Selfish (Justin Timberlake song) explained

Selfish
Cover:Justin Timberlake - Selfish.png
Caption:Promotional graphic
Type:single
Album:Everything I Thought It Was
Genre:
Length:3:49
Label:RCA
Producer:
Prev Title:3D
Prev Year:2023
Next Title:No Angels
Next Year:2024

"Selfish" is a song by American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake. Released on January 25, 2024, it is his first solo single release in almost six years, following his standalone July 2018 single "SoulMate". It is the lead single from his sixth studio album Everything I Thought It Was.[3] It was followed shortly after by a promotional single, "Drown", in late February.

Background and release

Between 2020 and 2023, Timberlake did not release any solo singles, only appearing on collaborations such as "Stay with Me", "Sin Fin" with Romeo Santos, and on Timbaland's "Keep Going Up" alongside Nelly Furtado.[4] In September 2023, he reunited with NSYNC on the promotional single "Better Place" for the soundtrack album to the 2023 DreamWorks Animation film Trolls Band Together; he also co-produced the soundtrack itself.[5]

On January 25, 2024, Timberlake appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He announced the release of "Selfish" and revealed that the parent album Everything I Thought It Was had taken four years to produce.[6]

Composition

The song was written by Timberlake, Amy Allen, Henry Walter, Theron Thomas, and Louis Bell. The song was produced by Timberlake, Cirkut, and Bell.

In an Apple Music 1 interview, the singer explained that the songwriting process of the single started with his music director Adam Blackstone singing "Jealous Guy" by Donny Hathaway.[7] [8] During the process, Timberlake reflected that men usually do not sing about "an emotion that makes them vulnerable".[9]

Critical reception

Billboard compared the track to Timberlake's previous lead singles saying it "is actually much more unassuming" describing it as "a honeyed, ornately produced mid-tempo ballad built on warmly groaning organs and a bossa nova drum machine," and while lyrically "not exactly a brand-new sentiment" for Timberlake, it is "one sweet enough that it's hard to really get up much hate for."[10] It was voted as favorite new music release in their weekly poll.[11] Consequence gave the song a widely negative review, calling it "a turd" and stating that "'Selfish' isn't even bad enough to be interesting, and it's certainly not ambitious; it's like he was aiming squarely for mediocre and still came up short."[12] The New York Times found it thematically similar to Nick Jonas' 2014 single "Jealous".[13] The Daily Beast also compared "Selfish" to Jonas' song, and said it "seems to be mature, radio-friendly, well-produced, and, yes, ambitionless pop."[14]

Promotion

Music video

An official music video, directed by Bradley Calder, was released on January 25, 2024.[15] [16]

The music video on YouTube has received over 35 million views as of June 2024.[17]

Live performances

On January 19, 2024, Timberlake performed a free one-night-only concert at the Orpheum in Memphis where he live-debuted the new single after teasing a new project on social media in previous days.[18] On January 27, 2024, Timberlake performed the single on Saturday Night Live. The performance was introduced by Jimmy Fallon.[19] Timberlake performed the song on the February 23, 2024 episode of the UK's The Graham Norton Show.[20] [21] In April 2024, Timberlake opened the iHeartRadio Music Awards, performing the single, as well as "No Angels", the second single off of Everything I Thought It Was.[22] Timberlake also performs the song on his seventh concert tour, The Forget Tomorrow World Tour (2024).[23]

Chart performance

In the United States, "Selfish" debuted and peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Timberlake's highest debut in six years on the chart. It became his 39th career solo entry on the Hot 100 and his 29th to reach the top 40.[24] In Canada, the track debuted and peaked at number 22 on the Canadian Hot 100.[25]

In the United Kingdom, "Selfish" debuted at number 47 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart and number 51 on the Singles Sales Chart on January 26, 2024.[26] On January 29, 2024, the song appeared at number 35 on the country's Singles Midweek Chart and ended up debuting at number 37 on the main chart on February 2, 2024;[27] [28] it appeared on that chart for nine weeks.[29] "Selfish" climbed to its eventual peak at number 29 in the following week.[30] Six weeks after its release, the song peaked at number 5 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart.[31]

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[32] 82
Croatia Airplay (HRT)[33] 13
Estonia Airplay (TopHit)[34] 2
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[35] 37
Ireland (IRMA)[36] 52
Israel (Media Forest)[37] 4
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[38] 3
Latvia Airplay (LAIPA)[39] 13
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[40] 5
Nigeria Radio (TurnTable Top 100)[41] 96
Panama (Monitor Latino)[42] 6
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[43] 17
San Marino (SMRRTV Top 50)[44] 20
South Africa Airplay (TOSAC)[45] 1
South Korea BGM (Circle)[46] 92
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[47] 60
Venezuela (Record Report)[48] 43

Monthly charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Estonia Airplay (TopHit)[49] 3
Russia Airplay (TopHit)[50] 12

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormatLabel
VariousJanuary 25, 2024RCA[51]
ItalyJanuary 26, 2024Radio airplaySony Italy[52]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Justin Timberlake details new album Everything I Thought It Was, shares "Selfish". Sacher. Andrew. BrooklynVegan. January 25, 2024. January 25, 2024.
  2. Justin Timberlake Unveils New Song "Selfish" at Memphis Concert & Drops Everything I Thought It Was Album Trailer. Atkinson. Katie. Billboard. January 20, 2024. January 25, 2024.
  3. Web site: Justin Timberlake Announces First Album Since 2018, Shares Video for New Song "Selfish": Watch. Pitchfork. Strauss. Matthew. January 25, 2024. January 25, 2024.
  4. Spanos . Brittany . July 5, 2022 . What the Hell Happened to Justin Timberlake? . January 28, 2024 . Rolling Stone.
  5. McIntyre . Hugh . September 21, 2023 . NSYNC Reunion Gives Justin Timberlake A Chance For A Comeback . January 28, 2024 . Forbes.
  6. Zemler . Emily . January 26, 2024 . Justin Timberlake Announces World Tour, Performs With Classroom Instruments on 'Fallon' . January 26, 2024 . Rolling Stone.
  7. Web site: Mali . Shreya . January 26, 2024 . The Real Meaning Behind Justin Timberlake's Selfish . January 28, 2024 . The List.
  8. McNeal . Bria . January 25, 2024 . Justin Timberlake Is Feeling a Little Selfish . January 28, 2024 . Esquire.
  9. Web site: Evans . Greg . January 25, 2024 . Justin Timberlake Shows "Selfish" Side In New Single And Video, And Explains Why He's Not Hosting This Week's 'SNL' . January 28, 2024 . Deadline Hollywood.
  10. Friday Music Guide: Justin Timberlake, Megan Thee Stallion, Ice Spice & More . .
  11. Fans Choose Justin Timberlake's 'Selfish' as This Week's Favorite New Music . .
  12. Web site: Justin Timberlake's"Selfish" is a Turd: New Song Review . January 25, 2024 .
  13. News: Justin Timberlake's Envious Comeback, and 12 More New Songs . The New York Times . January 26, 2024 . Pareles . Jon . Zoladz . Lindsay .
  14. News: Justin Timberlake's 'Selfish' Comeback is Missing Something . The Daily Beast . January 25, 2024 . Roth . Madeline .
  15. Justin Timberlake Expresses His Vulnerability on New Song "Selfish". Rolling Stone. Kreps. Daniel. January 25, 2024. January 25, 2024.
  16. Justin Timberlake Drops New Single and Video, "Selfish". Variety. Aswad. Jem. January 25, 2024. January 25, 2024.
  17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je0roKRn3nY Justin Timberlake - Selfish (Official Video)
  18. Justin Timberlake Unveils New Song 'Selfish' at Memphis Concert & Drops 'Everything I Thought It Was' Album Trailer . Billboard. January 20, 2024. January 20, 2024.
  19. Web site: Justin Timberlake - Selfish (Live). YouTube. January 28, 2024. January 30, 2024.
  20. Web site: Justin Timberlake - Selfish (Live on The Graham Norton Show). YouTube. February 23, 2024. February 24, 2024.
  21. Web site: Who is on BBC's The Graham Norton tonight - February 23?. Manchester Evening News. Isgin. Kieran. 23 February 2024. 24 February 2024.
  22. Justin Timberlake Kicks Off 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards With 'Selfish' & 'No Angels' Performance . Billboard. April 1, 2024. April 1, 2024.
  23. Web site: Rossignol . Derrick . Here Is Justin Timberlake's 'The Forget Tomorrow World Tour' Set list . . April 30, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240430151840/https://uproxx.com/pop/justin-timberlake-forget-tomorrow-world-tour-setlist/ . April 30, 2024 . United States . April 30, 2024 . live.
