Queer Ears for Straight Guys
(5/4/05) Gregg Shapiro Windy
City Times
JC Chasez at House Of Blues, (312) 923-2000, on May 7
Straight men have long held a fascination for some gay men (and
vice versa). There are those gay men who want to emulate straight
men, while there are others who just want to seduce them. Whatever
the case may be, plenty of gay men also have an ear for the music
created by straight men.
He may sing about getting in with the women who dance with other
women in “Some Girls (Dance With Women),” but JC Chasez
(of N*Sync) must know that there are probably men who wouldn’t
mind getting in with him. On his solo debut, the aptly titled Schizophrenic
(Jive), Chasez embodies the vocal styles of several steamy and soulful
vocalists, in lieu of giving the listener a clue into his own personality.
He does a decent Enrique Iglesias on the aforementioned “Some
Girls,” and then creates a Stevie Wonder/Michael Jackson hybrid
on “She Got Me.” “100 Ways” sounds like
Prince at his most purple and “Build My World” most
closely resembles Chasez’s N*Sync style. However, on songs
such as “Shake It” (one of the few songs on the disc
for which Chasez didn’t get co-writing credit) and the electroclash-like
“All Day Long I Dream About Sex” Chasez manages to diverge
from the formula...
Blame It On Band Camp
(5/4/04) Mikael Wood Village
Voice
Nick Cannon
Nick Cannon
Jive
JC Chasez
Schizophrenic
Jive
Two years or so ago, heavyweight r&b producer Dallas Austin
was in Los Angeles putting together the soundtrack for Drumline,
a putatively star-making vehicle for Nick Cannon, Nickelodeon's
G-rated Dave Chappelle, thinly veiled as that rare Hollywood specimen:
the breezily moralistic marching-band dramedy. *NSync's JC Chasez
was in town too, "just chilling," he told me a few months
ago, so one day Austin called him up and recommended he drop by
the studio. Within days the pair had written "Blowin' Me Up
(With Her Love)," a nutso hunk of chopping-board funk (with
an actual drumline!) whose flavor long outlasted the film's.
That must've sucked for Cannon, but I bet the young star's even
more peeved now that Chasez's solo debut has eclipsed his own self-titled
bow, the cover of which features him snuggled inside the same fur-lined
parka Paul Simon sported on his eponymous debut, in 1972. Cannon's
problem isn't his so-so flow or, as befits an experienced bizzer,
his taste in collaborators: Big-ticket beatsmith Just Blaze, a little
adrift now that his Blueprint classmate Kanye West dropped out and
turned on, laces "Get Crunk Shorty" with paranoid synth
stabs, and R. Kelly turns "Gigolo" (a title Kelly's lawyers
probably stress over daily) into pure fur-lined pleasure. Rather,
it's the actor's inability to shake the pork from his fork that
hamstrings Nick Cannon. He brags about expensive cars and inconsequential
sex, but in jarringly likable after-school fashion; when Mary J.
Blige flexes her Gucci-bagged gravitas in "Whenever You Need
Me," she comes off like Cannon's mom calling him home for dinner.
On the agreeably pervtastic Schizophrenic, Chasez sounds as eager
to shed his cream-cheese boyband image as Cannon seems to ditch
his squeaky 'tween-TV profile. Mainly that means slipping off his
SpongeBob SquarePants; though Justin Timberlake's Justified no doubt
gets Cameron Diaz thinking very bad things, JC's record boasts a
virtual vanilla sky of engorged Caucasian flesh: nightclub lesbianism,
bedtime masturbation, waking-hour fantasy, one-night-only monogamy.
Yet where Cannon macks like he's in an audition, Chasez really sells
his shit, accessing a battery of convincing moans in "Shake
It," overdubbing a choir of groans in "Come to Me,"
even graciously thinking up "100 Ways" to freak your lover.
And the songs' grooves, courtesy of Basement Jaxx, Riprock 'n' Alex
G, and Paris Hilton pal Robb Boldt, back him up with a sonic palette
wider if not deeper than Justified's. If Chasez ever pees on somebody,
I'd recommend covering this one up quick.
ADIDAS vid heading for MTV
(5/4/04) DirtyPop.net
A source tells us that Jive received the final edit of the "All
Day Long I Dream About Sex" video last Friday. MTV is expected
to start airing it at the end of this week or early next week.
Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic
Celebrities helping out Toby Keith's Golf Tournament Benefit
(5/4/04) Neil Haislop Country
Forever Productions
NASHVILLE, TN Tuesday 5.4.2004 /netmusiccountdown.com/ -- Toby
Keith is hosting the Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic here
on May 23 and 24, 2004. The event, which benefits the newly-established
Ally's House charity, will include a silent auction of items from
sports, film, television and music stars, a golf tournament, and
the chance for one
golfer to win a Ford truck.
