(31/7) *NSYNC to Appear on Teen Choice Awards
Source: www.launch.com
Pop superstars and brothers Nick and Aaron Carter will perform at THE
TEEN CHOICE AWARDS 2001 Monday, Aug. 20 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. R&B sensation Usher is also scheduled to perform at the awards
special celebrating the hottest teen icons in film, television, music, fashion and sports -- as chosen by American teenagers.
Additional celebrities scheduled to appear include Emmy award-nominee Frankie Muniz ("Malcolm In The Middle"), Sandra Bullock ("Miss
Congeniality" ), Freddie Prinze, Jr. ("Summer Catch" ), Ashton Kutcher ("That '70s Show"), Reese Witherspoon ("Legally Blonde" ),
Jessica Alba ("Dark Angel"), David Boreanez ("Angel"), Cedric "The Entertainer" ("The Original Kings of Comedy"), Pamela Anderson
("VIP" ), David Spade ("Just Shoot Me" ), Shawn & Marlon Wayans ("Scary Movie 2" ),
Mandy Lauderdale ("Temptation Island"), talk show host Ananda Lewis, Carson Daly (MTV), comedian Carrot Top,
professional skateboarder Tony Hawk and the WWF's The Rock.
Sarah Michelle Gellar ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), also scheduled to appear, will be honored with the Extraordinary Achievement Award.
Musical artists scheduled to appear include: Britney Spears, *NSYNC, Destiny's Child,
Sisqo', Pink, Mandy Moore, Jessica Simpson, Dream,
Eden's Crush, Tyrese, Lil' Bow Wow and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopez.
Additional information regarding THE TEEN CHOICE AWARDS 2001 can be found in the July and August issues of Seventeen magazine and at
www.seventeen.com and www.fox.com
(31/7) *NSYNC, Missy Elliott to perform at Video Music Awards
Source: www.mtv.com
'NSYNC and Missy Elliott have been added to the list of performers for the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards, the network announced Tuesday.
The pair of pop superstars — whose latest albums are Celebrity and Miss E ... So Addictive, respectively — join previously announced
performers U2 and Alicia Keys. More additions to the roster are expected shortly.
Fatboy Slim tops the list of VMA nominees with nine nods for the Spike Jonze-directed clip "Weapon of Choice," which features a fleet-footed Christopher
Walken.
The 18th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast on MTV from New York's Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center September 6 at
8 p.m. (live ET/tape delayed PT).
(31/7) "Celebrity" has Fu Man in the Bag
Source: www.fumanskeeto.com
Tuesday July 24, 2001... the release of *Nsync's sophomore album "Celebrity". And to
celebtrate, Jive records hosted a release
party on Monday July 23rd and FuMan Skeeto was asked to be a part of the
giftbags. The guests of Jive and *Nsync all left with the cool
FuMan gear (including the latest FuMan decals) along with an assortment of other gifts. So be sure to get your copy of "Celebrity"
early as they will be going fast, and in the meantime, read what FuMan Sabrina had to say about the album:
"You could only imagine, when asked if I wanted a copy of Celebrity - I had to say yes. I can't forget that the CEO of the company I work
for IS Chris Kirkpatrick. I also can't forget that I absolutely despise POP music, boy/girl bands, dance hits, etc. I was raised on
the Beatles - Marley put me through High School and Punk music helped my stress levels in college. There is no way that I am going to be
able to listen to more than 7 seconds of an *Nsync song. I know this.
On my way home I slipped the CD into my car stereo. I kept my finger attached to the volume button so that I could turn it down in a
moments notice when I approached red lights. There is no way I am going to be caught listening to NSYNC. But I have to be prepared for
the water cooler discussions in the office tomorrow.
The first song was Dirty Pop, obviously I had heard it before… and if you haven't, I'd have to assume you live in a cave. I can deal with
this tune… but let's skip it - since I am familiar with it already. I decided to give each song about 15 seconds … mostly because I live in
close range of the office and if I dared to bring it in the house, my boyfriend just might call the whole thing off. Without dissecting
EVERY single tune, I can wrap this up in a few sentences.
I drove past my house seven times. My finger came off the volume button. NSYNC is amazing. I have to find a new boyfriend.
(31/7) BT Says Don't Judge *NSYNC On Sales Alone
Source: www.launch.com
While it appears likely that *NSYNC's new album, Celebrity, will sell 2 million copies in its first week of release--the tally will be
announced on Wednesday (August 1)--many are wondering if the set will top the 2.4 million debut sales posted by last year's No Strings
Attached. For a prediction, LAUNCH turned to electronic artist BT (Brian
Transeau), who co-wrote and produced the album's first single, "Pop."
However, BT said the focus should be on the quality of the album and its assortment of musical experiments, not on sales.
"Oh, dude, I have no clue, man," BT said. "I just think that no matter what happens, it's an absolute creative home run. I think that
what they've done is so sort of punk rock it's not even funny. These guys have a lot at stake, and it's a really wise decision, like a
long-run wise decision for them to make an artistic statement within the community of the fraternity of what they do, which is pop
music.''
(31/7) *NSYNC Seek To Impress With Skills, Not Sales
Source: www.mtv.com
When they were making Celebrity, 'NSYNC weren't fretting about how to follow up a sales record — they were too busy staking out a new sound
to carry them into a future far beyond first-week figures, says Justin Timberlake.
