Justin Timberlake has been one of my favorite musical artists for over a decade, so after his misguided six-year hiatus to pursue acting (I blame you, Jessica Biel), I was thrilled to hear that he was planning his return. And when his spot in the Grammy’s was announced, I knew that would be the determinate of whether his comeback would sink or float. So, what’s the verdict?
Here’s the thing: JT is by no means a one-trick pony. His bubblegum boy band days vary greatly from his techno, dynamic tracks in “Future Sex/Love Sounds.” Even that album itself has a lot of variety, as listening to it in full will present you with a mix of sultry dance numbers, slowed-down preludes and R&B beats. With all that plus six years of waiting, it was pretty much impossible to predict what he would come out with next.
That said, I think most people were expecting a sound similar to the funky new-age dance songs like “SexyBack” and “Summer Love” that were so popular. So when “Suit and Tie” was released, I was a little disappointed—he had the same pizazz, but where was the exciting beat to get us dancing? Where was the hip-hop feel that Timbaland usually brings in? Honestly, the song was kind of awkward.
Then last weekend was the Grammy’s, JT’s chance to reaffirm his sound and pump us up for the comeback. While he didn’t bring out any old favorites (or old band mates—he clearly didn’t catch Beyoncé’s cue), I think his performance did redeem him. “Suit and Tie” was much better live, and boy was it good to see him dance! His music was sultry and smooth though, and while it sounded somewhat similar to some Future Sex/Love Sounds songs, it was much more jazz-inspired. The sepia effect also added a much softer quality to his performance then what I’m used to.
But does that mean Justin has lost his style? No—I think he’s just growing up. He’s now married and in his thirties—not the same fun loving, mid-twenties pop star. Of course he’s not going to release the same kind music as before, and his new singles reflect his greater maturity. That being said, we haven’t lost our cool-as-a-cucumber act; he’s still dancing, still having fun and still exploring different sounds. And did you see how happy and natural he looked back on that stage? Yeah, Justin definitely has more in him.
So Justin, as long as you don’t forget to include at least a few upbeat dance songs in your new album, we’ll be happy. Either way, I can’t wait to hear what you have in store.