BroZone vs *NSYNC: may the battle of the (boy) bands begin!
If I say “Trolls” what is the first thought that comes to your mind?
I am pretty sure it is one the following:
- a person who intentionally antagonizes others online by posting inflammatory, irrelevant, or offensive comments or other disruptive content Internet trolls
In the late 1980s, Internet users adopted the word “troll” to denote someone who intentionally disrupts online communities.
2. In the Nordic folklore, a Troll is a mythological figure often considered as dangerous
to human beings and sometimes it is pictured as an ugly creature.
When I hear the word “Trolls”, I think about Poppy and Branch, two lovely creatures who are also the main characters of the three DreamWorks animated films: Trolls (2016), Trolls World Tour (2020) and, the most recent Trolls Band Together (2023).
In these animated movies Trolls are small, colorful, perpetually happy creatures who like to sing, dance, and hug all day.
I am really a big fan of these movies for three main reasons:
- the psychedelic world they live.
- the amazing soundtracks.
- the positive messages shared.
And, most of all, I am a big fan of Poppy, which I consider the quintessential example of a strong, powerful, emancipated woman.
In Trolls, the first animated movie, Poppy, the leader of the Trolls, decides to throw a gigantic party to celebrate the anniversary of their escape from the Bergens, gigantic creatures who think they can only survive by consuming a Troll on a special occasion called Trollstice.
Unfortunately, the party attracts the attention of a surviving Bergen which kidnaps Poppy’s friends. She decides to go and rescue her friends. In this effort, she is helped by Branch, even if he thinks that her quest is hopeless. After surviving a series of deadly situations, Poppy and Branch found a way to become friends with the Bergens. She saves her friends, she becomes the queen of the Trolls and she finds love in Branch.
Trolls World Tour is a sequel to 2016’s Trolls and takes us back to the psychedelic, happy land where Queen Poppy rules over a groovy bunch of Pop Trolls who like nothing more than singing and dancing all day.
Poppy and Branch discover that there are six different troll tribes scattered over six different lands. Each tribe is also devoted to six different kinds of music — funk, country, techno, classical, pop and rock. When rockers Queen Barb and King Thrash set out to destroy the other music, Poppy and Branch embark on a daring mission to unite the trolls and save the diverse melodies from becoming extinct.
If Trolls is about love, music and friendship, Trolls World Tour becomes a “battle of the bands” Trolls style.
And what about the third film, Trolls Band Together? In this third episode, the creators pushed their creativity even further, exploring the ideals of friendship, love, sisterhood but also taking us back to a music period we almost forgot about…Where? When? Be patient! You will discover it in a minute.
After two films of true friendship and relentless flirting, Poppy and Branch are now officially, a couple (#broppy)! As they grow closer, Poppy discovers that Branch has a secret past. He was once part of her favorite boy band, BroZone, with his four brothers: Floyd, John Dory, Spruce and Clay. BroZone disbanded when Branch was still a baby, as did the family, and he hasn’t seen his brothers since.
But when Branch’s bro Floyd is kidnapped for his musical talents by a pair of nefarious pop-star villains, Velvet and Veneer, Branch and Poppy embark on a harrowing and emotional journey to reunite the other brothers and rescue Floyd from a fate even worse than pop-culture obscurity.
Oh yes…the third chapter is all about “Boy bands”. The craziest thing about Trolls Band Together is that Justin Timberlake, one of the executive music producers for the DreamWorks Animation sequel and the voice of Branch (in all the three films) recruited his former NSYNC bandmates — Lance Bass, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick — to sing Better Place, the first new song by *NSYNC in over 20 years!
The track, released on Sept. 29 on DreamWorks/RCA Records from the Trolls Band Together soundtrack, started at No. 25 on the Hot 100. It tallied 29 million radio airplay audience impressions and 4.8 million official streams and sold 17,000 downloads in the United States in the tracking week ending Oct. 5, according to Luminate. (Source: Billboard – *NSYNC Back on Billboard Hot 100 for First Time Since 2002 With ‘Better Place’).
And it is not over. Just like in the previous two movies, in the middle of a soundtrack which is simply amazing, the medley Brozone’s Back brings back the flavor of some of the artists who have really contributed to create the “Boy bands” style. From Boyz II Men to New Kids on the Block, from Backstreet Boys to Bee Gees…until BroZone, the ultimate Boy band, Trolls style.
Love, Happiness, Joy…music is all about emotions. Thanks to these amazing creatures for their positive vibes and for bringing back some of the 90’s pop vibes. And Poppy, you really, really rock!