And besides, he said, it's just the economy that's to blame if the album's opening week comes shy of the 2.4 million copies No Strings
Attached sold last year in its first week on shelves.
"People probably don't think we think about this kind of stuff, but if you really wanna get technical about it, the whole country, the
economy, is down 15 percent," Timberlake said Tuesday. "So if you put the calculations in to sell somewhere between one-sixth and one-eighth [fewer albums this time], that would be the equivalent of
selling 2.4 when the economy was a little bit stronger. But all that stuff, we really don't take it into consideration. ...
"We wanna stick around for longer than the first week."
Industry insiders predict that Celebrity will sell about 2 million copies in its first week, enough to beat out the second-best sales
mark held by Eminem, whose The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) sold 1.76 million copies in its first week.
As they've progressively done with each album, 'NSYNC took greater control in the studio this time around and ended up writing the bulk
of the disc's material — a result, Timberlake said, of overcoming any lingering insecurities by realizing their competence as producers and
songwriters.
"It's one thing to go and write a song, but it's a whole other thing to go in and be turning knobs that you don't know what they mean, and
now we know what they mean," said the singer, who also assumed lead writing duties on more than half of the album's tracks. "That's big
to us, and that just comes with experience."
But it wasn't easy trying to finish the album while planning PopOdyssey, one of the most elaborate concert tours in history, JC
Chasez said. "It's been a roller coaster ride. ... The last record, even though we had a lot of adversity or whatever, it was one thing
at a time. You record the record, you promote it, you go out on tour, you breathe for a second. This [was] everything at once."
'NSYNC — whose lineup also includes Lance Bass, Chris Kirkpatrick and Joey Fatone — enlisted some unlikely collaborators to bring new
styles to their sound, including electronica producer BT and red-hot duo the
Neptunes, whose hip-hop-heavy résumé includes hits by
Mystikal and Ol' Dirty Bastard.
BT, who helmed the boards for Celebrity's first single, "Pop," said he was hesitant about working with 'NSYNC when Timberlake approached
him last fall.
"At first I thought, because our music is sort of polar opposites, it wouldn't really make sense," he said. "But Justin called me one night
and said, 'Dude, we want to do a track like "The Hip Hop Phenomenon" from the U.K. version of [your] album,' and I was like, 'If you wanna
do something that punk-rock, I'll do it.'"
'NSYNC enlisted the Neptunes for "Girlfriend," in which Timberlake, ever the heartbreaker, sings lyrics right out of a million female
fans' dreams: "Why don't you be my girlfriend/ I'll treat you good."
The guys return to familiar terrain with "Tell Me, Tell Me ... Baby" (courtesy of teen-pop hitmaker Max Martin) and "Just Don't Tell Me
That" but do the two-step on "The Two of Us" and "Up Against the Wall." There are also frequent shifts into R&B, including the
spare "Gone," and collaborations with Motown legend Stevie Wonder and urban-soul
crooner/producer Brian McKnight.
Timberlake said he was dead set on enlisting Wonder after coming up with the harmonica part for "Something Like You" with songwriting
partner Robin Wiley.
"I said, 'We have to get him to do it.' I mean, that's the other thing that he's famous for — besides his incredible voice, he's
killer on the harp. Somehow the record company got a hold of him and it just worked out. He came in and it definitely was a surreal
moment. I was sitting at the board, and he's sitting in the booth playing the part."
The group has not yet picked the album's second single. "We'll listen to the fans and see which ones they like," Bass said.
"It's hard to pick because everything is so different," Chasez added.
After all its experimenting, Celebrity ends rather humbly, with the graceful "Do Your Thing."
"They were looking for something that could conclude the record and showcase that they are really great singers and they have amazing
harmony," said Paul "PDA" Allen, who co-produced the song with his PAJAM partner J. Moss
(Sisqó, Babyface).
"A lot of people think that these guys are just an assembled boy band, but they really studied their craft," Moss said. "In the
studio, they show you that they are all true, talented singers."
(28/7) How Tracks on "Celebrity" Were Chosen
Source: www.nsyncwebguide.com,
Entertainment Weekly Magazine (Aug. 3rd)
How did 'N Sync choose which tracks would make it onto their new album? After recording 25-plus songs, the guys and their label, Jive, first
narrowed their repertoire to 15. "We then whittled it down to 12 because we didn't want the unlucky number 13," says group member
Lance Bass. "We spent six hours at Jive listening to these 15 songs over and over again."
First to go: "Fallen," a ballad written by Chris Kirkpatrick, and the up-tempo "I Swear," a JC Chasez composition that Bass says "sounded
just like Michael Jackson." The final choice came down to two tracks from Swedish hitmaker Kristian
Lundin: "That Girl" and "Just Don't
Tell Me That." Fortunately, the guys realized the lyrics to "That Girl" fit perfectly with
the plot of Bass and Joey Fatone's fall romantic comedy, On The line. So it was decided that song,
and "Fallen," would appear on the film's soundtrack.
The process still wasn't over. After 15 became 12, the group received a demo from the production team PAJAM for a track called "Do Your
Thing." "We were like, 'Oh my gosh, this is a great song!' " says Bass, who describes it as
"percappella." "So we went ahead and
recorded that." The track's placement on Celebrity? Lucky No. 13.
