Schizophrenic

by Stephen Thomas ErlewineIt's easy to feel a little sorry for JC Chasez, who seems fated to a perennial role as Justin Timberlake's sidekick. When both were in *NSYNC and, earlier, the New Mickey Mouse Club, they were part of a collective that divided the work equally, but Timberlake slowly pulled away from the group, dominating the Celebrity singles and press, and then he released Justified, his solo debut, in late 2002. A year later, Timberlake was a genuine superstar, not just dating movie stars but earning good critical notices, culminating in a handful of breathless raves that he was the heir to the thrones of Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson (who apparently did not share the same throne). Heady stuff if you were Timberlake, intimidating if you were Chasez since it not only raises the bar, it suggests that the press and public are prepared to coronate Timberlake as the sole survivor of *NSYNC, the way that Beyoncé Knowles elbowed Kelly Rowland aside in the battle of Destiny's Child. To make matters worse, just weeks before Chasez launched his solo career with his debut album, Schizophrenic, Timberlake dominated American headlines due to his role in tearing off Janet Jackson's top during an infamous Super Bowl stunt gone awry. To retaliate, the NFL promptly bumped Chasez off his starring role in the halftime of the Pro Bowl, once again shoving JC into a subservient role to Justin.... Read More...