(t5!) Heroes Of The Zeroes Singles: #04: Justin Timberlake f. T.I. – My Love (2006)

It’s safe to say that when Justin Timberlake first broke into the scene, the majority of people had more negative thoughts about him than positive ones. The negative thoughts were pretty tangible—a Disney manufactured pop product, an “afro for white guys” trendsetter, a wishful participant in NBA all-star games, a teenager proclaiming that he practiced abstinence with the most crushed on piece of ass of that time (which also makes him a bold-faced liar). The quality of the music of his group, ‘N Sync, was more arguable. However, mainly because he and the four members of his posse were a part of a detested genre, “serious” music fans never took his music seriously. I can’t remember the exact source but someone said somewhere that even if ‘N Sync was probably the best of the bunch, choosing your favorite boy band is like choosing your favorite venereal disease.

Now that we’re a decade or so from his debut and most of the pundits have done a complete 180 on him. Britney left her for a douche that people hate a lot more, and then BAM! Now he’s hosting Saturday Night Lives, collaborating with Adam Sandberg to provide us with “Dick in a Box”; he’s emceeing award shows like the ESPYs and MTV Video Awards; he’s taking Janet Jackson’s top off in Superbowl halftime shows. Of course his solo offerings, like “My Love”, had a lot to do with it. It’s so marvelous that it’s impossible to deny the song and his potency as an entertainer anymore.

It’s very fortunate for him that the songs were absolutely terrific, even if Justin Timberlake’s A-list friends and their A-Game producing had a lot to do with their excellence. Whether he was stealing shows with the cunning funk of “Like I Love You”, channeling a Latin side within himself with “Senorita”, delivering soulful revenge with “Cry Me A River” or bring sexy back with “SexyBack”, Timberlake always had the best sounding accompaniment, which allows him to sound wonderful with ease. If you think about it, he had everything against him being part of one of the more embarrassing movement of the last 25 years, but he never seemed like he was trying too hard to prove something and he never looked awkward in his own skin.

He’s also now being idolized as a gentleman of the ladies, belonging to the same ilk as the Brad Pitts, George Clooneys, and Tom Bradys of the world. The techno balladry of “My Love” only seems to validate him as a loverboy. But while others prefer to ooze machismo in their love/sex songs, JT seemed to take the Prince route and do the opposite. It takes a secure man to utter come-ons with an effeminate, albeit ethereal and gravity-defying falsetto. The high-pitched squeal is a spine-chiller, cascading from the speakers to your ears. With Timberlake’s track record with women in the 00’s—Jessica Biel and Cameron Diaz to name a few—can anyone really contest its effectiveness as an aural aphrodisiac?

More than any other producer, Timbaland knows how to get the best out of JT. Once the stop-start synth started, it was a hit. Suddenly, popping mouth-clicks, a maniacal Porky Pig, and a T.I. rap verse join the mix and, next thing you know, you’re being boiled into a scorching fury of sounds. Some say Timberlake is nothing without his producers, and Timbo and his unapplauded pupil, Danja, assembles a very convincing case in “My Love” to validate that. But that’s like saying Jerry Rice was nothing without Joe Montana and Steve Young. Timbaland needed someone to catch the balls to and Timberlake needed someone to throw him the ball…or the other way around…whatever the analogy is, the two hooked up for a touchdown.

Including “My Love”, the parent album Futuresex/Lovesounds generated a total of three number one hits, the album itself owning real estate in the charts for an extended period of time. It officially made Justin Timberlake the biggest pop star of the decade. The way his career is heading is one of the most appealing story of the tens—everything about Timberlake indicates that he’s talented, committed, self-aware, and dreamy enough to maintain his success for the next decade if he desires. Does he have it in him to keep his success going? Well, most would have never imagined that he could get this far, I suppose he’s capable of doing so.