NSYNC releases ‘Better Place,’ their 1st song in over two decades

(From left) Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez and Chris Kirkpatrick of NSYNC speak onstage during the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center on Sept. 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. NSYNC has released their first song in more than 20 years, reuniting to record “Better Place” for the soundtrack of the upcoming “Trolls” movie. BENNETT RAGLIN / Getty Images via AFP

NEW YORK—The boy band NSYNC has released their first song in more than 20 years, reuniting to record “Better Place” for the soundtrack of the upcoming “Trolls” movie.

The teen idols had teased getting the band back together starting last month, before appearing as a unit at the MTV Video Music Awards, where they presented a prize to Taylor Swift to her millennial heart’s delight and that of fans worldwide.

The new track recalls the late ’90s and early 2000’s danceable bubblegum pop that saw NSYNC soar to fame.

The group behind smash songs including “Tearin’ Up My Heart” and “Bye Bye Bye” has appeared together in the past, but this was the first new music drop since their 2001 album “Celebrity.”

In 2002 Justin Timberlake announced he was going solo, and member Lance Bass said in 2007 the group—which also included members JC Chasez, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick—had officially disbanded.

“It started as a fun snowball fight that was becoming an avalanche. And, also, I was growing out of it. I felt like I cared more about the music than some of the other people in the group. And I felt like I had other music I wanted to make and that I needed to follow my heart,” Timberlake later said of his decision.

Timberlake, now 42, has been involved with the “Trolls” franchise since 2016, and the soundtrack for the first film included his hit single “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” for which he nabbed an Oscar nomination.

“Better Place” gives all five members a moment in the sun, while Timberlake helms the chorus.

“When the stars align… got my brothers back together in the studio to work on something fun and the energy was special,” Timberlake posted on Instagram recently, teasing the new track.  /ra