Released: 2024
Label: RCA Records Label
Featuring: Fireboy DML, Tobe Nwigwe, *NSYNC
When we talk about the evolution of pop music, Justin Timberlake is always at the forefront as a game-changing artist. So when Timberlake dropped the studio album “Everything I Thought It Was” in 2024, under the banner of RCA Records Label, pop culture scholars and music aficionados were intrigued. And rightfully so! The album is an alchemical fusion of Timberlake’s trademark pop sound blended with unexpected genres and rhythms.
Timberlake’s audacious sonic palette on this album includes collaborations with talented artists like Fireboy DML, Tobe Nwigwe, and even an exciting reunion track with *NSYNC. From energetic Memphis blues to the experimental vibes of Technicolor, from the thought-provoking lyrics of Liar to the infectious rhythm of F**kin’ Up The Disco, the album showcases Timberlake’s versatile musical talent.
Not one to shy away from exploring themes of love and loss, Timberlake’s “Everything I Thought It Was” takes listeners on an emotional roller coaster, blending the pop genre with a refined introspective edge. The album’s composition, lyrics, and performances, underscore Timberlake’s knack for creating timeless pop music while navigating innovative new trends. So let’s get into it. From “Memphis” to “Conditions,” here we are breaking down the album “Everything I Thought It Was” by “Justin Timberlake”.
1 Memphis
Timberlake paints the narrative in broad strokes, pulling no punches in his quest to present the veracious reality behind the glitz. The standout line, “Who cares if you get lonely long as you’re famous?”, exposes the stark dichotomy between the societal perception of a celebrity’s life and the often overlooked emotional struggles they grapple with. The hook echoes with a profound lament, “Ain’t gon’ be no cryin’ from the clouds”, hinting at the resignation in putting on a brave facade amidst the burdens. Adding an extra layer of potency, the outro sees Timberlake reflecting on his journey with an unabashed honesty. As he solemnly intones, “I’m everything you thought I was”, the song transcends from mere words to an intimate exploration of the price paid for stardom.
2 F**kin’ Up The Disco
By drawing upon a smorgasbord of groovy, disco beats, the vibe is bubbly and retro-fresh. When Timberlake coos, “You and me when we fu- up the disco, Ooh, what a scene, and we both know,” he’s throwing an unabashed homage to those euphoric dance floor moments. The free spirit essence is encapsulated brilliantly in the line, “All you gotta do is free your mind, and watch your body start to follow suit.” It’s a celebration of surrender and sensory joy where JT urges listeners to allow the music to guide them, because there’s no place quite like the throbbing heartbeat of a disco, and there’s no better partner-in-crime than JT himself to fu- that disco up.
3 No Angels
The verse, “All we need is one moment, or two,” is an inviting call to succumb to the intoxicating thrill of the present. This line, along with lyrics such as “Forget tomorrow, move like you wanna, babe” and “There ain’t no angels here on the dance floor,” underline the central theme of the song – the unabashed indulgence in hedonistic desires, even if it’s just for a fleeting moment. Lyrics like “You got that somethin’ new, that sexy attitude” express an admiration for unconventionality and uniqueness, adding a spark to the track. Essentially, “No Angels” is a spirited ode to the exhilarating unpredictability of life and the captivating allure of a dance floor devoid of any pretentious innocence.
4 Play
Timberlake urges, “This train has just left the station / Time for a fu- vacation,” the audacity of his words echoing an irresistible call to rebel against the mundanity and taste the exhilaration of pleasure. He loops us in a sinuous soundscape where he’s “making first impressions” until he’s caught in the whirl of his own charms. The repetitive phrase, “I just wanna play,” solidifies this theme – a kind of Dionysian invitation to live in the moment, to surrender to the intoxication of carefree self-indulgence. His concluding words, “Now, I’ma give you somethin’ to play with,” indicates an open-ended flirtation, a promise of further excitement, embedding ‘Play’ as a modern ode to the seductive pull of hedonistic pursuits.
5 Technicolor
In this tour de force of love, he weaves striking imagery like “Your shape is painted on my canvas like it’s animated,” emphasizing the animated, surreal quality of the emotions he’s experiencing. The captivating chorus, “Let’s make love in Technicolor, we can make it take all night,” is a vibrant invitation to a technicolor love, suggesting an experiential fusion of hues and emotions. Timberlake isn’t just singing about love; he’s shaping an immersive, sensory world that blends sight and sound, a grand mural of passion. Yet amid the color-drenched lyrical landscape, a stark realization stands out – “And that’s the only thing black-and-white” – reinforcing his absolute commitment to his beloved, the only certainty in his chromatic universe.
