For the album, see FutureSex/LoveSounds.
FutureSex/LoveSound
song
ArtistJustin Timberlake
AlbumFutureSex/LoveSounds
ReleasedSeptember 12, 2006
StudioThomas Crown (Virginia Beach)
GenreNew wave
Length4:01
Label
Writer
Producer

"FutureSex/LoveSound" is a song by American singer Justin Timberlake from his second studio album, FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006). It was written and produced by Timberlake, Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley and Nate "Danja" Hills. The song was developed following Timberlake's two-year hiatus from the music industry after the release of his debut solo album Justified in 2002, during which he felt "burnt out". "FutureSex/LoveSound" is a new wave song that incorporates elements of industrial rock and synth-funk into its production.

"FutureSex/LoveSound" received mixed-to-negative reviews from music critics, who praised its production and catchiness but criticized its lyrics. Commercially, it peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. Timberlake performed it at the DirecTV Super Saturday Night and at a concert at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. Additionally, it was included on the set lists for three of Timberlake's concert tours: FutureSex/LoveShow (2007), The 20/20 Experience World Tour (2013–2015), and The Forget Tomorrow World Tour (2024–2025).

Background and production

After the release of his debut solo album Justified in 2002, Timberlake thought he "lost his voice" in the sense that he did not like what he was doing.[1] He felt "burnt-out" after Justified; this partly changed his career's direction, and he took a break from the music industry and instead appeared in films.[1] The first role he took during this time was as a journalist in the thriller Edison Force, filmed in 2004 and released on July 18, 2006.[2] He also appeared in the films Alpha Dog,[3] Black Snake Moan,[4] Richard Kelly's Southland Tales,[5] and voiced Prince Artie Pendragon in the animated film Shrek the Third, released on May 18, 2007.[6]

When he felt inspired to compose songs again, he did not choose to reunite with his former band 'NSYNC, although he considered it after his first record.[7] Instead, he went to Justified collaborator Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley's studio in Virginia Beach, Virginia to begin sessions for his second album.[1][8] However, neither of them had an idea of what the album would be–no plan for it, and even a title.[8] "FutureSex/LoveSound" was written and produced by Timbaland, Nate "Danja" Hills, and Timberlake himself. The song was recorded by Jimmy Douglas, while its mixing was done by Douglas with Timbaland at The Hit Factory Criteria in Miami. The keys were played by Danja, who also provided the drums with Timbaland. Paul Blake played the guitar, and Timberlake sang the background vocals.[9]

Composition

"FutureSex/LoveSound" is a new wave song that incorporates elements of industrial rock and synth-funk into its production.[10][11] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes, it is set in common time with a tempo of 104 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of F♯ minor, with Timberlake's vocal range spanning from the low-note of A3 to the high-note of G#5.[12] Bernard Zuel of The Sydney Morning Herald stated that Timberlake morphs into "Michael Hutchence at his most lizard-like".[13] According to Spence D. of IGN, the beat is a "throwback from the future past of disco's demented dimension".[14]

The song contains a "rolling" synth bassline and "truncated" percussion, that according to Zuel, comes across as both "alluring and ever-so-slightly sinister".[13] It contains "slow breaks", that according to Jamil Ahmad of MusicOMH, "wrap this record round you like walking into an exclusive club with a million dollar sound system – you know you are going to have one of those nights".[15]

"FutureSex/LoveSound" is "brimming over with attitude, sharp beats and rhythm", according to Linda McGee of RTÉ.ie.[16] The song, which was described as being "suavely portentous" by Pitchfork's Tim Finney, was cited as being a mixture between "the carnal strut" of Nine Inch Nails' "Closer" and the "masochistic flutter" of the Junior Boys.[17] Finney said the song "derives its charm" from its "lofty" aspirations, "like a familiar lover staging an elaborately exaggerated seduction".[17] According to Alexis Petridis of The Guardian, "FutureSex/LoveSound" and the other opening songs of the album are heavily influenced by David Bowie's Diamond Dogs (1974).[18] The song sounds "horny" which can be seen through the lines "Slide a little bit closer to me, little girl / Daddy's on a mission to please."[19]

Reception

"FutureSex/LoveSound" received mixed-to-negative reviews from music critics. Amanda Murray of Sputnikmusic called the song "musically and melodically great", but criticized its lyrics. She wrote that the lyrics sound like the dialogue of a "low-rent porn film", highlighting the lines: "She's pressed up on me; I think she's ready to blow?" and "All I need is a moment alone, to give you my tongue and get you out of control". According to Murray, "It makes one question exactly what films Timberlake was starring in during his sabbatical." She concluded that "FutureSex/LoveSound" establishes a pattern for the rest of FutureSex/LoveSounds: "infectiously catchy and in many cases accomplished pop music, marred by retardedly retarded lyrics".[20]

In a review of FutureSex/LoveSounds, Ben Williams of New York cited the album's first five tracks, including "FutureSex/LoveSound", as updating the early 1980s Minneapolis sound: "tense drum machines, high-pitched synth squiggles and staccato funk bass lines".[21] While reviewing the album, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic noted that the first three songs of the album include the word "sex" in their titles, "as if mere repetition of the word will magically conjure a sex vibe, when in truth it has the opposite effect: it makes it seem that Justin is singing about it because he's not getting it."[22] Lucy Davies of BBC Music stated that it is initially "difficult to listen to the lyrics of the opening tracks and give an objective opinion". She wrote that it is like Timberlake is "trying to find redeemable qualities about some guy who has zero social skills and stares at women on his own from the corner of a bar. Only he seems to have found some similarly unreconstructed creepy friends shouting words of encouragement to his clunky chat-up lines, like Timbaland".[23] Commercially, "FutureSex/LoveSound" peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[24]