Items for the auction have been donated by Vince Gill, Shania Twain,
Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Jewell, Lonestar, Wynonna, Reba McEntire,
Ashley Judd, Charles Barkley, Mookie Blaylock, Sammy Hagar, Tommy
Lasorda, Willie Nelson, Dallas Cowboy Roy Williams, Dolly Parton,
Garth Brooks, Justin Timberlake and many more...
CFTC VI Fan Club Wishes
(5/4/04) NSYNC
Official Website
Attention *NSYNC and Challenge For The Children® Fans:
This year we are offering another opportunity for you, the fans,
to get involved with Challenge For The Children® VI. For the
first time ever, you will have the opportunity to be a part of the
Fan Club Wishes section of our exclusive, commemorative program
sold throughout the weekend. This is a great way to get your message
to *NSYNC even if you are unable to attend this year’s event.
All donations for ads in the Fan Club Wishes will go toward *NSYNC’s
Foundation Challenge For The Children®. After we receive your
order form, you will be sent an email serving as a confirmation
that we have received your order and receipt of donation to the
foundation. This receipt can qualify as a tax write-off for donations.
There is a limited amount of ad space available so act fast and
be assured your wishes get to *NSYNC and your donations help Challenge
For The Children® reach those in need. You can purchase either
a quarter page black and white ad containing text and appropriate
photos for $125 or a business card black and white ad containing
text for $50. The deadline to order ads is June 4, 2004.
Please download the order form and read the guidelines before sending
in your payment and photo-ready ad. Any and all questions may be
directed to Challenge For The Children ® at (866) 497-2383.
We look forward to seeing all of you at this years Challenge For
The Children® VI in Miami Beach, FL on July 23-25, 2004. Keep
an eye on the office website www.nysnc.com
for more information.
NSYNC ANNOUNCES RONEY PALACE BEACH RESORT AS OFFICIAL HOST
HOTEL FOR 6TH ANNUAL CHALLENGE FOR THE CHILDREN® FOUNDATION
CHARITY EVENT
(5/4/04) NSYNC
Official Website (thanks Candy!)
Roney Palace Beach Resort
2399 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach , FL 33139
Official Transportation - Maroone Auto Group
ORLANDO (April 19, 2004)- Multi-Platinum Recording Artist *NSYNC
announces Roney Palace Beach Resort as the official host hotel for
the sixth annual Challenge For The Children â that will take
place on the shores of South Beach in the Miami Beach area on July
23rd, 24th and 25th, 2004. A spectacular group of celebrity friends
will join Justin, Joey, Lance, Chris and JC to raise awareness and
money for The Challenge For The Children Foundation.
The Roney Palace Beach Resort is one of the newest oceanfront destinations
located in internationally famed South Beach. The hotel features
the largest hotel rooms on South Beach and 600 feet of pristine
beachfront. “We are delighted to team up with *NSYNC in their
efforts, ”enthuses, Steve Silverman, Director of Sales and
Marketing for The Roney Palace Beach Resort.“ The Challenge
For The Children foundation benefits so many children’s charities
nationwide.”
A ‘Celebrity Skills Challenge’ will be held on the
beach right next to the Roney Palace Resort off Collins Avenue on
Saturday, July 24th and the signatory event, ‘The Celebrity
Basketball Game’ will take place at the Office Depot Center
on Sunday, July 25th. These high- energy events will showcase stars
from film, television, sports and entertainment battling in front
of thousands of appreciative fans. Celebrities such as last year’s
participants Gabrielle Union, Donald Faison, Shannon Elizabeth,
Jason Taylor (Miami Dolphins), Richard Jefferson (NJ Nets), Danny
Masterson and Wilmer Valderrama (70’s Show), Benji of Good
Charlotte and the members of *NSYNC will all come ready to play!
Tickets for both these sporting events including the ‘Celebrity
Skills Challenge’ and the ‘Celebrity Basketball Tournament’
will be on sale at noon on May 22 nd through TicketMaster (www.ticketmaster.com).
Other Corporate sponsorships are available at all levels for events
during this important Challenge For The Children VI Charity Weekend.
For More Information Contact (866) 497-2382.
JC superstar
(5/4/04) Attitude Magazine UK (thanks charlidos for transcribing!)
Nsync conquered America. Then Justin conquered the world. What's
left for JC Chasez of the universe?
Now, you probably know the one about the former member of Nsync
that went on to conquer the world. A little guy by the name of Justin.
The obsession of gossip columnists, pin-up poster fodder of global
teen culture, not overly kind to his ex in his videos?
Welcome, if you will, his antidote.
