3 minute read

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE BRINGING SEXY BACK

from SURREY ROCKS FEBRUARY 2023 ISSUE

from SURREY ROCKS FEBRUARY 2023 ISSUE, page 102

TERRY STONE

“Talented singer, songwriter, acclaimed actor, loving husband, doting father and all round nice guy,” was my response for putting JT on the front cover of the February issue to my unconvinced other half. Should I have also mentioned he’s smoking hot and dances like a god?!

While it seems not everyone is a fan of Justin – you have to admit he’s made a seamless transition from squeeky clean boyband member from his ‘N’ Sync days 20 years ago to the global superstar he is today.

His dancefloor smash ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling’ reached the number one spot and stayed there for 10 weeks becoming the most downloaded track of the year. He also garnered three consecutive number one singles with ‘Sexy Back’, ‘My Love’ and ‘What Goes Around... Comes Around’ from FutureSex/Love Sounds –unprecedented for a musical artist. He has collaborated with music greats including Jay Z, Beyonce, Calvin Harris, Pharrell Williams, Romeo Santos and Janet Jackson.

And has also made the bold (and highly lucrative move!) to sell his entire music catalogue for a staggering $100m (£75.5m) in May last year, following in the footsteps of Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Neil Young and Blondie who have also made the ambitious move.

Album Incoming

Despite releasing a number of hit singles and collabs, Justin has had a 5 year break from creating albums. His last studio album ‘Man of the Woods’ was his fourth back in 2018.

But luckily for us, Justin is back with a new album!

He has been vague about his new album’s exact release date, although his legendary music producer buddy Timbaland recently revealed to his 3.9m Instagram fans it was definitely coming this year.

“Sometimes magic can’t be explained you just have to witness it!!!! Coming 2023!!!!” Timbaland said tagging his pal Justin. According to reports, Justin has already penned 8 tracks from the new, as yet untitled album.

MAKING MOVES & MOVIES

Appreciating Justin’s many talents (including those snake hips and aforementioned killer dance moves) it is safe to say he was probably always destined for greatness.

The petite, curly haired, Memphis born singer was famous at 11 on ‘The Mickey Mouse Club’ show and talent contest ‘Star Search.’ He was then swiftly catapulted into superstardom joining boyband ‘N’ Sync aged only 14. The group enjoyed 3 chart topping albums before going their separate ways in 2002.

Since then, he’s launched arguably one of the top solo singing careers to date. Justin has already clocked up nine Grammys - earned since going solo – and all three of his studio albums have gone multiplatinum with 88 million sold in total to date. At 42, Justin has clearly figured out his strengths. He has also figured out his weaknesses. Love. He succumbed to unprecedented media attention for his tumultuous love life, dating a string of Hollywood A-Listers including Britney Spears, Cameron Diaz, Olivia Wilde, Scarlett Johansson and finally actress Jessica Biel, whom he married in 2012, after dating for five years. It’s not always been plain sailing for the star as he readily admits.

“A lot of girls have cheated on me in the past, so it’s hard for me to trust,” he admitted. “But once I fall, I fall hard.” Could he be referring to the infamous Britney Spears video ‘Cry Me A River’? Justin has never admitted it publicly but the model who starred in the hit music video looked uncannily like his ex Spears, a huge hint that she was the one who broke his heart in 2002 by being unfaithful.

It seems like life with Jessica is for the long term. The power couple have just celebrated their ten year wedding anniversary.

Justin posted a beautiful tribute to his wife on their special milestone day:

“10 years ain’t enough! You make me a better husband father every day! I love you so much you beautiful human! Run it back!”

Justin was quoted in an interview talking about his wife saying, “True love, to me, is when she’s the first thought that goes through your head when you wake up and the last thought that goes through your head before you go to sleep.” Lucky girl…!

The couple have two sons; Silus (aged 7) and Phineas (aged 2) and haven’t ruled out expanding their broodalthough Jessica is currently juggling being a mum with her acting career so it may well be in a few years. Despite playing the voice of Branch in the 2016 DreamWorks hit ‘Trolls’ Justin hasn’t performed as a main character in a feature film since his 2011 comedy ‘Bad Teachers’ with ex Cameron Diaz. He hasn’t ruled out returning to act on the big screen though. He won critical acclaim in ‘The Social Network’ playing Napster co-founder, Sean Parker, charting Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook’s rise to success. He also played a commendable lead ‘Alpha Dog’ and in ‘Friends With Benefits’ with ‘Bad Moms’ star Mila Kunis.

Uk Bound

With acting seemingly on a backburner for now, Justin is being hotly tipped to be doing a world tour for his new 2023 album that could well bring him to the UK, as he calls England “home from home” as it’s where he got his first ever solo number one with ‘Sexy Back’ in 2006.