Girlfriend (NSYNC song)

"Girlfriend" is a pop and hip hop song by American boy band NSYNC. It was released on January 14, 2002, as the third single from their fourth studio album, Celebrity. It was the group's last song to enter the top 10 of the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number five. "Girlfriend" additionally reached number one in Canada and charted within the top 10 in six other countries, including Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom. This was the last single and song the band released in their career before their reunion in 2023.

"Girlfriend"
Single by NSYNC featuring Nelly
from the album Celebrity
B-side	"The Two of Us"
Released	January 14, 2002 (2002-01-14)
Recorded	April – May 2001[1]
Studio	Right Track, Battery (New York City) Wire (Orlando, Florida)
Genre	Pop hip hop R&B
Length	4:14 (album version) 4:45 (The Neptunes remix)
Label	Jive
Songwriter(s)	Justin Timberlake Pharrell Williams Chad Hugo Cornell Haynes Jr. (remix)
Producer(s)	The Neptunes
NSYNC singles chronology
"Gone" (2001) "Girlfriend" (2002) "Better Place" (2023)
Nelly singles chronology
"#1" (2001) "Girlfriend" (2002) "Hot in Herre" (2002)
Music video
"Girlfriend" on YouTube

Background

When originally announced as a single, the intention was for the album version from Celebrity of the track "Girlfriend" to be released along with a video and released to television. However, just weeks before the release, NSYNC announced that the Neptunes would remix the song for its single release and feature two all-new verses with rapper Nelly. When Nelly was approached to record the song, he was initially met with resistance from his record label Universal Records, who stated that he was trying to "ruin [his] career". Nelly insisted on appearing on the song, which they eventually conceded.^[2] It was his first major cross-collaboration.^[3]

The song contained a hip hop influence and was sent to top 40 and hot AC radio in January 2002 before being released commercially on March 12, 2002, as an enhanced CD.^[4][5]

Critical reception

In 2015, Billboard's Jason Lipshutz ranked it tenth on the list "Top 20 Essential Boy Band Songs," writing, "straddling the lines of pop, R&B and hip-hop, the song could have been the precursor to the boy band's stylistic shift, but instead proved to be the starting point for Justin Timberlake's solo career."^[6]

Music video

Background

Two music videos exist for the single, which were both directed by Marc Klasfeld. The first video was released in late December 2001, while the Neptunes Remix debuted on March 12, 2002.^[7]

Synopsis

The music video featured the band dancing on cars, singing to girls and a drag race, which was won by Justin Timberlake. The Neptunes Remix featured scenes of Nelly spliced between shots of the pre-existing video. He is shown rapping next to Timberlake during both of his rap verses, as well as interacting with female models in the backseat of the car throughout this version of the video. Scenes of Timberlake initiating the drag race in the interlude, which is shown in the original video, are heavily omitted in the Neptunes Remix to accommodate for Nelly's rap verse, which his second rap verse replaces.

Track listings

US and Canadian CD single[8][9] "Girlfriend" (album version) – 4:13 "Girlfriend" (the Neptunes remix featuring Nelly) – 4:43 "Gone" (Gone Clubbin' "I'll Be Back Late" mix) – 5:57 "Gone" (Spanish version) – 4:51 "Girlfriend" (video) US 12-inch single[10] A1. "Girlfriend" (the Neptunes remix featuring Nelly) – 4:43 A2. "Girlfriend" (the Neptunes remix instrumental) – 4:43 B1. "Girlfriend" (album version) – 4:13 B2. "Gone" (Gone Clubbin' "I'll Be Back Late" mix) – 5:57 UK CD and cassette single[11][12] "Girlfriend" (the Neptunes remix featuring Nelly) "The Two of Us" "Gone" (Gone Clubbin' radio edit)

European CD single[13] "Girlfriend" (the Neptunes remix featuring Nelly) – 4:43 "Girlfriend" (album version) – 4:13 Australian CD single[14] "Girlfriend" (the Neptunes remix featuring Nelly) – 4:45 "Girlfriend" (album version) – 4:14 "Gone" (Gone Clubbin' "I'll Be Late" mix) – 5:59 "Girlfriend" (video) Japanese CD single[15] "Girlfriend" (album version) – 4:13 "Girlfriend" (instrumental) – 4:12 "Gone" (Gone Clubbin' "I'll Be Late" mix) – 5:58

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the UK CD single liner notes.^[11]

Recording

• Recorded at Right Track, NYC; Battery Studios, NYC; and WIRE Studios, Orlando, FL

Personnel

• Justin Timberlake – songwriter
• Chad Hugo – songwriter, producer, remix producer
• Pharrell Williams – songwriter, producer, remix producer
• The Neptunes – producer, remix producer
• Brian Garten – recording, additional vocal recording
• Paul Gregory – assistant recording engineer
• Rowie Nameri – assistant recording engineer
• Matina Scarpino – assistant recording engineer
• Jean-Marie Horvat – mixing
• Josean Possey – assistant mixing engineer
• Chaz Harper – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Girlfriend" Chart (2002) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[16] 2 Australian Urban (ARIA)[17] 1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[18] 43 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[19] 34 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[20] 15 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[21] 1 Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS)[22] 5 Denmark (Tracklisten)[23] 6 Europe (European Hot 100)[24] 4 Europe (European Hit Radio)[25] 26 Germany (GfK)[26] 6 Ireland (IRMA)[27] 8 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[28] 10 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] 8 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 13 Norway (VG-lista)[31] 12 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[32] 93 Scotland (OCC)[33] 5 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[34] 36 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[35] 23 UK Singles (OCC)[36] 2 UK Indie (OCC)[37] 1 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[38] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[39] 5 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[40] 23 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[41] 5 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[42] 6

Year-end charts Year-end performance for "Girlfriend" Chart (2002) Position Australia (ARIA)[43] 26 Australian Urban (ARIA)[44] 8 Brazil (Crowley)[45] 81 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[46] 18 Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS)[47] 84 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[48] 96 Germany (Media Control)[49] 73 Ireland (IRMA)[50] 69 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[51] 77 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[52] 70 UK Singles (OCC)[53] 44 UK Airplay (Music Week)[54] 63 US Billboard Hot 100[55] 33 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[56] 29 US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)[57] 35

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Girlfriend"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[58]	Gold	35,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[59]	Gold	5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[60]	Gold	400,000‡
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Girlfriend"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	January 14, 2002	Contemporary hit radio	Jive	[4]
	January 21, 2002	Hot adult contemporary radio
Japan	January 30, 2002	CD		[61]
United States	March 12, 2002	Enhanced CD		[5]
Australia	April 15, 2002	CD		[62]
United Kingdom				[63]