Justin Timberlake has dropped a new single “Take Back The Night” from his follow-up album for the year, 20/20 Experience. Timberlake teased the song a few days earlier as reported here and it’s another six-minute epic.
As reported by mtv.com:
“Over stirring strings and percolating percussion, JT attempts to woo a would-be lover: ‘Girl, this was your city/You did it all and more/Broke every law except for one, babe: attraction,’ he coos. ‘Are you ready?’
“He gets a little more direct in the chorus, begging the object of his affections to join him on the dance floor: ‘Your love’s a weapon/Give your body some direction/that’s my aim/And we can take back the night.’
“And, like the majority of songs on the first 20/20 Experience, this one’s a long-player too, stretching to nearly six minutes, and featuring plenty of staccato-ed guitars and blasts of horns on the extended outro, each of which is announced by Timberlake himself: ‘And the horns say!”‘
The song is drawing comparisons to one Justin’s idol’s, Michael Jackson. And while we’re often accustomed to hearing the former ‘N Sync artist channel ‘The King Of Pop’ or Prince, we’re also accustomed to him giving them credit.
But according to nydailynews.com:
” The song, titled ‘Take Back The Night,’ released Friday, has a defining bass line that’s suspiciously close to the one that pumps Michael Jackson’s classic 1983 single ‘Wanna Be Startin’ Something.’ It also mimics that track’s smooth and breathy, falsetto lead vocal.
“To be fair, the song does have its own melody, even if it’s one that clearly recalls the King of Pop’s work in his ‘Thriller’ heyday.”
One major distinction between Timberlake and other artists is that he’s often criticized for taking black music and culture without paying homage.
While I’m unsure of the merits of these accusations, there are a significant number of people who feel this way. The nydailynews.com article points out the difference between Justin and Robin Thicke, as it states:
“A striking resemblance in a bass line also can be heard on Robin Thicke’s smash single, ‘Blurred Lines.’ That song uses the bass figure from Marvin Gaye’s old hit ‘Got To Give It Up.’ But that’s a credited sample.”
The 20/20 experience album is set to drop this September. And “Take Back The Night” is actually being offered as a free download with pre-order of the album.
Take a listen and give us your feedback.
