Where a discussion about the Backstreet Boys goes, one about (former) competitor *NSYNC must follow. As another Orlando-based vocal group created two years after the Backstreet Boys, they quickly became BSB’s number one rival in the hearts of fangirls (and boys!) everywhere. Unlike the Backstreet Boys, they sadly did not stand the test of time, breaking up in 2002 after the release and promotion of their third album Celebrity. Never fear: they left us with a bunch of videos to remember and judge them by. Here’s our ranking of the American *NSYNC videos.
15. “Girlfriend” (2002)
The video has the guys dancing on fairly unstable cars and Justin winning a drag race. You know what it doesn’t have? NELLY. You don’t do something without Nelly if he can be involved. It’s just not right.
14. “I Drive Myself Crazy” (1999)
This is one of *NSYNC’s most iconic videos, and definitely their most offensive. The padded cells, straightjackets, and portrayal of the mentally ill make for one horrifically insensitive video, all in the name of being dramatic over a breakup. The only two upsides to this video are the comfortable-looking silk pajamas they wear and the inclusion of Amber from Clueless.
13. “This I Promise You” (2000)
This one features the boys performing in a very fake looking forest–like, I’d compare it to the Rainforest Cafe, but I don’t want to insult the restaurant–wearing turtleneck sweaters and ugly pants. The performance is interspersed with a bunch of random people doing random things, with no perceivable thread.
12. “Gone” (2001)
A frame narrative that opens and closes on people in the ‘20s doing the Charleston and some…other, more anachronistic dances. As my sister said, “That’s a lot of booty dancing for the ‘20s.” Inside the frame, Justin angsts his way through a breakup. The best parts are when all of the guys join him and intensely stare into the camera while they sing. Bros supporting bros: here for it.
11. “Here We Go” (1997)
Advertisement
The guys perform at a basketball game, then play the game. Surprisingly boring for an early *NSYNC video.
10. “Pop” (2001)
A look that can only be described as “Dr. Seuss goes to the club.” “Pop” has a lot of great energy and dance routines. Please note that Joey Fatone isn’t actually dancing; he had broken his leg, so they CGI’ed his head onto choreographer Wade Robson’s body. Why does that name sound familiar, you ask? Robson is the person with whom Britney supposedly cheated on Justin. Fun facts to know and tell! Anyway, this video arguably could have been higher, but Justin’s beatboxing dressed as Hyde from That 70s Show ruined it for everyone.
Advertisement
9. “Music of My Heart” (1999)
*NSYNC and legend Gloria Estefan (fight me, she has her own Broadway show) team up in the name of Wes Craven’s Music of the Heart movie. Gorgeous shots of people playing instruments while the boys sing with Gloria, who defies aging at every turn. Not too exciting, but nice enough.
8. “I Want You Back” (1996)
The boys temper synchronized dancing in an alley with shots of them driving around and playing pool, because dudes, I guess? The American version is much better than the European version, where they’re dressed as Harvey from Sabrina the Teenage Witch, dancing in what looks like a poorly CGI’ed space station from Zenon, Girl of the 21st Century. In sum: ‘90s vomit on parade.
Advertisement
7. “Girlfriend (Neptunes Remix)” (2002)
Pretty much the same video as the non-remixed “Girlfriend,” only now with bonus Nelly. You ALWAYS include Nelly if you can.
6. “(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time On You” (1998)
This video chronicles the lives of a mother and son through the ‘30s and ‘40s as he grows into a man and ends up going off to war. There’s a horrifying moment at the end where you think someone has arrived at his mother’s house to tell her that he’s dead, but SURPRISE! It’s him! This video is easily *NSYNC’s most unique and unexpected concept, with little to no dancing.
5. “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” (1998)
It’s difficult for newer Christmas songs to make a stand among the many classic seasonal tunes. Many pop acts have tried, few have succeeded. *NSYNC is one of the successful pop acts; their Home for Christmas album has sold millions of copies and still occasionally gets radio play. The video is a classic concept, in which the boys takeover as Santa when he falls ill just before Christmas. Come for the terrible special effects, stay for the warm and fuzzy holiday feelings this song brings.
4. “Bye Bye Bye” (2000)
Ushering in the No Strings Attached era was “Bye Bye Bye,” arguably *NSYNC’s most iconic video. The first shot shows everyone’s makeovers (some for the better, some for the worse), and displays the marionette motif that would carry through this entire era. The plot is that they’re all trying to escape a girl–Joey and Chris run on top of a moving train, Justin runs through a warehouse while the girl and her doberman chase them down, and JC and Lance are involved in a high speed car chase to escape. Bonus: their most iconic dance routine in the moving blue Jamiroquai room.
3. “It’s Gonna Be Me” (2001)
This is the video for the group’s only number one single on the Billboard Hot 100. The marionette strings are back, only this time, the band has become toy versions of themselves trapped on a shelf. The video is interspersed with absolutely flawless choreography. Even though *NSYNC didn’t last a lifetime, their dances are forever. This video has quite a legacy; Fall Out Boy honored this video with their own for “Irresistible” featuring Demi Lovato, and the internet remembers it every year in the weeks leading up to the month of May.
2. “Tearin’ Up My Heart” (1997)
“Tearin’ Up My Heart” is the video *NSYNC used to plant a stake in the ground of ‘90s boy bands. The concept is simple; the guys do various dance routines in between photo shoots. The simplicity allows their dancing talent to shine through, to the point where I can still picture the choreography in my head when I hear the song.
1. “U Drive Me Crazy” (1998)
What’s this, you ask? The best, least known American video that *NSYNC graced us with, that’s what. “U Drive Me Crazy” follows the band as they attempt to impress a talent agent using every gimmick they can think of–pretending to be an ‘80s hair band, dressing as the Spice Girls (YES), and becoming a rap group. What eventually catches the eye of the agent is when the perform as themselves poolside, natch. If all of that wasn’t enough, Justin creepily stirs milk and wiggles his eyebrows at the camera for way too long. What more could you ask for? NOTHING.
Advertisement