Girlfriend (NSYNC song)

"Girlfriend" is a pop and hip hop song by American boy band NSYNC. It was released on January 14, 2002, as the third single from their fourth studio album Celebrity. It was the group's last song to enter the top 10 of the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number five. "Girlfriend" additionally reached number one in Canada and charted within the top 10 in six other countries, including Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom. This was the last single and song the band released in their career before their reunion in 2023.

"Girlfriend"
The members of NSYNC are inside a limousine, wearing leather jackets and suits. The band name and title is positioned on the top-left corner
Single by NSYNC featuring Nelly
from the album Celebrity
B-side"The Two of Us"
ReleasedJanuary 14, 2002 (2002-01-14)
RecordedApril–May 2001[1]
Studio
  • Right Track, Battery (New York City)
  • Wire (Orlando, Florida)
Genre
Length
LabelJive
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)The Neptunes
NSYNC singles chronology
"Gone"
(2001)		 "Girlfriend"
(2002)		 "Better Place"
(2023)
Nelly singles chronology
"#1"
(2001)		 "Girlfriend"
(2002)		 "Hot in Herre"
(2002)
Music video
"Girlfriend" on YouTube

Background

When originally announced as a single, the intention was for the album version of the track to be released along with a video and released to television. However, just weeks before the release, the group announced that the Neptunes would remix the song for its single release and feature two all-new verses with rapper Nelly. When Nelly was approached to record the song, he was initially met with resistance from his record label, who stated that he was trying to "ruin [his] career". Nelly insisted on appearing on the song, which they eventually conceded.[2] It was his first major cross-collaboration.[3]

The song contained a hip hop influence and was sent to top 40 and hot AC radio in January 2002 before being released commercially on March 12, 2002, as an enhanced CD.[4][5]

Critical reception

In 2015, Billboard's Jason Lipshutz ranked it tenth on the list "Top 20 Essential Boy Band Songs," writing, "straddling the lines of pop, R&B and hip-hop, the song could have been the precursor to the boy band's stylistic shift, but instead proved to be the starting point for Justin Timberlake's solo career."[6]

Music video

Background

Two music videos exist for the single, which were both directed by Marc Klasfeld. The first video was released in late December 2001, while the Neptunes Remix debuted on March 12, 2002.[7]

Synopsis

The music video featured the band dancing on cars, singing to girls and a drag race, which was won by Justin Timberlake. The Neptunes Remix featured scenes of Nelly spliced between shots of the pre-existing video. He is shown rapping next to Timberlake during both of his rap verses, as well as interacting with female models in the backseat of the car throughout this version of the video. Scenes of Timberlake initiating the drag race in the interlude, which is shown in the original video, are heavily omitted in the Neptunes Remix to accommodate for Nelly's rap verse, which his second rap verse replaces.

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the UK CD single liner notes.[11]

Recording

  • Recorded at Right Track, NYC; Battery Studios, NYC; and WIRE Studios, Orlando, FL

Personnel

  • Justin Timberlake – songwriter
  • Chad Hugo – songwriter, producer, remix producer
  • Pharrell Williams – songwriter, producer, remix producer
  • The Neptunes – producer, remix producer
  • Brian Garten – recording, additional vocal recording
  • Paul Gregory – assistant recording engineer
  • Rowie Nameri – assistant recording engineer
  • Matina Scarpino – assistant recording engineer
  • Jean-Marie Horvat – mixing
  • Josean Possey – assistant mixing engineer
  • Chaz Harper – mastering

Charts

Certifications
Certifications and sales for "Girlfriend"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[52] Gold 35,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[53] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[54] Gold 400,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Release dates and formats for "Girlfriend"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States January 14, 2002 Contemporary hit radio Jive [4]
January 21, 2002 Hot adult contemporary radio
Japan January 30, 2002 CD [55]
United States March 12, 2002 Enhanced CD [5]
Australia April 15, 2002 CD [56]
United Kingdom [57]

References
  1. Touré (August 31, 2001). "'N Sync: True Tales of the Pop Life". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  2. Platon, Adelle (June 23, 2017). "'Nellyville' Turns 15: Nelly Looks Back on the Singles, Guests & Bad 'Hot In Herre' Jokes". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  3. Pickens, Ashley (June 26, 2017). "'Nellyville': 15 Ways Nelly's Midwest-Spun Recipe Made The Culture Pop". Vibe. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  4. "Top 40, A/C & Hot A/C, Rhythm Crossover Impact Dates". Gavin Report. No. 2358. January 11, 2002. p. 35.
  5. Baker, Soren (February 19, 2002). "*NSYNC Embarking On 'Celebrity' Tour With A Twist". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on September 11, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  6. Lipshutz, Jason (July 13, 2015). "Top 20 Essential Boy Band Songs". Billboard. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  7. Strecker, Erin (January 1, 2015). "Throwback! Look Back At 'Girlfriend,' 'N Sync's Video for Their Final Single as a Group". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 3, 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  8. Girlfriend (US CD single liner notes). NSYNC. Jive Records. 2002. 01241-40013-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. Girlfriend (Canadian CD single liner notes). NSYNC. Jive Records. 2002. 01241-48225-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. Girlfriend (US 12-inch single sleeve). NSYNC. Jive Records. 2002. 01241-40016-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. Girlfriend (UK CD single liner notes). NSYNC. Jive Records. 2002. 9253312.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. Girlfriend (UK cassette single sleeve). NSYNC. Jive Records. 2002. 9253314.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. Girlfriend (European CD single liner notes). NSYNC. Jive Records. 2002. 9253429.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. Girlfriend (Australian CD single liner notes). NSYNC. Jive Records. 2002. 9253422.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. Girlfriend (Japanese CD single liner notes). NSYNC. Jive Records. 2002. ZJCI-30012.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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  53. "New Zealand single certifications – *NSYNC – Girlfriend/Gone Clubbin'". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
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  55. "ガールフレンド | インシンク" [Girlfriend | NSYNC] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
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