It’s About the Lyrics, November 8, 2000

It’s time to overlook the N’Sync boys’ hunkiness and good manners, and
focus on what really counts in the post-modern age: the lyrics. And
guess what? N’Sync’s got lyrics as good as their dance moves!

“Just
Got Paid” is a Springsteen-esque tribute to the working class. As the
title suggests, a man has “just got paid,” and wishes to celebrate with
his special someone. Could that someone be you? You can only hope! This
song accurately portrays the hand-to-mouth existence of middle America.

“No
Strings Attached” has a cunning double meaning: Is it about the boys’
management by an evil puppeteer? Or is it about a relationship that
indulges in carnal pleasures, with none of the messy dating or phone
calls. Good show, boys!

“I Thought She Knew” is also a song that
pop historians will be attempting to decipher for many years to come.
On first glance, the knowledge in question seems to be whether the
author is currently in a long-term relationship (i.e. “I thought she
knew I already had a girlfriend”). But the sly references to “the
clinic” leads one to wonder about altogether different interpretations.

Finally,
“It Makes Me Ill” is the lyrical coup on the “No Strings Attached” CD.
Food allergies are a sensitive topic for youngsters, and never has it
been so poignantly addressed.

There can be no doubt that,
lyrically, N’Sync are the Bob Dylan of their generation. Poetry books
could well outsell their albums!