You may hate him, it ain’t no lie.
If you grew up in the early aughts or, better yet, had access to a radio and a broken heart, chances are, you’ve heard, sung, and danced to “Bye Bye Bye.”
Well now the song is getting a new lease on pop culture resonance as the anthem of “Red Rocket,” the latest indie darling from acclaimed director Sean Baker.
But the NSYNC staple wasn’t always a shoe-in for the film, blasting into theaters Friday and centered on “suitcase pimp” Mikey Saber (Simon Rex), a one-time porn star who returns to his small Texas hometown to a begrudging welcome.
“It wasn’t in the script. I wish I could say [it] was part of this idea from the very beginning. But honestly, it was organic,” Baker, who penned the script with fellow New York University alum Chris Bergoch, told the Daily News this week. The pair also teamed up to write the Oscar-nominated “Florida Project” and “Tangerine.”
Use of the NSYNC hit — which scored two Grammy nominations — followed a cast and crew group chat brainstorming Drake tunes and other “songs that had to do with breaking up or kicking somebody out,” had to be approved by every member of the boy band. And it can really all be traced back to Suzanna Son.
Baker, 50, wanted to find a showcase for the musical talents of the actress playing Mikey’s girlfriend Strawberry, who, at nearly 18, appears his ideal recruit to the adult film industry.
“Then we had to figure out a song that contextually fit,” recalled Baker. “And then one day I was just driving around thinking, ‘Well “Bye Bye Bye” is the classic. I mean that’s so iconic that it really elevates the film.’ ... But on top of it, lyrically it really fits in an uncanny way.”
Mikey and Strawberry’s less-than-kosher relationship didn’t stop NSYNC from approving use of the song, a decision Baker says was “definitely helped” by their familiarity with “The Florida Project.” The band was formed in Orlando, home to Disney World — and a focal point in the film.
Now the “anthem of the movie,” distributor A24 dropped Son’s acoustic version of “Bye Bye Bye,” earlier this week.
“I love it because people are telling me audience members are saying that [the song’s] been stuck in their head for days, in a good way,” said Baker.
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