nsync

What Is NSYNC’s Best-Selling Album?

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Today, public interest has shifted away from the classic teen pop formula of the traditional boy band. However, boy bands like NSYNC heavily dominated the music scene once upon a time, releasing albums that were big enough to cause record store stampedes. Subsequently, they disbanded, only occasionally appearing together in the following years. However, the iconic boy band returned in 2023 with their fast-rising single “Better Place” from the Trolls Band Together soundtrack.

While this reunion may signify bigger things, like an album, for example, we can’t be sure until it actually happens. Nevertheless, their current album lineup remains evergreen, and they have all sold impressive numbers since their releases. NSYNC came out swinging in 1997, releasing their self-titled debut album that is now Diamond-certified in the US. Despite its overwhelming success, however, one other album in their discography trumps it in terms of overall sales.

No String Attached: First Week Sales 

NSYNC released No Strings Attached on March 21, 2000,  and it was one of the most anticipated albums of the new decade. Admittedly, their three other albums also achieved varying but significant levels of commercial success. However, neither of those albums can compare to the sales numbers of No Strings Attached. Upon its release, the album debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart. It set the record for one-week sales in the US, selling 2.4 million copies within its first week of release. NSYNC held this record for 15 years before it was broken by Adele in 2015 with 25.

NYSNC Takes Over The World

In the US, No Strings Attached has sold over 11 million units, becoming 11x Platinum-certified and awarding NYSNC one of the most successful albums ever. Besides the United States, the album is also certified in 12 other countries. For selling 60,000 certified units in Argentina, it earned a Platinum certification. It is also certified Platinum in Austria for 70,000 units, Denmark for 20,000 units, and New Zealand for 15,000 units.

Furthermore, No Strings Attached has sold over 100,000 and 150,000 units in Brazil and Germany, respectively, earning Gold certifications. Likewise, it has additional Gold certifications for selling 100,000 in Japan, 75,000 in Mexico, and 40,000 in the Netherlands. The album also achieved a Gold certification in Spain for selling 50,000 units. The last of its Gold certifications comes from the United Kingdom, where it has sold 206,000 units. Finally, it is certified 7x Platinum in Canada for selling over 700,000 units.

Undoubtedly, NSYNC released one of the most defining albums of the boy band era. Interestingly, the group’s self-titled debut album is also Diamond-certified by the RIAA, as it has sold over 10 million album units. Nevertheless, despite the impressive worldwide sales of NSYNC, it is utterly decimated by the numbers of No Strings Attached. Notably, on the decade-end Billboard albums chart for the 2000s, No Strings Attached took the topmost position.

The Quintessential Boy Band

The success of No Strings Attached solidified NSYNC’s status as one of their era’s most successful boy bands. It also helped solidify lead singer Justin Timberlake’s mainstream appeal, giving rise to his eventual solo stardom. The album’s lead single, “Bye Bye Bye,” is an infectious pop anthem that continues to captivate audiences. It was accompanied by a visually striking music video that showcased the group’s impeccable choreography.

Similarly, “It’s Gonna Be Me,” another standout single from the album, further solidified NSYNC’s reign. With its irresistible chorus and undeniable charisma, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 and became a pop culture touchstone. Additionally, the other singles, “This I Promise You” and “I’ll Never Stop,” also enjoyed considerable commercial success. 

Altogether, these singles significantly contributed to the overall success of the album. In retrospect, No Strings Attached remains a cultural touchstone, encapsulating the spirit of the late ’90s and early 2000s. Its impact on the music industry and enduring popularity among fans showcase the timelessness of the group’s music. NSYNC was a total package act, dominating in stage presence, singles, and, of course, albums. 

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What Happened Between Megan Thee Stallion And Justin Timberlake At The 2023 VMAs?

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The 2023 VMAs have already had a fair degree of potential controversy just an hour into the show. During Olivia Rodrigo’s performance, a burning palm tree had fans worried that it wasn’t a planned part of the set, then, just before Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion hit the stage to perform “Bongos,” Meg appeared to exchange words with Justin Timberlake as NSYNC returned backstage after presenting an award to Taylor Swift.

Fans observing the moment on Twitter appeared to be divided about the interpretation. Meg, who was getting last-minute touch-ups from her hairstylist, looked agitated by something Timberlake may have said as he passed. While he was smiling, she pointed at him and gave a forceful response. But to some fans, it looked like her end of the conversation was simply her repeating “that doesn’t count,” which they interpreted as a possible response to the bait-and-switch of NYSNC’s rumored “reunion” — she certainly wouldn’t be alone in expecting them to play a song. Even Swift wondered, “You guys are gonna do something, right?”

Of course, without the audio, all this is speculation, but I’m inclined to believe the latter explanation. Meg is certainly in the demographic that grew up on NSYNC’s music, so she’d be justified (heh) in being just a little annoyed by the letdown… but hey, their “reunion” tonight seems like the perfect setup for their eventual song from the upcoming Trolls movie, Band Together, which plays off the group’s mid-aughties breakup. If the speculation gets too out of hand, I’m sure they’ll all have plenty of time to dispel the rumors on the press tour for the movie.

Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

R. Kelly Has A Writing Credit On Drake’s New Album ‘Certified Lover Boy’

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Drake’s new album Certified Lover Boy has been out for a few hours now, and between its release and now, fans have been carefully examining the project. That sleuthing has led to an eyebrow-raising discovery: R. Kelly has a writing credit on the album.

Along with Drake, the artists credited as writers on the song “TSU” include Harley Arsenault, Noel Cadastre, F. Hills, Timothy Mosley (aka Timbaland), Ronald Coleman (aka OG Ron C), Christopher Cross, Justin Timberlake, and Robert Kelly (aka R. Kelly).

As Genius notes, the song samples NSYNC’s 1997 song “Sailing,” a cover of Cross’ 1980 single. Furthermore, others have pointed out the song also samples Timberlake’s “Until The End Of Time,” which Timbaland co-wrote. According to WhoSampled, the song also samples Kelly’s 1998 song “Half On A Baby,” which is where his writing credit comes from.

It was reported recently that Kelly is attempting to sell the publishing rights to his back catalog. If somebody purchased the rights, Kelly would not profit from his song being sampled on “TSU.” However, it appears Kelly is struggling to find a buyer, so as it stands now, Kelly still owns his publishing rights and will therefore profit from “TSU,” which is becoming a much-discussed song on one of the year’s biggest albums.

Of course, Kelly has faced many allegations of sexual misconduct in recent years. Most recently, an alleged male victim of sexual exploitation by Kelly testified in court.

Certified Lover Boy is out now via OVO Sound/Republic. Get it here.