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| 7/24/04 - 7/25/04 |
Pop star or sex maniac? It's all in a day's work for ex
N'Syncer JC Chasez. With Justin Timberlake's solo career n full flight, and other members of the band making waves on the Broadway stage or training to be an astronaut, another N'Sync release looks likely to be later rather than sooner in coming. What's a boyband member to do? If you're JC Chasez you cut a solo album of largely eighties-esque electro-pop tunes and get BT to hook you up with Basement Jaxx (cutting a song for their album and one for your own). You release a couple of singles which make minor waves and prepare for a huge hit with the third single, a sexually charged stormer which initially shows signs of being a huge hit in the US. And then some woman flashes a boob during the Superbowl and you're @#%$. Post-Nipplegate, Chasez's single 'All Day Long I Dream About Sex' saw a very quick reversal of fortune. Despite having blown big bucks on a video for the track, post-Nipple stress disorder meant that radio dropped the track and Jive Records was forced to promote a new single, the ballad 'Build My World'. "It's silly," Chasez says about the American situation, "but it is what it is. As much as everyone's trying to swallow the pill and get past it and everything like that, it's a bit of a pain. But we're all moving forward." Of course, he still musters excitement talking about 'Build My World,' a more autobiographical track which expresses his sadness there's "someone for everyone, but noone for me." The track, he says, "is picking up really well" on US radio. Luckily, it seems Australians are not seen as being quite so easily shocked, and 'All Day Long' will be the first single release from Chasez' Schizophrenic here. The song is a deliciously sleazy piece of pop trash, strongly reminiscent of Frankie Goes To Hollywood or Dead Or Alive, and certainly no more explicit than George Michael's now 15-plus years old 'I Want Your Sex.' "Going further back, the connotation in 'Let's Get It On' is there," says Chasez, also mentioning Marvin Gaye's less than subtle 'Sexual Healing', before shrugging. "It's an election year, what can you do?" My thought was to blame Justin and have a punch up when the N'Sync reunion does occur, but Chasez isn't keen to lay blame at the feet of his bandmate. "No, man," he says, laughing, "No matter what, what he did on stage should have nothing to do with what I do." 'All Day Long' is certainly a more representative song than 'Build My World', both in its musical influences - although Chasez insists he is "addicted to variety" - and focus on doing the nasty. Tracks like 'Some Girls (Dance With Women)' deal with a sexual subtext in humn interaction, but there's plenty of directness on the topic. 'One Night Stand,' he says, is "a song about being a pimp", '100 Ways' recalls Prince's 'Gett Off', and on 'Come To Me' he talks about masturbation with a total absence of euphemisms. "The only rough part about that was playing that one for my mom," Chasez laughs. "My mom doesn't care about anything else, but that one she cringed a bit."
The Brag, July 26, 2004 Celebrities soaked for charity; fans gush Though 'N Sync and crew battled it out on the sand, most
fans at the Celebrity Skills Challenge in South Beach came
for the celebrity sightings.
