This review covers the pop track N’Sync – Bye Bye Bye.
This track was released in 2000 on the album No Strings Attached.
The track starts off with some string elements. After that, the vocals come in with the string elements disappearing. A drum kit enters the track with some subtle lead guitar elements. A triangle is even present as the vocals take over.
After that, the vocals take the track into the main chorus. By the end, an effect makes an appearance during a brief instrumental portion.
From there, the vocals take the track into verse. After a bit, the vocals take the track into the main chorus. At the end, there is a very short instrumental break before the vocals repeat elements of the main chorus.
After that, a harp takes over as the vocals continue. Shortly after, the vocals go through an altered main chorus. This round in the main chorus is extended. A kick with a reverb effect then leads the track quickly out.
One thing I do notice that is somewhat unique is the fact that because there is five vocalists, very little instrumentation is actually needed to give the track a full sound. Usually, there is one, sometimes vocalists that go back and forth. It’s enough to give the track variety, but there is always instrumentation added to give the track a more full sound. In this case, the instruments are almost unneccessary as the vocals hit such a huge range of sound.
Having said that, I think there could have been better transitions in some places. There is a verse and a chorus where there really isn’t a transition. It just melts in for whatever reason. It could have been better in my opinion.
The other thing is that this track does rely quite heavily on the main chorus. As a result, it starts to sound repetitive. Towards the end of the track, the vocalists do try and offer some variety by changing up the main chorus a bit, but I think that another verse would have been a much better choice. This is because by the end of the track, you get the impression that the writers and producers ran out of ideas, but realized they needed to at least make the three minute mark in length. So, having run out of ideas, that wound up being the next best thing they could think of. The end result is that the track wears out its welcome before getting to the end.
What’s surprising to me in a way with this one is that there is a lot of production effort put into the track. You have five vocalists that gives you a whole lot of range alone. All of this combined should actually give you one amazing track. In the end, you get something that is less than imaginative and somewhat flat. I’m actually quite surprised by that to be honest.
Overall, this track winds up being pretty mediocre. This in spite of the vocal range and production effort that went into this. The track is repetitive and a bit flat in my opinion. By the end of the first listen, it wears out its welcome. So, the end, this is a very mediocre track.
Score
6/10
Drew Wilson on Twitter: @icecube85 and Facebook.
