*NSYNC Group Bio (nsync.com)
In 1998, their self-titled debut sold over ten million copies with
four number one hits: "I Want Your Back," Tearin' Up My Heart,"
"God Must Have Spent a Little More Time on You," and "Drive
Myself Crazy." Fans ate up their holiday album, Home For Christmas. The
follow-up, No Strings Attached, broke records and sold 2.4 million albums in
its first week. "Bye Bye Bye," "It's Gonna Be Me," and
"This I Promise You" instantaneously became pop classics. The accompanying
tour sold out arenas and stadiums. Surely, this was all a fluke.
If the stadium dates on the sold out *NSYNC 2001 PODODYSSEY Tour or
the infectious anthem "Pop" and its amazing video still don't
convince you, then you simply don't want to admit true artistry. With each
album and each live performance, *NSYNC just gets better and better. Their
latest offering, Celebrity, is a collection of great pure dance music that's
made especially with their fans in mind. Just like No Strings Attached and
following in the tradition of Michael Jackson and The Beatles, Celebrity is a
concept album.
"We chose the title Celebrity because the term is a
misconception of what people really are," says Justin. The ability to
never take themselves seriously has always been the group's most endearing
quality. Celebrity pokes fun at their legendary status in pop music (just check
the album cover) and even addresses some of the issues that accompany fame.
Even more impressive than their social commentary is the increased songwriting
and production from the group's members. JC, who also contributed to No Strings
Attached, co-wrote four songs and co-produced three. "Our records are just
about having good energy, having fun. That's why we even did a 2-step record
like 'Up Against the Wall,'" says JC.
Celebrity also introduces Justin as a songwriter and producer. He
co-wrote seven tracks and co-produced five on the new album, most with *NSYNC's
choreographer Wade J. Robson. Believing they would be a great team, Justin
approached Wade about collaborating musically. "We got together right
after the last tour and wrote for a week, that's it, and came up with 'Pop,'
'Celebrity,' 'See Right Through You,' and 'Gone.' It's crazy. We've got a
chemistry that's second to none," Justin says.
With so many songs on Celebrity with the Justin stamp, fans will get
to see a new side of the charismatic singer. "If you write the things that
you perform, you're putting your heart out there for everybody to either hold
and nurture; or throw to the ground and step on it," he says. However, he
need not worry. If there was any album that fully communicated the *NSYNC
sound, this is it. "It's great to hear everybody developing musically.
We're all going down the same road and it's cool to see what they've picked
up," says Chris. The other guys in the group are also learning their way
around the studio and eventually they too will help define the *NSYNC sound on
upcoming projects.
"We enjoy all music-rock, R&B, hip-hop, blues, country,
show tunes, etc. We've always had very musical ears even though people say
whatever about us, but we know music and how it's structured," Chris says.
"We know how we are vocally and when we go into the studio, we use what we
know to make our sound different."
Celebrity is a unique collection of amazing pop songs that will
undoubtedly reach a wide range of audiences. The mesmerizing ballad
"Gone" (Justin beatboxes the beat!), the playful "The Game is
Over" with its sample from the Pac-Man video game, and the dreamy
uptempo-lullaby "Girlfriend" are just a few of the album's standout
cuts. Other producers on Celebrity include Rodney Jerkins, The Neptunes, Brian
McKnight, and Sweden's Cheiron production team Max Martin and Rami. "We'd
already established our sound and coined the term 'dirty pop,' but you really
can't classify our music. It's a great mixture of a lot of different genres
that include the group's diverse tastes," says Lance. "Our formula
has always been about five people coming together to brainstorm," Joey
says. "Each person adds their own flavor and the combination is what
defines *NSYNC