Joey Fatone surprised by success of NSYNC reunion song 'Better Place': 'It just all worked'

NSYNC is in a "Better Place" now, reunited after two decades ? and their new song shows it.

The boyband's new single, which dropped Sept. 29, is the first time Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick and JC Chasez have made music magic as a unit since their 2001 album, "Celebrity." The toe-tapping pop song is on the soundtrack of the upcoming "Trolls Band Together" movie (out Nov. 17), in which Timberlake voices the character Branch.

With glossy, layered harmonies, "Better Place" offers a finger-snapping chorus ("Just let me take you to a better place … I'm so excited, to see you excited") and a danceable beat similar to Timberlake's fizzy "Can’t Stop the Feeling!" from the first "Trolls" movie in 2016.

On NSYNC's recent "Hot Ones" appearance, Timberlake said the band wanted to give fans "something that felt not necessarily nostalgic but familiar." Chasez added, "When we listen to the world today we're obviously influenced by 20 years of experiences but we still want to give them us."

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The new song comes after the quintet reunited during the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards in September to present a fangirling Taylor Swift with the Best Pop award.

The fivesome, who enjoyed boyband mania in the late-'90s/early 2000s with ubiquitous hits including "It’s Gonna Be Me," "Tearin’ Up My Heart," "This I Promise You" and "Bye Bye Bye," were last onstage together a decade ago at the VMAs to briefly perform when Timberlake received the Video Vanguard Award.

Following the 2001 release of their fourth studio album, "Celebrity," NSYNC splintered, with Timberlake igniting a solo career with his 2002 album, "Justified."

Joey Fatone talks 'Better Place' success, NSYNC reunion tour

Fatone reflected on the song's success and what it means for the future of the group in an interview with OK magazine published Oct. 9. "It's as if we died and came back to life," Fatone said of the song's reception (the single debuted at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100).

"I didn't think it was going to have the magnitude it had. I didn't think about it hitting the charts, which I know sounds stupid," Fatone said. "Of course, it's the connection they feel to NSYNC, to Justin, the movie connection. It just all worked. The only thing that changes is if we go, 'Do we want to record new music? Do we want to go on tour? Do we do stuff as a group?"

The singer also discussed the possibility of a reunion tour, but Fatone said the NSYNC boys aren't packing their bags anytime soon.

"People are obviously yelling and screaming for a tour, but there's a lot of things that come into play before that could happen," Fatone said. "There's five guys — some of us are married, some have kids, some may not want to do it. We have to have that conversation and talk about what we do now that the song is out there."

Contributing: Edward Segarra and Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joey Fatone talks NSYNC reunion tour after 'Better Place' success