Top 10 Justin Timberlake Songs

Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival - Day 1
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10
of 10

"LoveStoned" (2007)

Justin Timberlake LoveStoned
Courtesy Jive

"LoveStoned" embraces both classic disco and funk. It was the fourth single from Justin Timberlake's album FutureSex / LoveSounds. It has a shimmering sound that helped it win a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording. "LoveStoned" peaked at #17 on the pop chart in the US. In the UK it went to #11. The Grammy Award winner topped the dance club chart.

The accompanying music video was directed by Robert Hales and filmed at Web Studios in Salford, England. Justin Timberlake performed the song live at the MTV Video Music Awards.

09
of 10

"4 Minutes" with Madonna (2008)

Madonna and Justin Timberlake 4 Minutes
Courtesy Warner Bros.

Following their massive commercial success working together, Justin Timberlake and Timbaland were invited to work on the lead single from Madonna's album Hard Candy. It is a brash, percussive pop song notable for the use of marching band sounds, cowbells, and foghorns. "4 Minutes" hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has sold over three million copies. It went to #1 on the pop singles chart in the UK and many other countries. "4 Minutes" was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. Madonna created the song with the intent of generating a sense of urgency about the fragility of the earth's environment. Madonna told MTV, "I don't think it's important to take it too literally. I think the song, more than anything, is about having a sense of urgency."

The music video for "4 Minutes" was directed by French pair Jonas & Francois. It included choreography by Jamie King, a frequent collaborator with Madonna. The clip depicts Madonna and Justin Timberlake as a pair of superheroes overcoming obstacles. "4 Minutes" earned an MTV Video Music Awards nomination for Best Dancing In a Video.

08
of 10

"Not a Bad Thing" (2014)

Justin Timberlake Not a Bad Thing
Courtesy RCA

Released as the third official single from the second part of The 20/20 Experience, "Not a Bad Thing" feels like a throwback to Justin Timberlake's days with boy band *NSYNC. Mainstream pop fans responded favorably and the song became the third top 10 pop hit overall from The 20/20 Experience. It went all the way to #1 at mainstream pop and adult pop radio.

Justin Timberlake does not appear in the music video for "Not a Bad Thing." It was created as a sort of documentary clip in which two filmmakers are searching for a couple who got engaged on the Long Island Rail Road while listening to "Not a Bad Thing." The music video made its debut on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

07
of 10

"Can't Stop the Feeling!" (2016)

Justin Timberlake Can't Stop the Feeling
Courtesy RCA

Justin Timberlake serves as the executive music producer for the animated film Trolls. He recorded the song "Can't Stop the Feeling!" to feature on the soundtrack. It's upbeat, celebratory mood pleased music critics and fans alike. The song was released in May 2016 six months before the film. It soared to #1 on pop charts around the world including the US. It reached #2 on the UK pop singles chart. "Can't Stop the Feeling!" also hit #1 at adult pop, adult contemporary, and mainstream pop radio while reaching #1 on the dance chart, too. 

Mark Romanek, known for such classic music videos as Johnny Cash's "Hurt" and "Scream" by Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson, directed the clip for "Can't Stop the Feeling!" It depicts Justin Timberlake dancing through a day and finding people to dance along with him. Mark Romanek said, "It's just a big sugar cookie."

06
of 10

"What Goes Around...Comes Around" (2007)

Justin Timberlake What Goes Around Comes Around
Courtesy Jive

Many considered the swirling, simmering "What Goes Around...Comes Around" to be a sequel of sorts to the hit "Cry Me a River." He has said it is about "betrayal and forgiveness." The opening of the song features the eastern European folk instrument the baglamas. The beautiful pop melody turned the song into an instant hit. "What Goes Around...Comes Around" became Justin Timberlake's third consecutive #1 hit. It also won Justin Timberlake's second Best Male Pop Vocal Grammy Award and was nominated for Record Of the Year.

Samuel Bayer, known for his work with Green Day, directed the "What Goes Around...Comes Around" music video as a short film. It includes dialogue and stars actress Scarlett Johansson. It sold more than 50,000 copies on iTunes in four days. The music video won an MTV Video Music Awards honor for Best Direction.

