OUR FAVORITE SPOTLIGHT-AVOIDING SHY GUYS!

We are approaching the end of our boy band bias series – and let me tell you – it has been fun going through the different archetypes of a boy band and ranking my favorites of each! So far, we have tackled the Bad Boy (as you know this is my bias) the Heartthrob (my bias-wrecker), and most recently the Cuties!

And last but not least, we are going to talk about the SHY GUYS. Those guys that are reluctant boy band members. They joined the band, but fame and all of the adoring fans wasn’t something they bargained for. And as a result they try and stay out of the limelight as much as they can. These members are quite private, and not surprisingly, they are often the first to leave a boy band.

So, lets take a look at my Top 5 FAVORITE Boy Band Shy Guys:

5. Sean Conlon – Five

Sean was definitely the stand out shy member amongst the other rowdy Five members. Sean also came across as visibly less talkative and shy in interviews. And we all know Sean had had enough of the spotlight and of Five back in 2001 and couldn’t participate in the promotions for their final album, Kingsize, after having a breakdown caused by stress from being in the group. During this time he was replaced by a cardboard cut out in the Just Dance video – fueling rumors that he had actually already left the band. Of course, after the band broke up Sean tried to make it solo – even auditioned for the UK version of the Voice, before eventually reuniting with four out of five original Five members in the The Big Reunion in 2013!

4. Kevin Richardson – Backstreet Boys

Kevin Richardson played dual roles in the Backstreet Boys – the older brother figure, but also the shy one (Howie was a close call for shy one, but for me it goes to Kevin). Kevin was notoriously private – possibly because he was the oldest of the group and going through different things at different times as the other members. And of course Kevin decided to leave the BSB in 2006 to move on with his life and experience different things, like starting a family and being out of the spotlight. Thankfully, as of 2012 we have Kevin back and the Backstreet Boys are complete again – it just wasn’t the same without him!

3. Jon Knight – NKOTB

Jon was always the big brother/shy one of New Kids on the Block, and competing with other big personalities like Donnie Wahlberg, Jon was always the last person to speak up in interviews. And of course we now know that behind the scenes, Jon was battling anxiety and panic attacks since his early days with the band. Jon split from the band in 1994 during the middle of their Face the Music tour, and completely left the spotlight, getting involved in real estate instead. He reunited with the New Kids in 2008 and has since been handling the fame and touring better as an adult, and even competed on The Amazing Race with his partner Harley Rodriguez in 2015!

2. Zayn Malik – One Direction

Zayn may not have always been the shy member of the group, but with years of putting out record after record with 1D, and relentless touring, the workload started to take a toll on Zayn. After releasing the the band’s fourth record in four years, Zayn left in the middle of the On the Road Again tour in 2015. Zayn said he had become overwhelmed with stress and wanted to live as a normal 22 year old with a personal life and downtime outside of the spotlight. Later that year his engagement to Perrie Edwards of Little Mix also ended – so safe to say 2015 was a rough year for Zayn! Obviously, he has gone on to a successful solo career where he can maintain more balance between spotlight and personal life and recently welcomed his first child with Gigi Hadid in September.

1. Gary Barlow – Take That

Gary Barlow is now one of the most successful songwriters in UK history, but wasn’t always that way! He was put forward as “the front” man of Take That, but he was always a reluctant front guy, despite having so much talent! He worked tirelessly behind the scenes, writing and producing most of the band’s music, because for Gary it was always about the music and not the spotlight. And then of course we all know what happened when Take That broke up in 1996. Gary’s solo albums bombed, he was ridiculed in the press, and in 1999 quit show business all together and became a bit of a recluse. Again, if you haven’t watched when James Corden met Gary Barlow, I highly recommend it – because this sad story does have a great ending! After years of ridicule in the tabloids, and avoiding the spotlight, Gary started writing music again – and slowly started producing and working behind the scenes (the place where the shy one naturally shines!). And before you know it, he’s organizing Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee and getting Take That back together! And now, surrounded by his band mates (including Robbie Williams again) and bolstered by his new found confidence, Gary is back at the top of his game!

Now that I’ve shared my favorites, who is your all time favorite boy band SHY GUY??