The year was 1996. The X Files was experiencing peak popularity, the animated Disney flick of the year was about a hunchback named Quasimodo, and that summer's blockbuster would officially launch Will Smith as a bonafide alien-booty-kickin' action hero. (That would be in reference to Independence Day, not Men In Black, which would release the following year.)

And yet, none of these 1996 pop culture milestones would even come close to the impact of pop music that year, aka the year the world was introduced to two of the most quintessential pop bands of the 90s: the Spice Girls and the Backstreet Boys.

Fast forward about 20 years: The two bands are about to hit their 20th anniversaries for their debut albums, Spice and Backstreet Boys respectively, come next year. And what better way to celebrate (and get our hopes up) than by teasing a potential 2016 joint tour?

Backstreet Boys member A.J. McLean recently spoke to Rolling Stone about the band's upcoming anniversary, where he firmly hinted at the strong possibility of teaming up with Baby Spice, Ginger Spice, Posh Spice, Sporty Spice, and Scary Spice for a celebratory anniversary world tour.

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“The Spice Girls tour has been this idea bouncing around for the past year and a half, and it’s something we’re still talking about,” A.J. revealed to the magazine, adding, “But we’re going back in on the 12th to dust off the cobwebs. We’re working with a new producer, Jay Cash, who wrote 'Sugar’ for Maroon 5. This is just the beginning phase, but we’re hoping to have the album done before our cruise in May.”

Fortunately, A.J. wasn't the only Backstreet Boy to share his thoughts on the potential tour, with 90s dreamboat Nick Carter telling E! Online, "I actually did a little Twitter shout-out to Mel B because we’re friends and I said, ‘Hey this could be a cool idea. What if we did a Backstreet Boys-Spice Girls tour?’ ...There were talks in the past about it and we had done the New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys tour in the past. I think this would be that last hurrah—the two big groups from the late 90s. Maybe do a world tour, stadiums, stuff like that and do a package together. It’s just an idea.”

"Just an idea?" "JUST AN IDEA?" We think you mean the BEST IDEA EVER, NICK.

Honestly, "STOP" for a minute "EVERYBODY." Because this is seriously "LARGER THAN LIFE" and if it's a joke, they better "QUIT PLAYING GAMES (WITH MY HEART)." I mean, will "2 BECOME 1" next year for real? I'm no "WANNABE," but "I WANT IT THAT WAY," seriously.

Okay okay, I'm done.

Actually, one more: "VIVA FOREVER" SPICE GIRLS AND BACKSTREET BOYS!

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