POP Release
(07.04) Source - Tower Records: Pop, *NSYNC's first single off their upcoming 3rd LP, Celebrity is currently available for online purchase at towerrecords.com. The single was released June 25th and is retailing for $10.99 online.
�����Track listings:
�����1. Album Version
�����2. Radio Version
�����3. Deep Dish Cha-Ching Remix (Radio Edit)
�����4. Terminalhead Vocal Remix
�����Also up for pre-order: Celebrity! Reserve your copy of Celebrity today and get a free *NSYNC CD. Celebrity arrives July 24 and features the single "Pop" which was written by Justin Timberlake and Wade Robson and produced by BT (Madonna, Sarah McLachlan). Pre-order Celebrity now for only $12.99 and get the exclusive *NSYNC NSide Out CD-ROM...FREE! To get the NSide Out CD-ROM, just add Celebrity to your shopping bag and the CD-ROM will automatically be added!
�����The *NSYNC FREE NSide Out CD-ROM contains:
�����1. Making of Celebrity - Go behind-the-scenes and hear the band open up about their new sound.
�����2. "Pop" Celebrity - Full-length CD single of the new song "Pop."
�����3. Celebrity the Video - Full-length video of the new single "Pop," as seen on MTV. PLUS three additional minutes taken from The Making of the Video!
�����4. Celebrity Watch - Fun bio facts about your favorite band member.
�����5. PLUS! Be a Celebrity! - Get your name in the October issue of Pulse!
Est. Retail Value $18.99 - Free with Pre-Order of Celebrity!
Celebrity Busts Out
(07.04) Source - NME: [FOR THE UK VERSION OF CELEBRITY] A few weeks ago, NME.com trumpeted the return of *NSYNC with a review of 'Pop' which concluded that if 'Celebrity' followed in that first single's footsteps it stood to be the most sophisticated pop album ever made. Well, the results are in. And...
�����Well, 'Celebrity' fails to disappoint on virtually every level, and if *NSYNC are really following in Jacko's footsteps as much as 'Pop' suggests then they won't have any problem emulating his technique of releasing six singles off one album. 'Celebrity' will leave Jive spoilt for choice while other pop acts' greatest hits albums will suddenly seem like a shoddy collection of B-sides.
�����In fact, it's not too much of an overstatement to say that 'Celebrity' could very easily be one of the most exciting, futuristic pop albums ever made. Talk of rivalry between *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys must stop now: *NSYNC have set their sights even higher, and if the Michael Jackson album is better than this he's a very, very lucky man.
�����1. 'POP' (3.57)
�����Written by: Justin Timberlake/Wade J Robson
�����Produced by: BT/Justin Timberlake/Wade J Robson
�����You may already have heard this one. Apparently MTV have played the video once or twice. Here 'Pop' takes its full-length form - ie the one in the video - which means we get (a) More gratuitous axe action in the middle eight, (b) More chorus at the end, (c) Justin's human beatbox extravaganza shoved on the back of it all. All three of these are very cool indeed and since the length of the song is still only four minutes you kind of wonder why it wasn't the single version. There are some strange people at work in the music industry.
�����*NSYNC-type asterisks out of 10: ********** [10]
�����2. 'CELEBRITY' (3.17)
�����Written by: Justin Timberlake/Wade J Robson/J Valentine
�����Produced by: Rodney Jerkins/Justin Timberlake/Wade J Robson
�����As the Spice Girls proved, any old fool with a bit of cash in their bank account can wheel out Rodney Jerkins for a bit of knob-twiddling, but this mid-tempo number comes off better than a lot of the Jerkster's recent offerings, and Britney's already had him (on the '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' cover) so it's about time Justin and co. got a bit of his attention. "I've been thinking about the things that satisfy you," Justin muses at the start, "I'm beginning to wonder what you see in me." Turns out it's all about Justin being famous! "If I couldn't buy you diamond rings and all those other expensive things, would you be so into me, if I wasn't a celebrity?" he continues. Now nobody needs paranoia in a relationship but Justin is quite famous and quite rich. Then again so is Britney so the argument sort of falls a bit flat. There is much scratching in the background, there are camera sound effects (because celebrities very often have their photographs taken), there is crowd noise, and there's a bit where they sing "j-o-b" like Gwen Guthrie in 'Aint Nothin' Going On But The Rent', which of course is a masterstroke. Anyway by the end of it Justin decides that he's had enough of it, concluding "Now I'm leaving you behind - I've found somebody who can love me for me". Which is nice for him.
