Girlfriend (NSYNC song): Difference between revisions

 

Line 6: Line 6:

| alt = The members of NSYNC are inside a limousine, wearing leather jackets and suits. The band name and title is positioned on the top-left corner

| alt = The members of NSYNC are inside a limousine, wearing leather jackets and suits. The band name and title is positioned on the top-left corner

| type = single

| type = single

| artist = [[NSYNC]] featuring [[Nelly]]

| artist = [[NSYNC]]

| album = [[Celebrity (album)|Celebrity]]

| album = [[Celebrity (album)|Celebrity]]

| B-side = The Two of Us

| B-side = The Two of Us

| released = {{start date|2002|1|14}}

| released = {{start date|2002|1|14}}

| recorded = April – May 2001<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/n-sync-true-tales-of-the-pop-life-236982/|title=”N Sync: True Tales of the Pop Life|author=Touré|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=August 31, 2001|access-date=March 29, 2020}}</ref><!–The song was recorded approximately two weeks prior to the music video production of Pop on May 13–15, 2001 according to the MTV News source on the music video section of the Pop article and the listed source–>

| recorded = 2001<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/n-sync-true-tales-of-the-pop-life-236982/|title=”N Sync: True Tales of the Pop Life|author=Touré|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=August 31, 2001|access-date=March 29, 2020}}</ref><!–The song was recorded approximately two weeks prior to the music video production of Pop on May 13–15, 2001 according to the MTV News source on the music video section of the Pop article and the listed source–>

| studio = * [[MSR Studios|Right Track]], Battery (New York City)

| studio = * [[MSR Studios|Right Track]], Battery (New York City)

* Wire (Orlando, Florida)

* Wire (Orlando, Florida)

Line 19: Line 19:

* 4:45 ([[The Neptunes]] remix)

* 4:45 ([[The Neptunes]] remix)

| label = [[Jive Records|Jive]]

| label = [[Jive Records|Jive]]

| writer = * [[Justin Timberlake]]

| writer =

⚫

* [[Chad Hugo]]

* [[Chad Hugo]]

* [[Justin Timberlake]]

⚫

* [[Nelly|Cornell Haynes]] (remix)

* [[Nelly|Cornell Haynes]] (remix)

| producer = [[The Neptunes]]

| producer = [[The Neptunes]]

Line 41: Line 42:

{{External music video|{{YouTube|saxnXiBKEaY|”Girlfriend”}}}}

{{External music video|{{YouTube|saxnXiBKEaY|”Girlfriend”}}}}

}}

}}

“”’Girlfriend”'” is a song by American boy band [[NSYNC]]. It was released on January 14, 2002, as the third single from their fourth studio album, ”[[Celebrity (album)|Celebrity]]”. It was the group’s last song to enter the top 10 of the US [[Billboard Hot 100|”Billboard” Hot 100]], peaking at number five. “Girlfriend” additionally reached number one in Canada and charted within the top 10 in six other countries, including Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom. This was the last single and song the band released in their career before their reunion in 2023.

“”’Girlfriend”'” is a song by American boy band [[NSYNC]]. It was released on January 14, 2002, as the third single from fourth album, ”[[Celebrity (album)|Celebrity]]”. It was the group’s last song to enter the 10 of the US [[Billboard Hot 100|”Billboard” Hot 100]], peaking at number . “Girlfriend” reached number in Canada and charted within the 10 in six other countries, including Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom. This was the last single and song the band released in their career before their reunion in 2023.

==Background==

==Background==

When originally announced as a single, the intention was for the album version from ”[[Celebrity (album)|Celebrity]]” of the track “Girlfriend” to be released along with a video and released to television. However, just weeks before the release, NSYNC announced that [[the Neptunes]] would remix the song for its single release and feature two all-new verses with rapper [[Nelly]]. When Nelly was approached to record the song, he was initially met with resistance from his record label [[Universal Records (1995−2006)|Universal Records]], who stated that he was trying to “ruin [his] career”. Nelly insisted on appearing on the song, which they eventually conceded.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/nelly-nellyville-anniversary-interview-hot-in-herre-dilemma-7841868/|title=”Nellyville” Turns 15: Nelly Looks Back on the Singles, Guests & Bad ‘Hot In Herre’ Jokes|last=Platon|first=Adelle|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=June 23, 2017|access-date=October 16, 2020}}</ref> It was his first major cross-collaboration.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/2017/06/nellyville-album-anniversary-nelly|title=”Nellyville”: 15 Ways Nelly’s Midwest-Spun Recipe Made The Culture Pop|last=Pickens|first=Ashley|website=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|date=June 26, 2017|access-date=October 16, 2020}}</ref>

