*NSYNC is about to take us to a “Better Place” — a world where they’re back together in the studio.
In case you missed the group’s surprise appearance at the MTV VMAs, or their several silly viral reunion clips, the eight-time Grammy nominated boyband are making headlines yet again. And this time, it’s not for an album anniversary. It’s for their upcoming comeback single.
On Thursday, after the announcement that their single “Better Place” will appear in the soundtrack for Universal’s Trolls Band Together, group member Justin Timberlake posted a behind-the-scenes clip of all the guys — himself, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, and Chris Kirkpatrick — back together again in the studio for the song’s recording.
“So many stars aligned,” Timberlake, 42, said in the clip while speaking to his bandmates. “That’s why I hit y’all, I was like, ‘Hey, something came up.’ If we do this song, it’s a love letter to our fans. I would be honored to have the group on this song.”
After decades of fans hoping for an *NSYNC musical reunion, the day has finally come: The five-member boy band’s Trolls Band Together soundtrack contribution “Better Place” was announced first thing Thursday (Sept. 14) along with a new trailer for the animated threequel.
The song — which appears to follow in the upbeat footsteps of Trolls lead single “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” and Trolls World Tour opener “The Other Side” — is available to pre-save now but won’t be released until Sept. 29.
The song marks *NSYNC’s first musical release since 2002 (when the Neptunes remix of “Girlfriend,” featuring Nelly, arrived) and it comes just days after the group — Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone and Lance Bass — stepped onstage together at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards to present the award for best pop to Taylor Swift for “Anti-Hero.” The group last took the VMAs stage in 2013, for Timberlake’s Video Vanguard Award medley performance.
Rumors of *NSYNC’s reunion began swirling after a number of Trolls Band Together posters popped up in New York, featuring the first letter of the *NSYNC logo and a QR code. The code takes you to this site — TakeYouToABetterPlace.com — which teases the whistling pop tune. Timberlake stars in the upcoming film, returning as the troll Branch alongside Anna Kendrick’s Poppy, but the new movie’s plot follows as Branch reunites with his brothers to get their childhood boy band, BroZone, back together. While *NSYNC comes back together for the soundtrack, in the film, Timberlake’s bandmate brothers are voiced by Troye Sivan, Eric André, Daveed Diggs and Kid Cudi.
In a new video shared on Instagram, Timberlake gives his followers a behind-the-scenes look at his, JC Chasez, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick’s studio session working on “Better Place,” from the upcoming Trolls: Band Together soundtrack.
“When the stars align… got my brothers back together in the studio to work on something fun and the energy was special. Better Place is coming 9/29 🙏🏻 LOVE Y’ALL,” Timberlake wrote.
The video starts with a sentimental moment, led by the “Sexyback” singer as he tells his former bandmates how important the moment is.
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“So many stars aligned, that’s why I hit y’all. I was like, ‘Hey, something came up.'” he says. “If we do this song, it’s a love letter to our fans. I would be honored to have the group on this song.”
“Who’s ready for a reunion?” someone asks.
The video continues with Timberlake sitting behind the sound board and reacting as each member lays down his vocals for the track. Giving the fans a taste of what’s to come, the song plays in the background.
“Sounds good, sounds like it’s finished,” Kirkpatrick says, giving the song his seal of approval.
Bass then reminds the room how long it’s been since they made music.
“That’s the first NSYNC song finished in 23 years,” he says.
Ending the video on a sweet note, Timberlake and Fatone embrace, as Fatone uses the moment to make a joke.
Bringing the emotions back, Timberlake tells his friends, “Listen, man, I love you guys That sh*t is epic.”
NSYNC has been tearin’ up their fans hearts all week with their reunion. On Wednesday, it was announced that “Better Place” will be in support of the upcoming film, Trolls: Band Together. The popular animated franchise features Timberlake as the voice of Branch.
The song is a particularly appropriate choice for the upcoming film, which revolves around the reuniting of a Troll boyband, BroZone, who come back together after years of estrangement.
Fans learned about the new song one day after Timberlake reunited with Chasez, Bass, Fatone and Kirkpatrick onstage at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards on Tuesday. The brief (yet iconic) moment was the first time the group hit the stage together since 2013, when they performed during Timberlake’s Video Vanguard performance.
“Better Place” drops Sept. 29. Trolls: Band Together hits theaters Nov. 17.
