Washington’s Odd Beginnings with *NSYNC

Washington's Odd Beginnings with *Nsync

Music lovers in Washington were first exposed to Nsync's song and video with the release of “I Want You Back” - every single top 40 station in the state and across the nation played it beginning in late December of 1997.

The song made the five boys famous around the world. Justin, JC, Joey, Lance, and Chris went on to release their debut self-titled album on CD and cassette on May 26th, 1997.

They then released their “Home for Christmas” Christmas album on November 10th, 1997 on CD and cassette.

After extensive touring in Germany and Europe in the early years of the group (Germany made “I Want You Back” a top five hit) more than a year before its release here in the States. 

They set out on their first extensive tour of North America; in support of their first single “I Want You Back.” The closest they came to Washington was their two shows, July 5th and 6th, 1998 at the Vancouver Forum. They even played a show in Boise, Idaho on August 24th of the same year. 

Did someone in Washington make their manager Lou Pearlman mad? Nah, it's all a coincidence. Right? Right.

The next big tour featured our boys in support of one of the biggest acts of the late 80s and 90s - Janet Jackson.

Nsync and Usher joined together as opening acts for Janet Jackson’s “The Velvet Rope Tour.” The tour famously avoided Washington state - appearing in Vancouver BC on August 8th, 1998, and Portland, Oregon on August 11th, 1998.

Finally!

It wasn’t until the NSYNC “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now Tour” that the boys finally played a show in Washington - and they really made up for ignoring us, playing three back to back to back nights in three of our biggest cities.

April 23rd, 1999 at the Tacoma Dome

April 24th, 1999 at Key Arena (now Climate Pledge Arena)

April 25th, 1999 at Spokane Arena

Their 3rd album, “No Strings Attached” dropped on March 21, 2000

The silly idea of someone in NSYNC's management having an issue with us in Washington dissolved when they played two more Tacoma Dome shows in their touring era.

The "No Strings Attached Tour" also included us on June 13th, 2000 at the Tacoma Dome. P!nk & Sisco opened.

Their 4th and as of this writing, final album “Released” dropped on July 24th, 2001.

The group supported their final album with the "Celebrity Tour" making a March 4th, 2002 stop at the Tacoma Dome. Do you remember Ginuwine opening for this show?

Just recently, on Sunday night, September 12, 2023 - all five members of NSYNC appeared together at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards to present the Best Pop Award to Taylor Swift.

The current queen of pop music seemed in awe to get her award from a band that was HUGE in her elementary school days.

Two days after the MTV VMA’s they told the world, that their first single in over 21 years (since their January 2002 song “Girlfriend” featuring Nelly) would drop on September 29th. 

NSYNC's single “Better Place” has dropped and spun every three hours (or faster) on pop radio across the nation. The new song will be featured on the DreamWorks Animation film "Trolls Band Together" which hits theaters on November 17th.

Will the band record and release a new album?

Will they tour and come back to Washington state?

We can only hope so.

INFO: Billboard, Pollstar