�����*NSYNC-type asterisks out of 10: ******** [8]
�����3. 'THE GAME IS OVER' (3.25)
�����Written by: JC Chasez/Alex Greggs/Brad Daymond
�����Produced by: Riprock 'n' Alex G/JC Chasez
�����Game over for the Backstreet Boys! Produced by top-notch remix outfit Riprock 'n' Alex G (their 'Oops! I Did It Again' reworking is a blinder), 'The Game Is Over' is one of the highlights from the current Pop Odyssey tour and stands up just as well without all the bells and whistles. (Not that there are many bells on Pop Odyssey. Explosions, yes. Bells, no.) "You act like everyone revolves around you," sing The Sink. "Baby, you're droppable and the game is through... You're tryin' to play both sides, you got caught up in your lies and now you're running out of time." All good. Also: vocoder bits of a man repeating the phrase 'Game over, game over' in the chorus. Then there's a sort of 303 axe solo in the middle eight as the band wail "how could you think that you do me like that?" over a mental breakdown bit which collapses and then kicks back in for a load more chorus at the end. One of the various good things about *NSYNC is that they know precisely how many times to do choruses at the end of the songs. 'The Game Is Over' comes complete with computer game blips - but not just any computer game. Oh no. It is the daddy of all computer games, ie Pacman. *NSYNC actually credit the sample! How cool is that? (Answer: almost unspeakably.)
�����*NSYNC-type asterisks out of 10: ********** [10]
�����4. 'GIRLFRIEND' (4.13)
�����Written by: Justin Timberlake/Chad Hugo/Pharrell Williams
�����Produced by: The Neptunes
�����Peculiar song: if you're expecting The Neptunes ' production on 'Girlfriend' to be the big old spaz-out hiphop stomperama that frequently makes them so ace, you could be a little disappointed. BUT! If you're hoping for a nice little mid-tempo number about nicking someone's girlfriend then you're in luck. "He doesn't even know you're there," *NSYNC declare. "He don't love your eyes and he don't love your smile. The middle of the night, is he gonna be by your side?" A good question. *NSYNC suggest no. "Does the man even know you're alive?" *NSYNC's plan here is to get the girl to dump her current boyfriend. "If you were my girlfriend I would be your shining star," *NSYNC announce. Possibly a difficult offer to turn down, to be honest.
�����*NSYNC-type asterisks out of 10: ******* [7]
�����5. 'THE TWO OF US' (3.50)
�����Written by: JC Chasez/Alex Greggs/Brad Daymond
�����Produced by: Riprock 'n' Alex G/JC Chasez
�����Jordan Knight's 'Give It To You': unexpectedly ace. *NSYNC's 'The Two Of Us': expectedly ace, and rather a lot like 'Give It To You'. Though we can probably sleep safe in the knowledge that *NSYNC will not be appearing in woolly jumpers if this ends up having a video made for it. "When we started baby we were friends, but that's not how this fairytale is gonna end. I was think then it clicked one day - that no-one else has ever made me feel this way." This song appears to be about deciding that you fancy your best friend which isn't really a terribly bright idea unless, possibly, you happen to be Justin Timberlake and/ Britney, in which case shacking up with your childhood chum has numerous plus points. "I toss and turn when I'm alone," we are also informed.
�����*NSYNC-type asterisks out of 10: ******** [8]
�����6. 'GONE'(4.51)
�����Written by: Justin Timberlake/Wade J. Robson
�����Produced by: Justin Timberlake/Wade J. Robson
�����You sometimes wonder whether, apart from the fact that they give you a chance for a bit of a breather when you're performing live, *NSYNC actually like doing ballads very much. They can be a little boring. However! This one is not boring. Starts off with lots of vinyl popping noises - not a particularly innovative idea, but you can't really go wrong with them - and a snatch of the music that accompanies the silent movie they play before performing this live. Fairly stripped- down production (acoustic guitar, pattering beats, violin during middle eight) works well with the theme of the song, which is basically that a relationship has gone tits up. "I've been sitting here, can't get you off my mind, I try my best to be a man and be strong. I drive myself insane wishing I could touch your face, but the truth remains. You're gone." A clock ticks about two minutes into 'Gone'. Nice effect.
