*NSYNC

     *NSYNC or Backstreet Boys? Four words make up a question that almost everyone in our generation have heard almost as much as "What's your major?" Fans of both are adamant about which band has made more of an impact, but the truth is both bands have made a significant impact on this generation, though in this I will focus on *NSYNC. One thing that always struck me about *NSYNC was simply their ability to truly sing somewhat on key when singing acapella, as demonstrated in the following video:

This started a trend in interest in singing in my generation, as "singing has been initiated into the inner circle of 'cool'" (Wiggington). Wiggington attributes this increase in interest to the ability of many popular music artists, including *NSYNC, to sing properly or at least decently.
     Of course, this isn't the only influence *NSYNC has had. Take for example, this clip from the popular children's television show, The Fairly Odd Parents:
The character singing this song, Chip Skylark, is voiced by former *NSYNC member Chris Kirkpatrick. Other members of the band have had similar success in modern day popular culture, most notably Justin Timberlake. After leaving *NSYNC and their slipping sales, Timberlake "scored a triple-platinum hit with "Justified," and later hooked up with both Cameron Diaz and Jessica Biel" (Guzman) in what Guzman claims to be the second greatest career move of all time. Timberlake continues to permeate throughout popular culture with songs such as "Sexy Back" and appearances in movies such as The Social Network. Timberlake clearly represents a large portion of *NSYNC's contributions to the current generation as he continues to effect the current generation, but I still haven't finished with all *NSYNC's accomplishments.
      One of the most notable things about our generation is the general openness towards alternative lifestyles, specifically the increasing acceptability of homosexuality. While not everyone accepts different sexualities, it is accepted that different sexualities are becoming more and more common and society tends to discriminate less against them overall. One possible explanation of this phenomenon is the increase in number of celebrities that have come out of the closet, notably Lance Bass of *NSYNC. Upon coming out, Bass was quoted as saying "I'm more liberated and happy than I've been my whole life" ("Perspectives"). Therefore, some would claim that one of the effects *NSYNC has had on this generation is causing them to be more open-minded.

By Cindi Kepic 
 

Guzman, Isaac. "The 10 Greatest Career Moves of all Time." Best Life 2008: 46-7.
      GenderWatch; OxResearch; ProQuest Central; ProQuest European Business;
     ProQuest Health Management; ProQuest Pharma Collection; ProQuest
     Psychology Journals; Sun Sentinel. Web.19 Nov. 2012 .
"Perspectives." Newsweek Aug 07 2006: 21-. OxResearch; ProQuest Central; 
     ProQuest European Business; ProQuest Health Management; ProQuest 
     Psychology Journals; Sun Sentinel. Web. 20 Nov. 2012 . 
Wigginton, James R. "Popular Song and Music Theater - when "Proper" is Dead
     Wrong Hot Traditional Methods Fail Aspiring Artists." Journal of Singing - The
     Official Journal of the National Association of Teachers of Singing 66.4 a (2010):
     447-9.International Index to Music Periodicals Full Text. Web. 19 Nov. 2012.