After six years, Justin Timberlake returns with his album Everything I Thought It Was. The American singer has been in the news negatively quite often lately. His response was absent until now. On Everything I Thought It Was, Timberlake responds in a way that suits him perfectly. Good music, beats, and varied vocals. A strong album that still isn’t distinctive enough.
It’s fair to say that Justin Timberlake has had a tumultuous career. Starting from the Disney Club, to a boy band, to a global star who, despite his innovative R&B and pop music, can’t escape scandals. In 2004, there was ‘nipple-gate’ with Janet Jackson. Last year, his ex Britney Spears revealed that Timberlake had forced her to have an abortion. Timberlake hadn’t responded to the latter until now. With the help of his music.
Everything I Thought It Was is an album that reflects on that tumultuous career. The opening track, Memphis, named after his hometown, enumerates the pressure Timberlake felt as a young artist. The singer wonders aloud if he has lived up to everyone’s expectations. Has his life been everything he thought it would be? It’s this thought that the album revolves around and from which inspiration is drawn for the album title.
Well-known producers
Not only lyrically does Justin Timberlake seem to reflect on his career, but also musically. Producer Timbaland appears on five of the seventeen tracks. The producer, who also produced hits like Sexyback, Give It To Me (featuring Nelly Furtado), and Carry Out, immediately leaves his mark. Especially on Infinity Sex. The recognizable yet original beats carry this album. Even on the tracks where Timbaland isn’t involved, his influence on Timberlake’s sound is evident. For example, My Favorite Drug strongly recalls one of Timberlake’s early solo hits, Señorita.
Scottish DJ Calvin Harris has co-written and produced other tracks. Among them are Fuckin’ Up The Disco and No Angels. Two tracks where sitting still is impossible. Both Timberlake and Harris have plenty of experience in this and showcase it once again.
Message behind Everything I Thought It Was
The majority of Everything I Thought It Was has a cheerful beat with a prominent role for the bass. Yet, it’s the ballads Love & War and Alone that provide a welcome change. Especially the latter. With a violin and piano, Justin Timberlake captivates his listeners. A sensitive and fragile song about a relationship breakup. Which relationship isn’t discernible. He has been with his wife, actress Jessica Biel, for years. She is also serenaded multiple times on this album and thus plays a significant role in his life.
In addition to collaborations with well-known producers, Timberlake also asked his old boy band *NSYNC to participate. The result is the sweet pop track Paradise. A song that screams boy band. A fun reunion for the fans, but musically not suitable for this album. The boy band has been a significant part of Timberlake’s career and does fit the message of this musical biography.
Justin Timberlake ends his album with Conditions. A response to the first track, Memphis. With a hefty dose of self-reflection, he concludes his album. An honest song with confessions aplenty. He has partly fulfilled the expectations of the past, but not all choices he made were the right ones. He knows that. But he couldn’t have traversed the path any better. The last line of the album is fitting: “You are everything you thought that it could be.”
