“I Want It That Way” Just Got a Bachata Remix From Prince Royce
Photo by Antonio Ajam
Prince Royce is infusing one of the songs he grew up on with his Dominican roots. Today (May 16), the artist released a new covers album, which includes his bachata version of “I Want it That Way” by the Backstreet Boys.
Prince Royce got his first big break in music 15 years ago with his cover of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me.” From there, the Bronx native made his mark as a bicultural superstar who blends bachata with elements of genres like pop and R&B. Now, Royce is revisiting the formula that made him famous in his album Eterno. The LP includes his bachata covers of classics like the Bee Gees’ “How Deep is Your Love,” the Beatles’ “Yesterday,” and “I Want it That Way” but in Spanglish.
“I’ve always loved the classics — the songs that never go out of style and bring back powerful memories,” he shared in a statement. “With Eterno, I wanted to honor those timeless tracks and give them new life in the rhythm of bachata, a genre that’s part of my soul. This album is a tribute to music that has stood the test of time, reimagined through my own style, voice, and roots.”
What sets Prince Royce’s cover of “I Want it That Way” apart from the rest of the songs is that he was alive when the Backstreet Boys hit it big with that one. Backed by sensual bachata, he keeps the essence of the original alive by hitting all of the iconic harmonies and vocal runs. Royce also pays homage to the Backstreet Boys’ music video at the airport with his version, including pilots and other airline personnel.
Eterno arrives a year after Prince Royce’s last album Llamada Perdida. That includes his bachata-infused corrido “Cosas de La Peda” with Mexican singer Gabito Ballesteros.