Justin Timberlake - What Goes Around... Comes Around

"What Goes Around... Comes Around" is the third single from Justin Timberlake's second solo album FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006). It became Timberlake's third consecutive number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100. On the album, the song is listed as "What Goes Around.../...Comes Around (Interlude)". It was co-produced by Timbaland, who provides backing vocals.

Song information

"What Goes Around..." has been described by critics as a second version of "Cry Me a River", due to the similarity in theme, structure, and tune of the two songs. Both songs are unforgiving indictments of an unfaithful lover.[citation needed] Despite the familiar topic, Timberlake has stated that, unlike "Cry Me a River", "What Goes Around..." isn't about his former girlfriend Britney Spears. Other sources have claimed that the song is about the break-up of a family friend aside from Ayala, who was deeply hurt and affected. The song features a two-minute interlude called "Comes Around", featuring the album's producer Timbaland. At the beginning of the song, there is about a five-second solo of the Middle Eastern instrument the oud. The beat is then changed to a more upbeat version of the same melody with more percussion. Whereas in "What Goes Around..." Timberlake laments how his ex-lover has hurt him, "...Comes Around" discusses how karma has caught up with the former flame, because now her new boyfriend is treating her the same way she treated Timberlake in the first portion of the song.

The song has received generally positive reviews. Billboard magazine praised the single, suggesting it was superior to the two previous FutureSex/LoveSounds releases, "SexyBack" and "My Love". Billboard reviewer Chuck Taylor said: "To call this 'Cry Me a River, Pt. 2' is among the greatest compliments we can muster, given the disposable quality of the previous two releases." He also went on to predict that the song would continue Timberlake's string of hits: "Sounds like three in a row for Timberlake." About.com reviewer Bill Lamb stated that the song "is one of the most gorgeous pop melodies of the year."

With "What Goes Around...", Timberlake accomplished another chart feat: he became the first male artist since Usher in 2004 to have three or more consecutive number-one hits from one album.

Timberlake performed the song on the Grammy Awards in 2007.

Music video

The music video for the song has been described as a short film since the director's cut duration exceeds nine minutes and the beginning even features credits similar to a film. The video was directed by Samuel Bayer with dialogue written by Alpha Dog writer and director Nick Cassavetes. This is Timberlake's first video with explicit language. The video stars Timberlake as well as Scarlett Johansson and Alpha Dog co-star Shawn Hatosy. It also features the interlude ("...Comes Around") to the song.

It premiered on iTunes Store on February 9, 2007. This was the first time an artist ever premiered its video in the store. Before the official release online, trailers were released on Timberlake's official website as well as on many television outlets. The director's cut is only available online and a shorter edited version sent out to television channels. The video's official television premiere was during MTV's 2007 Grammy Awards pre-show on February 11, 2007. On iTunes Store, two versions are available for download; the clean version, as well as the explicit version. It currently holds the record for the fastest selling video on the iTunes Store, selling a record breaking 50,000 downloads.

The video starts off with Timberlake flirting with Scarlett Johansson on the rooftop of a 1950's Moulin Rouge circus-style club. She rejects with a tease at first but eventually leaves with him to go back to his place. They are shown in bed together then Johansson is shown jumping into his pool and floating underneath the surface as if drowning. Timberlake runs out and pulls her up as she laughs it off and starts to kiss him in the pool. Timberlake is then shown introducing her to a drunk Shawn Hatosy at the club calling her "The One".

Hatosy seems to be interested in Johansson which can be confirmed for sure when Timberlake catches the two making out in a stairway later on, despite Timberlake's wish for Hatosy to look out for her. After punching Hatosy and chasing after Johansson (who has sped off in her car), Timberlake then chases her in his Porsche Carrera GT until seeing her run right into a fiery car crash pile up in which she is thrown from the car and lands feet away from the crash. Timberlake notices a body lying prone on the ground. He gets out and kneels over her while the camera view moves toward the sky and ends the video. This video retired from TRL on May 7, 2007 after 40 days. This is Timberlake's 3rd video to retire from this countdown after "SexyBack" and "My Love".

In September 2007, the music video won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction.