Single Review: Justin Timberlake – ‘TKO’
2 min read
Although The 20/20 Experience has only been out for six months, it feels like ages ago that we were all wishing Timberlake would quit acting and make his return to music. This is likely because since the album’s release, Timberlake has become an unstoppable force. After already releasing numerous singles from the album, and embarking on a sold out summer stadium tour Timberlake is about to release the second installment in The 20/20 Experience, and with it comes the latest single TKO.
If TKO is any indication, it seems as though the second half of The 20/20 Experience will be striking a different chord from its predecessor. TKO is essentially a return to form for Timberlake. For fans who were let down by Suit and Tie and Mirrors, TKO is the closest we can get to what was found on Timberlake’s pop masterpiece Futuresex/Lovesounds.
While it’s still no Sexyback, TKO is the best pop song Timberlake has released recently. It’s catchy and danceable, but it still keeps the unique Timberlake charm that sets it apart from other songs heard on the radio right now. It’s essentially guaranteed that even just listening to TKO once will leave you with the refrain stuck in your mind. This is interesting because the song still plays with Timberlake’s recent infatuation with the longer form pop song. Clocking in at over seven minutes, TKO never overstays its welcome. In fact, the song reaches its pinnacle at about five minutes in with a sparse percussion section implemented.
On the surface, TKO is a song of simplicity that will assuredly do very well on the charts. But, as a pop song, TKO is an intricate one and as the title suggests, is a technical knock out through and through. It’s safe to say that Timberlake is officially our new King of Pop.
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