"SexyBack" became Timberlake's first number-one single as a solo artist on theBillboard Hot 100, staying seven weeks at the top spot. It also topped several ofBillboard magazine'sother charts, including theMainstream Top 40,Hot Dance Airplay, andHot Digital Songs, and entered the top ten on most singles charts. Internationally, it became Timberlake's first single to reach number one in the United Kingdom. In Australia, the track was Timberlake's second number-one single, spending two consecutive weeks at the top. "SexyBack" was certified three-times platinum by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and three-times platinum byCanadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA).
Timberlake began working on his second studio album,FutureSex/LoveSounds, in December 2005. Within three weeks, "SexyBack" was one of several songs that were recorded for the album,[8] having been recorded in less than a day.[1] Timberlake toldThe Weekend Mail in 2006 that it was the "second or third song" he did with Timbaland in a list of 10 songs they recorded for the album.[9] The song was written and produced byJustin Timberlake,Timbaland, andNate "Danja" Hills, and mixed byJimmy Douglass, usingPro Tools.[1][10][11] Mixing took place in April 2006, using aNeve VR-series console.[1]
Hills played theAkaiMPC3000, as well as virtual synths on hisMacintosh computer, whileTimbaland performed instruments on theEnsoniq ASR-10 sampling keyboard. Bill Pettaway played the guitar, his part taking only two minutes to record, while Darryl Pearson was the bassist. Both the guitar and bass were digitally imported in Pro Tools during mixing, and only a section of the guitar recording was copied and pasted throughout the song.[1]
David Bowie (left) andthe Rapture (right), two artists that were cited as influences for "SexyBack".
Timberlake described "SexyBack" as "an experiment gone right from the sort of synthesizer influence to the distorted vocals", adding that it was "one of the songs that the more you listen to it its just hook after hook after hook. Its just one of those 'flow off the top of your head' tracks, in terms of melody. We wanted to keep it loose and not too rehearsed, it's one of those very experimental records though."[9] Timberlake revealed that he went "left", regarding going more rock, not in how he developed the song, but in the way he sang the song. "I wanted to sing the song like a rock and roll singer, not an R&B singer. That's the approach."[6] The day before recording, Timberlake and Timbaland had listened toDavid Bowie's "Rebel Rebel" andthe Rapture's "House of Jealous Lovers". Timberlake wanted to achieve the songs' "raw energy".[12] Timberlake said that he modeled himself on Bowie andPrince, and described the song as Bowie andDavid Byrne "covering"James Brown's 1970 song "Sex Machine".[7] Timberlake said that the song "doesn't qualify as rock or straight funk" and that he was happy with the description "club funk".[7] He was "keen for a new musical direction" following the release of his first album,Justified. "I listened to the radio for a few months and thought, 'All this sounds like shit, what do I want to hear?'. That's really all I did. Everything's [sic] got so repetitive, everything sounds the same. I had to create something unique otherwise there's no point putting it out."[13]
"SexyBack" is an "urgent, pulsing track, a cocktail of soaring, distorted vocals and heavy, electronic chords threaded together with rap", according to Camilla Long fromThe Observer.[14] The song is performed in the key ofF major (in the APhrygian mode), and is set intime signature ofcommon time with atempo of 117beats per minute.[15][16] The song's musicscape includes two-note dirty electronic riffs,[17] "leapfrogging keyboards",[18] beat box sound,[19] and incorporates the "same leaky faucet" sounds of musicianObie Trice's 2004 song "The Setup".[20] In addition, the track features Timbaland on backing vocals.[21]
Timberlake's voice in the song is processed,[18] slowed down to where his voice is unrecognizable,[20] with muffled vocals.[22] The song also features Timberlake's "low register distorted vocals."[23] Timberlake revealed that the vocals in the song were influenced byPrince.[14]
Douglas explained the title of the song, and how it affected the concept: "Justin [Timberlake] goes in the chorus 'Go head be gone with it', I called the song 'Be Gone With It', just to label it. So they're developing this song and they're going nuts and loving it, and as they play it, and I'm like: 'I don't think this hook is strong enough.' But then, at the very last minute, Justin very, very cleverly decided to call it 'SexyBack'."[1] He admitted that the song was not going to be titled "SexyBack", saying, "We weren't originally going to call it 'SexyBack'. I definitely didn't think it would become the most worn-out phrase of 2006. It just sounded like a nice opening to the song."[24]
