OK I know nothing about *NSYNC, I just was in the library the other day and they had a copy of Lance Bass’s autobiography.
It was a good short read, considering I have never listened to the group. I couldn’t identify one of their songs.
But it seems to me from the moment I heard anything about *NSYNC starting in the late 90s it was their “conflict” with the Backstreet Boys or Justin Timberlake.
Whenever I’d see a blip on celebrity news any news on *NSYNC would be Justin Timberlake.
I ask this 'cause at the end of Bass’s autobiography he writes how shocked he was when Justin broke up the group. According to Bass, Justin asked for three months off so he could do a solo album. Then he asked for 3 more months to work on it. Then six months, then a year more, then he told everyone else he was quitting.
And Lance said he was shocked.
So I Googled around and it seems Justin sang lead on all the songs (or most of them) and none of them played instruments, so it seems like everyone else in *NSYNC was just riding Timberlakes coat-tails.
I looked at their photos and none except Timberlake seem even marginally good looking so it should seem to me Bass should’ve realized this.
But since I know nothing of this group, I’m probably wrong.
I guess perhaps John Oates and the other guy from Wham! maybe thought the same way.
Considering the only names I can remember off the top of my head are Justin Timberlake, who has done a bunch of stuff after NSYNC, and Lance Bass, because he came out of the closet, I’d say yes.
I’m definitely not an expert on the topic, but I was a teenager during their popularity, and I don’t remember it being all about Justin. JC sang lead on a lot of the songs, and I believe he (with Justin) wrote most of them on their final album. I remember the “I Drive Myself Crazy” music video, and they all had singing parts in the song, I think.
JC also had a brief singing career (anybody remember “Some Girls Dance With Women?”) and is currently a judge on America’s Best Dance Crew on MTV. Joey Fatone was doing that show where people try to remember song lyrics on one of the networks, last I heard.
But yeah, Justin was always the star of the group, and the one everybody assumed would have a solo career afterward.
Honestly I’m surprised at just how far JT has gotten in recent years. He has really matured his style, and while he’s still uber-poppy, he actually makes music I semi-enjoy. And he has his fingers in a lot of cool stuff. A far cry from the Justin Timberlake I hated during the boy-band era.
Plus hes funny as hell, and a good actor. As a 30 year old male its hard to admit to being a JT fan, but i genuinely enjoy everything i’ve seen him in. Well, besides N’sync that is.
I think Justin Timberlake has become a pretty respectable pop artist. He’s been really smart about navigating his solo career and has some great songs. I feel like Futuresex/Lovesounds is sort of the record that mainstream male pop artists are going to try to sound like for a few years.
I felt like JC Chasez was sort of the second-in-command whenever I would see NSYNC on tv growing up. He had a pretty big hit on the Drumline soundtrack. In the end, I just don’t think he has the vocal chops to actually be that successful. None of the other guys do, they’re just good backup singers.
Joey Fatone had a string of movie and broadway roles, but I’m not sure if that’s still going on.
Lance Bass has apparently chosen to make a career out of being gay.
Chris Kirkpatrick began fading into obscurity before NSYNC even released their first single.
…why do I know all of their names? Why do I know these things? Oh, God.
Joshua Chasez (JC) was a moderately talented jazz musician, I believe playing cabarets and such, who had been a childhood friend of Justin Timberlake. Justin brought him into the group. I’m not moved to pore through their discography, but I believe JC wrote some of their music. I also heard (but haven’t been moved to confirm) that JC and JT broke into show business togethr as Mouseketeers for one incarnation of the Mickey Mouse Club TV show.
He’s good at comedy. Kinda. Not like you really have to be for SNL, but I assume he’s talking about the skits he’s done for SNL, which have been pretty funny. Otherwise, he was in the Love Guru, which I didn’t see, and a voice actor in Shrek 3.
Chris was the runner up for Backstreet Boys, and got Lou Pearlman (the guy who formed BSB) to do another “boy band.” Pearlman based out of Orlando then reached to Justin, who was there for Miceky Mouse Club
Bass said he used to tour around with local groups in the summers, and Joey was supposed to sing the “bass” part but couldn’t hack it, he was baratone. And Justin Timberlake’s mother remembered Bass from a tour and recalled he could sing “bass” and Justin’s mother called Lance’s mother.
According to Lance Bass, Justin Timberlake had been performing professionally since he was three