The 20/20 Experience: A Youth Minister's Review

by Cory Martin
Let’s be honest. Justin Timberlake is the new Michael Jackson. Timberlake is a bonafide star, acting in several good movies, is one of the  greatest hosts in Saturday Night Live history, and is taking his time releasing great music.  The 20/20 Experience is only JT’s third solo album in 10 years. (It feels like Rhianna released more albums last year alone.) JT doesn’t overstay his welcome as a celebrity: the public cannot get enough of him because of how measured he is. He has become one of America’s most ubiquitous stars and his audience crosses all age groups. He really seems to make music that is timeless and he has broad appeal without coming across as homogenized. Timberlake is such a hurricane of talent he is two letters in to his E.G.O.T. (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) and could easily pull off such an amazing feat.
The last time we heard from JT we got the inescapable hit “Sexy Back.” JT has recently said that he regrets writing a song in a character so straight forward or “on the nose.” It seems that has left a large mark on how JT writes and performs on The 20/20 Experience. Gone are the straightforward “shackles, whips, and chains” sexual fantasy, replaced with passionate slow jams. Honestly, this album is about love and making plenty of it. This will inevitably be the soundtrack to stolen kisses, fogged up cars, steamy bedrooms, and people saying “I love you” without uttering a word. JT has morphed into a happily married man who doesn’t shy away from the joy of sex and how sex is merely the embodiment of the love they share. Never does what JT sings about verge on the vulgar, but highlights the beautiful intimacy of sex.
I assume that since you are reading this on cymt.org, you are really curious as to how this album can be used, understood, and enjoyed in our ministries. In my youth ministry, as a rule, we don’t listen to “Christian music.” I really want my students to listen to good music and thought-provoking music; I honestly feel like that is nearly impossible to do when listening to “Christian music.” This album fits easily into the thought-provoking category; each song is a pop gem that really feels like it will sound just as fresh 10 years from now. Everything about this album is interesting and intentional.

The inevitable question will be, “Should teens listen to this album?”

Yes, but the student has to understand the context of what JT is singing about. These are not lyrics about one night stands or hooking up, but celebrating a faithful marriage and the joy that comes from a trusting relationship. This album will appeal greatly to youth, because it preaches a love that provides meaning in a world without hope, in a place where teens feel alone. This album will help teens to not feel alone in the world and help them have hope that love will lift them out of the place they are in. I really don’t want people to be afraid of the sexual nature of what JT sings about: it is pure, sweet, passionate, and frankly I hope every single one of my students can experience the love that JT describes. I think this album can do a great deal to open up conversations about sexuality that are appropriate and necessary to embracing the wholeness that Christian life should express. Don’t be afraid of talking to your students about the beauty and power of love.
The 20/20 Experience is a great album and will deserve every accolade it will harvest at next years Grammys. As a self-proclaimed music snob I found myself absolutely shocked by how much I loved the album. Additionally, what has changed significantly on this album from Future Love is that the average song is seven minutes long. There are zero conventional singles that will not have to be significantly edited down to fit the three minute traditional radio single.  At first glance I was really horrified at listening to pop songs that were so long. I was really skeptical how JT would keep it from getting really annoying and repetitive, but somehow it works. Each song is full of sonically enticing beats that are full of rich, beautiful textures and instrumentation. For me the best parts were the frantic percussion and punchy brass sections that propel each song like stone in a sling shot. I really enjoyed this album and I’m not ashamed to admit that I was preliminarily biased fully expecting to hate this album and was pleasantly surprised.