It’s no secret that pop star Justin Timberlake is a big deal. The 25-year-old has sold over 100 million records worldwide, and his career has been nothing short of wild. In this podcast, we take an in-depth look at the man behind the music — a career that has spanned a variety of art forms. From singing in front of an audience to recording original songs to playing the piano to writing story songs, to simply being Justin Timberlake, we look at what drives this musician to succeed.
The Beginning: From the Barrio to Stardom
We begin our journey with a look back at how Justin became a household name. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, to an American father and a Colombian mother, Timberlake was surrounded by music and dance throughout his childhood.
Music and Dance: Singing in front of an Audience
Singing Led Zeppelin, Rihanna, Adele, and Britney Spears, to name a few, has been a part of Justin’s daily routine for as long as he can remember. It’s something he’s done since he was a child, and it seems to be a part of who he is.
Original Songs: Justin’s Songwriting
The songwriting process for original songs is different for every artist, but for Justin, it started with writing and recording “ believ[ing ] in love ” and “ That’s Not Me ”. In these two songs, Justin lays the foundation for his catalog of hits going forward, as he discusses his belief in love and the power of words, respectively.
The Early Days: Child Star to Stardom
Child stars go through a period of intense public scrutiny, as parents and celebrities alike try to project an image of ideal parenting. With that in mind, it’s no secret that child stars are sometimes looked upon as “cute” or “innocent”, even when they’re not necessarily that way. In this segment, we look at the various pressures and failures Justin has had to deal with as a child star.
The Rise to Stardom: 2004-2008
The rise to stardom for Justin Timberlake started in earnest in 2004, when he starred in the hit Disney/Pixar film, Super Bowl. The film, which tells the story of a group of friends who discover they’re the only ones who can stop an alien invasion, would go on to gross over $1 billion at the worldwide box office.
The Music and Movie Career: 2010-2017
In this segment, we look at the major milestones in Timberlake’s music career, as well as his successful transition from performing in front of an audience to recording original songs.
How to Follow Justin Timberlake
Part of getting to know the man behind the music is following his career. To that end, here are a few ways you can follow Justin’s career: Stream his music. You can find most of his music on Spotify, but there are plenty of other Justin-heavy playlists as well. Check out his top songs, as well as new music, and see what he’s up to next. Watch his movies. While he’s been busy acting and making movies, Justin has always been a big movie fan. There are loads of lists about his movies, but for our purposes, we’re going to stick to his top five. Read his books. He’s always been a big reader, so you’re in for a treat when you catch him reading non-music books. You can find plenty of his books on Audible. Follow his social media. This is a must-do, as Justin does an unhealthy amount of media coverage. You can follow him on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, as well as on LinkedIn.
The Early Years
As the son of a musician, it’s no secret that Justin’s career path has been quite a colorful one. From singing in the restaurant industry as a child to writing original songs and recording with his older brother, to playing the piano and guitar, to simply being Justin Timberlake, we take a look at what drives this musician to succeed. Sing in front of an audience After singing with the Jackson 5 and the Temptations, Justin Timberlake enrolled in musical theater and began performing in clubs and theaters across the country. While performing, he’d often sing solo or with his brother, which is when he learned to play the piano. Recording songs In 2005, Timberlake and his longtime friend and collaborator,
Hollywood Life
You might not have realized it when you were growing up, but Justin spent much of his youth in a very public spotlight. As a child, he starred in several TV shows and films, including Home Improvement and its spinoff, The Managed House. As a teen, he had a huge hit with his first single, “Justified,” which was featured in the movie The Social Network. From there, he went on to have a very successful career as a musician and actor.
Music and Entertainment
Like many musicians, Justin loves to engage in charitable work, and he has done so through the years through the Jonas Brothers and the Jonas Brothers Foundation. In addition to his music, Justin loves to engage in pop culture and entertainment interviews. You can find his most recent interview on Jimmy Fallon’s show, where he talked about his career, relationships and more.
Metastasize
The early years of Justin Timberlake were very successful for the young musician, but as he grew older, he began to face competition from newer, more marketable acts. As a result, he turned to writing original music and recording original songs, which is what led to his breakthrough as a solo artist in 2011 with the release of The 20/20 Experience.
More So, Less So
Justin’s career has been nothing short of amazing. From selling 100 million records to becoming the first artist to win the Billboard Music Award for Best New Artist, it’s safe to say that he’s been through a lot. Along the way, he’s developed quite the rep as a wild and crazy musician. But while his career has been phenomenal so far, it’s important to remember that it’s still only the beginning. There’s still much more to this artist to discover, and as such, we help to prepare the way for what’s to come.
The Future
With his career still very much in its infancy, we can’t say for certain what lies ahead for Justin Timberlake. But based on his track record, we can expect big things from the man. In his early 20s, Justin was incredibly shy and reserved, even in front of his family. But he started to open up to us about his journey, his music and his life as an artist. We didn’t realize it at the time, but he’d been prepared for this moment his entire life.
Conclusion
There is no telling what the future holds for this artist. With such immense success and an ever-expanding catalog of hits behind him, it’s hard to imagine that today’s pop star will be tomorrow’s footnote in pop music history.This podcast is brought to you by Mack Weldon. For 30% off your first purchase, go to MackWeldon.com