"Girlfriend" is a song by American boy bandNSYNC. It was released on March 12, 2002 as the third and final single from their third studio albumCelebrity. It was the group's last song to enter the top ten of the US BillboardHot 100 following their hiatus.
Background
When originally announced as a single, the intention was for the album version of the track to be released along with a video and released to television. However, just weeks before the release, the group announced that the song would be re-recorded for its single release, with remix production by The Neptunes, and would feature two all-new verses with rapperNelly. Unlike previous NSYNC releases, the single version, which was named "The Neptunes Remix" for classification purposes, possessed a heavy hip hop influence. It was released on March 12, 2002 as an enhanced CD.
Critical reception
In 2015, Billboards 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."
Music video
Two music videos exist for the single. The first was created for the album version, and features only the band. The original album version of the video was released in January 2002. 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. Both video versions were directed by Marc Klasfeld. The album version video debuted on TRL on January 3, 2002, while the Neptunes Remix debuted on March 12, 2002.
Track listing
UK
"Girlfriend" – 4:45
"The Two of Us" – 3:51
"Gone" – 3:57
"Gone" – 5:10
Europe
;CD1
"Girlfriend" – 4:45
"Girlfriend" – 4:14
;CD2
"Girlfriend" – 4:45
"Girlfriend" – 4:14
"Gone" – 5:57
"Gone"
America
"Girlfriend" – 4:14
"Girlfriend" – 4:45
"Gone" – 5:57
"Gone" – 4:57
"Girlfriend" – 4:20
PopOdyssey Live Trailer – 1:20
Canada
"Girlfriend" – 4:14
"Girlfriend" – 4:45
"Gone" – 5:57
"Gone" – 4:57
"Gone" – 5:10
Credits and personnel
;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