�����*NSYNC-type asterisks out of 10: ****** [6]
�����7: 'TELL ME; TELL ME ... BABY' (3.36)
�����Written by: Max Martin/Rami
�����Produced by: Rami
�����Basically as we know, Cheiron (the team of writers and producers responsible for most of the greatest pop music of the past half-decade) have gone their separate ways now but the Max Martin/Rami duo have come up trumps here. Obviously the familiar stops and starts, enormo chord changes and ringtone factor are all in place but Rami's obviously having a right old laugh producing this. The intro, in particular, is an all-effects-blazing blinder (including a bit where it whirrs to a halt and a Syncer chirps "Hold on - you know what? Can we back it up just a little bit?" before it all kicks back in again) while the song itself is a lot more sophisticated than even Cheiron's later output. You will also notice that the title 'Tell Me; Tell Me ...Baby' employs not only a Britney-esque '...' but - that holy grail of all pop punctuation! - a semi-colon. Semi- colons are brilliant.
�����*NSYNC-type asterisks out of 10: ********* [9]
�����8: 'UP AGAINST THE WALL'(3.36)
�����Written by: JC Chasez/Justin Timberlake/Alex Greggs/Brad Daymond
�����Produced by: Riprock 'n' Alex G/JC Chasez
�����Upbeat, spunky, full of twinkling sound effects and wibbly bits; one of the best tracks on 'Celebrity'. (Note use of semi-colon in last sentence. See? We were right! They're ace!) Storyline thus: *NSYNC go to nightclub. *NSYNC notice beautiful lady. Beautiful lady "took my hand, never said a word at all". And bangs *NSYNC against a wall! Now there's a thought. In another bit, "she turned around and worked in the worst way". NME.COM is unsure precisely how to interpret this line, but if it's what we think it is then we have only one word, and that is crikey. "What more do I have to say?" they sing. Well, quite. Loads of "we don't, we don't care at all" chanting, then the song goes into a big old "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the cutest one you saw?" nursery rhyme bit, concluding "She's underneath the disco ball, disco ball, standing next to strobe lights". Disco balls? Strobe lights? Surely second and third only to dry ice in terms of brill things that can happen in nightclubs!
�����*NSYNC-type asterisks out of 10: ********** [10]
�����9: 'SEE RIGHT THROUGH YOU' (2.52)
�����Written by: Justin Timberlake/Larry 'Rock' Campbell/Wade J Robson
�����Produced by: Justin Timberlake/Wade J Robson
�����Another standout track on 'Celebrity'. Seems a lady of some sort has been cheating on *NSYNC (perhaps she's been grinding up against blokes in nightclubs). Chorus: "Look into my eyes, tell me what you see - you see a man who thought you loved me, you played me for a fool but I see right through you. I look into your eyes, I'll tell you what I see. I see a girl who ain't been lonely, you thought me had me fooled but I see right through you." Good lyrics. But they get even better! "These games they've got to stop. About to get pissed off." Yes, hold every front and/or homepage on the planet - *NSYNC use the phrase 'pissed off'. By this point in the album you sort of realise that *NSYNC are getting a bit moody these days, which is brilliant because most pop bands are so busy smiling and jumping off chairs in photoshoots that they forget they're real people who get annoyed - or, indeed, pissed off - about things. This is another upbeat number, and it instantly sounds like a classic. Imagine, if Dane Bowers had managed to get hold of this song he'd probably be able to get a hit single without having to witter to the press about 'haters' in a desperate attempt to generate publicity. Then again, The Bowers Boy wouldn't be allowed within a million miles of a song this good, because he is quite literally Dane Bowers , ie Not The Sink. To be honest the only bad thing about this song is that it's so short. Bring on the extended 12" version!
�����*NSYNC-type asterisks out of 10: ********** [10]
�����10: 'SELFISH' (4.19)
�����Written by: JC Chasez/Jolyon Skinner/Veit Renn
�����Produced by: Brian McKnight
�����SOUND THE BALLAD SIREN! Not much to say about this little number, really: could have appeared on either of *NSYNC's other albums, but would have been better served as a b-side. Quite a good chorus ("You can call me selfish but all I want is your love, you can call me hopeless baby 'cos I'm hopelessly in love") but it does rhyme "love" with "love" (SOUND THE COPOUT SIREN!) and the verses aren't up to much. There's one bit where the line "If love is a crime, punish me" comes up and you think for one awful moment that the line "If loving you is wrong I don't want to be right" is just around the corner. It isn't, fortunately. Not a future single, one would hope.