(28/7) Wade Robson Has All the Right Moves
Source: www.losangelesdailynews.com
Just ask 'N Sync or Britney Spears, who are among the multimillion-selling teen-pop acts depending on the 19-year-old Tarzana
choreographer for cool stage maneuvers. Musician, producer, dance instructor, choreographer, songwriter,
director and something of a teen idol in his own right, Robson -- known to MTV followers simply as Wade -- recently made Teen People
magazine's list of 20 teens who will change the world.
"It trips me out I get to do all this," the 6-foot-3, brown-eyed Robson said at a North Hollywood dance studio. "I love the process. I
love working out steps and dancing to music. It's what I love to do."
Born in Brisbane, Australia, he started dancing with maternal encouragement at age 2 after seeing a documentary about the making of
Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video.
At 5, he won a dance contest where he met Jackson. Ten years ago, his mother, Joy, uprooted Wade and his sister,
Chantal, and moved to West Hollywood to pursue careers in entertainment for them.
For his first two years in town, Robson attended Los Angeles schools, then started home schooling when his now-defunct rap duo Quo was
signed to a record deal.
Two years ago, the family moved to Northridge and last week relocated to Tarzana.
Robson is a one-man force of nature in the multibillion-dollar teen entertainment industry. He is known for savvy
direction, songwriting and choreography for 'N Sync's current "2001 Pop Odyssey" tour, which
Tuesday tore up the Rose Bowl.
He is credited with helping Spears shed her squeaky-clean image at last year's MTV Video Music Awards when the teen
diva peeled away her clothes to the tune of "Oops ... I Did It Again." He recently began
auditioning dancers for Spears' forthcoming world tour.
As for 'N Sync, whose record-breaking current show includes female dancers for the first time and an urban, hip-hop-inspired aura -- all
thanks to Robson -- the choreographer insists the quintet's members have grown from boys to men.
"They've taken a lot of flak for being part of the boy-band thing," Robson said. "But they've grown up. They're not kids anymore. They
want to show it, and I'm helping them do it."
(28/7) *NSYNC Tributes
Source: www.worldpop.com
A host of R&B and hip hop stars have gathered to pay tribute to 'N Sync in this month's Vibe magazine in the US. TLC's
T-Boz, Sisqo,
Brian McKnight and Wanya Morris from Boyz II Men pay tribute to Justin and the boys. Wanya says, 'This I Promise You is my favourite
ever song.'
And inside Justin Timberlake confesses his love for black music saying, 'You're looking at a corn fed white boy from the hills of
Tennesse who grew up listening to Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Stevie Wonder and the Temptations.' The magazine also gives the thumbs up to
Celebrity, which is set to top the US album chart with first week sales of
around two million. It calls Celebrity 'dope.'
'N Sync will take some time off this weekend from their hugely successful PopOdssey tour to take part in their their third annual
Challenge for Children charity event with a host of guests including Destiny's Child and Britney Spears.
On Saturday the group take party in Celebrity Challenge, a series of physical competitions including sumo wrestling and a
slam dunk contest. On Sunday there's a celebrity basketball match involving the boys in the afternoon with rapper Ludacris performing at half time
and in the evening there's a VIP auction.
But fans shouldn't feel too sorry for the work hard play hard heartthrobs - they've planned an end of tour beach party at an
exclusive hotel in the Turks and Caicos resort on the Caribbean island of Providenciales where they can no doubt
count the dollar bills they're bound to get when Celebrity tops the album charts next
week.
(28/7) Justin's Writing Songs for Britney
Source: www.worldpop.com
Britney Spears' boyfriend 'N Sync's Justin Timberlake is writing songs for Britney Spears' third album due November, according to
Justin's writing partner Wade Robson. **UM**
(27/7) Canadians Sugar Jones Welcome to Tour With *NSYNC
Source: canoe.ca
Are the members of Sugar Jones hungry? If they are, 'N Sync's J.C. Chasez extends an invitation to the Canadian pop group to come tour.
"If they want to come, by all means all they have to do is call us," he said in a recent interview. "We're cool like that because we know
what it's like to want to get a start." Not surprisingly, Sugar Jones singer Mirella
Dell'Aquila, said the group was happy to hear such a
statement coming from one of the world's hottest pop groups.
"I am so flattered to hear that J.C. heard our song and likes it," Dell'Aquila said Wednesday.
"I am a huge 'N Sync fan and actually got to meet him when we were recording at Metalworks this past winter. This is the first we're
hearing of his invitation to tour with them. We all would be thrilled and very thankful for an opportunity like
that. We love that they still care about up and coming acts like us."
Chasez is aware of Sugar Jones because 'N Sync spent time at the Metalworks studio in nearby Mississauga recording some of its latest
album, Celebrity. Sugar Jones, the group whose making was chronicled on the reality-based television show
Popstars, was laying down tracks
for its self-titled debut at Metalworks.
"They didn't have a name at that point, but they were actually recording the song that they released, so I knew the song already,"
Chasez recounted during a recent visit to Toronto to promote Celebrity.
"I saw (the video) on TV and I was like, 'Oh my God, I heard that song a thousand times when I was here last time,' " says Chasez, who
starts singing the lyric "Do you remember when days were like that" with an affected effeminate voice.
"It's pretty cool," he says of the song Days Like That, which went top 10 on CHR radio in Canada. "It's on the mellow tip. It's an easy
listen."
'N Sync always helps out up-and-comers by bringing them out on tour
and Chasez says Sugar Jones is more than welcome.
