U.S. boy band Full Circle Boys release their (fire) single “Bleachers” and I want to know where the other minute and a half of it is

So, this boy band put out a new song on Friday, which nearly slipped through the cracks on a day which saw a bunch of high profile releases — many of which Twitter is dragging left and right, as it does. It’s called “Bleachers” and it’s kinda great. Too bad it’s only 1 minute and 39 seconds long. [Sighs]

The video is amazing. The choreography is fire. The production on the song is YES BITCH. My only note — and it’s a big note — is that the song is too short. Like, WAY too short. A ‘full’ song having a runtime of 1:39 is ridiculous. And even in big 2026 with short songs having been a trend for a few years now, I just struggle to get my head around it.

This current trend of making songs shorter and shorter for TikTok and to game more Spotify streams is getting too out of hand. I’m seeing more and more songs with runtimes under 2 minutes and acts releasing albums which do not have a single song over 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

I do not like it here.

Full Circle Boys - Bleachers | Anomaly Create I

“Bleachers” is fire, and I will run it up. And with that admission, some would say ‘Well, that’s the point and why nobody cares about making longer songs.’ But I would prefer if the song were 3 minutes and 18 seconds long. There is an argument to be had that maybe Full Circle Boys (who are credited writers on the song) and producer Troy “R8DIO” Johnson felt they didn’t need to do more, and I get that.

Lemme put my apple next to this orange and make my comparison statement.

Back when I used to make my own lil’ bullshit pieces of fictional video game music and upload it to YouTube, commenters would always say ‘This is too short’. And I’d always read the comment and think ‘But, this is the song. To me, it’s complete. Adding more would just be padding it out for the sake of it.’ And something to support my thought could be that video game music by nature is different. It’s composed to be short and loopable. Not be a pop song. But with a piece of music for chart radio or an album, the criteria is different. But I guess the issue in today’s music is that the criteria has shifted to be shorter and more akin to old school video game music — something short and catchy that you hope people will loop by putting it on repeat. [Scoffs] I dunno. But I don’t like it. And I think a lot of these younger songwriters and producers these days need to train themselves to be able to create fuller songs. This is not a skill issue across the board. It’s certainly not one for Full Circle Boys and Troy “R8DIO” Johnson who have created songs which are full. But in some cases, it’s definitely a skill issue. And that is a problem.

HENNYWAY.

“Bleachers” is fire and I would very much like an extended version. And if I don’t get one within the next 5 business days, I might make one myself.

Full Circle Boys - Bleachers | Anomaly Create I

As for Full Circle Boys, check them out. My introduction to them was with their music video for “Call My Name” a year ago, which was one of their earlier videos. But I didn’t stick with them, because the sound was very The Weeknd, After Hours-esque, and I was so over that sound, because it felt like it was everywhere. But Full Circle Boys thankfully moved away from that and they have some really good songs, and some great music videos — one of which is “Call My Name”. Hopefully they will have their breakthrough moment, because they’re a talented bunch of guys who can dance their asses off. And pop needs a fun boy band that isn’t BTS.