Stray Kids delivered a memorable tribute to *NSYNC by recreating their iconic ‘Bye Bye Bye’ puppet-inspired performance, originally seen at the American Music Awards decades ago. With their own unique twist, the K-pop group brought the nostalgic performance to life for a new generation.
*NSYNC members Lance Bass and JC Chasez introduced the act, with Bass commenting on how the AMAs have been a platform for boy bands to grow and evolve over the years. Ahead of Stray Kids’ performance, a retrospective video celebrated the legacy of boy bands, featuring groups like BTS, the Backstreet Boys, New Edition, and One Direction.
Image Courtesy: People
As the strings-attached scene unfolded, Stray Kids perfectly mimicked *NSYNC’s iconic dance moves from the ‘Bye Bye Bye’ music video. The performance even received a fresh spotlight recently, thanks to ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ referencing the song.
Stray Kids seamlessly transitioned from the tribute into their own hit ‘Chk Chk Boom’, while keeping *NSYNC’s influence is woven into their choreography. Speaking to Billboard after the performance, Stray Kids shared that their collaboration with *NSYNC on the routine was incredibly special. They expressed how the experience was both “memorable” and “honoured” to be part of such a legacy moment.
Their ability to blend the old with the new showcased their versatility and respect for past pop icons. The evening also saw a variety of other tributes to past AMA legends. Jennifer Hudson paid homage to Whitney Houston with a powerful medley of the singer’s hits, while Kane Brown honoured Alan Jackson with a country performance.
London-born RAYE delivered an emotional tribute to James Brown, celebrating his timeless contributions to music. The night wasn’t just about tributes, as Nelly reunited with his St. Lunatics crew and brought out J-Kwon and Chingy for a medley of their early 2000s hits, setting the stage alight.
-Sushmita Sarkar