Music peaked twenty years ago, and I’m sorry to tell you all that it’s never reached the same heights since. I am, of course, talking about the release of NSYNC’s Bye Bye Bye. It was released on January 11, 2000 – so I missed the actual 20th birthday, but you bet I’m celebrating it now – as the lead single from their third studio album No Strings Attached.
I’ll admit I wasn’t introduced to this certified banger through No Strings Attached, but rather by my little brothers copy of Hot Wheels Hot Hits Volume Two, which I have long held up as an example of a perfect compilation album. Including songs like Bohemian Like You, Sk8er Boi, and Blue (Da Da Dee), it was going to be hard to stand out as the best song on the album, but Bye Bye Bye managed to do just that.
Hot Wheels Hot Hits Volume Two and Nikki Webster’s Follow Your Heart were probably the only two CDs we ever physically wore out, so you know it was good.
So where are these fine men now?
We all know Justin Timberlake is busy denying that he cheated on Jessica Biel while drunk out of his mind, but it turns out that the other guys are living a much less drama-filled life.
JC Chasez is honestly just living his best life and hanging out with celebrities. His Insta is wholesome af. Same goes for Chris Kirkpatrick and his Insta.
Lance Bass married his long-time boyfriend Michael Turchin, and made a show about it called Lance Loves Michael: The Lance Bass Wedding. Pop that one on your weekend watch list if you want to eat chocolate cry.
Joey Fatone runs his own gourmet hot dog stand called Fat One’s in Orlando, which I’m obsessed with and will absolutely dive deeper into at a later date, because I need to know everything about it.
So happy 20th birthday to the defining song of a generation, I know what I’m going to have on repeat all weekend now.
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