Elevate with BTR!

Big Time Rush has been a consistent band in the pop music industry since 2009. Since they had a television show with Nickelodeon, many people did not even think they were a real band. They in fact are. 

With BTR currently on their “In Real Life” Worldwide Tour, it’s the perfect time to review one of my favorite of their albums. 

These bandmates are famous for their hits, Til I Forget About You, 24 Seven, and the theme for their show, Big Time Rush. The members include, Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, Carlos Pena-Vega, and Logan Henderson. Throughout their career they have released four studio albums. These include, BTR (2010), Elevate (2011), 24/Seven (2013), and Another Life (2023). 

Big Time Rush was a HUGE part of my childhood and I was obsessed with them, especially James. Growing up, I always had crushes on boys from bands. It’s a recurring theme even as I get older I love Niall Horan (One Direction) and Justin Timberlake (*NSYNC). 

Elevate is their second studio album released in 2011. For a fact, I had the CD and it was on repeat in the car. I miss the days of CDs. The 2010s were a fun time to grow up in. Any BTR song to me sounds like driving to Six Flags Great Adventure in the summertime. 

Elevate was pretty much their breakout album as a real band. Singles include, Music Sounds Better, If I Ruled the World, and Time of Our Life. 

For this review, I will be evaluating each song based on how they fit into the colors on the album cover. These colors include red, grey, and black. 

Music Sounds Better- As the first single, and first track on the album, I feel like it really kicks it off. This song really associates with the red feeling of love that you get from the album cover.  “Elevate” in a love term definitely expresses that. 

Show Me- This tune’s basic theme is about how one of the boys in the band, or them all, wants their partner to show them love in physical and emotional ways. But really showing it. Show Me was my favorite song from this album growing up. I see this song expressing the grey part of the album especially with the lyric, “Full o’ stormy weather.” I always found this song visually appealing without a music video, so it just fit who I was. 

All Over Again- I think this song has been on every “love playlist” I have ever made. It is just one of those songs especially lyrically you do not realize it is by a boy band. Even if a band did not write it, it is still a cute song that the girls would love so they knew what they were doing. I remember the episode this was in when it came out and I loved the choreography. I just thought it was brilliant even though I was only 8. I think the expression of love is a big part of this song, so I really see red even though there are some heartbreak lyrics that would be grey. 

No Idea- I have a very personal connection to this song. When I was in 7th to about 11th grade, I had a crush on this one person and this was the song that was always on that playlist. I knew they would never love me so it made me feel as if I was never even there to them. This song for me would be grey because of how sad as a teenager I was about that “love” I had. 

Cover Girl- When I was younger, I definitely felt as if this song was too emotional for me. Although when I got older, it ended up to be a song for a partner I had in high school, so I guess that went away. Even at this time in my life I listen to it and think of how emotional this song is for a boyband song. Honestly, it’s a pretty intense tune. I see this song to be in the red and grey mix because it is a sad sort of love song. 

Love Me Love Me- It seems like everyone I know who likes BTR has a big love for this song. I get it, it was one of my favorites growing up. It is a fast paced tune about love, so I would give this a red code. 

If I Ruled the World (featuring Iyaz)- Growing up, I liked features in songs, but, as I get older, I really don’t. I really do not know what changed, but I just don’t. This song is a real catchy one about how the guys would do anything for their partner, like rule the world. Growing up, I did not really like this tune and that did not really change, but I do admit it is a catchy song. Very red tune. 

Invisible- This is another, as I feel, a deep weather emotion based tune. When you are sad it is a rainy day emotion and most people associate that with grey, as I do. I always like the emotional elements of love that the band expresses through their songs, so this is a special one for me. 

Time of our Life- This is a happy party tune about finding love and how happy it makes you and none of the deep stuff. I love this song and the beat is so good. I loved this song as a kid and always will. This is a bright red. 

Superstar- The beat of this song is a very upbeat party song. Some people might not think so but I find it very fun. The main point is the boys think their partner is a superstar in who they are and is what every girl and any person wants to hear from their spouse. I find it to be a red-tone uplifting melody. 

You’re Not Alone- This tune has always made me cry; it is just a very comforting one. I always love songs that touch on mental health and that people aren’t alone in relationships or in general. It is a very red-black track because of sadness but red on the brighter end of it. Very heartwarming from a boyband. 

Elevate- This is the last number I will be reviewing and the title tune to the album. I find this to be a good way to end it because it expresses that the album was going for an elevating feeling because all the songs felt good whether they would be sad or not. It also shows that the “elevate” word would mean that people would elevate their love for them as a band with this second album. I found this genius. This would one hundred percent be a red tune, because it is so fun, but also could be grey, because there is a lyric that says milky way and always thought of space as grey. As an adult, this is my favorite from the album based on my taste in music now. 

Cyclone Rating

I absolutely adore this album top to bottom; it is one of the best of my childhood and going through the songs really brought me back to being younger and I really miss it. The summer of 2011 and 2012 was so great. I do hope to see this band live one day since it is a childhood memory for me. 

My rating of this album is 4.5; I really love it and I always will for sure. Too many memories to forget about all these great tunes!