�����*NSYNC-type asterisks out of 10: **** [4]
�����11: 'JUST DON'T TELL ME THAT' (3.02)
�����Written by: Kristian Lundin/Jake/Andreas Carlsson
�����Produced by: Kristian Lundin/Jake Schulze
�����Look, this is just a bloody corker. More of *NSYNC's old Cheiron chums, which should already start 'TUNE' signs flashing in front of your eyes, and yet more grumpiness from The Sink. Another end-of-relationship effort, and "even if you did say you were gonna be there I don't want you back cos it's not about love - just don't tell me that." If it's not about love, what could it be about? Could it be the ice around the collective *NSYNC neck? Or could it all be about sex? Obviously not, as nobody in their right mind would want to do rumpo with Justin. THEN! The song pretends it's Air's 'Sexy Boy' for approximately two and a half seconds. The best bit is when the backing drops out and the chorus "You're. Not. Going. To. Love. Me" is spelt out with a big bang for each word. Probably the track on 'Celebrity' that most resembles anything from 'No Strings Attached'.
�����*NSYNC-type asterisks out of 10: ********** [10]
�����12: 'SOMETHING LIKE YOU' (4.14)
�����Written by: Justin Timberlake/Robin Wiley
�����Produced by: Justin Timberlake Robin Wiley
�����Ballad. Stevie Wonder on harmonica. Blahdy blah.
�����*NSYNC-type asterisks out of 10: ****** [6]
�����13: 'THAT GIRL (WILL NEVER BE MINE)' (3.24)
�����Written by: Kristian Lundin/Jake Schulze/Andreas Carlsson
�����Produced by: Kristian Lundin/Jake Schulze
�����Not ballad. No Stevie Wonder. Bring it on. Kicks off with trademark *NSYNC harmony showy- off bit then sets the scene - collective *NSYNC monster sees a woman "six feet ... from the catwalk". ie Not ugly. How will they get the girl? Well that's the problem. "How can I get next to her? Tell me how it's gonna be done - will I win or lose this one? Don't care about the fact that she's in a different league. Say it's no use but I try." Now let's just take a short reality check here. Justin Timberlake: the man who has snogged Beyonce and done all sorts of things that aren't sex with
�����*NSYNC-type asterisks out of 10: ********** [10]
�����14: 'FALLING' (3.48)
�����Written by: Chris Kirkpatrick/Bryan Poppin/Gary Brown/Ira Schickmanv
�����Produced by: Roy 'Royalty' Hamilton
�����Well, we're heading towards the end of the album now so things have slowed down a little bit for all the lovers in the house, or whatever. The best ballad on 'Celebrity', 'Falling' does quite bizarrely actually sound like the PJ & Duncan song of the same name, which you'd imagine is something of a coincidence. You can probably guess the lyrics but the chorus runs a bit like this: "I'm falling, falling, girl I'm falling for you and I pray you're falling too. I've been falling falling ever since the moment I laid eyes on you." Notable for the line "I don't know what's come over me," which is something we can all associate with.
�����*NSYNC-type asterisks out of 10: ******** [8]
�����15: 'DO YOUR THING' (4.19)
�����Written by: James Moss
�����Produced by: PAJAM (Paul 'PDA' Allen & J. Moss)
�����All in all quite a peculiar end to 'Celebrity', a sort of half-ballad half-stomper which has vocoders and includes a spurious bit of harmonising, which maybe isn't such a bad thing. This is a 'Pop Ya Collar'-style song about getting on with what you want to do and not letting the haters get you down. "You're doing your thing and you're doing it well," they insist, which is quite nice. Good rap bit at the end.
*NSYNC-type asterisks out of 10: ******* [7]
�����CONCLUSION
�����Not much evidence of Joey contributing much to the writing or production; perhaps he fell down a trapdoor on the way to the studio.
�����Review:
�����Peter Robinson ([email protected])
Misc. *NSYNC News
(07.04) Source - Various: Here's some minor news tidbits for those of you who don't know:
�����~Do you have a favorite *NSYNC moment? In celebration of their upcoming Celebrity release, we're counting down your Top 10 favorite *NSYNC moments on MTV and we need your help. Take a look at the choices and vote for your ultimate moment. Tell us what you remember most and why it's your first choice. Then tune in to *NSYNC: The Road to Celebrity on July 21 at 12:00 PM ET/PT, 11:00 AM CT, when *NSYNC and Carson Daly will count down your Top 10 moments. And they'll even perform two tracks from their new CD Celebrity for the first time on MTV!
