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Timberlake Taking Shots at Janet Jackson, Prince?
A little storm is brewing about "Give It To Me," a new Timbaland track featuring Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake that is supposedly dissing Janet Jackson and Prince. The song is leaking all over the mighty internets but Perez is streaming it here.
Justin has a few lyrics that might lead you to believe he is taking shots at Janet Jackson and Prince:
"Could you speak up and stop mumbling (. . .) Sitting on top, it is hard to hear you from way up here. I saw you trying to look cute on TV. Just let me clear the air. We missed you on the charts last week. That's right you wasn't there. If you say sexy never left, then why is everybody on my shit? Don't hate on me just because you didn't you come up with it. If you see us in the club, go on and walk the other way."
He uses words that might indicate he is singing about Jackson like "mumbling" (she is soft-spoken) and "clear the air" (the exact words she used during her Oprah interview). But why in the world would he aim for Janet Jackson with regards to Nipplegate? He came out of the controversy relatively unscathed so why go back to that situation and relive it? I don't think he needs that press. But on the other side Timberlake seems to point to poor album sales, which can easily be a reference to Janet Jackson's "20 Y.O." flop that is hard to deny. It makes you wonder. You might even argue he's talking about his ex Britney.
Also, the singer might be criticizing Prince who supposedly said that "sexy never left" in response to Timberlake's "Sexy Back" jive. I doubt that Prince ever said such a thing. He is way above all the pop action of the moment.
As far as I'm concerned, Timberlake is just playing around and being "street" like the big man he is. But I'm curious to hear your thoughts.
November 14, 2006 in Audio Streams | Permalink
Comments
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It is obviously about Janet Jackson and a response to her Oprah interview. She really didn't dis him so I am wondering why he would slam her like that. Very careless.
Posted by: Tropico at Nov 14, 2006 1:18:01 PM
My thoughts: WHO CARES!
Posted by: Yasuri Yamileth at Nov 14, 2006 3:32:42 PM
Seems unlike Justin, unless there was something more to it that we don't know about it.
PS - Arjan - Long time reader, first time commmenter. And I already voted for you for the bloggies... heh heh You do great work and always enjoy your entries and exposure of new artists.
Posted by: DCFC Fan at Nov 14, 2006 6:09:12 PM
Beauty summed it up the best:
http://beautynthebeat.blogspot.com/2006/11/182-are-you-serious.html
Posted by: R at Nov 14, 2006 6:47:35 PM
Sorry, Timba bores me.
Posted by: xolondon at Nov 14, 2006 11:12:19 PM
This isn't half as scandalous as Duran Duran's desire to work with him.
Posted by: bubba at Nov 15, 2006 1:44:28 AM
Prince played at a party for celebrities (after an award show, I can't remember which). During his concert he said something to the effect - I heard someone is bringing sexy back...sexy never left. Prince has a sense of humor. I don't think it was a dis, I think when he said sexy never left, he was referring to himself.
Posted by: al at Nov 15, 2006 6:03:08 AM
this "sound" is so tired.
Posted by: James Derek Dwyer at Nov 15, 2006 1:50:27 PM
I hope for his OWN sake that Justin ISN'T leveling insults against two iconic musical heroes -- especially not Prince. Justin has a decent voice, but he has always seemed a tad too full of himself. Timberlake had better remeber that fame is fleeting and he can become tomorrow's news quite quickly. Also, he's NOTHING compared to Prince; he doesn't have anywhere near his talent.
Posted by: Mervin Malone Jr. at Nov 17, 2006 10:51:49 AM
What's with this rumor Timbaland and Justin Timberlake is dissing Janet in a song!
Probably the guy feels so hot he feels so invincible and omnipotent! Apparently it was quoted that he mentions this phrase "Could you speak up and stop the mumbling I don't think you're getting clear. Sitting on the top it's hard to hear you from way up here. I saw you tryin to act cute on tv just let me clear the air. We missed you on the charts last week.... Damn that's right, you wasn't there. If sexy never left, then why's everybody on my shit" Well if Janet mumbles she's is a girl/woman. He sings in falsetto...sounding kinda soulful but so soul-less he seems like it was a drag with high estrogen levels! HEE HEE HEE! Yuck he really sounds so bad! Well he ain't the Man he thinks or pretends to be, just because he has a hit on Billboard! Well he should be reminded of other fake soul pretenders.......Ice Ice Baby.....Is no where to be found after his White rap act several years back! Remember what goes around comes around! Better shut up and zip up that fag of a mouth! That ain't no sexyback that is just talking back! Thats no way to talk back to a lady! No dissing man or you'll soon be kissing ass soon enough!
