Topical Tuesday 31.01.17

This week it's about saying happy birthday to one special fella...

The 2017 Oscar nominated artist, former NSYNC sensation and Mickey Mouse Club alumi, Justin Timberlake is 36 today. We're celebrating on his behalf here at Chooniverse so here are his career highlights.

Can't Stop the Feeling

This hit was written to be the theme for the animation film Trolls in 2016 and was his first new music in three years. Needless to say his break from music didn't stop him achieving success as he's currently in contention to pick up the award for Best Original Song at the Oscars next month.

Mirrors

Timberlake dedicated the music video to his maternal grandparents William and Sadie Bomar, who were married for 63 years until William's death in 2012.

Timberlake's grandmother Sadie Bomar told Italian weekly Grazia that "Justin didn't tell me he was doing it (making the video), it was a surprise. He said, “You have to see this video, just you sit down and watch it". I was moved by it, it brings tears to my eyes. It's a lovely tribute to us."

Suit & Tie

This video was directed by Fight Club and Gone Girl director David Fincher, with whom Timberlake had previously worked with in The Social Network. Lyrically, the song is an ode to the joys of "being handsome and well-dressed" something the singer is notoriously meticulous about.

Sexyback

It was Justin's first song to make no. 1 in the Billboard Top 100, and it stayed there for seven weeks. It was also certified double platinum. Justin completely improvised the title line "I'm bringing sexy back." He doesn't write down the lyrics or melodies he creates, because he has a theory that if he doesn't remember, then it wasn't worth remembering. Guess this one stuck for a reason.

In fact, the songwriter wrote the whole of Justified without touching pen or paper.

Bye Bye Bye - NSYNC

After the Mickey Mouse club but before he flew solo, there was NSYNC. This chart hit's lyrics describe the end of a romantic relationship; it was reported to also reference the group's separation from their manager Lou Pearlman and their record label RCA Records.