�����~For *NSYNC fans, this is the ultimate photo op. The band plans to sell disposable cameras at its concert Wednesday in Philadelphia, and for $12 a pop, audience members will get a chance to shoot on-stage snaps of the harmonious heartthrobs. Here's the deal. The band will donate $1 from the sale of each camera to charity, and during the song "Celebrity," the audience will flash the band, a la paparazzi, as Justin, JC, Lance, Joey and Chris walk on a red carpet. Then 20 fans will be chosen at random to share the stage with the crooning quintet and take pictures up-close-and-personal. Girls, try not to faint if you're picked, or you'll end up with nothing but pictures of the ceiling.
�����~Teenage pop sensation Britney Spears and Internet media company Yahoo Inc. have teamed in a new video that allows fans to follow Spears and her *NSYNC heartthrob boyfriend, Justin Timberlake, on a recent New York shopping spree and click along to shop with the stars. The interactive feature, launched on Yahoo this weekend, features a soundtrack by Spears, and prompts users to buy everything from her hit 2000 album "Oops! I Did It Again" to a size-four lavender halter, which like many other items, she deems "cool." In the seven-minute video, sponsored by PepsiCo Inc., 19-year-old Spears fills her virtual shopping cart with $887.37 of merchandise, including a $194.90 Dolce & Gabbana T-shirt. The new promotion comes as Yahoo is under pressure to offer the kind of all-in-one marketing opportunities being promoted by media rival AOL Time Warner Inc and to generate new sources of advertising revenue. Timberlake, who says "A lot of times clothes express how you feel about something, how you feel about yourself," spends $265.83 in his spree, including a T-shirt in his favorite color of baby blue.
�����~Visit tvdance.com & watch *NSYNC groove to "It's Gonna Be Me"
�����~If you haven't heard about The *NSYNC Fan Bus yet, then check out nsyncfanbus.com to learn all about what Winter & Meredith are up to! And make sure you visit them at your concert's venue!
�����~You've scored tickets to *NSYNC's PopOdyssey Tour now get yourself noticed by sporting *NSYNC GloGear necklaces and score extra points with the hottest boyband. Get the latest in concert jewelry - *NSYNC GloGear necklaces! Worn by the boys themselves, *NSYNC has their own line of GloGear necklaces, with three styles of the infamous *NSYNC logo, now on shelves at Walmart retailers nationwide. These concert accessories magically illuminate from the inside out, glistening and glowing for up to 20 continuous hours in blue, red, amber, or green light, and even have replaceable batteries to keep wearers glowing with the music all night - concert after concert, if you're so lucky! Original GloGear styles including Star, Heart, Butterfly, Daisy, Rockstar and Dragon charms have been seen on stars from Dream, Britney Spears, Aerosmith, Pink, Mya, Gwen Stefani and Mandy Moore, to name a few. The mystery behind GloGear is remarkable, using patented technology combined with magnets, stylized charms and tiny batteries to emanate brilliantly when lit. Also at Walmart, find specially designed Britney Spears GloGear necklaces in three different styles including a Fairy, Britney "B" and the Britney Daisy. For more information or to find the Walmart nearest you, log onto glogear.com or walmart.com.
�����~Thanks to an *NSYNC concert Tuesday at the Brewers' new home, Miller Park, 1,000 square yards of sod (behind second base and in left-center) needed to be replaced in time for this weekend's series against Houston. The $15,000 bill will be sent to the concert promoter. Friendly reminder to A's fielders: The *NSYNC concert tour stops in Oakland on July 21-22.
The Mysery Of Mobius 8 - PopOdyssey's On-Stage Villain
(07.04) Source - Allstar: Contrary to appearances, Mobius 8, who momentarily steals the show from *NSYNC on the mega-group's summer tour, is not a computer-generated superhero (or villain). In fact, he is more of a space age, mad musical genius/conductor, controlling the music, the visuals, the lasers and the lighting - all with his own movements.