"Janet Jackson really gave us our big break in the States. She let us open up for her and that was a big part of us getting out in front of
the public and we appreciated it. And now, whenever we see somebody up and coming, if you show us that you're hungry, you're definitely
coming on our tour, but you definitely have to be hungry."
(26/7) *NSYNC's 'Celebrity' Status is Skyrocketing
Source: www.nypost.com,
www.nsyncwebguide.com
The boy band released its third album, "Celebrity," yesterday and gauging from first day's sales, the band's got another big hit on its
hands.
It may not reach the record-breaking, first-week sales of "No Strings Attached" - which sold 2.41 million copies the first week and 10.6
million copies overall - but it may still be the album of the summer. "It won't be what the last one was, but it has a shot at 2 million,
or it will be close to that," said Geoff Mayfield, the charts guru at Billboard magazine.
"That's pretty impressive, especially after all we heard about the kiddy thing being over."
But optimistic store owners have ordered 4 million copies of the new offering - the same number they ordered for "No Strings." "So far,
it's the biggest album this year," said Tony Castillo, a rock/pop buyer for Tower Records on the Upper West Side. "MTV was plugging it
all weekend and it's been selling very strong."
But the fans could care less about the sales numbers. "They've gotten better artistically," Anthony
Catala, a 28-year-old
student from Manhattan. "They're going to blow the Backstreet Boys out of the water."
(25/7) FuMan and Sex and the City?
Source: www.fumanskeeto.com
Just this past weekend, FuMan Skeeto clothes were a proud part of HBO's "Sex and the City Fall Preview" Party. All sorts of celebrities
came out to see exactly what's predicted to be hot this season by the folks who style your 4 favorite single New York divas. Each guest
including the cast of Friends, Will & Grace, Felicity & Ally McBeal were hand delivered a basket which included styles from who else?
FuMan Skeeto. We would like to thank the people at Distinctive Assets for asking FuMan Skeeto to be part of such a great event and hope
that you let us know when you see some of your favorite celeb's sportin' the Fu.
(25/7) "Longshot" Movie Featuring *NSYNC to be Released in September
Source: dailynews.yahoo.com
Lou Pearlman may have lost some traction by investing millions in the movie, known at different stages as
"Longshot'' and "Jack of All
Trades.''
Described variously as a vanity project or home movie of his pop acts, it stars soap-opera actress Hunter Tylo and Trans Continental
vice president Tony DeCamillis; features actor Paul Sorvino and comedian Gilbert
Gottfried; and has cameos by Britney Spears and *NSYNC's Justin Timberlake.
Trans Continental had trouble finding a distributor for the movie it made for $15 million and shopped around Hollywood. However, Pearlman
said last week that it has found an international distributor and will be released in Europe in September.
**How truly interesting**
(25/7) A Night with *NSYNC!
Source: etonline.com
The happening guys of *NSYNC looked as tasty as ever as they hit the Moomba lounge in Hollywood to celebrate their Celebrity -- that is,
their new release -- which hits stores today. Cutie JUSTIN was accompanied by the ever belly-baring girlfriend, BRITNEY SPEARS,
whose ultra low-cut pants gave new meaning to the phrase "hip huggers."
With the recent announcement of the nominations for the MTV Video Music Awards, the topic of the evening was who would win in the
category of "Best Pop Video," which both Spears and 'N Sync are both vying for. The guys actually busted out in a little harmonized rap to
describe how they were feeling about the competition, singing "Down, down, down, Britney's going down." The folks at ET were the ones who
broke the news of the nomination to a pleasantly surprised Britney, who had not even heard about her latest accolades.
Inside the cool club guests like ANDREW KEEGAN, DREW CAREY, MELISSA JOAN HART, JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT, and COOLIO dined on champagne,
chocolates and french fries. 'N Syncer CHRIS KIRKPATRICK also revealed why he was sporting a cast on his arm, "I punched the side
of a bus because I was really stupid. Kids don't try this at home."
(25/7) Justin and Britney Collaboration to Be Huge
Source: dailynews.yahoo.com
The cute superstar couple that sings together, stays together. That's the plan of 'N Sync heartthrob Justin Timberlake, who wants to
duet with his pop princess girlfriend Britney Spears, according to Rolling Stone magazine.
Timberlake, 20, told the magazine he is helping 19-year-old Spears move away from her hugely popular bubblegum pop in favor of a harder
sound. When the timing is right, he envisages them recording together, a collaboration he vowed would be ``huge.''
"I want it to be somethin' new that they haven't heard us do, that they didn't think we could do. I feel like we still have artistic
growth to show, and maybe after that, then I'll think about it. It definitely would be a spectacle. It would be huge,'' he told the
magazine. **Shall we play the death march now, or later?**
(25/7) Britney, 'NSYNC, Tool Music to Be Legally Available Online
Source: mtv.com
Music by Britney Spears, 'NSYNC, the Backstreet Boys and Tool will be legally available online this year, thanks to a deal announced
Tuesday (July 24) between the artists' record company and the fledgling subscription service
MusicNet. Zomba, which boasts the Jive imprint, home to Spears, Aaron Carter, Mystikal and other hot acts, is the fourth record company to join
MusicNet, which is scheduled to launch in the fall. MusicNet is set to be available through America Online, RealPlayer software and even
the planned subscription version of Napster.
