Justin Timberlake releases “Selfish”
A single listen to "Selfish" is enough to evoke a sense of nostalgia for the early 2000s in Justin Timberlake's latest release. Despite its catchiness and radio-friendly appeal, the track plays it safe, offering a comeback that lacks innovation and ultimately fades into forgetfulness after five years of anticipation.
Serving as the lead single for Timberlake's forthcoming studio album, "Everything I Thought It Was," set for release on March 15, "Selfish" marks the artist's return to solo work since the success of "Man of the Woods," which topped the U.S. Billboard 200 chart in 2018. Despite intermittent collaborations with other pop artists, Timberlake has largely remained out of the limelight until recently.
While the prospect of Timberlake's return to solo music after such a prolonged break is exciting, "Selfish" falls short of expectations. The song's predictable structure and lackluster lyrics adhere to the standard verse-pre-chorus-chorus-post-chorus formula found in typical pop radio tunes. Although the bridge introduces a brief change in instrumentation, it leans on the same chords as every other section of the song, contributing to an overall sense of staleness.
The lyrics of "Selfish" exhibit simplicity, and not in an endearing manner. In the refrain, where the singer confesses, "I want every bit of you, I guess I'm selfish," there's an acknowledgment that his attraction to his lover doesn't bring out the best in him. However, this admission lacks any subsequent apology or introspection, leaving the chorus devoid of nuanced exploration of emotions in relationships.
Similarly, the post-chorus features lines like "Put you in a frame, ooh" and "Glad your mama made you," which fail to offer substantive insight into the singer's feelings toward his love interest. These superficial lyrics diminish the otherwise catchy rhythm of the post-chorus.
Despite the lackluster lyrics of "Selfish," the track's instrumentals prove to be more captivating. The drums' syncopated rhythms contribute to a clean, slick beat that listeners are likely to nod their heads along to. In the bridge of the song, Justin Timberlake's distinctive falsetto shines through, complemented by well-layered background vocals.
As contemporary pop songs tend to be shorter in length, "Selfish" stands out by spanning nearly four minutes. The track takes its time to build up in texture, allowing each section of music to breathe. However, this deliberate pace is precisely what prevents the song from seamlessly integrating into today's popular hits. "Selfish" clings to a bygone era of boy bands and feel-good love songs, making it sound somewhat out of place in the current musical landscape.
"Selfish" makes no effort to break new ground, either sonically or conceptually. While it may be easy on the ears, the song feels trapped in a bygone era, and its selection as Justin Timberlake's lead single comeback is both weak and perplexing. As Timberlake reenters the contemporary pop scene, one can only hope that his future musical endeavors will demonstrate a more current and innovative approach.
I would give this single 3 out of 4 stars and you can listen to it here.