�����Mobius 8's remarkable instrument, the Hydra (said to be, like Mobius 8 himself, of alien origin), responds to his every gesture, while the visual effects follow suit in a dynamic phantasmagoria of sound and light. Mobius 8 developed the Hydra using a dimension of infrared lightbeams to produce sound and light that can be altered by the slightest movement of any body part. The result is a spellbinding, revolutionary and unearthly audio/visual experience that must be witnessed to be believed.
�����It is rumored that Mobius 8 is on a mission to complete his musical persona by appropriating the pop music genre he is missing. This rumor is substantiated by those who have sighted him on *NSYNC's summer tour during the show's encore song "Game Over". It has been reported that Mobius 8 has suddenly appeared in what seems like an attempt to take some pop from *NSYNC. Although Mobius 8 struggles and seems to gain some pop from *NSYNC during the ultimate video game-like battle, those who've encountered Mobius 8 believe he may appear again in attempt to obtain more from *NSYNC as the tour moves across the United States.
�����Those wanting to witness the magic, mystery, and musical mission of Mobius 8 for themselves, can try to catch a glimpse on the remainder of *NSYNC's tour!
Michael Jackson Adds Second Date To 30th Anniversary Celebration In N.Y.
(07.03) Source - Allstar: Michael Jackson's 30th Anniversary Celebration: The Solo Years extravaganza at Madison Square Garden in New York has tacked on a second date. The event will now be held on Sept. 7 and 10, and according to Billboard, possibly a third date on Sept. 9.
�����This will mark the King of Pop's first U.S. concert in approximately 11 years and will coincide with the release of his new album, Invinsible, in September (tentatively the 25th) on Epic.
�����As previously reported, the event will feature a Jackson 5 reunion performance, as well as appearances from *NSYNC, Britney Spears, Shaggy, Mya, Tamia, Deborah Cox, Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, Ray Charles, Luther Vandross, Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, and others.
�����In addition, the event will feature a 300-member gospel choir, a 48-piece orchestra, 12 backup singers, a 200-member children's choir, and a 40-member dance troupe. More acts are likely to be added.
�����The celebration will air as a two-hour worldwide television special on CBS.
Missy Elliott, Ricky Martin, Mary J. Blige Added To Michael Jackson Tribute
(07.02) Source - MTV: After causing a stir by appearing unannounced with Jay-Z at Hot 97's Summer Jam concert last Thursday in Uniondale, New York, Michael Jackson has disclosed the full guest list of performers scheduled to appear at two September shows in his honor.
�����The pop icon has added a September 10 date to the previously announced September 7 event titled "Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, The Solo Years." The shows will be taped for a two-hour television special.
�����Gloria Estefan, Luther Vandross, Diana Ross, Missy Elliott, Ramsey Lewis, Lil' Romeo, Gloria Gaynor, Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige, Ricky Martin and Usher have announced their participation in the extravaganza, according to Jackson's publicist. They join a cast that already includes Marc Anthony, Britney Spears, *NSYNC, Whitney Houston, Mya, Shaggy and the rest of the Jackson 5.
�����Performing in the United States for the first time in more than 11 years, Michael will sing � and dance � his hits along with at least one new song from his upcoming album, Invincible.
�����Scheduled for September 25 release, according to Epic Records, Invincible features production from R. Kelly, Teddy Riley and Rodney Jerkins, and guest vocals by the late Notorious B.I.G.
�����Another source at Epic says fans can look forward to a musical vibe similar to Jackson's Off the Wall era on the album.
*NSYNC To Attend Derek Jeter's Birthday Party
(07.02) Source - Tickets.com: Tickets Go On-Sale Saturday, June 16
�����Who: Eytan T. Sugarman invites you to join Missy Elliott, Timbaland, and Nelly to celebrate Yankee heartthrob, Shortstop Derek Jeter's 27th birthday at New York's hottest nightclub - The World.
�����Joining the celebration will be: Michael Jordan, Spike Lee, Sarah Jessica Parker, Mathew Broderick, *NSYNC, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Funk Master Flex, Tyra Banks, Destiny's Child, Donald Trump and Derek's teammates Tino Martinez, Jorge Posada, Luis Sojo, Roger Clemens and Dave Justice, among others.
�����What: This year marks Jeter's Third Annual Birthday Party Hosted by Universal Records hip-hop sensation Nelly and Hot 97's Radio Diva Angie Martinez. Hot 97's DJ Clue, will be spinning the hits.
�����Performances by music's hottest stars are still being scheduled.
