Justin Timberlake: Pop Culture's Smartest Guy In The Room

The other day I was thinking about Justin Timberlake -- a mildly curious thing for a straight man in his forties to spend much time doing, perhaps, but so be it. If it helps, I'm pretty sure that my wife was thinking about Justin too. We were both on a road trip with our two young boys, all of us happily listening as "Dead and Gone," Justin's stellar turn with T.I., kept popping up on a number of different radio stations.

Later the whole family watched all the cleaner bits from last weekend's "Saturday Night Live" together and witnessed Justin kicking comedic ass yet again. That got me thinking about how amazing and impressive it is that the sweet, likeable and ambitious kid I first met in a Florida corporate park as a teenager more than a decade ago has gradually become a singular sensation -- arguably our current pop culture's smartest guy in the room, for real.

Back when I met Justin in 1998, I was writing the first Rolling Stone profile about the then still up-and-coming boy band 'N Sync. I came away from a few days with the guys with two overriding impressions - one was that the group's self-proclaimed "Big Daddy" Lou Pearlman was pretty creepy. The fact that this middle aged boy band impresario mentioned the he'd also gotten into the Chippendale's business too should perhaps have set off a few dozen red flags, but somehow I didn't have a real clue that he was not just a creep, but a true scoundrel as well.

Lou, if they happen get Huffington Post in whatever lucky penal facility currently houses your convicted ass, I apologize if I just ruined your otherwise lovely day in lockdown -- love or otherwise.

My other infinitely more pleasant memory is of Justin himself. He seemed like very much a team player, but I recall him bringing me out to his brand new car and playing me a bunch of current favorite CDs -- a very cool and interesting selection of hip hop and soul recordings that in retrospect suggested the more interesting direction his own music would someday go.

I got to see 'N Sync perform in Miami during my trip and that was my first indication of his ability as a singer and a performer. He was good even then, but you could see he wasn't going to be satisfied with simply being good for long. Somehow Justin's experiences as a child star had not made him crazy, but rather given him a sense of perspective about the business that seemed unusual for his age -- or any age actually.

Since then I've had the pleasure of working with Justin a fair amount, and to this day, he strikes me as a guy with remarkably good instincts. The last time I saw Justin was at the Grammys where he graciously stepped in to help save the show after Chris Brown and Rihanna became the world's most famous no-shows. Working with Executive Producer Ken Ehrlich, Justin helped put together a spontaneously great Grammy moment with Reverend Al Green and an instant backing band. Backstage right before the show went live, I thanked Justin for helping us out. "It's what we do," Justin said. "Sadly Justin, we don't do the same thing," I told him.

I won't feel too bad about that. Nobody else does everything Justin does -- or does so well.

Comments

[jennyjen]

I was not interested in the boy bands and was sick of hearing Britney and Justin talk about their supposed virginity and wrote them all off as manufactured plastic garbage.

Then I saw Justin on Saturday Night Live and thought - ok this guy has talent. Has anyone mentioned Jimmy Fallon and Timberlake doing the BeeGees sketches??? Absolutely hysterical. He has terrific comedic timing. He also did a nice job in the film Alha Dog and I hope to see him do more acting.

Yeah I agree with previous posters who say that he is a Disney product - he did start out that way but took it to a higher level. Admirable.

[PatA]

My goodness! All of this going back and forth about Justin Timberlake. I am 66 and I think that he is absolutely hysterical on SNL. Remember "Dick in a Box"? He is smart and likable AND rich. I bet some of you guys would give your right arm to have 1/10th of his money. Go JT!

[Sandra Wilson]

I am 45 and my husband is 58 and we too were discussing JT recently and we are fans! He is talented smart and best of all, doesn't take himself too seriously (ie "all the single ladies" SNL performance). He does have staying power and doesn't seem to have fallen into the cracks or "crack" situation as many of his fellow castmate's of yore. He is on our Ipod's too!!

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

So happy to hear there's a lot of love in the room for this kid

[LeeLoosMultiPass]

Good column, and it's odd, but I was thinking the same thing the last time I saw him on SNL - really smart, hip, even-tempered kind of guy with a great sense of humor and of the absurd. And I'm over the age of 50.

I remember reading a column someone wrote about the bad rap Timberlake was getting after 'N Sync, and right before his first solo album came out. Ruminating on the fate of boy bands, the columnist said, like it or not, Timberlake will be around for years to come and he will own all of us - this at a time when Justin's name was hardly a household word. What's also interesting to me is I feel the same way today about Adam Lambert.

