NSYNC’s Parody Of The ‘Chili’s Baby Back Ribs’ Jingle Is About As ’90s As It Gets
NSYNC are one of the first boy bands of the ’90s and ’00s that spring to mind when discussing the genre’s peak popularity. The quintet, which consisted of Justin Timberlake, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, and JC Chasez, made their debut in 1995 with successes such as “Tearin’ Up My Heart,” “I Want You Back,” “Bye Bye Bye,” and “It’s Gonna Be Me,” to mention just a few.
According to Insider, “No Strings Attached,” released in 2000, is one of just 22 studio albums to ever sell a million copies within its first week. This isn’t all, however! NSYNC has been nominated for eight Grammys, played at the World Series, the Super Bowl, and the Olympics, and collaborated musically with the likes of Elton John, Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and Gloria Estefan.
There is no question that the band was a cultural touchstone that is still relevant today across several generations. Their massive following is reflected in the success of their materials. Diehards are constantly on the lookout for new merchandise, such as premium edition CDs and vinyl records, as well as t-shirts, hoodies, and sweatshirts. Others who want to keep up with the boy band through a different medium may enjoy Play’n GO’s NSYNC Pop slot, which can be found at some of the top online casinos in UK and has unique headshots of every member of the band dropping across the game’s 5-reel grid.
It was back in 2002 when the band first began to slowly fall apart. As time has passed, Justin Timberlake’s fame has continued to rise while the others in the group have struggled to find similar success. However, there was one performance in particular that even the band’s most devoted fans could have forgotten about. Less than twenty years ago, NSYNC appeared in a TV advertisement for Chili’s Baby Back Ribs, a dish that has since become famous for its catchy jingle and widespread recognition.
What was so special about it?
There’s no denying that commercials starring famous people have consistently done better with the public throughout time. An advertisement’s impact increases in proportion to the degree to which it is shocking, humorous, or emotionally resonant. According to BuzzFeed, NSYNC starred in a Chili’s advertisement that made its premiere at the 59th Golden Globes in 2002. What’s the point of this ludicrous promotional campaign? The restaurant put up money to help fund NSYNC’s farewell Celebrity Tour. Obviously, the commercial’s narrative is meant to be funny. The commercial has Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, and JC Chasez singing on a mysterious island. Starting with the melancholy line “I want my baby back,” the song’s video shows JC tossing a bottle into the water, Justin carving a date into a stone diary, and Chris and Lance strolling along the beach while singing in harmony. The lads then “break the fourth wall” to reveal that they aren’t lamenting the loss of a loved one but rather a shared desire for Chili’s signature sweet and sticky baby back ribs. A helicopter crew arrives after they had written “SEND RIBS” on the sand. A huge wooden crate of ribs falls out of the helicopter and onto a singing Joey, wrapping up the whole thing as we know it.
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