�����Where: The World, The Paramount Building, 1501 Broadway @ 43rd Street (Entrance is located on 43rd Street)
�����When: Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - Doors open 10:00 PM.
�����Why: Jeter will unite for the third time with Eytan T. Sugarman to throw the most exclusive, star-studded birthday party of the year.
�����How: Tickets on sale Saturday, June 16 at 5 PM.
�����Limited tickets are available, must be for 21 and over to attend. $45 per person [regular admission], $125 per person [VIP admission], includes bottle of Champagne For ticket purchase: Visit ticketmaster.com. The World Ticketmaster box office, open daily 3-7 PM 1501 Broadway @ 43rd Street Or call (212) 398-2563 x253 for ticket purchase and more information. Appropriate attire required (no sneakers, no jeans please).
*NSYNC First-Timers; Leave Your Sign At Home
(07.02) Source - Detroit Free Press: Another summer, another two nights with *NSYNC in Detroit. And another chance for young music fans to cut their concert teeth.
�����For some pop devotees, this is old hat: *NSYNC and its pop brethren have performed regularly in Detroit for several years. But the makeup of the teen audience is forever churning, so there are certain to be novice fans - and parents - this weekend at Comerica Park. Here's what you need to know to have the best time.
�����At least eight songs in this 90-minute show are from "Celebrity," the album that doesn't come out for another three weeks. You've heard one of them on the radio - the single "Pop" - but don't plan on singing along with the rest unless you've been sly enough to find the tracks somewhere online.
�����Keep in mind, too, that the sound at a big outdoor stadium like Comerica Park isn't always great. A big complaint from Dave Matthews Band fans earlier this month was the shoddy sound quality in the ballpark's upper seats. Of course, it can vary from show to show: The PopOdyssey tour comes with 188 loudspeakers.
�����The Goodies
�����Here's a tip: If you want to walk home with some sort of souvenir, hit the merchandise stand early - either before the show or during one of those new songs you don't care about yet. As you'll see later, the lines pile up big-time after the concert. Save yourself some time.
�����Getting Around
�����If you've been to a Tigers game, you already know Comerica Park is a big place. But there are plenty of signs inside and it's easy to find your way around. Pick a meeting spot with friends or parents in case you get separated. And look for the folks in the navy blue shirts and khaki pants - they work at the stadium and are there to help.
�����Showing The Love
�����Don't bother painting a sign to celebrate your favorite *NSYNC member - it will be confiscated at the entrance, per the group's instructions. You shouldn't take it personally - after all, the fan whose view would be blocked by your posterboard paid just as much as you to see the show.
�����Getting Away
�����Adults have a couple of escape hatches: Comerica Park's Brushfire Grill and Hockeytown Cafe across the street. Food and drinks are available for purchase at both.
�����After dropping off the kids, parents can enter Brushfire Grill at the Montcalm entrance of the Beer Hall, which opens at 4 PM Hockeytown Cafe's outdoor patio will also be available to parents - complete with a reggae band and a limited number of shrieking fans - starting at 6.
�����If you haven't been downtown in a while, try heading north on Woodward Avenue and checking out the string of restaurants and cafes around the Majestic Theatre complex.
*NSYNC: Shouldering The Burden Of 'Celebrity'
(07.01) Source - Billboard: Justin Timberlake's jaw is getting a little tight. The topic of conversation is *NSYNC's forthcoming Jive album "Celebrity," (due out July 24) - and for a guy asserting that he's "completely cool and happy," he sounds a bit angry.
�����"The truth is that it can be tiresome to be continually blasted by critics because we don't fit their preconceived notion of what a 'credible' group is," Timberlake says. "I wonder if they listen to our music before venturing an opinion."
�����Looking around the cavernous Cleveland arena where the act is about to play another show in a string of sold-out gigs, Timberlake releases his tension with a deep breath, eventually flashing a wide smile. "In the end, it's no big deal. We make music for the people. Right now, we're extraordinarily blessed; we're reaching a lot of people."
�����Still, it's undeniable: *NSYNC wants respect. After selling 14 million copies of 2000's "No Strings Attached" worldwide, according to Jive (not to mention setting a SoundScan record by selling 2.4 million copies in the U.S. during its first week of release), the act is ready for a pat on the back.