Adam Graham ofThe Detroit News noted that Timberlake sings about whips and chains,[20] while Bill Lamb ofAbout.com said the song has a "bit of s&m tease about shackles and whips".[23] Furthermore,The Georgia Straight's Martin Turenne said that Timberlake is "shackled to the bedpost, invites the crack of his mistress's whip."[25] Ben Williams ofNew York magazine wrote that Timberlake had been working on his pickup lines, with "You see these shackles baby I'm your slave / I'll let you whip me if I misbehave."[26] Jason Bracelin of theLas Vegas Review-Journal reported that Timberlake sings about "threatening to steal your girl."[27] Charlie Brooker forThe Guardian, in regard to the lyric, "them other fuckers don't know how to act", writing that Timberlake's translation is of him telling everyone in the world that they are a "clueless fornicator". Further in his report, Brooker opined that Timberlake "threatens us" by using "language so offensive" with the line, "You motherfuckers, watch how I attack".[28] In addition, Brooker noted that the line, "If that's your girl you'd better watch your back", as Timberlake stating his intention to meddle in the private affairs of others.[28] Barry Schwartz ofStylus noted that the song features "pillow talk",[29] in reference of the song's "sex-crazed lyrics".[21]
Timbaland and Justin Timberlake performing "SexyBack" during Timberlake's 2007FutureSex/LoveShow concert tour
In theBillboard magazine review of the album, contributor Katy Kroll wrote that Timberlake "claims to be bringing 'sexy' back to pop music, and indeed he is. You can almost feel beads of sweat rolling off the title track and 'SexyBack' featuring Timbaland".[30] Chris Willman ofEntertainment Weekly was complimentary towards Timbaland, producer of the song, writing that Timbaland offers "tougher, trickier rhythms, minimal live playing, a plethora of hip-hop cameos, and a self-consciously hard, edgy club sensibility" to "SexyBack".[31] Russell Baillie ofThe New Zealand Herald noted, "The producer's angular synthesizer crunch is all over it – at best on the single 'SexyBack' where they dispense with a chorus, leaving the song sustained by its vocal fireworks, electrofunk and Timberlake's repeated declaration that 'I'm bringing sexy back.'"[32]PopMatters' contributor Quentin B. Huff wrote that "SexyBack" was the "fraternal twin" toNelly Furtado's 2006 song "Promiscuous".[33] Andrew Murfett ofThe Age wrote that the song was a "raunchy club banger that slyly suppresses" Timberlake's customary falsetto. He continues, "it's introduced a new phrase into the pop cultural lexicon".[34] Glenn Gamboa ofNewsday was complimentary towards the song, writing that it was "Timberlake at his best, mainstreaming a combination of the wild, edgy dance-pop style of Basement Jaxx with Missy Elliott's more experimental hip-hop to create a boldly inventive sound that still pleases the masses."[3]
Kelefa Sanneh ofThe New York Times wrote: "...'SexyBack', a twitchy, emaciated track that shot to the top of the charts and also became an irritating catchphrase. (Suddenly everyone was bringing AdjectiveBack.)"[35] Dagny Salas ofNorth by Northwestern commented that Timberlake and Timbaland trade ridiculous lines, with "Get your sexy on/Go ahead, be gone with it" and "Dirty babe/You see these shackles/Baby I'm your slave/I’ll let you whip me if I misbehave."[36] Salas continued in her review that it was not a song that should be good, "but does that really matter when it's good in the way that songs are during the summer [...] That kind of good makes songs like 'SexyBack' completely irresistible."[36] Matt Burns ofThe Post wrote, "Take the polarizing summer single 'SexyBack', a repetitive song with little structure that doesn't know when to stop, all centered on a ridiculous declaration. Somehow, it works."[37]The Diamondback's Michael Greenwald reported that "SexyBack" was "lyrically, musically and vocally the weakest song" on the album.[38] A writer ofThe State Journal-Register was not impressed with the song and concluded, with"'SexyBack' is the most annoyingly dumb song to hitBillboard's No. 1 since 'Hollaback Girl'".[39] Guy Blackman ofThe Sunday Age wrote: "The distorted vocals and stilted production of first single 'Sexyback' make Timberlake's claim to be 'bringing sexy back' ... seem almost laughable."[40]Entertainment Weekly put it on its end-of-the-decade, "best-of" list, saying, "Justin Timberlake, we didn't even know that sexy was missing until 2006. We're just happy Justin brought it back safe and sound."[41]Charlie Brooker, columnist forThe Guardian, jokingly criticised Timberlake, saying "How DARE this dot-eyed, crop-haired, fun-sized, guff-tongued, pirouetting waif-boy scamper on to the world's airwaves and loudly proclaim to be the sole global administrator of all things sexy? You'd think it takes massive balls to do something like that, but given the shrill, squeaking vocals cheeping through his ghastly little gobhole, it's safe to assume he's got testes the size of capers. He's practically a human dog whistle, the shrieking, high-pitched, mosquito-lunged ponce."[42]
Upon the song's release, it received divided opinions, which pleased Timberlake. "This is such a departure from the first record," said Timberlake. "More people might like it, less people might like it, but you can't call me a chicken."[43]
