In the late 90s, it seemed like there was an endless supply of boy bands. The most prominent at the time were, of course, *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys but there were many, many others including a little trio called LFO. LFO stood for “Lyte Funky Ones” because apparently no one knew how to spell and was made up of Rich Cronin, Devin Lima, and Brad Fischetti.
The band’s debut album, unoriginally called LFO, was released in 1999 and featured their biggest hit “Summer Girls.”
The song could have basically been a commercial for Abercrombie & Fitch considering how often they mention that clothing line (“I like girls that wear Abercrombie & Fitch,” and “You look like a girl from Abercrombie & Fitch.”) But aside from their obvious product placement, the rest of the lyrics make almost zero sense:
“You’re the best girl that I ever did see/The great Larry Bird, jersey 33″
“Hip Hop Marmalade spic and span/Met you one summer and it all began”
“Cherry Pez, Cold Crush, rock star Boogie/Used to hate school so I had to play hooky”
“There was a good man named Paul Revere/I feel much better, baby, when you’re near”
“Fell deep in love but now we ain’t speakin’/Michael J. Fox was Alex P. Keaton”
But despite (or perhaps because of) the stupid lyrics and shameless commercialism, this song peaked at #3 on the Billboard charts because we as a nation had zero standards. And believe me, I wasn’t immune to this–I actually owned this album.
Listening to this song again, it just makes me cringe and the two other hits they had weren’t much better. “Girl on TV” was written by Rich Cronin about his then-girlfriend Jennifer Love Hewitt who, as you’ll see, also stars in the music video.
I, too, have always wished for a song to be written about me that includes the line “Shooby-doo-wop and Scooby Snacks/Met a fly girl and I can’t relax.”
Their last hit, “Every Other Time”, came off their second and final album, the name of which I didn’t even bother to look up because honestly, I’ve lost enough brain cells to this boy band. But just in case you haven’t, here’s the music video for “Every Other Time”:
With lyrics like “Sometimes we swim around/Like two dolphins in the oceans of our hearts”, it’s hard to believe that this group ever disbanded but they did in 2002. They later reunited in 2009 for the summer (no word on if they wore Abercrombie & Fitch) but before they were able to record a third album, Rich Cronin tragically passed away from leukemia in 2010.
As for the other two members, they continued their music careers but all of their projects are likely ones you’ve never heard of. And I don’t mean that in an underground/hipster sort of way–it appears that one of the biggest credits either of them have had was Devin Lima’s band getting a single on the American Pie Presents: Beta House soundtrack.
For those of you keeping track, that’s the seventh American Pie movie in the franchise. I had no idea these were still being made but at least they’re keeping Eugene Levy gainfully employed as he’s the only one to appear in all eight films (and there are rumors of a ninth if you believe Tara Reid).
Happy Throwback Thursday!
Emily Regan 