"People ask, 'will there be compelling major-label content available through
MusicNet?' " the company's interim CEO, Rob Glaser, said
Tuesday at the Plug.In online music conference, as "Oops! ... I Did It Again" played in the background. "The answer is yes."
BMG, EMI and Warner Music Group — whose artists include Christina Aguilera, Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Beatles and Madonna — formed
MusicNet in April.
MusicNet — intended to be an industry-sanctioned, copyright-friendly replacement for Napster — will offer users access to a set number of
songs per month as streams or downloads for a monthly fee.
There will be a number of pricing plans available, but MusicNet strategic adviser Richard Wolpert said Tuesday that one possible plan
would charge users about $10 a month to stream 50 songs and download 50 others.
MusicNet will be as much a music rental service as a subscription offering — users' access to downloaded songs will be temporary,
executives said. If users want to listen to a song they've downloaded after a month goes by, they must renew their license for it — which
will count against their song total for the next month.
Glaser gave a brief demonstration of MusicNet at Plug.In, revealing an interface that resembles a certain revolutionary file-sharing
service.
"It totally looks like Napster," said that company's departing CEO, Hank Barry.
As it stands, MusicNet will not be a one-stop shopping solution for online major label music.
Sony Music Group and Universal Music Group — whose artists include Eminem, Jessica Simpson, Bob Dylan and Weezer — are working on their
own service, Pressplay (formerly known as Duet). Pressplay, set for launch in September, will be
available through MP3.com, MSN Music (music.msn.com) and other outlets.
Edgar Bronfman Jr., Vivendi Universal executive vice chairman, said Tuesday that no one should expect Pressplay and
MusicNet to merge. But eventually, he predicted, both companies will hold licenses for
music from the five major record companies.
At least one legal obstacle still stands in the way of both services —neither has reached a deal with music publishers, who control the
rights to songs, as opposed to recordings of them.
Both Bronfman and Glaser said that their companies were in intense negotiations with music publishers to set royalty rates for
publishers and songwriters. **Hello? Napster is not the only program**
(24/7) *NSYNC Wins Boy Band Battle
Source: vancouverprovince.com, nsyncwebguide.com
No doubt, it's tough being a 23-year-old multi-millionaire adored by fans the world over. But things were looking up for
A.J. McLean . . .
until 'N Sync's new CD Celebrity arrived in stores today. With its release, the battle of the boy bands is over. R.I.P.
BSB.
The Aug. 7 date at GM Place may as well be the opening night of a farewell tour for the embattled Boys. Or the group could just cancel
the rest of the dates and make rehab reservations for Nick, Howie, Brian and Kevin as a preemptive measure.
Finding out their 15 minutes of fame are over at the hands of the band BSB creator Lou Pearlman developed to whup
'em silly is likely
to have disastrous consequences for all.
It's clear that Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez and those three other guys -- what do they do, anyway? -- are taking a page from El Jacko
himself. The last time a teen trend took those first, cautious dancesteps towards adulthood as successfully came when Mikey got
ornery enough to tell us all to "Beat It." That's what 'N Sync does with "Pop."
Don't credit Timberlake's tunesmithing for that song's appeal. His vocal range remains
"perma-whine" and the seven other cuts Justin
carries co-writing credits on don't have half the impact. Producer Brian "BT" Transeau is behind the winning beats in "Pop." Hoping for
another chance at the charts, Justin's girlfriend, Britney Spears, is enlisting BT's studio magic for her next CD as well.
Timberlake and Chasez's tunes succeed in packing a lot more oomph than anything BSB managed to bring to Black & Blue. Best of all is
Chasez's "Up Against the Wall," about fine young "gals with game" grabbing JC for serious grinding in the geographic area referenced by
the song's title.
While it's doubtful even BSB could salvage garbage such as "Selfish," "Gone" and the truly vile "Something Like You," they
might be able to make the tracks listenable. 'N Sync clearly can't handle a ballad.
That's a big problem. Take a listen to radio and it's obvious that romantic shmaltz is the lifeblood of maturing teenie poppers. For all
its flash, "Pop" is getting a lukewarm reception. Could the pre-fab cookie be crumbling? Even if it does, both Timberlake and Chasez have
clearly demonstrated they've got what it takes for show-biz futures.
The rest of the gang can chill with their BSB buddies and play monopoly with real money. The so-called slump Backsteet Boys are in
with Black & Blue still translated to eight-times platinum sales.
Rating: Two 1/2 **Nice, arent they?**
(24/7) *NSYNC Hits New Rhythm with "Celebrity"
Source: cnn.com, mtv.com
Maybe it's a sign of 'NSYNC's maturity, the reason they appear to have risen to the top of the teen pop class. Whatever the answer,
having both Hugh Hefner (arm-in-arm with six Playboy playmates) and the 15-year-old Olsen twins (Mary-Kate and Ashley, of "Full House"
fame) at their album release party Monday night at least proves that their demographic has widened.
Those were just a few of the celebrities joining the boys from Orlando, Florida, at the club Momba on the eve of Celebrity's arrival
in stores, amid almost unreal expectations (not to mention whispers of vulnerability).
But -- perhaps ominously for the group -- the first single from the album, "Pop," has not been an instant hit. That has left industry
observers wondering if the band can match the success of their last CD, "No Strings Attached," which sold a record 2.4 million copies in
its first week.