[SilentShout]

I think you've pegged what makes JT so likeable: the guy is SMART, real smart, you can see it in his eyes. He's going to be around - I think he genuinely loves to work, and so will work for a long long time. Interesting to see him compared in these comments to Ashton Kutcher, another smart guy with surprising staying power. They both won me over from a position of disliking and dismissing them, something that almost never happens.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

I agree SilentShout,

Like both of them

Though my money is on JT taking Ashton Kutcher at the SATS

[Oldtimer]

Reading articles like this reaffirms my belief how lucky I am to be 50.
I spent my childhood in the 60's and was blown away by the talent that exploded
on America's cultural landscape. It continued in the seventies.
Today when we drive in my car my 13 year old pops in the Beatles, the Rolling Stones,
Pink Floyd, The Who, CCR, the Pretenders, and Stand Up by Jethro Tull.
My 13 year old plays piano and guitar - not guitar hero - a real guitar.
She says Justin Timberlake is a product of the Disney Manufacturing machine,
a toon from Tune town that my daughter laughs at not because he's funny but because
she is aware that he has a Mattel stamp on his ass like GI Joe.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Wow, Oldtimer, I respect your decision to live up to the name there, but. . .
Listen at any age it's possible to like the classics and some people born since the Sixties too. Elton John loves Justin, so maybe you could give him a fair hearing too.
And frankly, I'd rather hear "Senorita" than "Bungle In The Jungle" any day.
And since you love Creedence -- as do I -- be aware John Fogerty just started tweeting. He sent me one last night -- further proof us old dogs can at least try to learn a few new tricks.

Best to you. I'm going to listen to some Pretenders right now in your honor.

[Oldtimer]

And best to you David,
I'm going to listen to Bill Evans and Miles Davis in honor of my dad
who taught me about the classics - from Satchmo to Sarah Vaughn,
from Hoagey Carmichael to Leonard Bernstein, from Pete Seeger, to Bob Dylan
to U2.

P.S. Bungle In the Jungle isn't on Stand Up. It's a poor offering Ian Anderson
put out after his appearance on the cover of Time magazine in the early seventies.

I think if Justin Timberlake used his celebrity power to organize a Woodstock
spectacle in support of CHANGE in America I would feel an urgent need to respect him
for his wise use of celebrity. Obama needs the masses behind him at a time when
bankers have hijacked our government and economy.

[JGatsby]

Oldtimer, I'm right there with you, mostly. First of all I'm over 50, and maybe I'm in denial, but I don't consider myself old. I still try to listen to new music. You are right that most of it is crap. I have to admit I've never even bothered listening to Timberlake. I've heard enough from similar pre-packaged "musicians" to not bother. I agree with you its a shame how music has become so commercialized, packaged, and boring and I really enjoyed your smack down of him. But here's the thing. If we look back at the 60's, 70's, etc. without rose colored glasses we have to admit that there was an awful lot of garbage then as well. Take a look at the top 50 songs for 1969 or a similar year and you might be amazed. Sure there will be a few great songs by the Stones and Beatles, but there will be a lot more garbage from Sonny and Cher, The Archies, Tommy James, etc. And believe it or not if you look hard enough there is still good new music being created now. Right now I'm listening to a guitar player named Buckethead who I would put up against Clapton or even Hendrix (if you can get past the fact that he wears a KFC bucket and mask when he performs -- these kids!)

[Jaradan]

If you think Justin Timberlake's tricks (and music) are for kids, then listen to some Lady GaGa and tell me you don't see the difference in quality of music there...FYI: Justin Timberlake is actually a music veteran now. lol He's been in the industry formerly for almost 20 years. So if you hate "today's" music, you have to find a new dog to kick.

[BustMyChops]

I'm 28 and you are absolutely right. Believe me there are a lot of young people(I know lots in their early 20s) who agree with you completely about these Walmart superstars.

[leftbehind2000]

Hey Oldtimer - another oldtimer here.

Yeah, I agree that a lot of what is on the radio today is pretty tepid. And Timberlake is Exhibit A of the ho-hum radio scene, bought and paid for by ye old music industry.

But there is a great deal of quality music still being made that (at least somewhat) fits a style similar to some of what you listed. Try The Black Lips, or Les Savy Fav, Ted Leo & the Pharmacists,
The Black Lips, Les Savy Fav, Atlas Sound, Titus Andronicus. Even Dinosaur Jr. is still putting out great stuff.

Justin Timberlake...bah. Sometimes I think it's today's youth who are actually out of touch.

[SinisterK9]

Sir,

Very nice article. I remember 11 or so years ago when I was heading off to college, my friends and I used to laugh at groups like N'Sync, and looked at them as "more of the same". We figured people like Justin Timberlake would burn right out.
Over time, he's definitely won me over. While I don't listen to his music religiously or anything, the man has real talent.
The guy is a great performer, whether it be in music, or doing skits for SNL.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Sinister, you're right. It's rare someone overdelivers on what looks like limited promise. Usually it's the other way around.