When originally announced as a single, the intention was for the album version from ”[[Celebrity (album)|Celebrity]]” of the track “Girlfriend” to be released along with a video and released to television. However, just weeks before the release, NSYNC announced that [[the Neptunes]] would remix the song for its single release and feature two all-new verses with rapper [[Nelly]]. When Nelly was approached to record the song, he was initially met with resistance from his record label [[Universal Records (1995−2006)|Universal Records]], who stated that he was trying to “ruin [his] career”. Nelly insisted on appearing on the song, which they eventually conceded.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/nelly-nellyville-anniversary-interview-hot-in-herre-dilemma-7841868/|title=”Nellyville” Turns 15: Nelly Looks Back on the Singles, Guests & Bad ‘Hot In Herre’ Jokes|last=Platon|first=Adelle|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=June 23, 2017|access-date=October 16, 2020}}</ref> It was his first major cross-collaboration.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/2017/06/nellyville-album-anniversary-nelly|title=”Nellyville”: 15 Ways Nelly’s Midwest-Spun Recipe Made The Culture Pop|last=Pickens|first=Ashley|website=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|date=June 26, 2017|access-date=October 16, 2020}}</ref>

The song contained a [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] influence and was sent to [[Top 40 radio|top 40]] and [[Hot adult contemporary|hot AC]] radio in January 2002 before being released commercially on March 12, 2002, as an enhanced CD.<ref name=”:0″>{{cite magazine |date=January 11, 2002 |title=Top 40, A/C & Hot A/C, Rhythm Crossover Impact Dates |magazine=[[Gavin Report]] |issue=2358 |page=35}}</ref><ref name=”baker”>{{cite web|url=http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12056871|title=*NSYNC Embarking On ‘Celebrity’ Tour With A Twist |date=February 19, 2002|access-date=February 5, 2020|last=Baker|first=Soren|work=Yahoo! Music|archive-date=September 11, 2011|archive-url=http://www.freezepage.com/1315708217GZCBNHZOGX?url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/nsync/news/artist-name-nsync-id-1033340-embarking-on-celebrity-tour-with-a-twist–12056871}}</ref>

The song contained a [[hiphop]] influence and was sent to [[Top 40 radio| 40]] and [[Hot adult contemporary| AC]] radio in January 2002 before being released commercially on March 12, 2002, as an enhanced CD.<ref name=”:0″>{{cite magazine |date=January 11, 2002 |title=Top 40, A/C & Hot A/C, Rhythm Crossover Impact Dates |magazine=[[Gavin Report]] |issue=2358 |page=35}}</ref><ref name=”baker”>{{cite web|url=http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12056871|title=*NSYNC Embarking On ‘Celebrity’ Tour With A Twist |date=February 19, 2002|access-date=February 5, 2020|last=Baker|first=Soren|work=Yahoo! Music|archive-date=September 11, 2011|archive-url=http://www.freezepage.com/1315708217GZCBNHZOGX?url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/nsync/news/artist-name-nsync-id-1033340-embarking-on-celebrity-tour-with-a-twist–12056871}}</ref>

==Critical reception==

==Critical reception==

In 2015, ”[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]”{{‘}}s Jason Lipshutz ranked it tenth on the list “Top 20 Essential [[Boy band|Boy Band]] Songs,” writing, “straddling the lines of [[Pop music|pop]], [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] and hip-hop, the song could have been the precursor to the boy band’s stylistic shift, but instead proved to be the starting point for [[Justin Timberlake]]’s solo career.”<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/boy-band-songs-top-20-essential-6627352/|title=Top 20 Essential Boy Band Songs|last=Lipshutz |first=Jason|date=July 13, 2015|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 11, 2017}}</ref>

In 2015, ”[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]”{{‘}}s Jason Lipshutz ranked it tenth on the list “Top 20 Essential [[Boy band|Boy Band]] Songs,” writing, “straddling the lines of [[Pop music|pop]], [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] and hip-hop, the song could have been the precursor to the boy band’s stylistic shift, but instead proved to be the starting point for [[Justin Timberlake]]’s solo career.”<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/boy-band-songs-top-20-essential-6627352/|title=Top 20 Essential Boy Band Songs|last=Lipshutz |first=Jason|date=July 13, 2015|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 11, 2017}}</ref>

