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Justin Timberlake · S3 E6
Conquering a Continent
Germany, Scandinavia, then all of Europe
Somewhere in Scandinavia, late 1997. Five Americans step off a tour bus to find a crowd of two thousand teenagers who know every word to songs that haven't been released in the United States.
All Saints, Never Ever (1997). While *NSYNC conquers Northern Europe, All Saints are dominating the UK pop charts. The late 1990s pop explosion is in full swing, and there is room for everyone except artists who aren't willing to tour relentlessly.
Northern Conquest
After Germany falls, Scandinavia follows. Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland. The album goes gold in multiple territories, then platinum. By the end of 1997, *NSYNC has sold over one million records across Europe and is headlining arena tours in Germany and Scandinavia.
Stockholm, Sweden
The city where Cheiron Studios produced the hits, where Max Martin shaped the sound, and where *NSYNC became arena headliners. Stockholm in the late 1990s was the control room of global pop.
TAP TO REVEAL: What happened when *NSYNC went home to Orlando after conquering Europe?
What was unusual about *NSYNC's path to American fame?
Giddy Up
A playful, uptempo cut from the European era. The energy is loose and fun, five guys riding a wave of momentum they can feel building beneath them. This is the sound of a group that knows something big is about to happen.
“We were massive in Europe and completely invisible at home. We'd fly back to Orlando and our neighbors had no idea what we did for a living.”
— Joey Fatone, on *NSYNC's split fame
Europe is conquered, the album is platinum. Pearlman turns the machine toward home.
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