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| 5/7/04 |
Adam Garcia on Justin Timberlake ...When you released Night Fever (a song from the musical Saturday
Night Fever) it did really well in the UK - might you release another
single in the future? In a dance-off between you and Justin, who would win?
Chasez looking for good time with solo CD, tour J.C. CHASEZ, WITH KENNETH THOMAS Despite songs such as "Some Girls (Dance with Women)" and "All Day Long I Dream About Sex," N Sync's J.C. Chasez sounds mildly irritated when an interviewer describes his debut solo album, "Schizophrenic," as sensual. He thinks there's been a bit too much attention paid to the "All Day Long" song. "It's basically one song that sticks out in everybody's mind," he said during a break in rehearsals for his "Schizophrenic" tour, coming to Pontiac's Clutch Cargo's Saturday night. "I just wanted to do something obnoxious and fun. Everybody's so obsessed with being uptight and things like that. Obviously, I don't mean it literally. It's just something to yell out and be obnoxious about," he added. "Sex is something that everybody has to encounter at one time or another. It's something everyone can relate to. Plus, it doesn't feel bad." Chasez's may be "uptight" because of the lingering furor over the Super Bowl halftime show antics of his friend and N Sync mate, Justin Timberlake, and Janet Jackson's bared breast. The stunt led the NFL to cancel Chasez's appearance at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. Chasez is the second member of the pop group to go solo. Timberlake catapulted to solo superstardom with his album " Justified." But Chasez chose a different path, preferring to lay low after N Sync's last tour. His solo album came together slowly, and was released earlier this year. Now, for his first solo tour, Chasez also has opted to go low-key, playing large clubs and small theaters instead of the cavernous stadiums and arenas to which N Sync is accustomed. The tousle-haired singer said fans will see little evidence of his years with N Sync in his show. "It's hard to describe," Chasez said. "It's nonstop though. It really is. It's a very loose and exciting show. I know people are used to a very choreographed show (with N Sync). I still dance. I just don't overdo it. I didn't want to overprogram the show. It has a really nice flow and it feels good." Not only is the show less flashy, Chasez said he's keeping the N Sync songs to a minimum. "I don't do an entire song. I cut into a bridge of one of them for fun," he said coyly. Chasez said his approach to the album and the stage show is simple: it's all about being himself. "The reason it's different from N Sync is you don't have five opinions on it. You have one. There's never been a J.C. album before and this is what it sounds like. It was a labor of love," he said. " Some days were better than others. At the end of the day, I just did what came naturally. And I guess living up to your own expectations. You try to create a record that you can be happy with."
JC Chasez breaks out of 'N Sync with a sexier, funkier
sound People talk so much about Justin, he doesn't even need a last name anymore. But 'N Sync had -- or has -- another dynamic frontman in JC Chasez, who joined the ranks of solo artist this spring when he released "Schizophrenic," a record that does its title proud. Chasez comes to the party as a sexed-up pop stud with no commitment to any particular style, as he blows through Latin beats, techno, funk, R&B, even New Wave. If Timberlake is informed by the slicker pop of Michael Jackson, Chasez seems to follow Prince's more chaotically funked-up lead, even if he himself doesn't see it that way. "Everybody's got their own opinion," says the 27-year-old native of Washington, D.C. "I don't really see how people see the Prince thing. I think the only reason people are saying that is because it's diverse. When you listen to Prince, it can be an R&B record or a rock 'n' roll record, and that's what people are getting out of my record. That's why it's called 'Schizophrenic.' " Chasez, who plays the Chevrolet Amphitheatre Sunday, is on the phone from Birmingham -- UK -- where he is touring with Justin's old flame and his own Mouseketeer buddy, Britney, in venues larger than 'N Sync ever played there. "It's a lot of fun, man. It's the first time I've gotten to play to a crowd this big in the UK. As much as we toured over here, we never got to play shows in arenas like that." The last time Chasez was on the road was when the boy band was setting the world on fire on its Celebrity tour in the spring of 2002. At the time, he swears, he had no thoughts of what a JC Chasez solo record would be like. "I actually never thought about doing a solo record while we were still touring. I was totally happy cutting records with my friends." And once the tour ended, he just wanted a long vacation. "I decided to just hang out with family and friends and really just cool out and be with them for a while. I'd been on planes, trains and automobiles for nine years and it was time for me to get back to being me." About nine months into his hiatus, he hooked up with a friend, Dallas Austin, who was producing the "Drumline" soundtrack and they beat out a track called "Blowin' Me Up (With Her Love)." With that, he was on his way to a solo record for which he co-wrote all 15 tracks, including "All Day Long I Dream About Sex," which never would have found its way on an 'N Sync record Chasez says he liked the freedom of working on his own project. "Whenever I'm working with the guys there's always compromises made, sometimes you agree with them, sometimes you don't, but you can't be selfish. When I did my own record, I didn't have to compromise. I did whatever I wanted and it was cool to see some ideas that might not have gone all the way go to the fullest extent and even further." One happy accident was a meeting one day in London with techno wizards Basement Jaxx. "We weren't supposed to be working together," he says. "I was just passing through town and looking for a fun place to go out one night. They asked me to stop by the studio and hang out there, and they were telling me where the fun spots were, but after I hung out a little bit, we just decided to try something different, so I hopped in the booth, and the next thing you know, we had a record." They cut "Plug It In" for the Jaxx album "Kish Kash" and the grinding club track "Shake It" for "Schizophrenic." Thus far, though, Chasez hasn't come anywhere near the success of Justin's project. It debuted at No. 17, but the odd, Latin-tinged first single, "Some Girls (Dance With Women)," didn't connect and the record has fallen off the charts. They hope to revive it with "All Day Long I Dream About Sex," a single that sounds like a throwback to the New Wave of the Human League. And Chasez is working the record for crowds in concerts that are smaller-scale and looser than the 'N Sync blockbusters. "I still go out of my way to entertain. I'm not doing choreography for every show, but that's a conscious choice. The album is a lot looser, a lot more open-minded and so is the show. It's a high-energy show, but not every moment is planned. With 'N Sync, it seems like every talking part is sort of written out and planned. And this show is nothing like that." Not that Chasez is bad-mouthing his old group. In fact, he's looking forward to working with his old mates again. "It's always in the back of our minds," he says. "We talked about getting on the drawing board this summer. We're going to start kicking around creative ideas and then it's just a matter of when the right material comes together."
Becks is on the decks DAVID Beckham will fire up the England squad at Euro 2004 this summer — by acting as DJ on the team bus. He has taken charge of choosing the music before matches, team-mate Frank Lampard has revealed. And skipper Beckham’s favourite CD for boosting the players in Portugal will be Justin Timberlake’s album Justified. Chelsea star Frank, 25, revealed it’s Becks on the decks because Rio Ferdinand, who normally picks the music, is serving a ban for missing a drugs test. He said: “It’s Becks who controls the music on the bus. We’ve been playing the Justin Timberlake CD.” Becks, 29, uses Timberlake’s music himself to get psyched up for matches...
It's Justin! It's Cameron! Meanwhile, the Justin Timberlake-Cameron caravan finally packed up and rolled away from the Delray Beach Marriott on Tuesday. The rest of the crew, which took over the sixth floor, will be gone by Saturday morning. The stars' presence at the Marriott remained low-key throughout, hotel management reported. When they could, they came and left through rear doors. Yet they didn't hide. A manager at Boston's on the Beach said they were in several times, including Monday's reggae night. The only special request was by MacLaine for an extra table in her suite -- to set out her vitamins. She also brought a dog, presumably Terry, the terrier to whom she talks. Actually, they speak to each other in "Humanimal," says Shirley, and they wrote a book together, Out on a Leash. Saturday night they strolled along on the beach in front of the hotel, not far from the lovebirds and another couple. Ten-year-old Abby Solomon -- who'd come to the beach with her sisters, Rachel, 7, and Ellie, 5, and their dad, Geoff, who sells ads at WPTV-Channel 5 -- couldn't believe her eyes. To Dad, the woman in the bikini appeared to be Diaz. Abby moved in for a closer look -- Diaz, yes, and Timberlake! Abby followed them up the beach but never closer than 75 feet away before returning and reporting that Justin and Cameron were doing "kissy-face." The Solomons left the beach and headed toward Ben & Jerry's, which was abuzz about the hot couple. Then they were westbound on Linton Boulevard, heading home to Boca, when Abby screamed, "There they are, in that gray car!" "No way," Geoff shot back. "But I can't break the kids' hearts, so I turn south on U.S. 1 with this gray car and pass them on the left." "That's them!" Abby screamed. Down went the windows, and the kids were waving and saying hello and asking, "Are you Justin Timberlake and Cameron Diaz?" The driver, smiling and waving and nodding yes, was Diaz. "The couple pulled into what I think was Tom's Place," Goeff says. "The kids suddenly had a craving for some ribs and chicken, but it was enough paparazzi for one night!"
