Drake’s apparently a certified lover of *NSYNC after sampling the band in his song “TSU.”
The rapper’s track off his recent album, “Certified Lover Boy,” samples the iconic boy band’s hit “Sailing.”
Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, JC Chasez, Lance Bass and Justin Timberlake didn’t think their songs would influence the music industry 25 years later, but here they are.
“It’s flattering when things like this happen and with us, it doesn’t happen that often,” Kirkpatrick told Variety. “It’s neat that I can tell friends who don’t know I was ever in a band, ‘Hey, I’m in this new record. Check it out!’ ”
*NSYNC made their version of “Sailing” in 1997 for their debut album, after the original written by Christopher Cross was released in 1980.
“At first, I was worried because I didn’t want to ruin the song, but we put enough of our own spin on it to make it different and likable,” Kirkpatrick, 49, told Variety.
He was confused when he heard that Drake had sampled their cover, not Cross’ original, but the feeling was followed by excitement.
*NSYNC’s cover of “Sailing” by Christopher Cross made it onto Drake’s newest album. Getty Images“At first, it didn’t make sense because ‘Sailing’ was a cover,” he says. “It’s Christopher Cross’ song. So, when I heard he sampled our version, I was like, ‘I’m gonna go home and listen to it on some real speakers tonight and get excited.’ I love it.”
“If I could guess why Drake does what he does, I could be Drake,” he said. “I guess he had an idea, went with it and it worked perfectly.”
On “Certified Lover Boy,” Drake sampled a handful of artists, including Masego, Notorious B.I.G. and Charlotte Day Wilson. “TSU,” though, also samples alleged sexual assaulter R. Kelly, which has drawn criticism from listeners.
But could a *NSYNC cameo mean a possible collaboration with Drake in the future?
“He’s on another level,” said Kirkpatrick. “I would just sit back and go, ‘Tell us what you need us to do and we’ll figure it out.’ ”
Kirkpatrick also told Variety that “TSU” reminds him of how the fun of the 1990s transformed into something bigger. He reminisced on how the infamous boy band was just having fun making music, but now it means something so much more.
“It’s now – looking back, going to all these places, getting accolades and people knowing me in strange worlds I’ve never even visited – that it really hits and you’re like, ‘It wasn’t just five guys goofing around. It was very meaningful,’ ” Kirkpatrick said.
Drake’s “TMU” sample has people asking if a collaboration with *NSYNC is on the horizon. Getty Images for Noir Blanc
