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Gone (NSYNC song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Gone
| cover = Gone_'N_Sync.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = NSYNC
| album = Celebrity
| B-side =
| released =
| recorded = 2001
| studio = Westlake Recording (Los Angeles)
| genre =
| length =
| label = Jive
| writer =
| producer =
| prev_title = Pop
| prev_year = 2001
| next_title = Girlfriend
| next_year = 2002
| misc =
}}
"'Gone'" is a song by American boy band NSYNC. It was released as the second single from their third studio album, 'Celebrity' (2001). The band first performed the song on PopOdyssey during mid-2001, and it was released to US radio on August 21, 2001. The physical release of the single did not occur until October 15, 2001, when a CD single was issued in Australia. It is the first NSYNC single where Justin Timberlake sings all lead vocals.
The song was nominated at the 44th Grammy Awards for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, but lost to U2's "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of".
Background
.
"Gone" was initially written by Timberlake and Wade Robson for Michael Jackson in 2001. However, Jackson passed on the song, which allowed Timberlake to introduce it in an A&R meeting for NSYNC's next album, 'Celebrity'. It was the first song Timberlake cut on his own, as he brought it to the group to record together. Jackson eventually changed his mind and requested to be featured on the song as a duet; however, the song was already released, and the two could not find a way to revamp it. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Timberlake expressed, "[Michael] was very absolute about the fact that he wanted it to be a duet between himself and I."
In an interview with 'Billboard', JC Chasez described the song's significance on the group: ["Gone"] is about as raw as it gets. It's just us and a beat-box, with just a tiny accent of acoustic guitar and violin. That song is a proud moment for us; it really shows how tight we are as a group."
Timberlake got the idea for the song when his then-girlfriend Britney Spears went to the hair salon and did not return for hours. The song and music video were notable departures for the group; previous NSYNC singles always had verses divided between lead vocalists Timberlake and Chasez, and in earlier music videos each group member had a storyline. "Gone" has Timberlake singing both verses as well as the bridge, runs, and ad libs. He is also the focus of the accompanying music video, with Timberlake getting mostly solo footage while his band mates appear together separately.
Critical reception
Jason Lipshutz of 'Billboard' stated that the song established "Timberlake as a solo artist long before he was actually a solo artist, and remains one of his very best singles to date." In 2018, 'Billboard' staff ranked the song 24 on their list "The 100 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time," writing, "the bridge is downright surreal, as the sparse beat drops out entirely, the meter all but dissolves, and the five members sound like they're swarming Timberlake's subconscious, until he breaks out for a final chorus of masterful ad libs. But it all comes back to that one word: harrowing, relentless and unmistakably final." In 2015, 'Rolling Stone' staff ranked it as the 37th greatest boy band song of all time.
Chart performance
"Gone" peaked at number eleven on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 on November 13, 2001. It also reached number fourteen on the Hip Hop/R&B Airplay charts, becoming the only pop boy band to chart there. The single also hit number 27 on the Adult Contemporary chart. It also reached number 28 in Canada, number 24 in the UK, and number 43 in Sweden.
Music video
The music video for "Gone" was directed by Herb Ritts and filmed in August 2001. "The group even found time to finish shooting a video for 'Gone,' 'NSYNC's Joey Fatone said when he called into MTV's 'TRL' on Thursday." It debuted on 'TRL' on September 26, 2001. The video is shot in black-and-white, but opens and closes with sepia-toned scenes of a silent film depicting Timberlake as a Charlie Chaplin-esque figure who tries to woo his love interest. The main part of the video depicts Timberlake singing in an empty house with his bandmates. Scenes of the guys singing are intercut with Timberlake's flashbacks to happier times with a former girlfriend, played by Croatian model Korina Longin. These flashbacks include Timberlake celebrating his girlfriends birthday at a party with NSYNC, painting his girlfriend's toenails, gifting her a necklace, and rolling around in the grass kissing.
"Gone" was the first NSYNC video to center Timberlake, with Jon O'Brien of 'Billboard' writing, "Herb Ritts' brooding monochrome promo highlighted even further how much Timberlake had outgrown his bandmates." As Timberlake would go on to launch a successful solo career the following year, writers have noted the music video foreshadowed the band's future and Timberlake's solo ascent. The video became *NSYNC's tenth number 1 video for 'TRL'. The video received spins on BET's '106 & Park', making NSYNC the only all-white group to ever get rotation on the show. "Gone" was nominated for Video of the Year at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards, but lost to "Without Me" by Eminem.
Live performances
"Gone" was performed live at the 2001 Billboard Music Awards, the 2002 Grammy Awards,[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a94h1Zdk50Y Nsync & Nelly - Gone/Girlfriend (Grammys Awards 2002)]'' via YouTube and during the band's set at a 2002 Winter Olympics concert, in addition to the group's PopOdyssey and Celebrity tour shows. Justin Timberlake has also sang the song solo on his Justified tour and The 20/20 Experience World Tour.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc0DMgeidB0 Justin Timberlake -- GONE Ft. Lauderdale 20/20 Tour 2014] '' via YouTube The group sang the opening bars of "Gone" at the beginning of their reunion medley at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards where Timberlake was awarded the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
Track listing
Credits and personnel
'Recording'
* Recorded at Westlake Recording Studios, Los Angeles, CA
'Personnel'
* Justin Timberlake songwriter, producer, arranger, multi instruments
* Wade J. Robson songwriter, producer, arranger, multi instruments
* Alan Armitage recording
* Kevin Guarnieri assistant recording engineer
* Peter Mokran mixing
* Tony Flores assistant mixing engineer
* Chris Haggerty digital editing
* Robin Wiley string arrangement
* Yasu strings recording
* Jeremy Welch assistant strings recording engineer
* The Hampton String Quartet strings performer
* Michael Thompson guitars
* Michael A. Lang piano
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Release history
References
Category:2000s ballads
Category:2001 songs
Category:2001 singles
Category:NSYNC songs
Category:Aventura (band) songs
Category:Jive Records singles
Category:Pop ballads
Category:Contemporary R&B ballads
Category:Music videos directed by Herb Ritts
Category:Black-and-white music videos
Category:Songs written by Justin Timberlake
Category:Song recordings produced by Justin Timberlake
Category:Soul ballads
Category:Torch songs
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