"Girlfriend" is the third and final single from 'N Sync

'N Sync

N Sync was an American boy band formed in Orlando, Florida, in 1995 and launched in Germany by BMG Ariola Munich, *NSYNC consisted of JC Chasez, Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick...

's third studio album, Celebrity

Celebrity (album)

Celebrity is the third and final studio album by the pop boy band 'N Sync. It was released on July 24, 2001, by Jive Records. The label was heavily criticized for releasing singles that involved Justin Timberlake on lead vocals, and none which involved JC Chasez performing or co-writing...

, released on April 15, 2002. It was the last single the group ever released.

Background

When originally announced as a single, the intention was for the album version of the track to be released, with a video being recorded and released to television. However, just weeks before the single release, the group announced that for its single release, the song would be re-recorded, with remix production by The Neptunes

The Neptunes

The Neptunes are a record production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who are credited with contributing the sound for many successful hip hop, R&B and pop artists in the late-1990s and 2000s...

, and would featured two all new verses with rapper Nelly

Nelly

Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr. , better known by his stage name Nelly, is an Grammy Award winning American rapper and actor. He has performed with the rap group St. Lunatics since 1993 and signed to Universal Records in 1999. Under Universal, Nelly began his solo career in 2000 with his debut album...

. Unlike previous 'N Sync releases, the single version, which was named "The Neptunes Remix" for classification purposes, possessed a heavy hip-hop

Hip hop music

Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...

 influence. The video for the album version of the track was subsequently edited for The Neptunes Remix, and to feature Nelly, however, kept essentially the same format. The Neptunes Remix peaked at #5 in the US and #2 in the UK. In August 2002, the remix won a Teen Choice Award for Choice Hook Up. In several countries, the single was released as a double A-side with a remixed version of "Gone", entitled the "Gone Clubbin': I'll Be Back Late" mix.

Music video

Two music videos exist for the single. The first was created for the album version, and features only the band. The original album version video was released in December 2001 and featured the band dancing on cars, singing to girls and Justin Timberlake winning a drag race. The Neptunes Remix featured scenes of Nelly spliced into shots of the already existing video, as well as having a few re-edits to fit the track. Both versions were directed by Marc Klasfeld. The album version video debuted on TRL

Total Request Live

Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...

on January 3, 2002, and the Neptunes Remix debuted on March 12, 2002.

Tracklisting

• UK

1. "Girlfriend" (The Neptunes Remix) – 4:43
2. "The Two of Us" – 3:50
3. "Gone" (Gone Clubbin' I'll Back Late Radio Edit) – 3:57

• Europe

CD1

1. "Girlfriend" (The Neptunes Remix) – 4:43
2. "Girlfriend" (Album Version) - 4:13

CD2

1. "Girlfriend" (The Neptunes Remix) – 4:43
2. "Girlfriend" (Album Version) - 4:13
3. "Gone" (Gone Clubbin' I'll Be Back Late Mix) – 5:57
4. "Gone" (Video)

• America

1. "Girlfriend" (Album Version) – 4:13
2. "Girlfriend" (The Neptunes Remix) – 4:43
3. "Gone" (Gone Clubbin' I'll Be Back Late Mix) – 5:57
4. "Gone" (Spanish Version) – 4:57
5. "Gilfriend" (Video)
6. "Popoddysey Live Trailer" (Video)

• Canada

1. "Girlfriend" (Album Version) – 4:13
2. "Girlfriend" (The Neptunes Remix) – 4:43
3. "Gone" (Gone Clubbin' – I'll Be Back Late Mix) – 5:57
4. "Gone" (Spanish Version) – 4:57
5. "Gone" (Video)

Chart positions

Chart (2002)	Peak position
Australian Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...	2
Austrian Singles Chart	43
Belgium Ultratop 50 Ultratop 50 Ultratop 50 singles, often just Ultratop 50, is the weekly chart of fifty best-selling singles in Flanders, Belgium, and is produced and published by the Ultratop organization. The chart has existed since March 31, 1995...	34
Canadian Singles Chart	1
Danish Singles Chart	6
Netherlands Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting...	8
New Zealand Singles Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand...	13
Norwegian Singles Chart	12
Swedish Singles Chart	36
Swiss Singles Chart	23
UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...	2
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...	5

End of year charts

End of year chart (2002)	Position
UK Singles Chart	44