Entertainment

'NSYNC's Amazing Year

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

November 30, 2000 / 9:40 AM EST / CBS

'NSYNC is wrapping up an amazing year that placed them on top of the pop music scene. CBS News Entertainment Correspondent Mark McEwen talked to them in California, where they were on the final leg of their concert tour.

"Every night you go out on tour and you go out on stage, you know, the reaction that you get from your fans is just like, it's amazing," said Justin Timberlake.

JC Chasez, known simply as JC, said the loss of privacy in their lives is worth it "when you're willing to give yourself up for what you love. You know, athletes who love to play the game, they have a hard time stepping out of their house. But they love the game so much that they're willing to sacrifice everything for it. And that's how we feel about music."

The group's first album, 'NSYNC, sold 10 million copies and yielded four # 1 singles. They won the 1999 American Music Award for Best New Pop/Rock Group.

'NSYNC's second CD, No Strings Attached, sold 2.4 million copies in its debut week last March - the fastest selling album in history.

Chris Kirkpatrick says the song Bye, Bye, Bye was of "major" importance to the image of 'NSYNC.

"The song Bye, Bye, Bye itself is so perfect that you hear it at football games, at the same time, you've got a little 2-year-old or 3-year-old" singing it.

The guys try not to let the critics get to them.

"We try to be thick skinned about everything. But every now and then, something'll kind of get to you and go, 'come on, man,'" said JC.

"It does hurt, though. I mean, that's your life. That's not your job, that's your life," said Lance Bass.

"Or if you were not feeling up to par with the show and maybe somebody messes up a part that one night, they write that they didn't do a great job," said Joey Fatone.

"The reviewers of the shows are the best because they come and they're like, you know, 'the best choreography I've ever seen, the harmonies were the best I've ever heard. The show was great. And the fans loved it -- if you like that kind of stuff,' complained Bass.

"They always have to end it on a bad note," added Kirkpatrick.

McEwen asked the guys how they hope the fans feel at the end of a concert, and he asked them not to answer in cliched terms.

"If you want something not cliche, I think we hope they walk away saying, 'Man, that was pretty cool,'" said Timberlake.

Kirkpatrick hoped the fans are "as tired as we are. Because when we are done with our shows, we put so much into it, that it drains us, emotionally, physically. I mean, every way you can think of, when we walk onto our bus, if we're not ready to collapse, we don't think we've given a good show."

Kirkpatrick added that he "actually hopes most of the girls go home and say, 'Chris is hot.'"

"That's not a cliche," teased Timberlake, amid laughter.

"That doesn't happen, either. So shut up," Kirkpatrik added.

The band members will take some time off to spend the holidays with their families. Then it's on to the next album. Timberlake said they hope their music will continue to grow and change with their audience.