  24. Justin Timberlake Scores His Highest Hot 100 Debut in Six Years with 'Selfish' . .
  25. Justin Timberlake | Biography, Music & News . .
  26. Web site: Official Singles Sales Chart on 26/1/2024 26 January 2024 - 1 February 2024. Official Charts Company. January 30, 2024.
  27. Web site: Official Singles Chart Update 29 January 2024 - 4 February 2024. Official Charts. January 29, 2024. January 30, 2024.
  28. Web site: Official Singles Chart Top 100 on 2/2/2024 2 February 2024 - 8 February 2024. Official Charts. February 2, 2024. February 2, 2024.
  29. Web site: Justin Timberlake . .
  30. Web site: Official Singles Chart Top 100 on 2/2/2024 9 February 2024 - 15 February 2024. Official Charts. February 9, 2024. February 9, 2024.
  31. Web site: Official Singles Downloads Chart on 1/3/2024 1 March 2024 - 7 March 2024. Official Charts. 1 March 2024. 2 March 2024.
  32. The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 12 February 2024. The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1771. 4. February 12, 2024.
  33. Web site: Airplay Radio Chart Top40 – 6. tjedan (05.02.2024.). February 12, 2024. HRT. February 16, 2024. February 16, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240216110739/https://www.top-lista.hr/www/airplay-radio-chart-top40-7-tjedan-12-02-2024/. live.
  34. Web site: Top Radio Hits Estonia Weekly Chart: Mar 28, 2024. TopHit. 21 May 2024.
  35. Web site: Tónlistinn – Lög Birt – 17. febrúar 2024 – Næst uppfært 24. febrúar 2024.. is. Plötutíðindi. February 22, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240222215911/https://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/. February 22, 2024.
  36. Web site: IRMA – Irish Charts. Irish Recorded Music Association. February 10, 2024.
  37. Web site: Media Forest charts - 2024 - 05 28-01-24 03-02-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20240210132609/https://mediaforest-group.com/weekly_charts.html. February 10, 2024. Media Forest. February 10, 2024.
  38. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of February 7, 2024. Billboard Japan. ja. February 7, 2024.
  39. Web site: Latvijas spēlētāko dziesmu Radio Top 2024. gads – 10. nedēļa. Latvia's most played songs Radio Top 2024 – Week 10. lv. LAIPA. 12 March 2024. 11 March 2024.
  40. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. February 5, 2024. February 2, 2024.
  41. TurnTable Official Radio Songs: February 9th, 2024 - February 15th, 2024. TurnTable. February 22, 2024.
  42. Web site: Top 20 Panama – Del 18 al 25 de Marzo, 2024 . . Spanish . February 26, 2024 .
  43. Web site: OLiS – oficjalna lista airplay. OLiS. pl. March 4, 2024. Select week 24.02.2024–01.03.2024.. https://web.archive.org/web/20240226185853/https://www.olis.pl/charts/oficjalna-lista-airplay. February 26, 2024.
  44. Web site: Top 50 – Radio San Marino RTV – 19/02/2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240222035554/https://www.sanmarinortv.sm/radio/radio-san-marino/top-50-ascoltare . 2024-02-22 . it . . 22 February 2024 . 12 July 2024.
  45. Web site: Local & International Radio Chart Top 10 Week 22-2024 . 2024-05-31 . . Recording Industry of South Africa. en-GB.
  46. Web site: BGM Chart – Week 4 of 2024. Circle Chart. ko. February 9, 2024. February 9, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240209214433/https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/onoff.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1060&targetTime=4&hitYear=2024&termGbn=week&yearTime=3. live.
  47. Web site: Veckolista Singlar, vecka 6. Sverigetopplistan. February 9, 2024.
  48. Web site: Top 100 - Record Report. Record Report. February 9, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240209215132/https://www.recordreport.com.ve/publico/top100/. February 9, 2024. live.
  49. Web site: Top Radio Hits Estonia Monthly Chart: March 2024. TopHit. May 21, 2024.
  50. Web site: Top Radio Hits Russia Monthly Chart: March 2024. TopHit. April 7, 2024.
  51. News: Ragusa . Paolo . Justin Timberlake Announces New Album, Reveals First Single "Selfish": Stream . February 1, 2024 . . January 25, 2024.
  52. Web site: Sisti . Sara . Justin Timberlake - Selfish (Radio Date: 26-01-2024) . EarOne . February 1, 2024 . it . January 25, 2024.