Timberlake, along with the rest of his 'N Sync crew and about two dozen other celebrity friends, spent Saturday afternoon racing each other draped with wet clothing, tossing giant basketballs into inflatable hoops and dousing each other with water guns for the amusement of more than 2,000 fans at the boy band's Celebrity Skills Challenge at Collins Park in South Beach. The event was part of the band's annual Challenge for the Children weekend -- a three-day celebrity fundraiser to raise money for children's programs and charities. The stars made up two teams -- Daze and Knights -- that competed in a series of events over the weekend. The overall winner will be announced today following the 3:30 p.m. celebrity basketball game at the Office Depot Center in Sunrise. This year marks the first time in its six-year history that the charity event has come back to the same city. Before last year, the event was held in Orlando, Las Vegas, New York and Los Angeles. ''They love Miami so much, they decided to come back,'' said Sarah Young, a Challenge for the Children spokeswoman. ``It's so easy to get the celebrities here.'' Some of the celebrities who made appearances at the competition were R&B singer Usher, Lindsay Lohan from the movie Mean Girls, Joel and Benji from the rock band Good Charlotte and American Pie star Shannon Elizabeth. And making a surprise show was Timberlake's girlfriend, actress Cameron Diaz, who cheered on her man during some of the day's more challenging games. During 'Soak and Sweats,' competitors had to layer on piles of wet clothing, run through training ropes, toss a football through a hoop, jump in an above-ground pool and then race to the finish line. After being tackled by an opposing player, and knocking an
obtrusive camera out of his face, Timberlake bolted back to
a waiting tent with Diaz. Ever the good sport, Timberlake
reemerged with a bandaged left ankle and finished the competition
-- to the delight of thousands of screaming fans, most young
girls. ''I'm not gonna lie: I'm looking for him,'' gushed 20-year-old Monica Casanova, who waited for four hours in the baking sun to catch a glimpse of the heartthrob. Fifteen-year-old Jenn Blanche -- a huge Timberlake fan -- was in town from Baltimore for the event. Both she and her friend Hillary Gross turn 16 this week, and the celebrity challenge was one stop in their birthday celebration. ''Nothing better than hanging out with 'N Sync on your birthday,'' she said. Blanche, just like almost everyone else, paid little attention to the sporting competition and instead focused her attention on star-gazing and snapping photos of her favorite stars. ''We haven't really been keeping score,'' said Blanche, who
barely evaded the wrath of a security guard after stepping
up to the railing separating the celebs from the mortals to
take a photograph. ``We're just caught up in getting pictures.''
JC is #1 in the Ultratip Top 20! This is a chart based on airplay and demand. It's sorta the prequel to the official charts which are based on sales. All Day Long being number on in the Ultratip means it will be played approximately once every hour by all major stations who broadcast the official charts and it should be entering the official charts next week.
‘N Sync or Out? Joey Fatone on Broadway, a Boy Band Future, and Britney’s
Wedding July 23 , 2004 — Joey Fatone has made the unlikely jump from boy band to Broadway. Now he contemplates other long shots: Another album for 'N Sync, and Britney Spears finding marital bliss. On Monday, Fatone will meet up with Justin Timberlake, J.C. Chasez, Lance Bass and Chris Kirkpatrick in Miami and they'll perform for the first time in more than a year at 'N Sync's annual Challenge the Children charity event. Afterward, the guys will discuss the possibility of a follow-up to their 2001 smash hit, Celebrity. With most of them now on the other side of 25 and heading in different directions, it might be officially time to sing "Bye Bye Bye" to each other. Fatone, 27, is now starring in a Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors as Seymour, the nerdy flower shop employee who's bossed around by a man-eating houseplant from outer space. He admits that the future of the group is in question. "I'm engaged with a 3-year-old daughter," Fatone says. "Justin's been with Cameron [Diaz], stuff like that. J.C.'s been trying to go on tour. Chris as been writing, doing some rock. And Lance has been producing a film. So, it's crazy. "First it was like, 'Yeah, we are going to write the next album.' Then, it was like, 'Well, we are trying to write the next album.' Well, we are trying to get together. As far as the next album, we don't know when it's going to happen yet." The 23-year-old Timberlake, who will go down in sports