The Backstreet Boys are making a whistle-stop tour of six continents to promote their new album beginning November 17, 2000 when they leave on a 26,000-mile odyssey. The band, shown at the Radio Music Awards in Las Vegas November 4, makes stops in Tokyo, Sydney, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro and New York.

TOKYO - For thousands of screaming Japanese girls the biggest thing to come out of Tokyo Bay on Saturday was not Godzilla but the American pop group the Backstreet Boys.

A.J., Brian, Howie D., Kevin and Nick -- the five heartthrobs who have sold 55 million records -- floated on a glittering ship to a concert at a Tokyo Bay front venue as part of a world tour in which they plan to circle the globe in 100 hours with stops in Tokyo, Sydney, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro and New York.

But it was not all fun and games when the group arrived at Tokyo's Narita airport, where 1,000 fans staked out spots to see the boys on arrival on a chartered jet.

At least 10 people were injured when a crush of fans with cameras in hand swarmed around the bus carrying the group as they drove away.

Later, the boys, dressed in black and blue to support their new album "Black and Blue," thrilled screaming hordes of Japanese girls when they slung their arms around each other's shoulders on the ship's deck and sang a song from the new album.

As girls brandished placards bearing the name of their favorite Backstreet Boy, fans on the shore showed their appreciation by shouting, "Take me to America" and "ai shiteiru," which means "I love you."

"We are in the making of history. Nobody has done this before. We appreciate the fan support because if it wasn't for the fans we wouldn't have these countries to go to," group member Brian Littrel told Reuters Television.

Despite the airport trouble and the hordes of fans on the waterfront, seeing the Backstreet Boys was the thrill of a lifetime for some.

"I love the Backstreet Boys. Their songs always cheer me up when I'm feeling sad," one teenage girl said.

Summary

作为新专辑宣传活动的一部分，后街男孩演唱组抵达其环球表演的第一站——日本。他们刚一到达就在日本境内刮起了一场后街男孩旋风。无数疯狂的歌迷蜂拥而至只为一睹他们的风采。活动现场的气氛非常热烈，但至少10人在活动中受伤。

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heartthrob [n] 心跳，柔情，激情
stake [n] 树桩
stake out划分
charter [v] 租，包
horde [n] 一大群，群众
sling [v] 吊起
brandish [v] 挥舞
placard [n] 布告，广告宣传画，招贴

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