Or at least… they tried to

The Backstreet Boys
(Getty)
The Backstreet Boys are still trying to explain the meaning of their hit “I Want It That Way” – 24 years after it was first released.

Chrissy Teigen decided to share her confusion about the song last week on Twitter, as many have done before.

“I never wanna hear you say, ‘I want it that way’ cause I want it that way. He doesn’t wanna hear it because he is the one who wants it that way? He wants to be the one to say it? Also what is ‘it’?” she asked.

“It seems they both want it the same way but are fighting over who gets to say they want it that way.”

Fortunately the boys were on hand to attempt an explanation, although many would argue Teigen – along with the rest of us – will only be more confused.

“Don’t wanna hear you say that you want heartaches and mistakes… or to be 2 worlds apart. We don’t want you to want ‘it’ that way – that’s the way we want it… for you not to want it that way,” they tweeted from the band’s official Twitter account.

On Sunday 3 June they attempted a better explanation.

“It means whatever each individual’s interpretation is, is what it means,” AJ McLean told ET. “Chrissy is obviously a really big, big fan and we love you! Thanks for so much love and support. But you know, it’s one of those songs that doesn’t have to mean anything! It just doesn’t! It just works?”

Does it work, AJ? Does it?

Brian Littrell agreed the song works regardless of its lack of any apparent meaning. Kevin Richardson said: “It means something different to everyone.”

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It might just be better to remember that “I Want It That Way” was written by superproducer Max Martin and Andreas Carlsson – both of whom reportedly didn’t speak very good English back in the 90s – as a better explanation for the nonsensical lyrics.