With One Direction on permanent hiatus and BTS serving in the South Korean military, the time is ripe for another boy band to take back the throne. Luckily, *NSYNC is accepting appointments. On September 29, the band released "Better Place," their comeback song from Justin Timberlake's upcoming animated film Trolls , and fans got into a nostalgic state.
While Lance Bass, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick and Timberlake have reunited for special occasions before, "Better Place" marks the band's first new music in more than two decades since 2001's single "Girlfriend" . The new song hearkens back to the band’s bombastic pop sound, paired with its signature uplifting lyrics and captivating harmonies.
*NSYNC first previewed the song at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, along with a surprise reunion. They presented the award for Best Pop Video to Taylor Swift, who seemed more excited about the band than her award. "What happens now?" she asked on stage. "They're going to do something, and I need to know what it is." A few days later, they announced the single.
After hearing the song, fans immediately turned to X (formerly Twitter) to share their thoughts, agreeing that it felt great to hear all five members again, with one user writing "*NSYNC did what had to be done matter. "
Many listeners were shocked at how great their voices still sounded, praising frontmen Timberlake and Chas for their vocal prowess. One user said they were "doing a combination attack."
Other fans noted that the song's "harmonies are quintessential *NSYNC," with one lovingly praising the rest of the band, noting that "their harmonies wouldn't be harmonious without Chris, Joey, and Lance." "
"Better Place" topped the iTunes sales chart within hours of its release. One fan asked: "Did I wake up in 2001? @NSYNC has a #1 song?!" Even Glee star Kevin McHale couldn't figure out he was talking about a new one *NSYNC tracks.
While all five have produced numerous promos and Instagram videos to promote Better Place, including a recent appearance on Hot Ones, this song may well be the band's final surprise. Timberlake will reportedly release his next album in 2024.
But, Mr. SexyBack, it's never too late to turn a solo show into a reunion tour.
