*NSYNC Confirms New Song ‘Better Place’ For ‘Trolls’ Movie
Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, and Chris Kirkpatrick of *NSYNC speak onstage the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center on September 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey.
After *NSYNC reunited at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards Tuesday (September 12) night, the band had fans hopeful for a performance at the show (which didn’t happen). Or at least, news of some new music. Now, the secret is out: the boy band is releasing their first new song in over two decades. The song, titled “Better Place,” was announced early Thursday, with parts of the song featured in the new Trolls Band Together trailer.
The full song will be released later this month on September 29, but fans can also hear portions of the song on TikTok. Justin Timberlake, Chris Kirkpatrick, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone and Lance Bass “trolled” the release of the new single earlier Wednesday, in a clip where they lip-synced to a scene from Friends. Fans began speculating about what it could all mean. One person commented, “Um.. well whatever this is.. I know for a fact that I will not be able to recover from this financially.” Another wrote: “I have grown-up money to spend for whatever is happening and ready to go in grown-up debt if need be.” Meanwhile, one fan commented: “We have waited long enough for this. We are old and tired. Just tell us already.”
In the video, the bandmates are in front of a blue screen as they lip-sync along to a scene from the season 5 episode “The One With all the Resolutions.” Timberlake, 42, kicks off the video by asking his bandmates, “Do you know something?” Fatone, 46, quickly responded with the same question to Timberlake. Then Kirkpatrick, 51, answered, “I might know something,” while Chasez, 47, chimes in, “I might know something, too.” Bass then asked, “What’s the thing you know?” Timberlake responds, “Oh no, I can’t tell you until you tell me what you know.” Fatone said, “I can’t tell you what I know,” with Kirkpatrick replying, “Well, then I can’t tell you what I know.” Finally, Chasez says, “OK, fine,” and the band playfully shrugs and exits the studio space.
“Better Place” will be *NSYNC’s first new song since 2002. The pop group reunited for a performance at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2013 and, in 2018, got together once again for their Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony.
Justin Timberlake’s 14 Greatest Music Videos Ranked
Justin Timberlake is one of the most legendary men in pop music. The Aquarian crooner was born on January 31, 1981, and boasts a fantastic music library. He isn’t called the “Prince of Pop” for nothing, Justin comes from a musical family. Growing up in Nashville, Tennessee, his grandfather introduced him to music from country music artists like Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. Performing as a child, Timberlake sang country and gospel music. At eleven years old, he appeared on the television show Star Search, performing country songs under the name “Justin Randall” (Randall is his middle name). With broadening exposure to different music genres, JT was listening to rhythm and blues musicians from the ’60s and ’70s, like Al Green, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye. He would also have listening sessions with his father of the Eagles and Bob Seger.
From Mickey Mouse to World Famous
In 1993, Justin landed the gig as a Mouseketeer on The All-New Mickey Mouse Club, along with future famous castmates Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, JC Chasez, Ryan Gosling, and Keri Russell. After Mickey Mouse Club, Timberlake recruited Chasez to be in an all-male singing group, put together by Chris Kirkpatrick and financed by boy band manager Lou Pearlman, which eventually became *NSYNC. The boy band formed in Orlando, Florida in 1995, and began their career in 1996 in Germany. Timberlake and Chasez were the group’s lead vocalists. Their self-titled debut album was successful in Europe and later debuted in the US with the single “I Want You Back.” The band released four albums, with over 70 million records worldwide, becoming the fifth-best selling boy band in history. They performed at the Winter Olympics and the Super Bowl XXXV halftime show.
The rise of JT’s own stardom and the general decline in popularity of boy bands led to *NSYNC’s hiatus in 2002. Moving onto his solo career, he partnered with Pharrell Williams. He released his debut studio album, Justified, that same year. He then
released his second studio album, FutureSex/LoveSounds four years later. By 2013, he released The 20/20 Experience, with a second part of the album releasing later the same year. His fifth album, Man of the Woods, released in 2018. Five years later, the singer-songwriter announced his sixth album, Everything I Thought It Was, would be released in March.
To commemorate the former *NSYNCer’s amazing career, we’ve compiled our favorite music videos of his career. See how your favorites ranked below:
Laila Abuelhawa is the Top 40 and Hip-Hop pop culture writer for Beasley Media Group. Being with the company for over three years, Laila's fierce and fabulous red-carpet rankings have earned her a feature on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert!' Her favorite stories are those surrounding the latest in celebrity fashion, television and film rankings, and how the world reacts to major celebrity news. With a background in journalism, Laila's stories ensure accuracy and offer background information on stars that you wouldn't have otherwise known. She prides herself in covering stories that inform the public about what is currently happening and what is to come in the ever-changing, ever-evolving media landscape.
