Justin Timberlake Reveals ‘May’hem Behind NSYNC’s ‘It’s Gonna Be Me’

Justin Timberlake recently revealed the backstory behind NSYNC’s iconic single “It’s Gonna Be Me,” which has become a widely memed track over the years. During an appearance on the YouTube series Hot Ones, Timberlake shed light on why he intentionally mispronounced “me” in the 2000 hit, featured on the band’s third studio album, “No Strings Attached.”

The interview featured all five NSYNC members: Timberlake, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick, and Lance Bass. The host posed a question to the group, asking if it was true that the hook of “It’s Gonna Be Me” intentionally used the pronunciation “may” instead of “me” because Justin received a note from a producer requesting the change.

Timberlake clarified, “I don’t remember if the specifics were ‘a meaner me,’ but I sang, ‘It’s gonna be me,’ and he was like, ‘No, no, no, no, no.’ He was like, ‘It’s ‘may.’ May.’”

When asked if the meaning was lost in translation, Timberlake explained that the unique use of English by Max Martin, their producer, actually made their songs catchier. Martin’s unconventional word placements, though not always grammatically correct, resulted in more memorable lyrics. Timberlake acknowledged that the pronunciation change was a specific request from Martin, and he followed it, ultimately contributing to the song’s success.

Earlier in the month, NSYNC reunited at the MTV Video Music Awards for the first time in a decade, marking a significant moment for fans of the iconic boy band.