Could sexy finally be coming back?
That is the question on the minds of Justin Timberlake fans everywhere after the “SexyBack” superstar teased what appears to finally be new solo music — six years after his last album, 2018’s “Man of the Woods” — on his Instagram last night.
Well, technically, it all started when Timberlake wiped his Instagram clean on Jan. 8. The only thing remaining was a profile pic of the singer with his eyes firmly focused on his car’s rearview mirror.
JT had failed to revive the curly-haired glory of his Boy Band Era when ’N Sync briefly reunited for the “Trolls” bop “Better Place” last September.
Then, after he was dragged for allegedly telling his ex Britney Spears that she should have an abortion when they were dating — following her “The Woman in Me” memoir release in October — it was no wonder he wanted to say “Bye Bye Bye” to his past.
Not to mention the fact that, 20 years ago, Timberlake was at the center of Nipplegate — yup, this ish was Watergate-level — during the Super Bowl halftime show when he was a surprise guest during Janet Jackson’s headlining set on Feb. 4, 2004 and partially ripped off her shirt to reveal a nipple-shield.
Although he initially seemed to escape relatively unscathed from the scandal — unlike Jackson, whose career would never be the same — the #MeToo and Times Up movements eventually caught up to Timberlake.
And he didn’t do himself any favors when “Man of the Woods” was such a misguided — and halfhearted — attempt to connect him with a folky rootsiness that no one wanted from the Memphis native.
After his first three solo albums — 2002’s “Justified,” 2006’s “FutureSex/LoveSounds” and 2013’s “The 20/20 Experience” — had made him his generation’s answer to Michael Jackson and Prince all wrapped up in one, Timberlake was at a crossroads when he returned to the Super Bowl halftime show as the headliner in 2018.
All of this, quite frankly, seems like another lifetime — before we ever heard of this thing called COVID.
So the fact that Timberlake appears to be teasing new music on his Instagram post Tuesday night is enough to make us all yearn for a simpler, sexier time.
Those five slides — accompanied only by the caption “EITIW,” which sleuthing fans think stands for “Everything I Thought It Was” – suggest that Timberlake has shot a video for a new single, which reportedly has reunited him with “SexyBack” producer Timbaland.
On the verge of turning 43 on Jan. 31, Timberlake is the kind of once-in-a-generation pop sensation that we should never take for granted.
And “Justified,” “FutureSex/LoveSounds” and “The 20/20 Experierence” were no doubt three of the best, most definitive pop albums of the 21st century. Period.
Respect is due. And let’s show him a little grace about whatever he may have foolishly said or done to Britney or Janet when he was barely legal.
I’m pretty sure that most of us wouldn’t want to be judged by our actions at that age.
And so I say, let it begin…the 2024 experience with Justin Timberlake.
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