Failure to do so will no doubt embolden the chorus of skeptics who have already begun proclaiming the beginning of the end for boy
bands. Just ask 98? whose latest album performed weakly on the charts.
But 'NSYNC were all smiles, as usual, Monday evening in West Hollywood, and who could blame them? Platinum albums are nothing to
sneeze at, and Tuesday (July 24) they will play for more than 50,000 fans at the Rose Bowl.
"It's one of the most prestigious places we play, and it's always the best crowd," band member Lance Bass said.
'NSYNC are looking forward to the performance for another reason, as
fans (at least those who pick up the album before the concert) will
be somewhat more familiar with the song roster of Celebrity. "We've been singing the new songs at all our shows on this tour and the fans
aren't as into them because they've never heard them," said the group's Justin Timberlake, who brought his equally famous girlfriend,
Britney Spears, to the party. "We wanna challenge our fans to learn all the songs before we play Tuesday."
The band spent the rest of its face time with an overflowing media contingent explaining how Celebrity is quite the musical departure
from its previous, lighter fare.
"We are who we are, but every musician wants to grow and I think people will see this with Celebrity," JC Chasez said.
"Every song on this album is totally different from the next one," Bass added.
Electronica guru BT, who worked with the group on the album, talked
up the band's new "cutting edge" sound while pointing out that 'NSYNC's playfulness doesn't end with the album's title.
"What's so refreshing about these guys
is that they don't take themselves too seriously," said BT, who became
involved with 'NSYNC after Chasez saw him perform in a club. "You get more
attitude from a guy working behind the counter at Starbucks than you do from
these guys. They're just regular people."
Of course, how many "regular people" party with Hef? The new, grown-up
'NSYNC apparently are still attracting grown-up converts, such as actress and
"Talk Soup" hostess Aisha Tyler.
"I'm a new 'NSYNC fan," Tyler admitted. "I was drawn in watching
'Making the Video' on MTV for that 'Pop' song. It's a cool video and a cool
song. I've been into them ever since."
With critics already writing obituaries for the boy band phenomenon, *NSYNC
releases its latest album with more than the usual pressure.
"Celebrity" arrived in stores Tuesday, marking a stylistic departure
for the quintet. This time there's less soulful crooning and more of a hip hop,
edgier sound.
Other stars who dropped by were Frankie Muniz of "Malcolm in the
Middle," and Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst. "Showbiz Today Reports"
correspondent Sherri Sylvester hip hopped over to West Hollywood for the big
event.
(24/7) *NSYNC Gets Chatty
Source: usatoday.com, Just Justin
Preteen girls who love the band NSYNC are in for a treat. With *NSYNC Hotline Fantasy Phone and CD-ROM Game (Infogrames, $40),
fans will be able to play five computer games with Justin, JC, Chris, Joey and Lance.
The PC software comes bundled with a "Fantasy Phone" that acts as the game controller and will send special voice messages from the band to
players.
(24/7) Jackson 5 to Perform "Dancing Machine" with *NSYNC
Source: dailynews.yahoo.com
There will be five Jacksons at the Michael Jackson tribute concerts, but not necessarily the Jackson Five. Marlon Jackson says his brother
Randy will join them, despite Jermaine saying neither he nor Randy would take part.
Marlon says it will be himself, Michael, Jackie, Tito and Randy. Marlon says when the Jackson Five left Motown and changed names to
The Jacksons, Jermaine wasn't with them.
That technically means it is a Jacksons reunion. He says all the brothers look forward to singing with *NSync on "Dancing Machine."
The concerts will be on September seventh and September tenth in New York.
(23/7) Bass, Fatone Lay it On The Line in T.O.
Source: torontostar.com, nsyncwebguide.com
NSYNC's Lance Bass and Joey Fatone put some major face time in Toronto last summer filming the romantic comedy On The Line.
Bass told The Sun the movie was originally scheduled for a Sept. 28 release, but it has now been pushed back
to October.
"I'm interested to see what the fans think," said Bass. "I did it for the fans. I mean, I'm definitely not an actor -- hello? --
but it was fun.
"I actually saw it for the first time last week and I was very impressed. I was like, 'Whoa, it looks like a real movie.' It
was just a surreal thing to do."
Bass said choosing Toronto as a location for On The Line was a no-brainer.
"I mean, everyone's filming movies here. It's such a great city. I lived here for a month and a half. This is the longest I've ever been
in a city, like, for the last six years."
So what's the biggest hidden gem in Toronto?
According to Bass: "The Loose Moose, it's a very cool place. And the Keg Mansion, which I don't know if it's a big secret but to people
outside of Toronto. I loved it.
"That was the coolest thing about coming to Toronto -- it has the best nightlife. It really does. I was finding different places every
night. I was like, 'Wow, this is cool.' "
NSYNC fans will be thrilled to hear that two of the group's songs -- tentatively titled Fallen and That Girl -- will be on the On The Line
soundtrack, according to NSYNC's JC Chasez.
Other contributors include Bass' country music protégé Meredith Edwards and Justin Timberlake's girlfriend, Britney Spears.
So what about an NSYNC movie starring all five members?
"I already know that Lance and Joey will end up doing some more stuff like that 'cause they're both from theatre backgrounds, so they gotta
act, man," Chasez said.
"If we do something together it's definitely got to be something artsy. We were all really, really, really inspired by the Moulin
Rouge movie though, just to show that musicals can work in movies now."