JC Chasez was one of the other four Nsyncers that dominated the
American pop-chart and rode mechanical bulls round the stadia of
the world in honour of their absolute pop supremacy. But all of
that's behind him now. "I just wanted to have some fun,"
he says of the interim between Celebrity, the last band album and
the next one, which no one really believes, post Justin mania, is
ever going to happen.
JC is cool as a cucumber. He isn't breaking his back with promotional
activity and brand awareness summits. He's just cut a fine solo
debut., Schizophrenic (already the medical fraternity is up in arms,
but frankly if they can't see the metaphor at work, so be it) and
is enjoying shooting the luxury breeze in his London hotel suite.
"It doesn't matter how it does, really," he says, with
not a trace of the ambitious glee of his former compadre. The record
has gone off on what American demographers would call "a limb".
It may sparkly with MTV compatibility and a certain FM awareness
but it's a looser, more experienced trip than Justified. JC is delighted
with it. As well he might be. Allow him to tell you.
When did you first start thinking of making a solo record?
It was actually suggested by a friend of mine who's also a producers
- Dallas Austin. We were hanging out and we did a song for the movie
Drumline. We did a track for it together and I wasn't supposed to
sing on it, but then we cut the demo and I did it. It wasn't supposed
to be a single, then it turned out to one, then it turned into a
video and after that I was pretty cool. I was mellow with it. It
was a success. Fine. Then he said "you gotta do a record"
and I was like "I don't know, man" and the I thought "yeah,
why wouldn't I?"
How much time had you had off after Nsync?
I took a year.
How was it?
It was great, man. I hit the re-set button. I'd been on the road
for 8 years, you know? Every thought you share is with 4 other people.
They're awesome, amazing people, they were my best friends, but
I think it was pretty clear that we all needed to breathe. To take
a break. What I needed to do was hang out with friends that I hadn't
had chance to spend quality time with in years. I got to hang with
my brother, stuff like that. Stuff that gets you back to being you,
that stops you being this robo-zombie.
Was it when you took time off that it dropped how much Nsync has
happened?
My friends would really not let me do that. They made fun of me
more than anything for it. When somebody comes up and asks for an
autograph my freinds are like [adopts fawning voice] "ooh,
can I have your autograph too!" It's cool. I got a good group
of friends. They keep it all real.
What was your agenda when you sat down to cut the record?
Make good tunes. SImple as that, dude. Don't get caught up in anything.
Just make good tunes. Don't think in terms of boundaries. That's
why the record turned out to be so eclectic.You can't pin yourself
into one style. Artists out there that have one sound end up in
a corner. There's a lot of good music out there, you know? Investigate
the possibilities. The artists that I respect the most do not think
in boxes. You listen to Prince and he can totally rock out or be
total R&B. Even Kid Rock, he plays country and hard rock and
raps. As crazy as he is I repsect that he thinks in terms of music,
not medicine or a formula. My agenda was to change gears completely.
To do something different. This was never going to be an Nsync record.
So was it a relief?
You can hear it in the record that I had a lot of fun and freedom.
The minute I say I'm cutting a record then everyone has a opinion
and everyone is offereing suggestions. The record label was anxious
for me to do one after the single exploded, but I said this is my
record and if I'm going to do it I do it on my terms and if you
guys don't like then, hey, I won't do it. They were cool with it.
They gave me three months, sent me off, said "go do your thing
and we'll see what we think". When I came back they loved it,
which is really neat. But at the end of the day? I didn't care whether
they liked it or not. I made a record that was comfortable and fun
for me to do.
There are a couple of old Nsync-producers involved?
Yeah, those guys were my friends. They helped us through some tough
times, when we were broke and nobody really had faith in the band,
they helped us out. I like those guys. Meeting friends and making
tunes with them? Dude, it doesn't get much better than that.
Do you know where your songs come from?
I don't know and I don't care. One day there's a lightning flash,
and whoomph! there it is. Two or three of the songs were written
in less than an hour. All Day Long I Dream About Sex was locked
in an hour. When you're feeling silly anything can come out. That
was not a brainiac at work. It's just a good time. You can't fight
a good time. You roll with it. That stuff just has to come out with
you. To me, you know, there are no more anthems out there. I don't
know, man. I miss We Will Rock You. I want to have a beer and I
want to have some fun.
And sing a song you couldn't sing with Nsync?
Yeah. My mom heard it and she said "son, I really like your
music but I don't always like what you say". She's cool. Like
I said. I didn't hold back.
It wouldn't have gone through with Nsync though, would it?
There's no way. First of all, stylistically, let's be honest, they
would never have let it through. Those guys did not dig dance music.
When we did Dirty pop even though it was Justin's song, I brought
in BT to produce it. He was my friend.
Do you go out dancing?
