Back in September of this year, millions of *NSYNC fans worldwide were thrilled to suddenly see all members of *NSYNC, including Justin Timberlake, reunited on television at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards. There was and remains some speculation as to whether their public reemergence was a sign of them returning to the world stage and releasing a new album or going on tour. Yet, they did not make any announcements regarding future plans for themselves. They were only there to give the Best Pop Video Award to Taylor Swift for her song “Anti-Hero.”
When Taylor Swift gave her acceptance speech, she thanked her fans for their support which has allowed her to successfully make music across multiple genres. Being someone who has become known for giving hints and clues about future albums and career moves, she looked towards *NSYNC, as a millennial fan of theirs herself, and said “They’re going to do something. I have to know what that is!”
In the weeks since then, Taylor Swift has maintained the attention of the world by allowing full exposure of her dating life, by having a massively successful concert film The Eras Tour bringing Swifties back to movie theaters, releasing her version of her album 1989, and announcing more Eras tour dates in 2024. Meanwhile, *NSYNC has just released a song “Better Place” to be featured in the soon-to-be-released Trolls World Tour movie. It would seem she seems to be more busy than the ones who gave us the 2000 hit song “It’s Gonna Be Me.”
Yet, both *NSYNC, Justin Timberlake, and Taylor Swift did not get to where they are today all by themselves. There is a man, a singer, songwriter, and record producer, who they, and many others, should thank both for boosting their careers and giving them some of their most memorable and enduring hit songs.
Who is this man? His birth name is Karl Martin Sandberg. For over two decades, he has been more widely known as Max Martin.
Over the past 25 years of his career, the Swedish genius Max Martin has written or co-written 25 #1 Hot Billboard 100 songs including the *NSYNC single “It’s Gonna Be Me.” He has worked with many stars, including *NSYNC, Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Katy Perry, Maroon 5, The Weeknd, and more.
In 2016, Max Martin appeared as a guest at the Polar Music Master Class event in his home country of Sweden. The interviewer asked him about a certain song of his. This was a song he initially wrote back in 1998 and intended to write for the girl group TLC. It would instead go to a 16-year-old girl from Louisiana and become a #1 hit worldwide.
Yet, it almost would never exist, simply because of a common mistake, many songwriters struggle with which is procrastination. Regarding the creation of this legendary song, Mr. Martin had the following to stay:
“I was going to bed… I was actually falling asleep, and this melody of the chorus started coming… Back then I kept a dictaphone, with a cassette tape… I was lying there trying to motivate myself to get out of bed and record this thing. I had a feeling it was good… I recorded it, went back to bed, came up with a different variation… recorded it again…”
Max Martin finished his song that night. After it was done, he described to the interviewer that on the last take of the demo recording of the song he made that night, he could hear his tired, breathy vocals singing the words of the chorus. At the end of the recording, Max said he could hear himself say “Yeah, that was pretty good.” As a word of advice, he also said in regards to not procrastinating when songwriting, “You’ll think you’ll wake up the next day and remember it, but you never do.”
What may have sounded like the breathy creepy vocals of a young Swedish man would instead benefit the 16-year-old girl from Louisiana in need of a first hit song. She would become known for her breathy vocals on this song and throughout her career, for her beauty, and her performances.
What is the name of this song? It is “..Baby One More Time.”
Who is the singer?
Britney Spears
What would have happened if Max Martin decided to just put off writing “…Baby One More Time?” Would he have had a career that has lasted till now? Would he have had to go back to being a common man, Karl Martin Sandberg, only known by friends and loved ones in his community? Would Britney Spears just have gone back to Kentwood, LA to live a simpler, more peaceful, and joyous Southern life? Would Taylor Swift ever have dared to try another genre of music that was not Country music? What universe in the “multiverse” would we all find ourselves in today?
I do not know the answers to these questions. What is important though is that Max Martin was determined enough to not procrastinate and see something through. He may not be responsible for the personal decisions of the stars he has worked with over the years, but he is responsible for using his gifts and making the most of his time on Earth.
While I am not a successful Pop music songwriter with a net worth of $350 million dollars like Max Martin, I have known the struggle Max Martin felt. There have been many times I have procrastinated in writing songs and poems. Many times, if I did not immediately write all or part of them down, I forgot them instantly. I also have procrastinated for years in writing blogs. For example, I have had the idea of writing a blog on Max Martin and/or Taylor Swift for about a year.
Yet, I have found that every time I write a blog, a poem, or a song, and share it publicly, I feel a sense of peace and satisfaction at finishing something. Whether it’s friends or family, or people I have never known and never will meet on this side of eternity, someone has always liked and appreciated what I have had to offer.
Friends and family, my point is to “just do it!” Just write, just work, just teach, just serve, just build! You may not get the world’s approval, but you will receive God’s! While you may not be Taylor Swift or Max Martin, every good deed you do, every way that you serve those around you with the gifts God has given you, will have an eternal impact far greater than #1 songs and all the success the world offers.
As long as we’re here on this earth, we still have the opportunity to serve and live this life well. When you feel discouraged, worried, or doubtful, heed the words of another Max Martin hit song:
“Don’t give up on your faith! Love comes to those who believe it…”
For, “That’s the way it is.”
Until Next Time,
Jacob McGowen
The Adventures of A Warrior 