Live performances

"FutureSex/LoveSound" was used as the opening song on Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveShow in 2007.[25] Timberlake performed the song at the DirecTV Super Saturday Night on February 2, 2013, in New Orleans.[26] Prior to the 2013 Grammy Awards, Timberlake held a concert at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.[27] The singer performed "FutureSex/LoveSound" in a medley with "Need You Tonight" (1987) by INXS and his single "LoveStoned/I Think She Knows" (2007).[27] The song is also featured on Timberlake's The 20/20 Experience World Tour (2013–2015),[28] and The Forget Tomorrow World Tour (2024–2025).[29]

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of FutureSex/LoveSounds.[9]

Locations
Personnel
  • Songwriting – Justin Timberlake, Tim Mosley, Nate "Danja" Hills
  • Production – Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Nate "Danja" Hills
  • Recording – Jimmy Douglass
  • Mixing – Jimmy Douglas, Timbaland
  • Keys – Nate "Danja" Hills
  • Drums – Nate "Danja" Hills, Timbaland
  • Guitar – Paul Blake
  • Background vocals – Justin Timberlake

Charts

Chart (2006)Peak
position

References

  1. ^ Vineyard, Jennifer (February 9, 2007). "Road to the Grammys: Justin Wanted To Channel Coldplay On FutureSex/LoveSounds". MTV News. Archived from the original on February 11, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  2. ^ Susman, Gary (February 10, 2004). "Consolidated 'Edison'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 29, 2008. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  3. ^ Travers, Peter (January 25, 2007). "Alpha Dog". Rolling Stone. Archived January 30, 2026 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  4. ^ Lee, Nathan. "Review: Black Snake Moan". Film Comment. Archived September 18, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  5. ^ York, Keva (May 1, 2025). ""All These Things That I've Done" in Southland Tales (2006)". Senses of Cinema. Archived August 12, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  6. ^ Radulovic, Petrana (May 18, 2021). "Justice for Justin Timberlake in Shrek". Polygon. Archived May 18, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  7. ^ Moss, Corey. "Justin's Future Shock". MTV. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  8. ^ Vineyard, Jennifer (February 8, 2008). "Justin Timberlake's Fooling 'Around' Resulted In Award-Nominated Song: Behind The Grammys". MTV News. Archived from the original on December 13, 2010. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  9. ^ Anon. (2006). FutureSex/LoveSounds (Inlay cover). Jive Records
  10. ^ Caramanica, Jon (October 2006). "Justin Timberlake: FutureSex/LoveSounds". Vibe. Vol. 14. p. 142. ISSN 1070-4701. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2011.
  11. ^ Weiner, Jonah (November 2006). "Justin Timberlake: FutureSex/LoveSounds". Blender. No. 53. p. 155. Archived from the original on October 19, 2006. Retrieved May 11, 2026. ...from the supple synth-funk of 'FutureSex/LoveSound'
  12. ^ "Justin Timberlake – Futuresex/Lovesound – Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes. March 5, 2007. Archived March 3, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  13. ^ Zuel, Bernard (September 16, 2006). "Futuresex/Lovesounds – CD Review – Music – Entertainment". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived September 1, 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  14. ^ D, Spence (September 14, 2006). "Justin Timberlake – Futuresex/Lovesounds". IGN. Archived January 17, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  15. ^ Ahmad, Jamil (September 11, 2006). "Justin Timberlake – FutureSex / LoveSounds". MusicOMH. Archived May 28, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  16. ^ McGee, Linda (October 12, 2006). "Justin Timberlake – FutureSex/LoveSounds". RTÉ.ie. Archived September 18, 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  17. ^ Finney, Tim (September 13, 2006). "Justin Timberlake – FutureSex/LoveSounds". Pitchfork. Archived February 28, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  18. ^ Petridis, Alexis (September 8, 2006). "CD: Justin Timberlake, FutureSex/LoveSounds". The Guardian. Archived October 22, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  19. ^ Schwartz, Barry (September 12, 2006). "Justin Timberlake – FutureSex/LoveSounds – Review". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  20. ^ Murray, Amanda (September 17, 2006). "Justin Timberlake – FutureSex/LoveSounds". Sputnikmusic. Archived May 28, 2026 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  21. ^ Williams, Ben (September 11, 2006). "The Men Who Would Be Prince". New York. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  22. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Justin Timberlake – FutureSex/LoveSounds". AllMusic. Archived February 28, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  23. ^ Davis, Lucy (March 11, 2006). "Justin Timberlake Futuresex/Lovesounds Review". BBC Music. Archived March 28, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  24. ^ US
  25. ^ "Australia reviews give SexyBack singer the thumbs up". The New Zealand Herald. November 21, 2007. Archived March 14, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  26. ^ Rawls, Alex (February 3, 2013). "Justin Timberlake Pulls Off an Easy Comeback in New Orleans". Rolling Stone. Archived February 6, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  27. ^ Barker, Andrew (February 10, 2013). "Justin Timberlake". Variety. Archived February 20, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  28. ^ Farber, Jim (November 7, 2013). "Concert review: Justin Timberlake kicks off '20/20 Experience' tour with flirty gig at Barclays Center". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  29. ^ Rossignol, Derrick (April 30, 2024). "Here Is Justin Timberlake's 'The Forget Tomorrow World Tour' Setlist". Uproxx. Archived April 30, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 30, 2024.