The Bottom Line
Past experience teaches us all to beware of superstar duets. Too often, big egos and lackluster songwriting sink the best of intentions. However, "4 Minutes," a slick, rhythmic, and brassy collaboration between top stars of different generations, Madonna and Justin Timberlake, delivers. Producer Timbaland lends a trademark musical hand and his own voice to give us 4 minutes and 4 seconds of pop fun.
Pros
- Rousing marching band vibe
- Yet another great rhythmic track from Timbaland
- A superstar duo that delivers
Cons
- It's a bit predictable
Description
- Written by Madonna, Danja Hills, Timbaland, and Justin Timberlake
- Produced by Timbland, Danja Hills, Justin Timberlake, and Demo Castellon
- Released by Warner Bros. April 2008
Guide Review - Madonna and Justin Timberlake - "4 Minutes"
As Madonna nears the age of 50, it seems that time is a bit of an obsession in her recent music. However, where the ticking clock of "Hung Up" was to be indicative of time moving slowly, "4 Minutes" is concerned about such a short time left. With a working title of "4 Minutes to Save the World," fans and critics alike were teased with the possibility Madonna might be turning to the political for the first time since the ill-fated American Life project. However, it turns out that, while there might be a whiff of dread, this is simply Madonna teaming with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland to move once again to the front of the pack of contemporary pop.
A brassy, marching band vibe combines with now familiar, but still never boring, Timbaland rhythmic tricks that instantly engage the ear. Madonna and Justin trade vocals nimbly before building together into JT's pleading "We've only got 4 minutes to save the world!" Will they do it in the course of a pop song? If any of today's pop stars could save the world, it might as well be these two.
This is the lead single for Madonna's Hard Candy album. It will be released on April 29, 2008. The album includes multiple tracks produced by Timbaland, with assists from Danja Hills, and multiple tracks produced by Pharrell Williams. It will be Madonna's last studio album released under contract with Warner Bros.
