It's easy to compare Justin Bieber's "Boyfriend" video, which premiered Thursday on MTV, to 'NSYNC's "Girlfriend" clip from a decade earlier.
The concepts are quite similar: Both videos depict laid-back parking-lot parties that go from sun-drenched afternoons to moonlit evenings, filled with fancy cars, pretty girls and hip-hop-influenced dance breaks.
Justin Bieber Wanted 'Boyfriend' Video To Be 'Mature'
Back in 2001, 'NSYNC enlisted director Marc Klasfeld for their game-changing "Girlfriend" clip that helped launch them ahead in their career from tweeny idols to full-grown men. Now, as Bieber hopes to make the same leap into manhood, he said that despite having tons of respect for Justin Timberlake, he didn't realize there were similarities between his Director X-directed video and the boy band's clip.
After the "MTV First" premiere of "Boyfriend," MTV News' Sway Calloway asked Bieber whether he had seen the "Girlfriend" video: "I haven't seen it," he said. But, he admitted he's "definitely" been influenced by Timberlake. "He was young, and he did it, and he was really amazing and had such amazing music," Bieber shared. "I can't say that I would be upset when someone compares me to him."
But, this Justin notes that while there might be some similarities to that other Justin, he's hoping to put his own stamp on the music industry, adding, "I just feel like my music is going a completely different route, but ... hats go off to him."
As for the more grown-up version of Bieber fans are getting to glimpse in the clip, he shared that much like his Beliebers he's growing up and not afraid to express that. "I think it's super cool," he said. "I wanted to do something a little bit more mature."
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