[Jaradan]

Older people in the 50's thought Little Richard would "burn out".
Older people in the 60's thought the Beatles and Rolling Stones would "burn out".
Older people in the 70's thought Elton John would "burn out".
Older people in the 80's thought Prince and Madonna would "burn out".
Older people in the 90's thought Justin Timberlake would "burn out".

Just goes to show that older people don't always know what the hell they're talking about..and that everyone thinks the music of their formative years is the "best" music ever to be made.

[valkyrie607]

Beautiful! Nothing to add.

[YellowDogInRedCounty]

Comment of the day

[sufi66]

"Older people in the 60's thought the Beatles and Rolling Stones would "burn out"."

Not sure about this one. A revolution in music was being experienced, and
something original was happening. Most sensed something monumental.

Timberlake doesn't quite seem this way, to say the least and to be kind.

[wildervine]

Glad to see a positive article about Justin Timberlake. I don't know the guy, of course, but he has always struck me as a nice guy who is keeping his stardom in perspective. And I also think he has a great comedic sense and like seeing him on SNL. His music is a bit after my time, but I'll leave that to the younger folks; it's just nice to see someone who is not stuck on himself (besides some healthy self-confidence), make it.

[tlgeiger62]

Timberlake seems like an extremely likable young man. His sense of humor is wonderful and he has shown again and again his terrific instincts in all that he's undertaken.

Best wishes to him.

[justoverit333]

I am middle-aged and have a lot of respect for Justin.
He's very talented, has managed to keep his head on
straight, is an activist and is turning out to be quite a
comedian. His three stints on SNL have been hilarious.
Good for him!!

[Ohioan730]

I'm not a person who's likely to be into the Disney show kids or the boy bands. I am only 8 years older than JT, Britney, Christina etc and when they were 16 and I was 24, nothing could be further from cool than the Backsteet Boys or N'Sync. It was for the teens but back then I wasn't old enough to be their parents. I just thought they were corny like younger siblings.

A few years ago, I found out I was completely wrong about Justin. Most of them were cornballs especially Nick Lachey who is MY age and should have known better, but not Justin. That dude is amazing. The fact that he actually cracks me up on SNL is a big big bonus.

Thanks for writing this article. As a mid-30 something music enthusiast, I find it difficult to "Justify" (hehe) liking Justin Timberlake to other people but he is a naturally born entertainer and he just happened to emerge through bubble-gum pop. The fact that his career survived that era is a testament to his talent.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

My pleasure -- happy I have so much excellent company here

[PierreBBB]

Justin's also one the best hosts on SNL - shows he does not take himself too seriously - a little like Paul Simon back in the earliest yesrs of SNL

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Funny you mention that -- Paul Simon also had a really great comic touch and sense of timing.
Plus he's one of the greatest songwriters in history -- Advantage Simon

[2hi2cproductions]

D.W., come on dude. Your quotes, "singular sensation" and the "smartest guy?" Were you describing Obama? I mean you are aware of the trendy, schlocky music/videos this kid does, right? You strike me as a guy whom would remember the aerobic-line dancing choreography of the 80's a la Madonna, Paula Abdul, etc.. Clearly you should be able to see through the transparency of ALL videos & "singular sensations." What does this kid do besides rip-off other previously bad videos and choreography? Clearly if you think he's a good actor perhaps you should pay for his classes to really study the craft. I believe you are intoxicated by the mass media marketing of shoemaker entertainers?

[treboi]

Dude stop hatin! Justin basically does it all. Great singer, great dancer, ok actor (but funny has all hell), producer (music/TV), and fashion designer. Most importantly, he seems like a nice guy...which is rare in the entertainment industry. I mean you may not like him personally, but you can't deny the fact that the man has a great mind for business and he works his butt off.

[BustMyChops]

"Stop hatin! Justin basically does it all." I don't like Ashton Kusher either. I guess that makes me a hater. Give me a break. He's a terrible actor and a depthless singer. If that qualifies as "doing it all" to you so be it.

[BustMyChops]

You are 100 percent right. Thank you. This guy reeks of unoriginality and media hype. He may be many things...but an actor is not one of them.

[Buffy57]

You got that right David Wild. Especially gracious and comedically genious was his surprise hosting one week before a scheduled he would not be able to make. Beyonce was musical guest and Justin and the guys' back-up dancers were an instant classic. On Weekend Update he killed. That whole show killed, as it rarely does most years these days.

IMHO he's legendary now, among greatest pop artists ever already. Great kid all around.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Then he's the most living legend I know

[quivira]

I thought Paul Rudd hosted that one and Justin was a surprise guest.

[Bethab]

I'm not crazy about his music (I'd rather listen to CSNY anyday) and I don't think he's crazy sexy (just not my type) but he always struck me as a nice guy. That might be kind of stupid because an image can sell you anything and I certainly don't know him...but he always just seemed like a nice, decent guy. And he was great in Alpha Dog...very funny. I'm a fan.