Timberlake No Longer a Guilty Pleasure
Jenny Erasmus
Issue date: 11/29/06 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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Every once in a while, Justin Timberlake takes over the world. He captivates everyone from 13-year-old girls in Tokyo to 26-year-old guys in Manhattan who would give their left foot to meet him, dance like him, or be him. Currently, this is precisely what Mr. Timberlake is doing.
At 25-years-old, Justin Timberlake has undoubtedly reached superstardom. He began his career in 1993 when he joined the cast of The Mickey Mouse Club. N*SYNC was formed in 1995, but they did not release their first album for another three years. No Strings Attached made its debut in 2002 and sold more than 2.4 million copies in its first week making it the fastest selling album of all time. It truly defined the boy band's immense fame. The band released their final album a year later, but it was not the end for Timberlake.
Justified came out in November 2002. The album earned Justin respect as a solo artist, despite a vast amount of record sales.
Four years later, his long-awaited follow-up album, scandalously titled FutureSex/LoveSounds, is a different story. Classier, edgier and more alluring than ever before, Justin Timberlake is re-establishing his place in the entertainment industry.
It is no surprise that the album has succeeded since its release on September 12. With the help of producers Timbaland, Rick Rubin, and Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas, Timberlake's album debuted in the number one position on the Billboard chart in the US and across the world including Canada, Ireland, Australia, the United Kingdom and Singapore.
In its first week, the album sold over 684,000 copies. It had the greatest amount of pre-orders that any album on iTunes has ever had. FutureSex/LoveSounds also beat the record for the greatest one-week sales of a digital album.
Featuring guest vocals by the likes of Three 6 Mafia, T.I. and Will.I.Am, the tracks are undeniable. From upbeat, heart-thumping licks to tuneful, expressive melodies, every song could be a hit. The album's first promiscuous single, SexyBack, ended up at number one on the charts for seven straight weeks and was eventually replaced by Timberlake's second single, My Love.
At 25-years-old, Justin Timberlake has undoubtedly reached superstardom. He began his career in 1993 when he joined the cast of The Mickey Mouse Club. N*SYNC was formed in 1995, but they did not release their first album for another three years. No Strings Attached made its debut in 2002 and sold more than 2.4 million copies in its first week making it the fastest selling album of all time. It truly defined the boy band's immense fame. The band released their final album a year later, but it was not the end for Timberlake.
Justified came out in November 2002. The album earned Justin respect as a solo artist, despite a vast amount of record sales.
Four years later, his long-awaited follow-up album, scandalously titled FutureSex/LoveSounds, is a different story. Classier, edgier and more alluring than ever before, Justin Timberlake is re-establishing his place in the entertainment industry.
It is no surprise that the album has succeeded since its release on September 12. With the help of producers Timbaland, Rick Rubin, and Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas, Timberlake's album debuted in the number one position on the Billboard chart in the US and across the world including Canada, Ireland, Australia, the United Kingdom and Singapore.
In its first week, the album sold over 684,000 copies. It had the greatest amount of pre-orders that any album on iTunes has ever had. FutureSex/LoveSounds also beat the record for the greatest one-week sales of a digital album.
Featuring guest vocals by the likes of Three 6 Mafia, T.I. and Will.I.Am, the tracks are undeniable. From upbeat, heart-thumping licks to tuneful, expressive melodies, every song could be a hit. The album's first promiscuous single, SexyBack, ended up at number one on the charts for seven straight weeks and was eventually replaced by Timberlake's second single, My Love.