Why NSync’s ‘Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays’ is a ’90s nursery rhyme
There are many things that define a ’90s kid, including a love of Disney Channel Original Movies and a Beanie Babies collection. But this holiday season, a ’90s baby can be spotted blasting “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” from “NSync.”
The 1998 holiday hit is part of the boy band Home for Christmas album, one of four records they released before breaking up in 2002. The group, which consists of Chris Kirkpatrick, Justin Timberlake, Joey Fatone, Lance Bass And JC Chasezreunited in 2023 for Trolls unite“Better Place” single, but for the generation that grew up with it, December is all about their holiday record.
“The Christmas album is my favorite album we’ve ever made. I love all [original] songs and remixes that we did,” Bass said during a Stubhub questions and answers in December 2016. “The irony is that I didn’t like ‘Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays.’ I don’t know what it was, it’s just a bit too cheesy for me and I’m more of a dramatic Christmas listener. But I’m so happy [the band] I didn’t listen to me because it really belongs to me and I love that song 1701703477.”
Scroll down to see why ’90s kids can’t stop singing “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” every Christmas season:
The lyrics are catchy: simple, but catchy
The band captivated listeners from the start, but the chorus is what ’90s kids can’t get out of their heads. “It’s a wonderful feeling / Feel the love in the room from the floor to the ceiling / It’s that time of year / Christmas has arrived,” the group sings. “And with blessings from above / God sends you his love / And all is well / Merry Christmas, happy holidays!”
The music video for ‘Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays’ was iconic
The late Gary Coleman was an elf in the music video, need we say more? In addition to starring the comedian, all the members wore Santa hats, flew around in a festive sleigh and magically saved Christmas after St. Nick fell ill and was stuck at home. There was also a lot of swinging, dancing with extras on the set and fake snow.
Justin Timberlake’s Frosted Tips hairstyle stole the show
Timberlake’s fashion choices in ‘NSync were iconic, including his matte hairdo in this video and his denim-on-denim look at the 2001 American Music Awards with his then-girlfriend. Britney Spears. While Timberlake has since ditched his icy blonde locks — and he and Spears split in 2002 — fans will always be able to hold on to this video.
It was featured in ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas’
Many ’90s babies will remember the popular holiday song that played over the 1998 credits I’ll be home for Christmas. The film starred a 90s icon Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Timberlake’s current wife Jessica Biel. When college student Jake (Thomas) gets stranded in the desert, he goes on the adventure of a lifetime to get back home for Christmas.
The best holiday movies to snuggle up to
Nothing screams the holidays more than curling up on the couch, grabbing some hot chocolate and putting on a festive movie. Us Weekly has rounded up the most hug-worthy Christmas movies to stream this season, including The Holiday, White Christmas and Hallmark’s The Christmas Cottage. “When you went to the sets for The Holiday, you just felt like that was who you were […]
It was released at the height of ‘NSync’s career
Home for Christmas was the band’s second studio album after ‘NSync. The holiday album was certified double platinum. The group later released two more records, 2000’s No Strings Attached and 2001’s Celebrity, before disbanding.
The song reached the Billboard Top 40 in the US
“Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” was the only single from Home for Christmas. It charted at number 37 on Billboard’s Top Mainstream chart.
It has been covered by several artists
In 2016, the a cappella group Pentatonix covered the song for their holiday albumA Pentatonix Christmas. David Archuleta released his rendition three years later for 2019 Winter in the air record while Betty Wie dropped her version in 2020. The following year Tauren Wells sang it for a non-album single.
‘Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays’ even has an animated music video
If the original music video doesn’t do it for you: ‘NSync released an animated version in November 2023. In the updated clip, the band transforms into the shape of a paper doll as they ride a sleigh through New York City, above busy residents preparing for the holidays.