Christmas Songs: “All I Want Is You This Christmas,” ‘N Sync, 1998

Never thought I’d really like something from these guys, but there is always a first time. I had been hearing this on the Christmas music loop at my minimum wage job, and after a while, I sure wanted to know who they were. Of course, I had to stand directly underneath the speakers to figure out exactly what the title refrain said. I couldn’t figure out who the singer was. I even thought it was Michael Jackson, but I knew that he hadn’t made a Christmas album since his days with his brothers at Motown. Plus the voice seemed a tad deeper.

I was surprised to find that it was ‘N Sync, the dearly departed “boy group” that gave us Lance Bass, Joey Fatone, Justin Timberlake, J.C. Chasez, and the lead singer of this track, Chris Kirkpatrick. “All I Want Is You This Christmas” is featured on their second album, Home at Christmas. ‘N Sync only made four albums and broke up in 2002, although die-hard fans have held out hope they would reunite.

'N Sync, as we once knew them. From left to right, Justin Timberlake, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, Lance Bass and J.C. Chasez (Courtesy: The Insider)

As late as a few weeks ago, J.C. Chasez told TMZ that the group “[…] is not going to reunite again. We’re all done with that. Completely done.”

Counter-tenor Chris Kirkpatrick is generally considered to have been the co-founder of ‘N Sync (along with former manager–and Ponzi schemer– Lou Pearlman). Since the break-up, Kirkpatrick has been a voice actor (The Fairly Odd Parents). He’s also “gone country,” in a reality show competition of the same name. He fronts a musical group called Nigels11. Although Nigel11 is on iTunes, there has been no news from the group in a year, and no tours have been scheduled according to its website.

Yet, on October 26, the other ‘N Sync members, including Justin Timberlake, surprised Kirkpatrick at his Orlando, Florida home on his 40th birthday to wish him well. I would not be surprised if this news sparked recent rumors of a reunion. However, meeting casually and hanging out is not necessarily grounds for a world tour. That they still talk to each other is reminiscent of the casual meetings among The Beatles after their financial as well as creative bust-up. These guys were together–and grew up together–at an intensely-felt period of their lives. They deserve to be seen as just friends and not just performers.

Although no single was released from the Home for Christmas album, TIME Magazine’s Music Monday recently observed:

In recent decades, Boyz II Men, New Kids on the Block, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, ‘NSYNC — pretty much any pop act you can think of — have all released holiday music. Most are largely forgettable, but for some reason, ‘NSYNC’s 1998 Home For Christmas seems to make an appearance at every holiday party I attend. That’s probably just a generational thing, though. In 15 years, the same thing will happen to Justin Bieber’s Under the Mistletoe. Which is fine, just as long as his creepy, underage-flirting “All I Want for Christmas Is You”duet with Mariah Carey never overtakes the popularity of the original.

Ewww. No, it’s not a generational thing if you enjoy a good song without getting the hots for younger men who are old enough to be your baby brothers. It’s amazing that these guys managed to record a Christmas album during all the hooplah over them. If someone is really looking for soul or R&B renditions of old Christmas songs though, sound unheard, pass on this. I know how new singers tend to overdo them trying to make the songs their own. The geezers of the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies, though, were on to something. Even Sinatra knew there was a limit. But newer Christmas/holiday songs tend to compliment ‘N Sync because the songs are written close to or at this time. What we’re accustomed to now.

This song was a nice surprise. Enjoy.