�����Enter "Celebrity." More than "No Strings Attached" and the quintet's 1998's eponymous breakthrough, this project strives to be an accurate expression of their musical point of view, with Timberlake and *NSYNC colleague JC Chasez co-writing 10 of its 13 tracks. The two also participated in the album's production, collaborating with BT, Rodney Jerkins, Brian McKnight, and the Neptunes, among others.
�����"Our objective was not to be self-conscious and try to make another hit record," Chasez says. "Instead, we set out to make a record that was more reflective of what turns us on musically. We also wanted to prove that pop music comes in a lot of different flavors. It's not all bubble-gum."
�����That intention is most evident on "Pop," the single that previews "Celebrity." Masterminded by Timberlake with co-writer Wade Robson and club veteran BT, the track is a crafty, anthemic blend of Cameo-style electro-funk beats, Euro-pop synths, heavy-metal guitars, and Timberlake's now-signature human beat-box riffs. Atop the instrumentation are pointed lyrics like "Dirty pop that you can't stop...Think you need to realize that what we're doing is not a trend," delivered with equal parts pride and indignation.
�����"We put everything that is not considered 'pop music' in that song," Timberlake says. "It's time to re-educate the new generation about what pop really is: a collection of sounds and genres. How you mix it all together is what makes pop music interesting - and popular."
�����The philosophy seeps through "Celebrity," as it deftly combines spirited, funk-fortified jams that stick close to the formula of past hits like "Bye Bye Bye," with more adventurous experimentations in soul-spiked hip-hop ("Girlfriend," "See Right Through You") and the U.K.-bred 2-step club sound ("The Two of Us," "Up Against the Wall").
�����The act (which also features Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick, and Lance Bass) is at its best, though, on such sweet, harmony-laden ballads as "Selfish," "Something Like You" (with Stevie Wonder guesting on harmonica), and the haunting "Gone."
�����"["Gone"] is about as raw as it gets," Chasez notes. "It's just us and a beat-box, with just a tiny accent of acoustic guitar and violin. That song is a proud moment for us; it really shows how tight we are as a group."
�����"Gone" is among the six "Celebrity" tunes included in the set for *NSYNC's current concert tour, which was launched more than a month before the album's release. "It's a new idea," notes Johnny Wright, president of WEG Entertainment, the Orlando, Fla., company that manages the act. "We're bringing a large portion of the album to the fans before it's available in stores."
�����It's unusual to play so many new songs in concert - but it seems to be working. Chasez says, "By the end of each one, the crowd is with us and singing along. That's a good sign." Jive president Barry Weiss agrees. "The fact that audiences are responding so well so immediately to these new songs in this setting is incredible. It indicates to us that we've got an album of immeasurable creative and commercial depth."
�����*NSYNC is scheduled to remain on the road through August, after which the members will take a break to explore outside projects. Timberlake is mulling over film offers, while Chasez is pursuing outside production projects and Kirkpatrick is launching a clothing line. Fatone and Bass will use that time to promote "On the Line," a Miramax film in which they are both featured. The project was co-produced by Happy Place, Bass' production company, and the Jive soundtrack to "On the Line" will include two previously unavailable *NSYNC songs.
�����Still, Chasez insists that "nothing will seriously distract us from working this album harder and longer than any other we've ever made."
�����For now, the act is aggressively working "Pop," which went to radio May 14. The song was first heard on MTV, a longtime *NSYNC supporter, live via satellite from a tour rehearsal May 11. The song's elaborate video, directed by Wayne Isham, was also the subject of the May 28 edition of network's "Making the Video" program.
�����Jive and MTV (which is sponsoring the *NSYNC tour, along with Verizon, Nabisco, and SFX Entertainment) will continue collaborating on marketing "Celebrity" with a weekend package of programming, July 21-22, titled "The Road to Celebrity." During the weekend, the act will play several songs at a tailgate party in the parking lot of a venue where they're scheduled to perform. The band is also slated to appear July 24 on MTV's "Total Request Live."
�����Timberlake believes that the potential success of "Celebrity," as well as the ongoing visibility of fellow pop acts, is laying an interesting foundation for the next generation of critical darlings.
�����"It's gonna suck for the next Nirvana or whatever 'cool' rock band that comes along in about 10 years from now," Timberlake says. "The next generation of critics are being raised on *NSYNC and Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys. Their measurement of quality is going to be different. It's going to be interesting to see the next Nirvana blasted for not having a big stage show."