6 Drown
Timberlake’s lyrics, particularly the line, “You showed me exactly who you are and I should’ve believed it,” gives voice to the bitter truth of love whittled down to its painful core. One can’t help but sense Timberlake’s struggle to remain buoyant in a turbulent sea of deceit, emphasized in the lyric, “Tryin’ to keep my head above it.” Timberlake skillfully paints a portrait of a man entangled in the web of deceptive love, clinging desperately to the memories of a facade. Standout verses such as, “And if real love never dies, why am I barely breathin’?” drive home the toll of heartbreak. “Drown” is a poignant ode to love lost and the difficulty of navigating through the stormy aftermath.
7 Liar
Features: Fireboy DML
Collaborating with Nigerian singer Fireboy DML, creates a fusion of pop timbre and Afrobeats rhythm that’s downright magnetic. The lyrics portray an emotionally complex narrative of longing and deception, beautifully intertwining JT’s and Fireboy’s vocals as they navigate the tumultuous dynamics of a passionate relationship. “Could say, I don’t love you, but I’d be a liar / I know that you know that you’re my only desire” — this line lays bare the rawness of vulnerability, simultaneously evoking denial and affirmation of an intense love. It’s a testament to Timberlake’s songwriting dexterity — he paints a vivid image of heartache and desire, all while maintaining an irresistible danceability in the track. A stand-out in ‘Everything I Thought It Was,’ “Liar” brilliantly showcases the cross-pollination of genres that define the album.
8 Infinity Sex
Drawing from his trademark suave, Timberlake croons lyrics like “I wanna love you for eternity” punctuated by the more audacious “Infinity sex, girl”, inviting listeners into an endless dance of star-crossed lovers. The lyrics push a sensual narrative without slipping into banality, capturing the heady mix of endless love and desire, the kind that thrums beneath the skin and lingers long after the last note has played. “Soon as all your clothes hit the floor, Pray this hotel room is insured” he sings with a sly nod to the intense passion leading to potential destruction. Timberlake’s trademark coolness spritzed with wistful romance flawlessly delivered, “Infinity Sex” reminds us why he remains an irrefutably captivating figure in the pop music scene.
9 Love & War
His plaintive refrain, “Still making love while we make war,” paints a vivid picture of a love that persists even when challenged, as resilient as a spark on the Fourth of July. Timberlake further underscores this with the line, “You’re the only one that I fight for / And even if we lose / Still making love while we make war”. These lines encapsulate the paradoxical nature of relationships – the simultaneous existence of love and conflict. It’s a raw and honest exploration of the complexities present in love, where battle lines and bed sheets often blur. The song is as much a testament to Timberlake’s emotional depth as a songwriter as it is to his undeniable prowess as a pop music craftsman.
10 Sanctified
Features: Tobe Nwigwe
A remarkable creation in, distinguished by its contemplative exploration of spirituality and redemption set against the backdrop of a relationships. With lyrics like, “Get me up when I’m low, hand on my soul/Like you see right inside/I come out a new man/No blood on my hands,” the track unravels a personal journey of renewal and liberation, delicately intertwined with vulnerability and triumph over adversity. Nwigwe’s lyrical prowess adds an extra layer of allure, making the narrative even more piercing. The song ultimately emerges as an edifying exploration of self-growth – a testament to Timberlake and Nwigwe’s ability to articulate complex emotional landscapes through the power of music.
11 My Favorite Drug
With its syncopated rhythm and fervent lyrics, it’s a sonic love letter to the enthralling highs of romance. The chorus, “We just might be fallin’ in love tonight… You feel like my favorite drug tonight,” captures an invigorating and intoxicating aura of being in love. The heady rush conveyed through lines like “Your hips is makin’ me hypnotized,” amplify this track’s intoxicating allure. Further into the verse, Justin’s lyric, “You’re my constellation, I’m your sign,” employs cosmic imagery to remark on the destined compatibility he feels with his lover. The final verse, “This is the part… where I know what you want. What you’d been waitin’ on,” distills the anticipation inherent in new love, thereby anchoring the intoxicating, euphoric sensation that defines this track.
