How did the boy-bandiest of beat-boxing falsetto crooners go from a brillo-headed Conan O'Brien punch line to the international face of posh perfumery Givenchy, who yesterday proclaimed Justin "No Strings Attached" Timberlake a "world-record trendsetter who redefines modern elegance," you ask?
I'll tell you how it happened, dammit! Because I happen to be writing a biography of the dude as we speak.
When I started the book, I couldn't even keep straight which boy band birthed him - Backstreet Boys? 98 Degrees? Four Tops? From my years writing nuanced features for the celebrity weeklies, I knew that he maybe/could be dumping Cameron Diaz, maybe/could be snogging Scarlett Johannsen, maybe/could be stealing Jessica Biel from Derek Jeter, and maybe/could be providing ex-girlfriend Britney Spears advice and counsel during her splattery spiral.
Justin the sex symbol, phenomenon, and "world-record trendsetter" was not, however, cover material, and was, thus, not in my reporting files.
So here's what I've learned. First, the kid is an admitted prick perfectionist to the point that those around him all end up hating his guts at some point. He's also a risk-taker, ever since he went on Star Search in a cowboy hat at age 8 (and lost) and dreamed up 'N Sync with his mom and a friend at the age of 14.
I think he may also be a genius. A Rolling Stone writer who doobed it up with JT described T-lake's creative process. Seems Justin can write and arrange an entire song all in his head, without ever putting pen to paper. Even Keith Richards wrote down a word or chord or two. And he was on heroin!
Which I think is the key to JT's uncanny career self-management. He can connect the dots of his image the way he connected the musical dots -- to everyone's surprise -- on Justified and FutureSex/LoveSounds. A few bars of famous girlfriends, a chorus of indie films, a bridge of denim design, followed by a sweet smelling Givenchy guitar solo! It's a hit!
Think its easy? Look at his boy band and Mickey Mouse Club brethren. The most successful of them (not to mention the roadkill) don't come close to JT. Nick Lachey of 98 Degrees made it to post-band fame on the back of a fortuitous TV marriage, but now makes most of his money on paid appearances. Fellow-Mouse Christina Aguilera shares JT-level musical fame, but that's going to be about it for her. No movies, no phenomenon, no real non-music future for XTina, I'm afraid. And JT's ex Britney, well, she'll be lucky to see 2009 at this rate.
While Justin Timberlake is shaping up to be the Frank Sinatra of his generation. A skinny kid with a goofy grin and an insatiable drive to retool and win.
How long until Oscar comes calling? Four years, tops.