Of course, man. I'm like anybody else. [with a twinkle] I like
my fun. As long as there's something good going I'll be there.
Are you the first ex-boyband member to be influenced by Gary Numan?
When I first recorded it I found these sounds and it was literally,
no one uses these sounds any more. Why not? It's sooo Gary Numan.
It inspired that sound.
I daresay Some Girls Dance With Women isn't pleasing your mother
either?
[laughs] It's just about flirting. It's a bout a tease. I'd gotten
in from being out in a club and thought I wanted to do a club track
but I wanted a different spin, lyrically. There are brilliant songs
about going out to a club, but none of them have talked about the
girls dancing together. It's like, that's the best part of the night.
And I can't believe no one's written about it before. There are
songs about shaking your backside, getting low, popping, rolling
up the club, getting smashed out of your head, everything! But nobody
had talked about anything as obvious as the pure sex of watching
a girl dancing with another girl.
Is it a popular song with our lesbian friends?
I guess so. Yeah. Hey man, if you dig it, you dig it. I do not
know the word "discrimination".
How much do you care about success?
I'm fortunate, man. I don't have to rely on it being successful
because I had a little success already. I'm in a pretty good place.
Did people expect something a bit like Justified?
Justin cut a record because it was his sound and I cut this because
it was mine. Neither of them sound like an Nsync record.
What's the future for the band?
We're going to write songs in the summer and send them to one another
so whenever we have the right songs together we'll cut another record.
We're not beating our heads against the wall about it.
That was 8 years of quite intense work, yeah?
Oh man. We enjoyed it, don't get me wrong. We played shows and
sang songs and that was great but, yeah, it was a lot of work. No
question. But if you enjoy what you do then you go for it.
Why did you want to work with Basement Jaxx?
Have you heard the records? Awesome, man. I went into their little
garage in Brixton when I was over in London and we cut a record
for their album, which is the best. It's amazing that they get that
noise out of that little room. Then they returned the favour and
did one for my album. I have ultimate repsect for them, they make
music that is entirely their own. They're really creative people,
they do everything themselves. It rocks. When you get inspired you
run with it. It was a really cool experience. People over-analyse
who's important to get on your record. Everyone wants the hit makers.
No one takes a little chance. I'm not into doing something just
for my career.
Was everyone in the band astonished at how well Justified did?
Everyone knew, dude. He's a superstar, there's no question. And
he goes after it in that manner. In his mind he's constantly thinking
"I have to be the biggest star in the world." That's his
focus and it's toatlly cool if that's what works for him. That's
what keeps him going. We all saw it coming.
What about the other guys?
Lance is getting closer and closer to going into space, which is
crazy. He got a call saying he could go in the fall. He was on his
way and then the shuttle blew up so all the space programmes went
on hold. Chris is working on a record. And Joey's working on movies
and television and he did Rent on Broadway. He's on fire, man. My
Big Fat Greek Wedding was a huge deal. He's been on Broadway. That's
his gig. You know, everyone thinks that Justin was the first one
to go solo, but Lance was doing films while we were out on the road.
Those guys were taking the initiative while we were sill working.
How does it feel alone?
It feels reall good. I'm back to square one. Just me, myself and
I. It's a good place to be in.
The Nsync boys: What happened next?
Lance Bass: made hitherto unforeseen move from mechanical bull-straddling
boyband popsicle to ahem, astronaut. Unfortunately, his moon safari
was cut short by the unfortunate accident of a space probe blowing
up mid journey. Now pencilled in for a autumn rocket ride. Spacey!
Chris Kirkpatrick: "Working on a record" is the official
line. Still no sign of movement from the poor thing. Possibly the
one that got away.
Joey Fatone: Taken to the boards. Before Nsync's semi-implosion
had already shot his star turn in My big fat Greek wedding, the
sleeper hit of 2002. Further success with a Broadway-busting lead
in definitive 90's musical Rent. Therefore, Nsync's Adam Rickitt.
Of sorts.
Justin Timberlake: Oh don't pretend you don't know. Last seen unfurling
that hideous piece of metal ornamentation from La Jackson's Superbowl-tastic
nipple. Perv. Likes a girl with acne. Double perv
Teen girls want Justin as their prom date
(5/4/04) Business
Wire
According to a recent survey on the RED(TM) service, AOL's online
experience for teens... 37% of teen girls picked Ashton Kutcher
as their ideal (prom) date, narrowly edging out Orlando Bloom. Justin
Timberlake and The OC's Adam Brody completed the list.
More than 50,000 teens voted in the polls, located on AOL's RED
service for teens.
...Which celeb would you bring to the prom?
Ashton Kutcher: 37%
Orlando Bloom: 33%
Justin Timberlake: 22%
Adam Brody: 8%...
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