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Star-Bulletin Features


Friday, December 31, 1999



By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
The members of 'N Sync are in sync with each other throughout the show.



’N Sync treats fans
to fabulous show

Review

By John Berger
Special to the Star-Bulletin

Tapa

ADD 'N Sync to the list of the year's best concerts in Honolulu. The hot pop quintet easily qualified for the honor with their 95-minute workout in the Blaisdell Arena last night.

It was one of the most theatrical pop performances there since Barry Manilow's mini Broadway show back in the '80s. Manilow was generally celebrating traditions. 'N Sync -- Chris, JC, Joey, Justin and Lance -- is a high tech, high energy, high volume celebration of the here and now.


'N SYNC

Bullet Shows: 8 p.m. today and tomorrow
Bullet Where: Blaisdell Arena
Bullet Tickets: $40 to $65, Blaisdell box office, or charge by phone at 526-4400 or
Bullet Online: at http://www.ticketslive.com


Fans going to the 'N Sync shows tonight or tomorrow will want to save some film for the final minutes. (Professional quality cameras are prohibited but single-use cameras are allowed.) True fans probably already know that the group's "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" production includes segments where the guys fly (on cables) over the crowd. Hawaii audiences have gotten stripped down versions of more than one "big show" in past years but 'N Sync "flew" almost out to the sound board and were just a few tantalizing feet over the crowd on the arena floor. "Sailing," the Christopher Cross remake on their self-titled debut album, provided a fine theme for the first flight.


By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
The members of 'N Sync attempt levitation, live.



Theatrics kick in early when the audience is informed that the group is being held hostage by a madman whose girl friend became an 'N Sync fan. Despite a televised warning to stay away from the arena for their own safety, 'N Sync sends word that they're coming in and eventually rappels down to the stage after cutting their way through the roof of the arena. It's great pop-music video theater.

It's also straight G-rated entertainment. Like New Kids On the Block a decade before them, the quintet works hard and delivers a good clean show. Parents of prepubescent 'N Sync fans, and there were many many "munchkins" in attendance last night, will find 'N Sync eschews gutterspeak and keeps suggestive choreography to a minimum.

The group's choice of material was right on target. "Tearin' Up My Heart" and "I Want You Back" were two of the high-impact highlights. "I Drive Myself Crazy" and "For The Girl Who Has Everything" gave the fans ample opportunity to scream.


By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Appreciative fans clamor for their favorite 'N Sync member.



The show slowed to stall speed when Justin stretched out "God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You" and milked the crowd for screams. The others finally told him to pretend he was singing to only one person and concentrate on her. A young gum-chewing fan down front became "the one" for Justin as the other guys sang for everyone else.

Theatrics also figured in a retrospective of pop music over the last 40 years. Video clips on each decade gave the guys time to change into costumes representative of each era. The group's parody of the Jackson 5 was a bit close to their own pop music pedigree but was overall good, clean comic fun. A Monkees-style music video showing them trying to audition for a record label executive provided the time necessary to get them into their flying gear. It also worked as a change of pace.

No doubt about it, 'N Sync presented a terrific concert.



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