12 Flame
His lyrical prowess shines through when he ruefully ponders, “How did you just forget me? What was the thing that made it change?” These words are a chilling reflection of love’s cruel unpredictability, underscored by his poignant reminiscing. The standout line, “‘Cause I remember…Feels like it was just the other day,” hits hard, encapsulating the eternal flame of memory, however painful. The song makes a stark contrast between the eternal promise of love and the eventual dissolution of all that was pledged. The line, “Went to the end of the earth, it still didn’t work / And now, this is the night that the flame runs out” is a brutal testament to the elusive nature of love and the enduring sting of loss.
13 Imagination
Timberlake’s lines, “We can do whatever you like, but better. Hey, girl, I can feel you looking at me, what you want?” exude an intimate confidence, pushing boundaries and building anticipations. His bold assertion, “Trust me when I tell you, baby, no, I won’t,” is backed by crisp beats and a sleek production that further entices. The song embodies an audacious urging to seize the moment, seen when Timberlake coos, “Maybe we can run it back twice (back twice).” However, the crucial turning point arrives in the chorus when he declares, “I can promise that the real thing It’s better than your imagination.” It’s a testament to his magnetic charisma, where reality outshines dreams, a paramount Justin Timberlake trademark.
14 What Lovers Do
Laced with cheating-heart beats, the track is an invitation to revel in the delicious tension of the unspoken, the “bad decisions” hidden in the shadows of the night. The standout line, “I got a proposition / You and I goin’ missing” rings out like a siren’s call to secretive love games. Timberlake also cleverly individualizes the sexual tension, giving detailed directives such as “Show me your deep and I’ll dive in”, a line as passionately daring as it is intimate. Emphasizing the demoiselle’s role, he insists, “You be the show, ain’t no intermission, I’m gonna / Play every part from finish the start until the curtain call”. Exploring the dynamics of desire and commitment, Timberlake deep dives into what makes lovers tick, and twirl on the dance floor.
15 Selfish
It paints an intimate portrait of his deep-seated affection for an unnamed figure. The lyrics echo Timberlake’s trademark blend of romantic vulnerability and bold declarations of desire. As he sings provocatively, “And my heart would go flatline / If it wasn’t beatin’ for you all the time.” This lays bare his dedication while admitting to a certain possessiveness, “So if I get jealous, I can’t help it / I want every bit of you, I guess I’m selfish.” Timberlake juxtaposes the delicate navigation of a burgeoning relationship with the frantic desire to possess entirely, singing, “Owner of my heart, tattooed your mark / There for the whole world to see.” ‘Selfish’ is thus a passionate song, showcasing Timberlake’s ability to appeal to the heart while also delivering a catchy pop backdrop.
16 Alone
His lyrics, “Heartbreak, it’s the word right now, we took it all for granted,” echo a universal sentiment of regret over failed love. Even more striking is his assertion: “Maybe we’re best on our own, alone.” It’s a poignant nod to the solitary path of self-discovery post break-up, a necessary rite of passage. But it’s his confrontation with time, where he questions, “Oh, who said that time was enough? ‘Cause I still can’t get over your love,” that truly drives the dagger home. Therein lies the gutsiness of “Alone.” Timberlake doesn’t shy away from the raw reality of heartache, instead, he immerses himself in it, lending the track a powerful authenticity.
17 Paradise
Features: *NSYNC
Featuring *NSYNC, it’s best described as a soulful and reflective journey. It’s an ode to enduring love and the cherished serenity it brings with time, woven together through melodic strains and poignant lyricism. One particularly stirring line is, “Just look at us we’re right here where we belong/And it was written ’cause the stars said/I was yours and you would be mine, all along.” This line captures the core essence of the song – the wonder of finding the one your soul speaks to, as if written in the cosmos. It’s the kind of line that spins wonder into longing, the same way stars do with the night sky. The song reminds us of the hallowed beauty of a love fulfilled, a love that fashions a paradise out of the most ordinary places.
18 Conditions
“Sometimes you gotta put the car in reverse to move forward. Gotta make it through the night ’til you get to the mornin'” he muses, underlining the trials and tribulations that often pave the way for personal growth. This track is an affirmation of self-acceptance, a confession of vulnerability that pivots on the line, “Could you love me under those conditions?” It’s a potent inquiry, creating a poignant dialogue about our capacity to love and accept another, imperfections and all. Adding to the track’s emotional weight, Timberlake invokes the duality of hero versus alter ego, singing, “I’m less Superman, more Clark Kent”. The message is clear: Timberlake is just a man, flawed but striving, needing love that transcends conditions, just like the rest of us.
