Teen Vogue -- August 2001

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The Hit Men

With a new album knocking out the competition, the guys of *NSYNC are made men. Here, they let Teen Vogue in on surviving the tabloids, their take on Britney, and sexin' up their songs.

It's 9:30 am on a sticky Orlando morning and Lance is the first to arrive at the Teen Vogue shoot, looking purposeful. Slowly the others start rolling in-JC in a tank and Addidas pants, hair in adorable disarray. Then, half an hour later, Justin dances in spouting Outkast lyrics. "Chris and Joey are on their way," promises a gracious publicist with a bit of hesitation. "They're coming from home, you know how it is." In the hallway, JC mentions the big steak he ate the night before-"I only eat red meat once a year!"-and then, appropos of absolutely nothing he catapults himself into a walking handstand.

I had met *NSYNC years before when they were on the brink of major fame, but seeing them now, just before the release of their third album Celebrity, cause similar handstands in the pit of my stomach. Admittedly, their millions of fans and dollars, not to mention their overwhelming charisma, left me feeling a bit starstruck. But once we started chatting(The NSyncers took the Teen Vogue quiz very seriously indeed!!), it seemed mroe like hanging out with one's hyperactive little brothers--talk fast or the whole crew may run off to play NBA Live in Joey's SUV, or Justin might all of a sudden make an affected slow motion run for the door (peeking, of course, to make sure everyone is watching). Joey's and Chris's good humor shined through obvious exhaustion, and Lance chitchatted with fans when he could've been napping between takes. Just when I thought the boys were going to break into yet another chorus of eighties rock tunes, Justin stared me down with his sparkling blues and Joey threw me a wink across the room. Yet another die-hard fan was made at that moment-and they knew it.
-Jennifer Gersten

Teen Vogue: You perform in front of thousands and give interviews around the world, yet you remain cool and collected. If that isn't enough to rattle you, what does make you nervous?
Justin: I've always had a problem performing for like, two people. Get me in front of 70, 000 and it's nothing.
JC: Performing in front of my parents.
Joey: When we learn a dance in a couple of days and try to do it for an awards show.
Lance: I get really nervous at awards shows because you're in front of all your peers.
Chris: Heights, I'm afraid of heights.

TV: We know some of you have the acting itch. If you were to go solo to pursue an acting career, who would be your dream leading lady?
Joey: Ooh, there are a lot of those. Sandra Bullock is one, or Ashley Judd.
Chris: Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie.
JC: I'm not interested in girls on TV. I'm really drawn to ordinary girls, but I'll say Natalie Portman because she was in Star Wars. Or even Princess Leia!
Justin: I don't know if I have a dream leading lady, but you know whose style I like? Julia Stiles.

TV: How do you feel about seeing yourselves merchandised as gummy candy, dolls, Valentine's Day cards, or lip balms? What would you like to see yourself as next?
JC: There's a lot of stuff that goes out without our permission. We just like T-shirts and pictures--things sold at concert stands. It'd be cool to see us as holograms.
Lance: We've been on everything from marionettes to key chains, but I've never seen myself on a bedsheet. I think that it'd be kinda funny to wake up and there I am!
Justin: We are very marketed. I guess I'd like to see us on something I would wear, like a thermal.

TV: What's the first thought you have when you wake up in the morning?
JC: "I can't wait to take my shower."
Joey: "It's [really] early"
Lance: "What city am I in?"
Justin: "Brush your teeth!"
Chris: I wake up and go, "Huh?"

TV: Blondes, brunettes, or redheads?
JC: Depends. I'm not really into a hair color, more into features.
Chris: Brunettes.
Lance: I have a thing for blondes, but all of my serious relationships have been with brunettes.
Justin: Well, [laughs], I'm going to say somewhere between a blonde and a brunette.
Joey: All of the above.

TV: Your clothes tend to be flashy and unique. Do they accurately represent your personality?
Joey: Yes, my style's out of control sometimes.
Lance: Sometimes. A lot of times I'm performing in stuff that's very me. Ripped and studded jeans, old Rolling Stones tour shirts--that's what I'm into.
Justin: Sometimes. There's always a little bit of vibe, a little bit of freshness to everything we wear. Always a little bit of pop to it.
JC: Whenever we dress up, it's our way of having fun. Some people say it's a form of expression; we just call it goofin' off. We don't take it very seriously.

TV: You're cute, you're famous, you're surrounded by admirers...but what do you do when you like a girl? How do you pursue her?
Justin: If I'm feeling somebody, I'll always just be right up front and tell them, but it definitely takes a while for me to get to that level. I don't fall that easily, but when I do [he whistles], I fall for sure.
Chris: I tell her that I really like that episode she was in when...
JC: Jeez. We're so focused on work I forgot what it's like to date. It's not about being famous or anything. Anytime you want to pursue somebody, just give them the direct approach. Confidence is sexy to anybody.
Lance: I'm very shy. I really am. When I'm interested in someone, I always become really good friends with them first, but really, I'm wanting more.

TV: With so much publicity, you're bound to hear a few untruths told. What's the funniest, and how do you respond?
Justin: A few?! According to the tabloids, one week I was engaged, the next week I was gay and the third week I was going solo. So in the matter of a month, my sex life was in full drive and I went from prenuptials to independence!
JC: If you read something nice, you say, "Wow, that's nice of them to write." If it's something untrue you say "They don't know jack." And if something they say ticks you off, you get on the phone with your lawyer.
Joey: Oh, yeah [I read that] I'm dating Chyna. And no, it's not true.
Chris: That Kathie Lee [Gifford] and I are a hot item behind her husband's back.