So nothing resembling Spiceworld?
"Oh, goodness, no," Chasez said.
Bass says he's busy producing two or three films right now but already knows what he would like his next movie role to be: "I don't
want to do any more leads right now. But I like to do a really cool, big-budgeted ensemble piece.
As for NSYNC working together on a film, Bass said: "The first movie I want us to do is Grease 3 if it ever works out. We're going out
with it, shopping it out, so we'll see."
Also attached to Grease 3 are Spears and Rosie O' Donnell.
(28/7) EW Review Celebrity (and likes it... try not to faint!!
lol) Entertainment Weekly's review of *NSYNC's 'Celebrity' album
Source: EW.com,
LBFC newletter (Lance fans can sign up here) EW GRADE: B
What's a maturing boy band to do? If you're the Backstreet Boys, it's sadly,
painfully obvious: Loathe yourselves. As we saw at this year's Super Bowl, where they sullenly crooned the national anthem, the Boys are in a slump, and
last year's soggy ''Black & Blue'' reflected it (case in point: AJ McLean's recent behind-the-music moment). For their arch-rivals *NSYNC, who seemed
thrilled to be onstage at the halftime Super Bowl show, the answer is
diversify, diversify, diversify. Either to show off their eclectic tastes or to ensure that they have a future on one radio format or another, *NSYNC have
stuffed Celebrity with as many genres as there are songs.
So let's analyze this pivotal -- for them -- album, cut by cut:
''Pop'' The disc opens with a jolt of jittery pop-techno, and there's an undeniable oomph when those bustling beats kick in on the chorus. But it's
producer Brian Transeau, a.k.a. BT, and not cowriters Justin Timberlake and Wade Robson (a.k.a. the band's choreographer), who is clearly the hero. The
paranoid lyrics, in which they congratulate themselves for ''the gift of melody,'' are obvious at best, self-glorifying at worst. Still, the single's
blend of beats and bad attitude should have Michael Jackson very worried. B+
''Celebrity'' ''If I wasn't a celebrity/Would you be so nice to me?'' they grumble on this whirring Rodney Jerkins-produced thumper. About a year ago, I
predicted that the teen boom would end when its practitioners started writing their own material. Let me revise that: It will end when they start writing
their own material about how hard it is to be rich and famous. C+
''The Game Is Over'' Their troubles continue -- this time, at the hands of a woman who dispenses ''lies.'' Lesson of the album so far: It's not easy being
a guy, even if you're in *NSYNC. The music is pure PlayStation pop -- it even samples Pac-Man -- but they sure know how to sink their pearly teeth into a
PO'd chorus. B
''Girlfriend'' Timberlake puts the moves on a young thing by giving her the old ''I'm better than him'' line; Jacko's heyday is again invoked by the
chunky-funky groove, courtesy of in-demand producers the Neptunes. Bonus point: The song is far less obsequious than the faux-R&B moments of ''No
Strings Attached.'' B
''The Two of Us'' Picture yourself with a ''Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds'' riff fused with happy-face two-step -- and then made trite by lovestruck
lyrics (''I'm thinkin' 'bout you day and night/And I just can't get you off my mind''). B-
''Gone'' Yet another example of the band grabbing the reins of their own music, this Timberlake-Robson cut has the sparest production so far: a basic
thump, some flamenco guitar, a jab of strings, a ghostly whisper of a chorus,
and a trembling-vibrato delivery recalling ''Off the Wall.'' No wonder Jacko supposedly wanted it for his upcoming album. Then again, maybe he shouldn't
bother finishing it: ''Celebrity'' might as well be the next Michael Jackson record. B-
''Tell Me, Tell Me...Baby'' Europop craftsman Max Martin returns with his ellipses (''Baby...One More Time''), and not a moment too soon. Assembled in
Sweden, this is a fallback in case the experiments fail, but as fallbacks go, it's a good one. B
''Up Against the Wall'' JC Chasez, the most adventurous member when it comes to both music and hair, dips deeper into two-step. The beats zigzag like mad,
matching the lyric about cruising a club at night and doing, well, something against a wall with an enticing female. First reaction: Who'd have thunk it?
Second reaction: What exactly do the blond one, the chunky one, and the one with the goofy broom-handle hair do in this band? A
''See Right Through You'' The third consecutive dance cut, this one another tale of betrayal by scheming girls. Timberlake's huffy, teeth-clenched
delivery is, again, vintage Jackson. As for the lyrics: ''Does he freak you the way that I do?'' -- well, JC, you're no Rick James. B
''Selfish'' Target: the adult-contemporary market. Ammo: producer Brian McKnight, soppy lyrics, and the dusting off of the Croon, a boy-band staple.
The Backstreet Boys could take this to a higher plane; *NSYNC settle for competence. B
''Just Don't Tell Me That'' Like ''Tell Me...'' this, too, feels like a leftover Ace of Base track that one of their team of Swedish producers stuck
in the mail. That doesn't make it any less propulsive. A-
''Something Like You'' Another hallmark of the boy-band era: the squishy ballad with drooling-puppy harmonies and lyrics (''You must be heaven-sent, I
swear''). Should have been banished to a 98 Degrees album. D **TOTALLY Disagree!
I Like this song!**
''Do Your Thing'' Mild electronica, willowy vocals -- they've now morphed into Janet Jackson. Pleasant filler and nothing more. B
Which, come to think of it, is the average grade for the whole album.
