UnNews:Timberlake shows softer side with Speedwagon cover
Sunday, May 8, 2016
HOLLYWOOD, California -- Justin Timberlake hasn't released an album since the two-part album, The 20/20 Experience, back in 2013, but that's all about to change. However, those expecting a summer bop from the man who ten years ago brought sexy back... prepare to be disappointed. Unbelievably disappointed.
Timberlake's new single, which is already blowing up on pop and adult contemporary radio, is a cover of REO Speedwagon's 1984 soft-rock hit, "Can't Fight This Feeling." Despite previous reports, the song will not be featured in the upcoming Trolls animated movie.
"I'm not gonna embarrass myself with a song from a little kids' movie," he says. "I'm gonna embarrass myself with cheesy 80s rock ballads."
When asked about this dramatic change in direction compared to the pop and R&B flavors of his previous NSYNC and solo albums, Timberlake had this to say:
| “ | My whole entire career, I've been known as The Guy From NSYNC Who Isn't Joey Fatone. Or that guy who does funny things with Jimmy Fallon. And I was sick of playing the same old uptempo, three-and-a-half-minute, three-chord pop smashers. I have long wanted to show the world that I'm a lifelong REO Speedwagon fan. I hope y'all like my new perm. | ” |
He adds, "I really wanted to get [original Speedwagon guitarist] Gary Richrath to play the solo on my cover, but nobody bothered to tell me he died in September. So I settled for [ Journey guitarist ] Neal Schon."
Nevertheless, Timberlake's new single features a who's-who of washed-up 80s ballad-rockers: Taking over piano duties is former Styx frontman Dennis DeYoung. Night Ranger's Jack Blades provides the bass. Phil Collins bangs the drums.
And cameo vocals are provided by such moldy oldies as Christopher Cross, Gordon Lightfoot, Peter Cetera, Hall & Oates, Collins, Peter Gabriel, Michael McDonald, Peabo Bryson, and Michael Bolton, among others.
This isn't the only REO Speedwagon-related song blowing up on pop radio this summer. Pitbull and Enrique Iglegias dropped their latest single in April -- "Messin' Around," which interpolates the band's 1981 hit, "Take It on the Run."
Justin Timberlake's new single, Can't Fight This Feeling, is now available on YouTube, iTunes, Spotify, CD, eight-track, cassette, and of course, vinyl.
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Joey Fatone "Justin Timberlake sinks to lowest low since NSYNC broke up" MTV News, May 6, 2016
- Alan Gratzer "I can't fight this feeling anymore... Timberlake better pay me royalties" VH1 News, May 6, 1984