"SexyBack" was commercially successful in the United States. The single debuted at number 90 on theBillboard Hot 100 in July 2006. After climbing to number 31, it propelled to number one the following week.[44] "SexyBack" became Timberlake's first number-one hit on theBillboard Hot 100 from hisFuturesex/Lovesounds album.[45] The single spent seven consecutive weeks at the number-one position on the Hot 100.[46] In addition to the Hot 100, "SexyBack" also topped the followingBillboard charts:Hot Dance Airplay,Hot Dance Club Play,Hot Dance Singles Sales,Pop 100 Airplay,Pop 100, andTop 40 Mainstream charts.[47] "SexyBack" was certified three-times Platinum by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[48][49] This song made the then-seventh-biggest jump to number one in theBillboard Hot 100 history,[50] climbing thirty spots from number 31 landing it at the summit of the chart on September 9, 2006.[44] According toNielsen SoundScan, the song had its biggest selling week in September 2006 and sold 250,000 as a digital download.[51][52] "SexyBack" was on the Hot 100 for a significant thirty-six weeks. As of 2018, the song has accumulated 6.1 million units in the US, combining sales (4.9 million copies sold) and equivalent streams.[53][54]
In the United Kingdom, "SexyBack" debuted at number 13 on theUK Singles Chart based solely on download sales one week prior to its physical release,[55] and ascended to the top of the chart the following week, becoming Timberlake's first UK number-one single.[56] On the AustralianARIA Charts, "SexyBack" debuted at number one[57] and spent two consecutive weeks at the top becoming Timberlake's second number one single there (after "Rock Your Body" reached the summit in 2003),[58] and has been certified two-times Platinum by ARIA Charts.[59] Also, in Canada and Austria, the single has peaked at number three[citation needed] and number five respectively,[60] becoming his most successful single tied with his third released single "What Goes Around.../...Comes Around" in both nations.[61] It has also been certified three-times Platinum in Canada.[62]
In Sweden, "SexyBack" peaked at number four,[63] while in France it peaked at number eight[44] becoming Timberlake's first top ten hit from the album, and would later score two more top ten singles with "My Love" and "What Goes Around.../...Comes Around". The song peaked at number one in Germany, Ireland, New Zealand and Norway, and at number two in Switzerland and Belgium.[44]
Themusic video for "SexyBack" was directed byMichael Haussman and features Spanish actressElena Anaya.[64] The video was filmed in June 2006.[65] In discussion of the video filmed in Barcelona, Timberlake said: "Obviously we went for the architecture, the exteriors, the interiors — the vibe in Spain is different than anywhere else in the world. It's so cool to shoot there, but the girls are also pretty hot, so that doesn't hurt either".[6]
Timberlake decided to work with director Michael Haussman, following his work onMadonna's 1994 music video for "Take a Bow". "It's one of my favorite videos Madonna's ever done," Timberlake said. "Even today, I still remember the visuals, the images, how he captured her. A lot of times, Madonna seems like she's the person in control, and in that video, she seemed vulnerable. It was a cool thing to see."[6] The video was first shown onMTV'sMaking the Video on July 25, 2006.[66]
Timberlake and Anaya star as rival spies who become romantically entangled.[67] The video starts off with a cable car looking over Barcelona, from the West looking East, then it switches to a luxurious-looking hotel in Plaça de Catalunya with Elena Anaya taking off her shirt, revealing her black bra and a gun tucked at the back of her skirt, all while German newscaster Alexander von Roon plays on her TV. It then cuts to Timberlake in a different room; then to a club scene and Timberlake in front of a white background. Timberlake and Anaya are seeming to be spies in the hotel room and strangers in the club. In the hotel scenes, the spies both conduct espionage at each other. Elena then hides her gun at a drawer. At the club meanwhile, Timberlake is seen chasing a woman whom he recognized as Anaya herself. He keeps chasing her but she keeps disappearing out of his sight. Back at the hotel scenes, both Justin and Elena stick a tape and places a glass of water on the door so that they would know if someone snuck into their room, while Timberlake heads to the other room to deal with his rival spy Anaya. Elena then goes to the bathroom preparing to take a shower. At a certain point, Timberlake sneaks over to Anaya's room by jumping over to her balcony. Then when Anaya goes to check it out, Timberlake confronted her, but it quickly became erotic as they begin kissing each other and Justin ripped the pearl necklace from her neck. Justin finally traps Elena and she tries to reach for her gun but Justin grabs her hand and pull it away from the drawer. Their sexual tension culminated when the two are later seen in the bed together having sex. After that, Elena covered Justin's mouth to not tell anyone about their encounter, and Timberlake leaves her and went back to his room. When Justin was about to enter, he noticed that his tape was ripped, indicating that someone entered his room. Knowing that a bomb was planted, he jumps into another balcony before an explosion ensues, avoiding it completely. In the club, Justin and Elena met at the bathroom stall and they immediately kiss each other, proving that they still have a romantic interest after their sex in the hotel. It ends with the figure of Anaya sitting on a chair beside a small television in which her kiss with Timberlake is frozen on the screen.
