My Favorite Justin Timberlake Songs Are About Minutes, Mirrors and a Senorita

Summary: Minutes, mirrors and a senorita are the themes of my favorite Justin Timberlake songs.

Justin Timberlake, The 20/20 Tour Experience, Charlotte, North Carolina, July 12, 2014: J Vettorino (Jax15), CC BY 2.0, via Flickr

It is his musical reputation that put Justin Timberlake on the stage at Black Entertainment Television's (BET) award ceremonies of June 30, 2013. He kept the focus on that Sunday evening's guest of honor, ex-Gap Band lead vocalist and rhythm and blues (R&B) performer Charlie Wilson. But Justin remained his unforgettable self with impressive vocals and limber moves.

That same engaging personality, flowing movement and generous professionalism invade all of Justin's performances. It therefore is quite challenging to emphasize one Justin Timberlake song over another. But atmosphere, choreography, message, music and videoing work particularly well in 4 Minutes, Mirrors and "Señorita.

4 Minutes appears on Madonna's Hard Candy album of 2008. The song conjures futuristic realism, with black-and-white costuming in performances and tick-tock refrains to tersely worded lyrics. Justin and Madonna move in fast hip hop styles to haunting bhangra and strong dance-pop beats. Justin, Madonna and Timbaland sing about reserving happy moments while saving planet Earth. The video stresses life's playfulness with Justin's and Madonna's races over car tops. It warns about apathetic self-absorption, with diners ignoring Madonna's tabletop strut. It waxes eloquently about catastrophic environmental degradation, with a humongous dark screen on the rampage.

Mirrors appears on Justin's The 20/20 Experience album of 2013. It contains definite answers to selfishness and selflessness in 4 Minutes, with romantic lyrics and two younger couples displaying affection and an older couple synchronicity in the video. Performers dance in fast mime, modern and rock styles to catchy, sentimental pop beats. Justin dances ballet- and mime-like across the floor. He defines happiness as the mirror image of himself that his lover becomes and vice versa. The video is a treat to watch, with retro styles merging into current fashions in the timeless universality of true love.

Señorita appears on Justin's Justified album of 2002. It can be said to anticipate the other two songs. It deals with the recipe for a happy life, with second chances communicated in the lyrics and solidarity in the performance. So Justin goes through traditional and trendy moves with a partner while group dancing gives more folk, ranchero and traditional looks to the Latin-influenced jazz, pop, R&B and rap beats. The video tells the song's story of helping one another and holding onto hope on the road to one, several, many loves.

Justin Timberlake knows how to frame his face as well as his music ~ Justin Timberlake: Toby Jagmohan (tEdits), CC BY ND 2.0, via Flickr

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Justin Timberlake, The 20/20 Tour Experience, Charlotte, North Carolina, July 12, 2014: J Vettorino (Jax15), CC BY 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/miss_jay_vee/14465752399

Justin Timberlake: Toby Jagmohan (tEdits), CC BY ND 2.0, via Flickr @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/tedits/5613552219