"I Want You Back," 'N Sync

I bet ‘N Sync wishes it could take back this video:

Released fifteen (!) years ago, “I Want You Back” was the American boyband’s first single and music video.  And what a video it was–the special effects are cheap, the plot unclear, and the dancing is just, well, out-of-sync.  The title harkened back to the iconic Jackson 5 hit, but fortunately for everyone involved, the similarities between the two songs stopped there.  If anything, “I Want You Back” echoed the sound and look of the Backstreet Boys, with whom ‘N Sync shared a manager, producers, and a creepy svengali named Lou Pearlman. 

Despite the video’s low production quality, “I Want You Back” was nonetheless a success in many European countries, particularly in Germany, where the group had signed its first record deal.  A couple years later, the group would return to its native country and filmed a new video for the song.  With more touring experience and a bigger budget a its disposal, ‘N Sync comes across much better in this later video:

“I Want You Back” reached number 2 on the Canadian charts and number 13 on the U.S. charts, providing just a hint of the group’s later success.  The group’s 2000 album, No Strings Attached, would become the fastest-selling album of all time, selling 2.4 million copies in the U.S. in its first week.  ‘N Sync would break up just two years later with its biggest star, Justin Timberlake, pursuing a highly successful music career and a (mildly) successful acting career. 

Click here for our throwback on Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River."  For more 90s boy bands, check out our throwbacks on Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way" and Take That's "Back for Good."