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13 Jul 2006

Justin Timberlake concert review, Butch Walker Video Premiere ft. Avril Lavigne and more

Tune in as Arjan of Arjanwrites.com has the latest behind-the-scenes look at the pop-alternative music industry, interviews, unreleased demo tracks, free downloads and original music reviews.

Justin Timberlake Concert Review

"Enjoy you summer, because I'm gonna take over fall!," cheered Justin Timberlake when he waved his audience goodbye and left the stage on Saturday at the intimate Paradiso theatre in Amsterdam. Amidst tight security, the singer was in the Netherlands to showcase his new album FutureSex/LoveSounds in front of a few hundred fans, reporters, international label executives and other V.I.P hot shots. The new disc is the follow up to 2002's Justified that sold over seven million copies worldwide. Besides writing up my impressions of his gig and new songs, I recorded audio and video as well that I will post soon. Keep checking this blog for that. I posted more photos on Flickr.

After listening to Timberlake's new single "Sexy Back" last week, I was curious what his new songs would sound like. Fans that were getting a little uneasy after hearing the singer's new Timbaland produced groove can relax. "Sexy Back" is not like any other new album track he performed. I'm pretty certain that "Sexy Back" is intended as a shock song: a single to grab radio time and get people buzzing. New songs he performed include "My Love," "Till The End Of Time," "What Goes Around," "She Knows" and "Sexy Back."

With his charismatic stage energy, sexy dance moves and flawless vocal delivery, watching Timberlake perform live is a real joy. After previously seeing him in concert with N*Sync and together with Christina Aguilera during his last world tour in 2003, there's no doubt in my mind that this Memphis native was born to be an entertainer.

At the age of 25, Timberlake has the gift to inject his pop music with a sense of soul and stamina that is unusal for an artist still so young. In many ways, Timberlake is like an old black soul trapped in a white man's body. In fact, arguably one of his greatest contributions as a pop star is that he takes his polished popsoulfunk to a whole new and diverse generation of music lovers. "Music is music," Timberlake once said. "It's the universal language. And whether you're gay, straight, black, white, you know, whatever, you like what you like."

He introduced this very special showcase in Amsterdam by greeting the crowd and explaining that he was looking forward to sharing some of his brand-new tracks from FutureSex/LoveSounds. "I hope you like these new tracks, and if you don't well then fuck you," he said in his endearing, pseudo bad boy manner.

Dressed in a '50's inspired, tailored black suit with white shirt, black tie and stylish hat, he kicked off the night around 10:00 p.m. with an extended version of "Cry Me A River" that ran a little over seven minutes and included a propulsive new intro and a rocky guitar finale. He went straight into the Latin-flavored "Senorita" that he sang while playing vintage Rhodes fenders.

The first new song he played was "My Love," a mid-tempo R&B ballad in the vein of the glossy soul pop on "Justified." The track was followed by a crazy fun mash up of "Like I Love You" and Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" that had the versatile Timberlake jumping around the small stage with an electric guitar.

His next tune was another new track called "Till The End Of Time," a sugar-sweet pop ballad that I found bland and will probably make a nice B-side. It was followed, however, by a noteworthy new song that Timberlake did not introduce but I'm guessing it is called "She Knows." The song has a vigorous club groove that allowed him to show off some of his flashy dance moves and beatboxing. "She's bad, and she knows," he sings.

After telling the audience he was glad to be back in Amsterdam, he went straight into the pop-oriented new track "What Goes Around" that is the "Cry Me A River" of this new album. Its lyrics talk about hurt, pain and revenge. He continued playing straight up versions of "Last Night" and "Take It From Here," both from Justified.

With the crowd in a frenzy, Timberlake hit them even harder by performing his biggest hit "Rock Your Body" that turned into an all-out celebration. He lost the tie, unbuttoned his shirt and was ready to bring his party to a climax before coming back for an encore.

His return to the stage was introduced by the band's own version of Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams." Fun! Half-way through, Justin ran on stage and shut down the band by lifting up his arm. He then counted to three to introduce the deliciously fat and ferocious funk groove of his new single "Sexy Back" as the showcase's final song.

The shock song is a fantastic track to perform live. It oozes with sexuality and packs so much energy that the singer had the crowd jumping up and down for almost five minutes straight. Also, his natural vocals fit the song much better than the computerized crooning that is on the recorded version. Timberlake was totally feeling the song as well, humping his mic stand and prancing around.

That brought this impressive and successful showcase to an end at around 11:15 p.m. I appreciate Timberlake even more after seeing him in such a small and intimate venue that does his showmanship a lot more justice. Much kudos also to Timberlake's incredible seven piece band and four back-up singers who completed the shining concert experience.

For more pictures and videos, visit www.arjanwrites.com.
Video Premiere: Butch Walker "Bethamphetamine" (ft. Avril Lavigne)
If you watched CBS' Rockstar Supernova last week, you might have noticed singer/producer Butch Walker in the jury together with Tommy Lee. Jason Newsted and Gilby Clarke. Butch will be producing Supernova's debut album this fall. In the meantime, he is touring the country to promote his new album "The Rise and Fall of Butch Walker and The Lets Go Out Tonites" that he recorded with his new band The Lets Go Out Tonites. The disc dropped in stores yesterday.

First single from the album is the finely cut, glammed up rock and roll track "Bethamphetamine (Pretty Pretty)." The video for the song features Butch' studio pal Avril Lavigne for whom he wrote "My Happy Ending." Avril plays a naive, love-obsessed girl falling in love with the wrong guy. Drama! Darn do I feel bad for her when she misses the last bus in the video.

Watch Butch Walker "Bethamphetamine"
Stream a Clip of the New Killers Single "When You Were Young"
Guess what just dropped in my inbox today? An mp3 teaser of The Killers' new single "When You Were Young." Download it here. Read the full press release about the band's new album after the jump. My first impression of this track: More guitars, more vibrato vocals and still some synths left in the chorus. This sounds hooky, but it is not as instantly catchy as "Mr. Brightside" and their other hits. I'm curious what the entire song will sound like.

Download The Killers "When You Were Young" [mp3]

Continue reading "Stream a Clip of the New Killers Single "When You Were Young""


Shakira Discusses Sexuality with MTV Netherlands
When I grow up, I want to be just like Barbara Karel. The Dutch radio DJ used to be a VJ with MTV Netherlands conducting most of the celebrity interviews for the Dutch version of MTV News. During her time with the music station, she interviewed countless artists in typical Dutch fashion: tough, honest and straight up. You might remember the chat she had with Missy Elliot about her alleged homosexuality.

Missy wasn't very pleased.

In a recent interview with Shakira, Barbara quizzes the Colombian beauty what it is like to be a "sex goddess," if she is really as sexy in bed as in her videos and if she likes men with "beer bellies." Hilarious. (The first minute of the clip is some Dutch babble introducing the segment.) (Source)

Watch MTV Holland "Barbara Meets Shakira"

Reader's Comments

1. 2006-07-13 19:25  
He's so cute!!!
2. 2006-07-26 20:14  
YUCSK!?
3. 2006-07-26 21:42  
With his charismatic stage energy, sexy dance moves and flawless vocal delivery, watching Timberlake perform live is a real joy. - i m sorry but FLAWLESS? you gotta be kidding me..

he is a POP SINGER.. GAWD

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