The music video onYouTube has received over 290 million views as of March 2024.[68]
The song's abrasiveelectro-funk came as such a shock to the system in the era of pitched-up soul samples andMOR pop-rock that you might not have been quite sure what to do with it immediately upon its July release. But the song shortly proved itself as something powerful enough to both define top 40 and also push it forward, while severing the final ties between Timberlake and his teen-pop past.
——Billboard staff's "The Greatest Pop Star By Year (1981–2019)"[69]
"SexyBack" helped introduceEDM sounds totop 40 radio, as it brought together variations of electronic dance music with Timberlake's R&B sounds.[70][71]VH1 listed it third on their list of the "100 Greatest Songs of the ’00s,"[72] while theLos Angeles Times listed it as an honorable mention among "the most timeless tunes of the 2000s", with an editor stating it "sounded wholly unfamiliar and unique."[73]Entertainment Weekly deemed it a "modern dayclassic."[70]Complex staff acknowledged in 2013 that the song "arrived on the scene like a hurricane", adding that while it had been established that "the dude from 'N Sync" was "more than capable" when he first released solo material withJustified four years earlier, "SexyBack" put Timberlake in a position "where you were forced to take him seriously."[74]
In addition it was featured on the setlist for three editions ofRock in Rio in 2013, 2014 and 2017 and two editions of theiHeartRadio Music Festival in 2013 and 2018.
The indie rock bandRock Plaza Central gained attention for their radically different cover of "SexyBack", with brass-and-banjo roots-rock stylings.[85] Americanrock bandPoison released a cover of the song as a promotional single and a bonus track on theWal-Mart version of their 2007 cover albumPoison'd![86] British soul singerCorinne Bailey Rae recorded a jazz/swing version whilst appearing onBBC Radio 1'sLive Lounge in 2007.[87] American pop rock bandMaroon 5 covered the beginning of the song as part of a medley during their 2012Overexposed Tour.Cartoon starsWeebl and Bob covered the song with their version "Pastry" including the refrain "I'm bringing pastry back"[88]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
^Pitchfork Staff (August 21, 2009)."The 200 Best Songs of the 2000s".Pitchfork. RetrievedOctober 22, 2022.The duo had already drawn attention with the grinding eroto-disco of "SexyBack"....
^Blackman, Guy; Martin Boulton; Tom Ryan; Ruth Brown; Nicole Bittar; Barney Zwartz (September 17, 2006). "SexyBack".The Sunday Age: 48.
^Geier, Thom; Jeff Jensen; Tina Jordan; Margaret Lyons; Adam Markovitz; Chris Nashawaty; Whitney Pastorek; Lynette Rice; Josh Rottenberg; Missy Schwartz; Michael Slezak; Dan Snierson; Tim Stack; Kate Stroup; Ken Tucker; Adam B. Vary; Simon Vozick-Levinson; Kate Ward (December 11, 2009). "The 100 Greatest Movies, TV Shows, Albums, Books, Characters, Scenes, Episodes, Songs, Dresses, Music Videos, And Trends That Entertained Us Over The Past 10 Years".Entertainment Weekly. p. (1079/1080):74–84.
^Kyles, Kyra (December 29, 2006). "Sacha Baron Cohen broke out this past year, making us laugh, and opening our eyes — Mr. Popular".Chicago Tribune.RedEye: 42.
^Graff, Gary (June 22, 2007). "Poison bandmates end tensions with new album of cover songs".The Plain Dealer: T15.Poison also laid down a take of Justin Timberlake's "Sexyback" which appears on special editions of "Poison 'd"
^Dalton, Stephen (August 17, 2007). "Web video of the day — Viewing Guide".The Times: Times2 23.
^"Pastry".Weebl's Stuff. July 3, 2008.Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. RetrievedJuly 27, 2021.
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