News flash, Aunties! Boy Bands are no longer a retro fad stuck in the 80s and 90s. Over the past six months, a new generation of finely-coiffed, dapperly-dressed teen dream crooners have invaded the U.S. pop charts, and our nieces and nephews are screaming in approval. So, break out that old New Kids on The Block t-shirt, Aunties; and take this opportunity to reminisce and bond over which band is dreamiest of them all.

One Direction
These imports were originally individual contestants on the U.K.'s X Factor. After failing to make the cut on their own, Simon Cowell decided to put the boys together to make one super-group. The result: five irresistible Justin Bieber look-alikes who sing melodies sweet enough to melt any Auntie's heart. Known simply to their fans as 1D, their debut album, "Up All Night," launched at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart in March.



Big Time Rush
This quartet of wholesome American boys first caught the attention of tweens everywhere on their Nickelodeon show of the same name, which premiered in 2010 to 6.8 million viewers, making it the network's highest-rated live action series debut of all time. Five ratings-smashing TV movies, countless specials, and two studio albums later, BTR is more popular than ever; and the show was just renewed for its third season.



The Wanted
Dubbed by Chelsea Handler as "The Anti Jonas Brothers," the U.K. bad boys cater to a slightly older crowd than their 1D counterpart; but they don't seem to mind. The first boy band since 1997's Hanson to top the Billboard's Pop Songs chart with their infectious dance hit, "Glad You Came," these boys are sure to make your teen nieces and nephews swoon as they continue to travel across the country this summer on their first U.S. tour.



Mindless Behavior
Assembled by the creative minds behind some of R&B and pop music's greatest acts today (e.g., Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Timbaland), Mindless Behavior is a foursome of smooth operators, poised to rule the charts in years to come. Their album, “#1 Girl,” debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 and at No. 2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. They have toured with Janet Jackson, Jason Derülo, Justin Bieber, and more.



Photo: Brett Robson, Global Photographics
Published: June 19, 2012