lore for the greatest grab in Super Bowl history, has become both a tabloid and recording star, thanks to his hit solo album Justified, his paparazzi-perfect relationship with Diaz, and his infamous halftime performance with Janet Jackson. He'll forever be remembered for coining the term "wardrobe malfunction." Bass, 25, still a wannabe astronaut after training for space travel in Russia, has had to settle for lesser stars, appearing as a judge on America's Most Talented Kid and a familiar face on Hollywood Squares. Chasez, 27, became the second 'N Sync-er with a solo album. He got caught in the fallout of Timberlake's Super Bowl controversy, however, and lost a gig to perform at the NFL's Pro Bowl. Kirkpatrick, 32, has kept a relatively low profile, popping up on the kids' show The Fairly Odd Parents. Fatone, now a Broadway veteran, received good reviews when he took on role of Mark in the long-running hit Rent for five months in 2002. Ticket sales jumped from 73 percent of capacity to 94 percent, proving he's still got pull. "The pay is not 100 percent that great, but it's for the love of doing it. I enjoy it," he says. "I've got the bug." Pop stars have to grow up, even if they can't escape their public image. Fatone's efforts to redefine himself as an actor have yielded success in minor parts in The Cooler and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Many people think Britney Spears' upcoming wedding is another big fat mistake, but old friend Fatone isn't rushing to judgment. "If they are that much in love, if that's the way she really feels, go at it. Knock yourself out, and have a good time," Fatone says. In January, Spears married childhood pal Jason Alexander in Las Vegas. The union was annulled only 55 hours later. Now, the 22-year-old singer is planning to wed dancer Kevin Federline, even though he became a father for the second time when jilted lover Shar Jackson gave birth this week. Fatone, who got engaged to longtime sweetheart Kelly Baldwin in June, got to know Spears during her very public courtship with Timberlake. He says he wouldn't be surprised if Britney make it work this time this time. "It's a weird situation," he says. "But, I mean, I wish her all the luck in the world. Hopefully, she sticks with it, you know, and if that's what she really wants to do, hey, more power to her." And if Fatone, Timberlake and the other boys in the band want one more album together, more power to them. In the months to come, we might see a New 'N Sync album and Britney Spears as a stepmother.
Little Red Monsters Site Up Check out the new site for Chris' band Little Red Monsters Site.
New Kids on the Boards WHEN Joey McIntyre and Joey Fatone met for dinner at Joe Allen's in the theater district on a recent night, not one screaming girl, tabloid photographer or nosy fan followed them. In fact, no one seemed to notice them at all. Walter Cronkite, who was sitting 10 feet away, received more stares. How times have changed. Photos of Mr. McIntyre and Mr. Fatone once adorned the bedroom walls and school lockers of every squealing pop-music-obsessed girl in the country. In the late 1980's, Mr. McIntyre was the youngest (and perhaps most adored) member of New Kids on the Block, a bubble gum pop quintet that paved the way for the boy band craze a decade later, when Joey Fatone from 'N Sync started appearing on the covers of magazines for teenagers. Now that MTV has moved on to other telegenic young stars, Mr. Fatone, 27, and Mr. McIntyre, 31, are attempting second careers as musical theater actors. The Brooklyn-born Mr. Fatone, who starred in the musical "Rent" in 2002, recently replaced Hunter Foster as Seymour in "Little Shop of Horrors." Mr. McIntyre, a Bostonian, who was in the Off Broadway show "Tick, Tick . . . Boom!," took over the role of the heartthrob prince Fiyero in "Wicked" last Tuesday. The two Joeys agreed to meet for a conversation at The New York Times's request. After giving each other a quick bear hug, Mr. Fatone and Mr. McIntyre, whose paths have crossed several times over the years, started comparing notes about playing stadiums, getting respect and selling T-shirts. JASON ZINOMAN Do you worry that being known as a boy band star will make it difficult to earn respect from fellow actors? JOEY MCINTYRE No, I already have it. Anybody who's seen me in "Tick, Tick . . . Boom!" knows that. You come in with this story about you. "Oh, he's from New Kids on the Block. He's this. He's that." But when I walk in the door, I'm just like any other actor. I'm happy to be there and get it on. JOEY FATONE When I did "Rent," they were, like, "Sorry, we don't have a private dressing room." But I was, like, "That's cool." ZINOMAN Why do so many musicians try to act? FATONE Look, the transition from