"Celebrity'' may be the consummate teen-pop experience: It has the R&B swipes, the ballads, the grasps at artistic self-statement, and the requisite
Europop. On it, *NSYNC are both puppets and puppet masters. Even if it all crumbles (the muted reception to ''Pop'' is ominous), they'll go down
swinging. As the Backstreet Boys are proving, there are more troubling fates for boy bands.
And for a fan's point of view, here are the average ratings for each song from the same newsletter:
| Song | Average LBFC Rating |
Grade |
1. POP |
**** | B |
2. Celebrity |
**** | B |
3. The Game Is Over |
**** | B |
4. Girlfriend |
** | D |
5. The Two Of Us |
***** | A |
6. Gone |
***** | A |
7. Tell Me, Tell Me...Baby |
**** | B |
8. Up Against The Wall |
**** | B |
9. See Right Through You |
*** | C |
10. Selfish |
***** | A |
11. Just Don't Tell Me That |
**** | B |
12. Something Like You |
*** | C |
13. Do Your Thing |
*** | C |
| 14. That Girl Will Never be Mine *BONUS* | **** | B |
| 15. Falling *BONUS* | ***** | A |
I.E. The most popular songs, according this were Gone, Selfish and The Two Of Us. I agree on Selfish!
(26/7) SA News: If you were looking for "Celebrity", you can find it in Musica, you just have to ask someone there. We get one bonus track :) And it'll cost you like R130, I dunno why... And if anyone didn't get any bonus tracks, both of them are gonna be on the "On The Line" soundtrack.
Teen Vogue Interview---Very revealing!
(Pics here)
Teen Vogue: You're cute, you're famous, you're surrounded by admirers...but what do you do when you like a girl? How do you pursue her?
Justin: If I'm feeling somebody, I'll always just be right up front and tell them, but it definitely takes a while for me to get to that level. I don't
fall that easily, but when I do [he whistles], I fall for sure.
Chris: I tell her that I really like that episode she was in when...
JC: Jeez. We're so focused on work I forgot what it's like to date. It's not about being famous or anything. Anytime you want to pursue somebody, just
give them the direct approach. Confidence is sexy to anybody.
Lance: I'm very shy. I really am. When I'm interested in someone, I always become really good friends with them first, but really, I'm wanting more.
Finish this article and much more at www.gottagetnsync.com
Chris runs into wall... wrist suffers...
So it's rumored that's how it happened. Fans are reporting that Chris showed up at the Dallas, TX concert (July 8th) with a bum wrist. No shows have been
affected by Mr. Kirkpatrick's boo-boo, we just hope he gets well soon. 'N Syncer CHRIS KIRKPATRICK also
revealed why he was sporting a cast on his arm, "I punched the side of a bus because I was really stupid. Kids, don't try this at home.
Fore! On the fourth
I didn't even know they played golf...After their original plans to play a round of golf in Little Rock, AR (July 4th) were ruined, the boys dropped by
before heading to War Memorial Stdium for the evening's show. When they arrived, the course was closed and being set up for additional parking for
the concert. That didn't stop the guys, though. An employee at War Memorial Golf Course caught the group and chased them off the course--little did he
know who the "group of young trespassing males" were when he called the report into his supervisor...
That really cool Fan Bus...
(From NsyncStudio.com): *NSYNC Fan Bus to appear on MTV's "Road To Celebrity." I just talked to Meredith from the Bus and guess what? MTV is
gonna put them on-air! In San Diego, MTV is filming "Road To Celebrity". One thing MTV is going to do is have listening parties in people's cars (give
them the CD and have them rock out). JC suggested that they have one listening party in the Fan Bus (or as he
called it, "the Winnebago"). How cool is that?!?! So guys, be sure to look for them on the special... they're so excited and
wanted to everyone to know!
(13/7) *NSYNC sends their regards to AJ.
"I really don't know what to say about that, except for, you know, I hope he gets better. It's kind of sad that he's got a problem
like that, and I wish the guy the best. I hope he pulls it together. At least he's admitted to himself that he has a problem. And that's pretty much the
first step." -- JC Chasez. "Our prayers are with him." -- Lance Bass
- (7/1) UK News: Well, well, look at that. Celebrity is apparently gonna be released a day b4 the US - July 23rd! Plus there's bonus tracks. I think, including the one that Chris wrote, if memory serves (which it usually doesn't :)
- Pop
- Celebrity
- The Game Is Over
- Girlfriend
- The Two Of Us
- Gone
- Tell Me, Tell Me... Baby
- Up Against The Wall
- See Right Through You
- Selfish
- Just Don't Tell Me That
- Something Like You
- That Girl (Will Never Be Mine) *BONUS*
- Do Your Thing
- (13/6) Tracklisting For Celebrity
- Source: towerrecords.com; nsynclandonline (a lot of things on this page are from there); nsyncstudio.com
- Here is the tentative tracklisting for
Celebrity according to Tower Records:
- 1. Pop
- 2. Celebrity
- 3. The Game Is Over
- 4. Girlfriend
- 5. The Two Of Us
- 6. Gone
- 7. Tell Me, Tell Me... Baby
- 8. Up Against The Wall
- 9. See Right Through You
- 10. Selfish
- 11. Just Don't Tell Me That
- 12. Something Like You
- 13. Do Your Thing
