If you were a '90s kid, you grew up in the golden age of boy bands. If you were a smart '90s kid, you knew that *NSYNC was clearly the superior boy band. Don't get me wrong, I love all things Backstreet Boys but in the race for boy band supreme, there was no contest: *NSYNC reigned, hands down. To this day, which boy band you aligned with in the '90s speaks volumes about who you are as a person. In a similar vein, your favorite *NSYNC lyric reveals unprecedented insight into your character.
There is no greater affront to my continued dedication to *NSYNC than a fair-weather fan. I have seen more than one drunk girl struggle to correctly sing along with "Bye Bye Bye" at a karaoke bar. The most basic lyrics to the most basic (but still awesome) *NSYNC song of all time and you don't even have mastery of that? You've just told me more information about you character than I could glean from an hour conversation with you.
You drop a casual "Celebrity" lyric about getting cheese, like, every day? You've just given me an intimate glimpse into your psyche. On the flip side, if you fail to catch my reference to getting cheese, like, every day, I'm going to question your sanity. This is a literal scenario that happened with my boyfriend last week and it speaks volumes about both of us (namely, that I am awesome and he is lucky to have me).
But I digress. *NSYNC might not spit the most poetic or sophisticated lyrical fire you've ever heard but they had their moments of brilliance. Lucky for you, I'm here to decode those moments of genius and provide you valuable insight into your inner self. So if you're in the mood to take a ride, then strap on a suit and get inside.
"It's hard to say I'm sorry/It's hard to make the things I did undone/A lesson I've learned too well, for sure" from "I Want You Back"
You have made your mistakes in the past but you've learned the hard way that when you've got what you want, hold on to it and never let it go. None of this "if you love something, set it free" BS. You were probably the girl who resolutely held on to your Crackberry way past the appropriate time. You are loyal to a fault and you live by a firm #NORAGRETS policy.
"Check the mirror, lookin' fly/Round up the posse, jump in my ride/Radio rockin', hottest jam/Feel the rhythm, pump up the sound" from "Just Got Paid"
You are consistently on top of trends. You popularized "on fleek" in your friend group before it became common vernacular (and your eyebrows were on fleek before anyone paid any attention to your brows). You are a walking Urban Dictionary, the purveyor of new fads amongst all who surround you. People see you wearing army pants and flip flips and they go buy army pants and flip flops.
"I drove myself insane/Wishing I could touch your face/But the truth remains you're... gone" from "Gone"
You are undoubtedly familiar with unrequited love. You often find yourself struggling with dependence on others. You often have to put your friends in charge of your phone when you've been drinking so you don't text your ex. I'd be willing to bet you had a pronounced period of teenage angst. You are probably a journaler and you may even have dabbled in some poetry. You walk the fine line between sensitive and desperate.
"Can we get connected/I need some love and affection baby... If you're in the mood and I'm not home/Here's what you do: leave a message/You know the kind I like to get back to" from "Digital Get Down"
My insights into these lyrics might be slightly skewed because I was not allowed to listen to this song as a child. In fact, I just learned that this song is about whatever the early '00s equivalent of sexting was. That being said, the fact that I was not allowed to listen to this song as a kid tells me loads about you if lyrics from "Digital Get Down" are your go-to *NSYNC lines.
You've always been described (usually by other mothers) as "mature" for your age. You are a rebel and like to take risks. You probably chatted inappropriately with random strangers on AIM before your friends knew what "wanna cyber?" meant. Nowadays, your daredevil ways have calmed down a bit but you're still always the first in line to try something adventurous. Sexually aggressive and bold, you know what you want and you know how to get it. You partially have *NSYNC to thank for that.
"Your love is like a river/Peaceful and deep/Your soul is like a secret/That I never could keep" from "(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time On You"
You are a hopeless romantic and, unlike your predecessor, you are relatively conservative. You believe in soul mates and refuse to settle for anyone who doesn't treat you like a princess. Some might call you high maintenance, but you prefer the term "selective." You know what you want and you are patient enough to wait for it. You also probably lean towards a neutral color palette and identify as an introvert. You are probably boring, no offense.
"Ever since I saw your face/Nothing in my life has been the same/I walk around just saying your name/Without you my world would end, yeah" from "Girlfriend (Remix feat. Nelly)"
You put up a front that you're tough but you're actually quite the softy. People perceive you as edgy and you don't take any crap from anyone. You're persistent in pursuing your goals, even if you have to take the road less traveled. You probably still drunkenly freestyle the Nelly verses from this song occasionally at parties (What, no? Just me?). You're just an all around badass and people gravitate towards your awesomeness.
"We don't need all these prophecies/Telling us what's a sign/Cause paranoia ain't the way to live your life from day to day/So leave your doubts and your fears behind" from "Space Cowboy"
You didn't realize it at the time (because it was shrouded in obtuse lyrics about space travel) but you subconsciously favored the song that dealt with the paranoia surrounding the new millennium. You always keep the future in mind and are astutely aware of the consequences of your actions. You are probably very environmentally conscious. You always are always up to date on the latest technology. Best of all, you know how to appreciate a fat joint and binge watch The Cosmos on Netflix like it's nobody's business. Also, obligatory shout-out to Left Eye (R.I.P).
Any Lyrics from "Bye Bye Bye"
In case you didn't catch my disdainful tone earlier, if anything from "Bye Bye Bye" is your favorite *NSYNC lyric, you need to expand your horizons, branch out from your Skinny Vanilla Lattes at Starbucks, stop ending all your sentences like there's a question mark at the end of them a la the Kardashians, and become an individual.
"Now, why you wanna try to classify the type of thing that we do?/Cause we're just fine doin' what we like, can we say the same for you?" from "Pop"
You have a healthy appreciation for pop culture without wandering into the realm of the boring. You lie smack in the middle of the spectrum between the hipsters who only like obscure things and the normals who only like the mainstream. You explore your own tastes but you also can recognize true quality, even if it arrives in a mainstream format. You hate being pigeon-holed and you avoid being put into boxes based on your tastes. You also had a period of time where you fervently tried to learn how to beatbox as a result of this song. Mad props to you if you succeeded.
"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the cutest one you saw/She's underneath the disco ball, the disco ball, the disco ball/Standing next to strobe lights dancin' hot, lookin' tight/The freaks sure do come out at night, out at night, night, night..." from "Up Against the Wall"
You are low-key cool, the type of girl who doesn't scream "party girl" but is always a blast to be around regardless of the situation. Your tastes skew a little on the edgy side and you love encouraging others to try new things. An adventurer at heart and a trailblazer amongst the people who know you well, you are never afraid to be you and your quirks make you eminently likable.
Images: Giphy
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