September 8, 2021 was the 15th anniversary of Justin Timberlake's career changing album FuturesSex/LoveSounds. (It was released worldwide September 13, 2006.) The album's first single, "Sexyback" shot to #1, and help catapult the album to the same spot. A string of strong singles helped keep it popular for over two years, well into the FutureSex/LoveShow tour. The deluxe version came out November 27, 2007 and included a bonus DVD. The DVD of FutureSex/LoveShow: Live From Madison Square Garden contained 2 DVD disks.

The album hit #1 on UK Albums, UK R&B Albums, US Billboard 200, US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard), as well as #1 in Canada, Australia, Poland, and the top 10 in many other countries. It was certified 4x platinum with over 4.7M units sold.

The album contained all sorts of genre influences, including a quiet storm, to Minneapolis sound, EDM, dance, R&B, hip-hop, and more. The album was largely written by Timberlake, Timbaland, and Danja. (Plus input by the featured voices & rappers.)



1) FutureSex/LoveSound

2) Sexyback (featuring Timbaland)

3) Sexy Ladies/Let Me Talk To You (Prelude)

4) My Love (featuring T.I.)

5) LoveStoned/I Think She Knows (Interlude)

6) What Goes Around... / ...Comes Around (Interlude)

7) Chop Me Up (featuring Timbaland and Three-6-Mafia)

8) Damn Girl (featuring will.i.am)

9) Summer Love / Set The Mood (Prelude)

10) Until The End of Time

11) Losing My Way

12) (Another Song) All Over Again)

13) Pose (featuring Snoop Dog) (UK, Japanese & Best Buy bonus track)

13) Boutique in Heaven (iTunes Store pre-order bonus track)

13) Until the End of Time (duet with Beyonce) (Deluxe Edition bonus track)

14) SexyBack (DJ Wayne Williams Ol' Skool Remix) (featuring Missy Elliott) (Deluxe Edition bonus track)

15) Sexy Ladies (featuring 50 Cent) (Deluxe Edition bonus track)

"Damn Girl" samples "A New Day (Is Here at Last)" by J. C. Davis.



On the tour, Timberlake employed such familiar Prince talent like Mike Scott on guitar, John Blackwell on drums, plus Rose Royce percussionist Terry Santiel (who also played on Janet's Velvet Rope tour and subsequent Timberlake tours). Also in the band was the legendary Kevin Antunes, Charles Wilson, Kevin Walker, and Lloyd Dorsey.

The dancers included people like Nick Bass and Eddie Morales, both of whom have danced for Janet Jackson (Moralas being featured heavily in All For You Live From Hawaii. Bass later danced for Janet on the Billboard Awards and American Idol during "Nasty.")

The stage and theatrics of the tour was some of the most original I'd seen in a while. Large projections (that we later saw in his Super Bowl show), and a moving stage were just part of the interesting features. It also had a lot of Minneapolis sound influence throughout. Timbaland also makes a guest appearance.

I was obsessed with the album when it came out. I think it's one of his most solid works as a solo artist. He really came into his own with that album. It also stepped away from that softer cushiony sound that The Neptunes put on Justified.

Singles (videos are linked):

SexyBack (released July 18, 2006) #1 on multiple charts, and Timbaland's first #1 anywhere

My Love (released October 24, 2006) #1 in the US and elsewhere, on multiple charts

What Goes Around... Comes Around (released December 19, 2006) #1 on multiple charts in US & elsewhere

Summer Love (April 2007) #1 in US & Canada

LoveStoned (released June 5, 2007) #1 in US

Until The End of Time (released October 3, 2007) #3 highest position on HOt R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and in the top 20 elsewhere in the US

Sexy Ladies (released April 9, 2008)

This, Andre 3000's The Love Below and Beck's Midnite Vultures (and accompanying B-Sides) were always the Top Prince Wannabe Albums of the late 90s/early 00s.

No insult, all complimentary, all great records.

[Edited 9/10/21 22:58pm]

alphastreet said:

Shit back then, shit now.

EmmaMcG said:

alphastreet said:

Really loved this album, I bought a used copy of it from a charity event when it came out cause I was mad at him still about the Super Bowl and didn’t want to contribute to his sales lol
[Edited 9/10/21 16:54pm]

I'd say he lay awake at night crying about missing out on your $10
[Edited 9/11/21 1:26am]

I have to say, I think back then I edited T.I. out of his song, and took "Chop Me Up" out of my playlist. I just hated that song. I know I did some sort of alteration to a song. (I may be thinking of taking T.I. out of "Blurred Lines.")

The album is far from shit, and I did enjoy the MPLS influences on it. It felt more grown up for him, like he was really exploring. Justified was just "hey, I'm not a boy band guy," and FutureSex/LoveSounds felt like he was really wagging his proverbial (and literal) dick. The 20/20 Experience was another whole show, which was great, varied, and wonderful. But Futuresex/LoveSounds kinda set the standard for what he was willing to do with new sounds.

TrivialPursuit said:

I have to say, I think back then I edited T.I. out of his song, and took "Chop Me Up" out of my playlist. I just hated that song. I know I did some sort of alteration to a song. (I may be thinking of taking T.I. out of "Blurred Lines.")

The album is far from shit, and I did enjoy the MPLS influences on it. It felt more grown up for him, like he was really exploring. Justified was just "hey, I'm not a boy band guy," and FutureSex/LoveSounds felt like he was really wagging his proverbial (and literal) dick. The 20/20 Experience was another whole show, which was great, varied, and wonderful. But Futuresex/LoveSounds kinda set the standard for what he was willing to do with new sounds.

"My Love" perhaps? That rap bridge always bummed my high in that one, immediate trackskip when that starts up.

The MPLS vibes was best put to use on "Sexy Ladies". Vibe was both referential yet progressive.

[Edited 9/11/21 18:16pm]

WhisperingDandelions said:

"My Love" perhaps? That rap bridge always bummed my high in that one, immediate trackskip when that starts up.

The MPLS vibes was best put to use on "Sexy Ladies". Vibe was both referential yet progressive.

Yeah, he was on "My Love," I just forget if I edited that one or not. But I def took "Chop Me Up" out of the playlist, and put it in the same file as "Shy."