Girlfriend (NSYNC song)

"Girlfriend" is a song by American boy band NSYNC. It was released on March 12, 2002 as the third and final single from their third studio album Celebrity. It was the group's last song to enter the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100.

"Girlfriend"
Single by NSYNC featuring Nelly
from the album Celebrity
B-side"The Two of Us"
ReleasedMarch 12, 2002
RecordedApril–May 2001[1]
Studio
  • Right Track, New York City, U.S.
  • Battery, New York City, U.S.
  • Wire, Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Genre
Length
LabelJive
Songwriter(s)Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo, Cornell Haynes Jr. (Remix)
Producer(s)The Neptunes
NSYNC singles chronology
"Gone"
(2001)		 "Girlfriend"
(2002)
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 released on March 12, 2002 as an enhanced CD.[4]

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."[5]

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.[6]

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 listing

Credits and personnel
Recording[7]
  • Recorded at Right Track, NYC; Battery Studios, NYC; and WIRE Studios, Orlando, FL
Personnel[7]
  • 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
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[40] Gold 35,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[41] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[42] Silver 200,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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. 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.
  5. Lipshutz, Jason (July 13, 2015). "Top 20 Essential Boy Band Songs". Billboard. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  6. 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.
  7. Girlfriend (liner notes). NSYNC. Jive Records. 2002. 9253312.CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. "Australian-charts.com – 'N Sync feat. Nelly – Girlfriend (Remix)". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  9. "Austriancharts.at – 'N Sync feat. Nelly – Girlfriend (Remix)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  10. "Ultratop.be – 'N Sync feat. Nelly – Girlfriend (Remix)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  11. "Ultratop.be – 'N Sync feat. Nelly – Girlfriend (Remix)" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  12. "'N Sync Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  13. "Danishcharts.com – 'N Sync feat. Nelly – Girlfriend (Remix)". Tracklisten. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  14. Billboard – Google Books
  15. "Offiziellecharts.de – 'N Sync feat. Nelly – Girlfriend (Remix)". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  16. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Girlfriend". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  17. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 18, 2002" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  18. "Dutchcharts.nl – 'N Sync feat. Nelly – Girlfriend (Remix)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  19. "Charts.nz – 'N Sync feat. Nelly – Girlfriend (Remix)". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  20. "Norwegiancharts.com – 'N Sync feat. Nelly – Girlfriend (Remix)". VG-lista. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  21. "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 22, saptamina 3.06–9.06, 2002" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on February 15, 2005. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  22. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  23. "Swedishcharts.com – 'N Sync feat. Nelly – Girlfriend (Remix)". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  24. "Swisscharts.com – 'N Sync feat. Nelly – Girlfriend (Remix)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  25. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  26. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  27. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  28. "N Sync Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  29. "N Sync Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  30. "N Sync Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  31. "N Sync Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  32. "2002 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  33. "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Urban Singles 2002". ARIA. Archived from the original on April 15, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  34. Billboard – Google Books
  35. "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 2002" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  36. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2002". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  37. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2002" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  38. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2002" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  39. "Billboard Top 100 – 2002". billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  40. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2002 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  41. "New Zealand single certifications – *NSYNC – Girlfriend/Gone Clubbin'". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  42. "British single certifications – Nsync ft Nelly – Girlfriend". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 14, 2018. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Girlfriend in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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