Selfish (Justin Timberlake song)

For the song of the same name by NSYNC, see Celebrity (album).
"Selfish"
Promotional graphic
Single by Justin Timberlake
from the album Everything I Thought It Was
ReleasedJanuary 25, 2024 (2024-01-25)
Genre
Length3:49
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Justin Timberlake singles chronology
"3D"
(2023) 		"Selfish"
(2024)
Music video
"Selfish" on YouTube

"Selfish" is a song by American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake. Released on January 25, 2024, it is his first solo single release in almost 6 years, following his July 2018 single "SoulMate". It is the lead single from his forthcoming sixth studio album Everything I Thought It Was.[3]

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]

Following the song's release, fans of Britney Spears started a campaign to boost her song of the same name on the iTunes chart.[7][8][9] The song originally appeared as an album track on the deluxe edition of her seventh studio album Femme Fatale (2011).[7] On January 29, 2024, Spears herself praised Timberlake's "Selfish", writing on Instagram that she was "in love" with the song.[10][11] However, the post was shortly removed.[12]

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 Adam Blackstone singing "Jealous Guy" by Donny Hathaway.[13][14] During the process, Timberlake reflected that men usually do not sing about "an emotion that makes them vulnerable".[15]

Promotion

Music video

An official music video, directed by Bradley Calder, was released on January 25, 2024.[16][17]

Live performances

On January 27, 2024, Timberlake performed the single on Saturday Night Live.[18]

Chart performance

"Selfish" debuted in the United States at number 30 on the Adult Top 40[19] and at number 33 on the Mainstream Top 40.[20]

"Selfish" debuted at number 37 on the Canadian CHR/Top 40.

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.[21] On January 29, 2024, the Official Charts Company revealed that the song was debuting at number 35 on the country's Singles Midweek Chart.[22]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Spotify.[23]

Charts

Chart performance for "Selfish"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[24] 37
Netherlands (Tipparade)[25] 38
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[26] 47
UK Singles Sales (OCC)[27] 51
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[28] 30
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[29] 33

References

  1. ^ Sacher, Andrew (January 25, 2024). "Justin Timberlake details new album Everything I Thought It Was, shares "Selfish"". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  2. ^ Atkinson, Katie (January 20, 2024). "Justin Timberlake Unveils New Song "Selfish" at Memphis Concert & Drops Everything I Thought It Was Album Trailer". Billboard. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  3. ^ Strauss, Matthew (January 25, 2024). "Justin Timberlake Announces First Album Since 2018, Shares Video for New Song "Selfish": Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  4. ^ Spanos, Brittany (July 5, 2022). "What the Hell Happened to Justin Timberlake?". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  5. ^ McIntyre, Hugh (September 21, 2023). "NSYNC Reunion Gives Justin Timberlake A Chance For A Comeback". Forbes. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  6. ^ Zemler, Emily (January 26, 2024). "Justin Timberlake Announces World Tour, Performs With Classroom Instruments on 'Fallon'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Stahl, Jay (January 25, 2024). "Britney Spears fans, Justin Timberlake battle on iTunes charts with respective 'Selfish' songs". USA Today. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  8. ^ Brathwaite, Lester Fabian (January 25, 2024). "Who's more 'Selfish'? Britney or Justin?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  9. ^ Heching, Dan (January 27, 2024). "Britney Spears's 2011 track 'Selfish' is charting higher than Justin Timberlake's new song of same name". CNN. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  10. ^ Bacardi, Francesca (January 29, 2024). "Britney Spears apologizes, shouts out Justin Timberlake's 'Selfish' after fans make her song skyrocket on the charts". Page Six. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  11. ^ Sachdeva, Maanya (January 29, 2024). "Britney Spears 'apologises' to Justin Timberlake for memoir revelations". Independent. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  12. ^ Griffin, Marc (January 30, 2024). "Britney Spears Praises Justin Timberlake's New Music, Apologizes For Memoir". VIBE.com. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  13. ^ Mali, Shreya (January 26, 2024). "The Real Meaning Behind Justin Timberlake's Selfish". The List. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  14. ^ McNeal, Bria (January 25, 2024). "Justin Timberlake Is Feeling a Little Selfish". Esquire. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  15. ^ 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'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  16. ^ Kreps, Daniel (January 25, 2024). "Justin Timberlake Expresses His Vulnerability on New Song "Selfish"". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  17. ^ Aswad, Jem (January 25, 2024). "Justin Timberlake Drops New Single and Video, "Selfish"". Variety. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  18. ^ "Justin Timberlake - Selfish (Live)". YouTube. January 28, 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  19. ^ "Justin Timberlake - Adult Top 40/Adult Pop Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  20. ^ "Justin Timberlake - Pop Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  21. ^ "Official Singles Sales Chart on 26/1/2024 26 January 2024 - 1 February 2024". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  22. ^ "Official Singles Chart Update 29 January 2024 - 4 February 2024". Official Charts. January 29, 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  23. ^ "Justin Timberlake - Selfish". Spotify. January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  24. ^ "Justin Timberlake Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  25. ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 4, 2024" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  26. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  27. ^ "Official Singles Sales Chart on 26/1/2024 26 January 2024 - 1 February 2024". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  28. ^ "Justin Timberlake Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  29. ^ "Justin Timberlake Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 28, 2024.