eros Ramazzotti con "E2"" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. January 10, 2008. Archived from the original on May 6, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2013. Download the attached file by clicking Scarica l'allegato.
41. "Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2007". TopHit. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
42. "Brazilian single certifications – Backstreet Boys – Inconsolable" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
43. "Japanese ringtone certifications – Backstreet Boys – Inconsolable" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved May 23, 2023. Select 2008年2月 on the drop-down menu
44. "FMQB: CHR". FMQB. Archived from the original on June 2, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
45. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 24th September 2007" (PDF). ARIA. September 24, 2007. p. 32. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 22, 2008. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
46. "Music Upfront: October 22". Music Week. October 20, 2007. p. 23.

External links

• Preview @ BackstreetBoys.com Archived October 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
• Billboard