Speaking with ... JC Chasez After the success of his bandmate Justin Timberlake's solo CD "Justified," JC Chasez had his work cut out for him. But thanks to controversial songs like "All Day Long I Dream About Sex" and "Some Girls (Dance with Women)," Chasez seems to be doing just fine himself. The other 'N Sync heartthrob phoned from Los Angeles on his way to rehearsal to chat about his solo album "Schizophrenic," Clay Aiken and his love for classic rock. HERE'S WHAT CHASEZ HAD TO SAY: 'N Sync vs. solo artist: Both are great. I love being in the band and it was lots of fun doing my own record. At this point, none of us have to choose between one or the other. On the album's mixed reviews: I like the record, but you never know whether people are going to like it or not. You prepare for the worst and hope for the best. If people like it, I think it's because it's so expressive and open-minded. It's a breath of fresh air because it's not overly programmed or overly thought out. It's just music and capturing good times and moments. On being quoted saying you're sick of Clay Aiken: The kid's a nice kid, but his song is everywhere. On being mad at Justin Timberlake: [Laughs] I'm not mad at him at all. That's something someone made up after the Super Bowl incident [with Janet Jackson]. Who knew that would happen? We're looking forward to getting back in the studio with the rest of the guys. The controversy surrounding your CD cover (where Chasez is in a straightjacket): It's sad we're in a day and age where people can't just not like something. Instead, they have to be offended by it. I'm not a doctor and I wasn't talking about a principle or a technical term. I was using the slang as a way of expressing a different personality than people are used to seeing from me. I understand it's a serious disease but it's treatable. I wasn't trying to wish ill will on anyone. People just took it way too literally. Which is better, recording or playing live? I like both, but the goal is to get out and play shows. I'm an artist. That's what I'm supposed to do. Last good movie you saw: I just watched "The Thirteenth Floor." It's this sci-fi movie that "The Matrix" was based on. Music you're into now: I love Air. I've been listening to a lot of them in my car. I still listen to a lot of classic stuff. I'm on an ELO and Doors kick. On the intricacies of dancing while you sing: I'm OK with the dance moves. I just stand up there and do my thing. Sometimes the confidence breaks up, but I work hard at it. Best advice you ever got: My father told me to treat people how you want to be treated. I live my life by that motto. It's a matter of respect. I believe you can get along with anyone if you treat them with respect. Most humbling experience: Doing my own record. It's very gratifying and feels really good to hold something in my hand that I've worked very hard at. But it was hard. Your job: I just make music. I haven't found the cure for cancer. But it is gratifying to know that long after I'm gone, people will be able to hold this piece of work I worked on. I'll be in the Library of Congress. What you'll be doing in 10 years: I'll always be headed to the studio to work on something. Right now, I can't think that far ahead. I'm thinking about this record. Regrets you have about not going to college: I would've liked to have gone to college but the timing wasn't right. You have to make a choice about what's right for you at that time in your life. I have no regrets. What you want to do in Chicago: I want to just hang out with my parents [who will be visiting]. I don't have a lot of spare time to see my family as much as I would like to. |
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