Official Charts Pop Gem #34: ‘N Sync – Pop

We celebrate pre-regeneration Justin Timberlake's boyband hit from 2001.

A pre-regeneration Justin Timberlake and his four fab friends shimmy their way into the Pop Gem hall of fame with this overlooked classic from 2001.

Boybands, don’t you just love them? With their puppy-dog eyes and their promise to love you for ever ‘gurl’ and their ripplin’ muscles and kickin’ dance moves and, oh, well, everything.

From Westlife to 1D, Boyzone to the Backstreet Boys, we love a good boyband, and to celebrate this fact we asked for your favourite ‘all-male vocal harmony group’ Pop Gems. We know we've done this one before, but there's nothing wrong with a good old remix to freshen things up a bit.

A Pop Gem is the kind of track that used to be a pretty big deal but has somehow fallen down the back of pop’s sofa. And what better Pop Gem than a song that has the word ‘pop’ in the title? And what if ‘pop’ was the only word in the title? Oh, it’s almost too much. Step forward, Pop, by ‘N Sync (or *N Sync or NSync or however you prefer to ‘style’ it).

Long ago, before Justin Timberlake had discovered hair-straighteners and was still stepping out in double-denim, he was part of a boyband, the all-American ‘N Sync. While they were big in the US, their British success was more on the modest side, although we certainly know a star when we see one – Justin Timberlake has gone on to massive success on the Official Singles Chart. Justin and his pals – JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone (amazing name, amazing guy), and Lance Bass – enjoyed six Top 10 hits.

Pop, the band’s high-five to the most wonderful musical genre of them all, was their penultimate Top 10 (Get you with the long words – Literary Ed) and peaked at Number 9 back in July 2001. Five of their singles sold more, and they had huger hits – the stellar Girlfriend, with sticking plaster-sporting rapper Nelly, was their biggest – but it’s Pop that gets our nod for greatness.

Watch the vid before we tell you just why Pop deserves its Pop Gem rosette. (How many times can we say the word 'pop'? Pop pop pop pop.)

Why? Well, we have loads of reasons, but here are a few: it’s about pop, it’s very good, it is a middle finger to people who thought boybands couldn’t be cool, and the guys performed it at the 2001 MTV VMAs with none other than Michael Jackson, which was pretty amazing. As if that prospect weren’t exciting enough – and it is, let’s be real – also get the chance to see Justin try out those acting muscles of his in the intro. Yes.

What happened next?

‘N Sync, er, fell out of sync in 2002, going on what bands who don’t want to admit they’re splitting up like to call a ‘hiatus’. Justin Timberlake finally got rid of those dodgy denims and went on to huge success, appearing on 17 Top 10 hits, including four Number 1s. He’s teamed up with Madonna, Rihanna, Timbaland, Jay Z, Ciara, 50 Cent… the guy’s a big deal, basically. JC tried his hand at a solo career too and scored two Top 40 hits. Lance Bass, who wanted to be the first popstar in space, went into acting and appeared on Dancing With The Stars, as did Joey Fatone. Chris Kirkpatrick appeared on reality TV and, with the rest of the guys, performed for one last time as ‘N Sync at the 2013 MTV VMAs, 12 years after that brilliant performance of Pop.