05
of 10

"Like I Love You" (2002)

Justin Timberlake Like I Love You
Courtesy Jive

Striking out on his own after gaining fame as a member of the boy band *NSYNC, Justin Timberlake released "Like I Love You" as his first solo single. Produced by the Neptunes (including Pharrell Williams), the song is distinctively R&B influenced. Justin Timberlake and the Neptunes have stated that they were listening to both Earth, Wind and Fire and Michael Jackson while putting together the record. "Like I Love You" reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and climbed all the way to #1 on the dance chart while making some inroads at R&B radio.

Justin Timberlake says he never questioned whether "Like I Love You" would be his first single released as a solo artist. He liked the unique sound and thought it represented an artistic new beginning. The song was included on the album Justified which debuted at #2 on the album chart and sold over 400,000 copies in its first week of release. It earned a Grammy Award nomination for Album of the Year and won the Best Pop Vocal Album award.

04
of 10

"Mirrors" (2013)

Justin Timberlake Mirrors
Courtesy RCA

"Mirrors" is an epic eight-minute-long song. The song was first conceived in 2009 during the sessions for Timbaland's album Shock Value II. Justin Timberlake decided to save "Mirrors" for his own album. The first and second parts of the song were put together years apart. Peaking at #2 on the US pop chart, "Mirrors" was the second top 10 hit from the first part of The 20/20 Experience. It went all the way to #1 on the UK pop singles chart.

The accompanying music video directed by Floria Sigismondi received powerful critical acclaim and is dedicated to Justin Timberlake's maternal grandparents. The performance by Judith Roberts playing the elderly woman in the clip was singled out for specific praise. The music video was named Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards. Justin Timberlake's grandmother Sadie Bornar told Grazia magazine, "I was moved by it. It brings tears to my eyes. It's a lovely tribute to us." "Mirrors" also earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance.

03
of 10

"SexyBack" (2006)

Justin Timberlake Sexyback
Courtesy Jive

Justin Timberlake's second album  was introduced by the single "SexyBack." It was an arresting, aggressive return combining rock-oriented vocals with an R&B influenced production from Timbaland. Justin Timberlake claimed influence by David Bowie, David Byrne, and Prince. "SexyBack" went straight to #1 on the pop charts and sold over four million copies. It also topped the dance chart in the US and went to #1 on the pop singles chart in the UK. "SexyBack" received a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording.

The "SexyBack" music video was directed by Michael Haussman who earned acclaim for Madonna's "Take a Bow." The clip was shot on location in Barcelona, Spain and features Spanish actress Elena Anaya. 

02
of 10

"Cry Me a River" (2002)

Justin Timberlake Cry Me a River
Courtesy Jive

"Cry Me a River" is one of the top pop breakup songs. It was written after a difficult conversation between Justin Timberlake and former girlfriend Britney Spears. It was acclaimed for an elegant production with gospel influences and a powerful falsetto vocal. The song became Justin Timberlake's first top 10 pop hit as a solo artist and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the UK pop singles chart. "Cry Me a River" went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal.

The accompanying music video was directed by Francis Lawrence and filmed on location in Malibu, Caifornia. Lauren Hastings starred in the video as a blonde woman that many believed was a stand-in for Britney Spears. The music video won two MTV Video Music Awards including Best Male Video and Best Pop Video. It was also nominated for Video of the Year.

01
of 10

"My Love" featuring T.I. (2006)

Justin Timberlake My Love
Courtesy Jive

"My Love" was released as the second single from the album, but it is arguably the album's masterpiece. The combination of Timbaland's wildly percussive production and Justin Timberlake's flawless vocals resulted in a second consecutive #1 pop hit. Justin Timberlake has stated it deliberately includes a conflict between the song's basic ballad structure and the percussive beats added to the mix resulting in a "percussive ballad." "My Love" won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung collaboration.

The "My Love" music video was directed by Paul Hunter who had previously worked with Justin Timberlake on two other music videos. The clip is notable for its arresting black and white background. "My Love" won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography and Justin Timberlake won an award for Male Artist of the Year.