Posted by: xar126 at Nov 22, 2006 6:19:12 PM
Remember Miles Davis? If someone was original, inventive, and displayed vituosity in the way they performed their music, he would say, "That motherfucker can play." I'll give you a short list of some motherfuckers he thought could play :Herbie Hancock, Jimi Hendrix, John McLaughlin, and Prince.
Prince has been making hits for thirty years. He has worked with the biggest names in the industry, and has earned the respect of musicians in all genres of music. Justin Timberlake seems limited by comparison, in fact there is no comparison, he simply is not on the same level as Prince. He may be popular now, but the public is fickle. Remember Shabba Ranks? Justin could learn a thing or two from Shabba. At any given time there are a few too many song and dance men on the charts, so inevitably, a few vanish with time.
Fifteen minutes just passed...Justin who?
Posted by: Carl at Dec 17, 2006 3:21:13 AM
ok. PRINCE SUCKS!! Justin is a very talented performer, i dont care what you people say. Dont call Justin a faggot because have you SEE prince!? Did you see HIM at the Super Bowl Halftime show this year!? He sucks!! and wtf is with the purple shit and the headband thing. atleast Justin is a good singer and knows how to dress. "Prince is a legend." whatever.. he's getting old and needs to quit. he's done. and Justin's just getting started. as for Janet, yeah, she's a good singer. but, on the Oprah interview she was treating Justin pretty badly. made him seem like he was the horrible person in that whole situation. It was an accident, not anybody's fault. and some people are saying Justin is just getting street cred, and is too full of himself. Well, if anyone has a reason to be, its him. and to the person who said Prince was refering to himself when he said Sexy Never Left, was wayy wrong. Prince will never be as Sexy as Justin.
Posted by: Tiffany at Apr 1, 2007 1:38:18 AM
if he is talking crap about anyone im glad its two freaks of nature like prince and janet jackson. HELLO?? if anyones a fag its prince and janet is such an airhead in her interviews. at least justin seems somewhat of a normal person. its not like anyone in that business can maintain all of their sanity.
Posted by: Lindsay at Apr 13, 2007 9:50:38 PM
Listen I really think JT is way to smart to pull this insult, but if he did it subliminally, this is ingenius because he builds street cred and he can deny it, if any controversies arise....
Ahmad
www.ezluv.com
Posted by: Ahmad at Apr 22, 2007 12:20:28 AM
Carl and Tiffany are complete idiots with the comments they made. They obviously don't have a clue.
And if you really paid attention to JT's lyrics, he wasn't dissing Prince at all. What he was doing was even worse, putting himself on the same level as Prince. Practically most of JT's latest album tries to use the Prince sound of the 80's. JT and Timbaland used Prince's sound in a very undynamic and boring way.
Posted by: Jay at Apr 23, 2007 3:39:16 PM
Lets not forget that Timbaland SAMPLED PRINCE'S BEAT on JT's newest album. Listen to Future/CrapSounds or whatever its called- you will hear Prince's Beautiful Ones.
And TIFFANY, girl, I am assuming you are 14 years old and know nothing about music if you are claiming the Half-Time show sucked. Most of the world is saying that that was the greatest Half-Time show in history, even better than Michael Jackson's performance. Those are called instruments dear. I realized babies like you have never seen them before, but REAL artists use them to make music. And Prince's vocal range is far greater than Justins. Remember, Prince is almost 50- of course his voice doesn't sound as polished as it used to.
Don't get me wrong, I love to dance to JT, Nelly, and Timbaland when I'm in the club; its fun stuff. But don't compare it to Prince.
Posted by: Alex at Apr 26, 2007 3:37:15 PM
Right on Alex!
Posted by: Kelly at May 11, 2007 7:29:05 PM
who does justin think he is, talking about 'could you speak up and stop mumbling' he sings in falsetto for heaven sake so he's one to talk, before he starts to chat about Janet And Prince he should know he's got haterz of his own. i can't wait til the day he takes a downturn i will be so happy
Posted by: JayJAy at Jun 11, 2007 4:23:40 PM
YOUR TOO RIGHT! JAYJAY
Posted by: Olivia at Jun 11, 2007 4:26:36 PM
Justin is a amazing artist and I love him...but he pales in comparision to Janet or Prince.... They have been legends before he even got off the Disney Channel. And while he too may one day become a legend he will never, as far as I am concerned, surpass Prince, muchless Janet. Prince won over a generation, and Janet that woman has won over the world, over and over again.
Posted by: Charles at Jul 6, 2007 6:50:24 PM