music to acting can be brutal. For instance, you got "Glitter." ZINOMAN With Mariah Carey? FATONE If you took her out of the movie, it wouldn't be that bad. MCINTYRE I don't think it would be that good, but maybe. People, mostly writers, underestimate young artists in the music business. They figure they're being told what to do because of the history of Hollywood and Motown. Yes, you need a great manager and you need a great producer, but you got nothing unless you got the talent. No one ever told us how to be. It was natural. I was the little cute one. Donnie was the tough leader. Jordan was the sexy lead singer. Danny gave his 110. Jon was the shy one. That's what we were. And then, that was exploited. ZINOMAN Were you exploited? MCINTYRE New Kids exploded before we knew it. We put out this record and all of a sudden we were the great white hope. Our merchandising got a little out of hand and people saw us as too commercial. ZINOMAN What was the worst example of merchandising gone wrong? MCINTYRE Marbles. You haven't lived until you've seen your own head roll down the hallway. FATONE For us, things would go out without approval. I don't want 'N Sync lip balm. ZINOMAN What have you found to be the hardest thing about acting in a musical on Broadway? FATONE Performing every night eight days a week. Some movie stars will play a role for a few weeks and then leave, but I'm in "Little Shop" for six months straight. MCINTYRE I love being onstage. I love the integrity of it. I don't want to get dramatic, but this is holy ground. FATONE Some people are, like, "Why don't you be leading man in a film?" Look, I'm not leading man material right now. ZINOMAN What about the venue? How is performing in a Broadway house different from 100,000-seat stadiums? MCINTYRE It's, uh, real. It's way more real. You do stadiums because you can, know what I mean? FATONE Broadway is more intimate. But when you're at a concert, the energy is fun. I get a kick out of that. ZINOMAN Joey McIntyre, you were one of the biggest heartthrobs in your group. MCINTYRE I sold the most T-shirts, I know that. FATONE Thank God for Justin. MCINTYRE Exactly. You still split it five ways, right? ZINOMAN But when Justin Timberlake started getting so much attention, did that cause tension within 'N Sync? FATONE Funny, it never did. You think it would. He's young. Younger girls are obviously going to love him, and there's a lot more younger girls at our concerts. One time we did an autograph signing and we're all sitting side by side. A young girl goes up to Justin, "Oh, my God, you're so cute, I want to marry you." She goes to JC, "Oh, JC, you have a beautiful voice, I love you . . . Lance, your eyes are so pretty . . . Chris, you're crazy . . . Hey, Joey, my mom loves you and wants to cook you dinner." That's what I get, being from New York, Italian and loving to eat. ZINOMAN Jordan Knight put out an album earlier this year called "Jordan Knight Presents New Kids on the Block Remix." What do you think about that? MCINTYRE Nooooo comment. If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. ZINOMAN Did you get money from that album? MCINTYRE If it happened to sell millions of copies, we'd say, "Dude, come on." I think it's a shame. I didn't know what he was thinking. He's way too talented to do something like that. ZINOMAN Isn't Jordan also on the latest version of "The Surreal Life," the reality show starring has-beens like Hammer and Tammy Faye Bakker? FATONE I got offered to do that. MCINTYRE So did I! The thing is — thank God — my life isn't surreal. It's real, and I've worked hard to keep it real. It's a big trap. People underestimate you constantly. Stick a camera in your face, and you're supposed to be, like, "Really, where do I sign?" ZINOMAN New Kids and 'N Sync were perceived as nice, wholesome guys. What's the truth? FATONE We were kids, running around, going to clubs. We're going to strip clubs, this and that. I'm 19 years old, going around the world. I'm going to try to enjoy life. You're young and curious. It's weird, because people perceived us to be goody-goody. We didn't choose to be that way. People are, like, "You curse?" "Yes, I do, but I'm not going to do it on TV." MCINTYRE After New Kids, I hung out and I partied and I probably made an ass out of myself in the clubs every now and then. FATONE You needed to. MCINTYRE Exactly, everyone does. ZINOMAN Now that you are theater actors, will you change your names to Joe? FATONE I've been called Joey, Joseph, Joe, everything. I don't care. MCINTYRE I'll change when he changes. Joe McIntyre sounds like the Democratic representative from the Sixth District in Boston. When you put that "y" on there, man, watch out. The magic happens. |
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