==Music video==

==Music video==

Line 56: Line 57:

===Synopsis===

===Synopsis===

The music video featured the band dancing on cars, singing to girls and a [[Drag racing|drag race]], which was won by Justin Timberlake. The Neptunes Remix featured scenes of Nelly spliced between shots of the pre-existing video. He is shown rapping next to Timberlake during both of his rap verses, as well as interacting with female models in the backseat of the car throughout this version of the video. Scenes of Timberlake initiating the drag race in the interlude, which is shown in the original video, are heavily omitted in the Neptunes Remix to accommodate for Nelly‘s rap verse, which his second rap verse replaces.

The music video featured the band dancing on cars, singing to girls and a [[Drag racing|drag race]], which was won by Justin Timberlake. The Neptunes Remix featured scenes of Nelly spliced between shots of the pre-existing video. He is shown rapping next to Timberlake during both of his rap verses, as well as interacting with female models in the backseat of the car throughout this version of the video. Scenes of Timberlake initiating the drag race in the interlude, which is shown in the original video, are omitted in the to accommodate Nelly.

==Track listings==

==Track listings==

Line 96: Line 97:

==Credits and personnel==

==Credits and personnel==

Credits are lifted from the UK CD single liner notes.<ref name=”ukcd”/>

Credits are from the UK CD single liner notes.<ref name=”ukcd”/>

”’Recording”’

”’Recording”’

2002 single by NSYNC

“Girlfriend” is a song by the American boy band NSYNC featuring Nelly. It was released on January 14, 2002, as the third single from NSYNC’s fourth album, Celebrity. It was the group’s last song to enter the Top 10 of the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 5. “Girlfriend” reached number 1 in Canada and charted within the Top 10 in six other countries, including Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom. This was the last single and song the band released in their career before their reunion in 2023.

When originally announced as a single, the intention was for the album version from Celebrity of the track “Girlfriend” to be released along with a video and released to television. However, just weeks before the release, NSYNC announced that the Neptunes would remix the song for its single release and feature two all-new verses with rapper Nelly. When Nelly was approached to record the song, he was initially met with resistance from his record label Universal Records, who stated that he was trying to “ruin [his] career”. Nelly insisted on appearing on the song, which they eventually conceded.^[2] It was his first major cross-collaboration.^[3]

The song contained a hip-hop influence and was sent to Top 40 and Hot AC radio in January 2002 before being released commercially on March 12, 2002, as an enhanced CD.^[4][5]

In 2015, Billboard‘s Jason Lipshutz ranked it tenth on the list “Top 20 Essential Boy Band Songs,” writing, “straddling the lines of pop, R&B and hip-hop, the song could have been the precursor to the boy band’s stylistic shift, but instead proved to be the starting point for Justin Timberlake‘s solo career.”^[6]

Two music videos exist for the single, which were both directed by Marc Klasfeld. The first video was released in late December 2001, while the Neptunes Remix debuted on March 12, 2002.^[7]

The music video featured the band dancing on cars, singing to girls and a drag race, which was won by Justin Timberlake. The Neptunes Remix featured scenes of Nelly spliced between shots of the pre-existing video. He is shown rapping next to Timberlake during both of his rap verses, as well as interacting with female models in the backseat of the car throughout this version of the video. Scenes of Timberlake initiating the drag race in the interlude, which is shown in the original video, are omitted in the remix to accommodate Nelly.

Credits are from the UK CD single liner notes.^[11]

Recording

• Recorded at Right Track, NYC; Battery Studios, NYC; and WIRE Studios, Orlando, FL

Personnel

• Justin Timberlake – songwriter
• Chad Hugo – songwriter, producer, remix producer
• Pharrell Williams – songwriter, producer, remix producer
• The Neptunes – producer, remix producer
• Brian Garten – recording, additional vocal recording
• Paul Gregory – assistant recording engineer
• Rowie Nameri – assistant recording engineer
• Matina Scarpino – assistant recording engineer
• Jean-Marie Horvat – mixing
• Josean Possey – assistant mixing engineer
• Chaz Harper – mastering