The 21st-century teen pop resurgence was in full swing in the summer of 2001 when NSYNC released its final studio album, Celebrity. Given that the group is the featured artist for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I could’ve easily featured the smash “Gone” from that album. Instead, I wanted to highlight a personal favorite from that album, “Selfish.”
There was always something different about NSYNC when it came to their music. While they were a boy band, similar to New Kids on The Block, NSYNC always had soul in their music. Initially, I didn’t care for the group.
However, when I read an interview, they gave to Vibe, and they shouted out dropped R&B group Riff as an influence, I knew they were the real deal. Whether it was performing “That’s The Way Love Goes” during Janet Jackson’s ICON special, working with R&B hitmaker JOE on his third album, or having Full Force produce songs on their debut album.
R&B Legend Brian McKnight produced “Selfish,” while group member JC Chasez wrote the song with Jolyon Skinner. Justin takes the first verse on crooning ;
“I just don’t understand
Why you’re running from a good man, baby
Why you wanna turn your back on love
Why you’ve already given up
See I know you’ve been hurt before
But I swear I’ll give you so much more
I swear I’ll never let you down
‘Cause I swear it’s you that I adore.”
“While verse 2 is all about JC, who sings;
I’ll be taking up your time
‘Til the day I make you realize (realize)
That for your there could be no one else
I’ve just gotta have you for myself (for myself)
Baby, I would take good care of you (good care)
No matter what it is you’re going through
I’ll be there for you when you’re in need
Baby, believe in me “.
The song is one anyone can relate to as it deals with unrequited feelings. Justin was the forefronted star of the group. However, from a vocal standpoint, he doesn’t come close to what JC can do. “Selfish” is JC at his best, and it’s still a crime that we never got a straightforward R&B from JC.
I can only imagine the hits he could have made linking up with producers such as The Underdogs, Jam & Lewis, or Mike City. Nevertheless, fans will always have songs like “For The Girl Who Has Everything,” “I’ll Be Good For You,” and “Selfish” when they want to hear JC do R&B.
Final Grade: B+
“Selfish” from Celebrity is available on all streaming platforms.
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I want to revisit 2004 and highlight Romeo’s debut solo album, formerly of Immature. Titled “Food for Thought” and released on June 22nd, this project marked the singer’s change of name to Young Rome in an effort to distance himself from the youthful sound of his group, much like his bandmate Marques Houston had done a year earlier.
In the nineties, Hip-Hop reigned supreme, and every label CEO wanted a share of the lucrative R&B market. One strategy was to keep singers on their roster who could deliver catchy hooks, keeping everything in-house and saving money. Bad Boy had Carl Thomas, Death Row had Danny Boy, and Roc-A-Fella had Rell, our featured artist for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday
Growing up in the eighties, I was surrounded by incredibly talented male R&B singers who could deliver unforgettable love songs. Artists like Luther Vandross, Jeffrey Osborne, and Peabo Bryson dominated the airwaves, but Freddie Jackson was another voice that truly deserved recognition.