JT Makes a Comeback

BY NADINE ANTOINE
SC Staff Writer

 
Justin Timberlake is back. Seven years since his last album, “FutureSex/LoveSounds” and eleven years since his first, “Justified,” Timberlake had released his newest ten-track LP “The 20/20 Experience” on March 19.

The week prior to the album release, Apple’s iTunes streamed it live for all to hear and pre-order.

A week after its release, Nielsen SoundScan calculated 968,000 copies sold, making “The 20/20 Experience” number one on the Billboard Top 200.

This has been the most since Taylor Swift’s Red selling 1.2 million last November. ‘NSync, Timberlake’s former boyband, holds the all-time one-week record selling 2.4 million copies of “No Strings Attached” in 2000.

Helping create buzz about the album, Timberlake hosted Saturday Night Live for the fifth time and performed as a guest for five consecutive nights on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon for ‘Timberweek’. Timberlake appeared on commercials for Target and Bug Light Platinum, as well as television specials on WB and CNN.

“The 20/20 Experience” is unique; each song has ‘two-parts’ and ranges from five to eight minutes in length. With songs like ‘Mirrors’, ‘Strawberry Bubblegum’ and ‘Tunnel Vision’, JT’s overall focus seemed to be the subject of love.

Upon hearing the news of how successful the album was in seven days, Timberlake tweeted, “Whoa… Speechless. Shocked. Numbers go up, numbers go down. I just hope this album makes your summer… You already made mine #bestfansever,” and “I’m gonna find a way to show my appreciation to you ladies and gents this week… Stay tuned. #finderskeepers.”

Jay-Z, the only artist Timberlake collaborated with for the album’s first single “Suit and Tie” also tweeted, “JT x 1 million? Getting my “Suit and Tie” ready for the celebration.”

Justin Timberlake will kick off his 12-date tour, “Legends of the Summer” with Jay-Z on July 17 in Toronto, Canada.

Email Nadine at:
na4798@live.esu.edu