TV: Numerous awards have been presented, millions of albums have been sold. You just keep getting paid...What do you do with all that cash?
JC: Put it away. You never know what's going to happen.
Chris: I obviously don't buy clothes. I make sure that everything's paid for in full.
Joey: Invest, invest, invest...and spend it.
Justin: Invest, take care of my family, and buy some cars on the side.
Lance: I don't really know what I do with it, because I don't spend much. I have a simple car, and I live in Orlando with a roommate. It's a simple bachelorhood [experience] for me.

TV: What do you want the most that you don't have?
JC: The ability to relax. I'd love to have just three days in a row where [I didn't think about work], but I already know that's impossible.
Joey: More money. No, I'm kidding.
Lance: A Grammy. There's just something about that gold gramophone...
Justin: Um, I'm pretty happy. I have a healthy life, a great family; I'm in love. I'm happy with my career. You really can't ask for much more.

TV: Who is Britney Spears to you? How would you describe the pop diva? Chris: She's a girl I know who's very nice and also happens to be famous.
JC: She's like our little buddy. I mean, she's Justin's girl and all, but she kicks it like a guy does.
Lance: Britney's one of my best friends. She reminds me of Julia Roberts in a way--just stunned by it all. She's at the top of her game and can still be as goofy as she wants to be.
Joey: She's like a little sister to me. She's just like us: We love music, and we're out to have fun.
Justin: She's the area of my life that only I can emotionally touch. I definitely feel like her protector, because I get more upset about the things that are said about her than she does, but she's got a good head on her shoulders, and she's a beautiful, beautiful person. She's definitely taught me a lot.

TV: If you were in college right now, what would you study/major in? Do you have any hopes to continue your education?
JC: As boring as it sounds, I'd probably study computers.
Lance: I would be studying space engineering, mathematics, and such.
Justin: I was never a school person, and I don't know if I was made for college. I'd probably just get into trouble.

TV: Though you're touted as good boys by the media, songs like "Digital Getdown" reveal a very, well--mature side. Which perception is more accurate?
JC: I wouldn't exactly call it mature! Everybody talks about image, but we just say what's on our minds at the time. We're right in the middle; we're just like everybody else out there.
Joey: Woooo. I'm a little bit of both.
Lance: I guess you could classify us as good boys, but we're normal guys. We're going to do and talk guy stuff.
Justin: Sometimes within[a song] you can live a differeny life. It doesn't neccessarily mean that you feel that way. A song like "Digital Getdown" doesn't mean that we go on the Internet and have sex with people, but I can't think of a safer way to do it if you want to get technical about it.
Chris: I think we're just little boys trying to act like grown-ups.

TV: Are you in love?
Justin: Yes! Happily.
Joey: Yes.
Lance: No, and I don't think I've ever been. If I ever fall in love, that would be it--hooked! If I weren't in this group, I'd probably be married with kids.
JC: I've been in love.
Chris: No. Wait--I should say "Yes, and her name's Music"

TV: You have been together almost everyday for six years, so we know there must be some fights. Who is usually the instigator, and what do you most often fight about?
JC: We fight about silly stuff, like "Clean up your crap in the back of the bus so we can sit down!"
Joey: We don't really fight. Sometimes Lance is the instigator, sometimes Justin. Everybody is a little bit now and then.
Lance: Who's the instigator? It might be me or Chris but in a playful way. We deal with things in a joking matter. I think that works best.
Justin: We've had disagreements, but I think we can agree to disagree. All of our personalities complement one another, and these are definitely my friends--we don't fight.

TV: What celebrity encounter has been the most meaningful to you and why?
Chris: Paul McCartney--just getting to shake his hand.
JC: I was pretty impressed meeting George Lucas.
Lance: I loved meeting former president Gerald Ford and Betty Ford. Clinton was also great because of his charisma. He's done a wonderful job with our country and he's still just "Bill."
Justin: President Clinton was pretty cool. The country's going to miss him a lot, but the only time I've been really really starstruck was when I met Michael Jordan. I've looked up to him since I was a kid.

TV: Like everyone, you've had ups and downs in your romantic relationships. Regardless, what would your girlfriend--or past girlfriends--say are your best and worst qualities?
JC: My best quality is that I'm kind of selfless. I'm definitely a giver. The worst quality is that I think about work a lot, and I'm pretty boring. I'm the one who'd rather stay home to watch a movie.
Lance: Worst is definitely that I was never there. The best is that I never really worried about anything, I was always just really positive.
Justin: My best? I don't know, man, I have way more worse ones. She'd definitely say my best quality is my confidence because she thinks I'm a cocky boy. My worst quality...I don't want to say because she'll read this article and say [in a mock Britney voice], "I don't think that!"

TV: If President Clinton answered it, so can you...boxers or briefs?
Justin: I guess it depends on the situation, doesn't it? Usually boxer briefs.
JC: Sports shorts.
Lance: Boxer briefs.

TV: Because of your good-boy image, we don't hear about too many wild encounters. What's the craziest thing you've done in the past year?
Lance: Joey and I went to Cancun and I fought a bull...and it hurt...and I had bruises. It was crazy and I'll never do it again.
Justin: I don't think of us as "good boys." I'm scandelous just like every other 20-year old out there. The media is just a lot more lenient on us than the females in the industry.
JC: This is going to sound strange, but my sense of reality on what's [crazy] and [not crazy] is a bit jaded now because we've been exposed to so much. We tend to cause a scene if we go out at all, so it could be anything really.

TV: How do you picture yourself in ten years?
JC: I don't know as long as I'm happy.
Joey: Busy!!
Justin: Hopefully still writing and producing.
Chris: Old.

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