Justin Timberlake is making a comeback with his highly anticipated forthcoming album, and he recently dropped the first single, 'Selfish.' While the song has been a success, its debut on the Billboard charts may not have been as impressive as some fans were hoping for, and the pop star himself might agree.
Debuting at No. 19 on the Hot 100, 'Selfish' marks Timberlake's highest-charting hit in over half a decade. While this would be a career highlight for many artists, it falls short of his previous successes. In 2018, when Timberlake was promoting his album 'Man of the Woods,' both 'Filthy' and 'Say Something' (featuring Chris Stapleton) debuted at No. 9 on the Hot 100. Achieving two top 10 hits was not uncommon for Timberlake, but now it seems he's struggling to replicate that level of success.
Although 'Selfish' may not have performed as well on the Hot 100, it is still doing well on various Billboard charts. The song quickly climbed to No. 4 on the Digital Song Sales chart, thanks to strong sales in its initial days. Additionally, it has become a top 20 hit on several radio lists, which is no small achievement.
In the time between his last album and now, Timberlake has found success as a featured artist and as a member of NSYNC. He has had several Hot 100 hits, including 'The Other Side' with SZA from the second Trolls film, 'Sin Fin' with Romeo Santos, and most recently, 'Keep Going Up' with Nelly Furtado, which he was featured on under his own name.
Timberlake also reunited with his NSYNC bandmates for a one-off single in 2023. The group recorded and released 'Better Place,' which was featured in the latest Trolls film, 'Trolls Band Together.' The track peaked at No. 25 on the Hot 100, making it a top 40 hit.
'Selfish' serves as the lead single from Timberlake's upcoming sixth album, 'Everything I Thought It Was,' which is set to be released on March 15. Although he still has time to release more singles before the album drops, whether he will continue promoting 'Selfish' or move on to another song depends on various factors, including its performance in the coming weeks.
Timberlake has faced some backlash in recent years, and a major hit could help him regain favor. Criticism arose when many felt he didn't adequately support Janet Jackson following their joint Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction. He was also mentioned in Britney Spears' memoir, which did not do his image any favors.
Will 'Selfish' be the song to turn things around for Timberlake? Only time will tell. With his album release approaching, fans eagerly await what else he has in store.
