JT's Ode to Britney?

Posted Dec 21st 2006 4:46PM by TMZ Staff

Justin Timberlake has reportedly said that his song "What Comes Around.../...Goes Around," from his smash FutureSex/LoveSounds record, is not about Britney Spears. But, both a quick glance and a study of the lyrics make me think JT did have some inspiration from Britney on this one.

For example, here's a verse and part of the chorus:

Is this the way things are going down?
Is this how we say goodbye?
Should've known better when you came around (should've known better that you were gonna make me cry)
That you were going to make me cry
Now it's breaking my heart to watch you run around
'Cause I know that you're living a lie
But that's okay baby 'cause in time you will find

What goes around, goes around, goes around
Comes all the way back around

That sure sounds like a reference to someone we know all too well these days. Many songwriters get ideas for their work based on actual experiences. This song can't be about his time with Cameron, given that they are still seemingly going strong. Nope, this song, judging by the lyrics in their entirety, is about hurt and disappointment that can typically only come from a first true-love-gone-wrong scenario.

It is a terrifically done song that explores emotional depths few of us men are willing to even think about, let alone put out for public consumption. JT owns this tune because he seems to deliver it with the feeling of someone who's been there. Maybe he isn't singing about Britney on this one, but that kind of hurt had to come from somewhere.

Even if it isn't about her, the song is at least a bit of a metaphor for how things have gone for each of them since their breakup in 2002. Britney is obviously still in a downward spiral. Justin, on the other hand, is skyrocketing. He's been a "star" for some time. Now he's reaching new heights and is unquestionably the new "King of Pop." JT is even getting some love from hip indie kids. I was one of those who didn't buy in at first, but performances like this from last weekend's Saturday Night Live appearance show how much he's grown as an artist and a professional. Something his ex hasn't shown any signs of lately.

Filed under: Music, Britney Spears, Sound Bytes

Comments [16]

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1. My favorite JT tune goes something like this :

i wanna give you diamonds rings

i wanna give you everything
that you already have
so took a box

I put a hole in the box ...
great song . And who said sexy ain't back . Dickheads .

Posted at 10:23PM on Dec 21st 2006 by Nasty Boil

2. I THINK JT IS SEXYY

Posted at 11:25PM on Dec 21st 2006 by Oprah

3. JT still has it for Britney or he would not keep singing about her. If you look at the pictures of those two together they really had majic. She has messed up but you never know what the future holds. I have never seen JT smile and show that much affection to any other girl except for Britney. They both need to just give it up and get it together. It would definitely help their careers.

Posted at 11:22AM on Dec 22nd 2006 by tl

4. They will totally end up toghether one day~!! They have real love and I hope to see it sooner rather then later~!

Posted at 10:36PM on Dec 23rd 2006 by Sabrina

5. I think that the song might not be about Britney Spears per se. Maybe it was about another relationship long before he went with Britney. You can feel the pain that Justin Timberlake is feeling in the song's lyrics. It's one of the album's best songs, next to my favorite, My Love.

Posted at 4:21AM on Dec 25th 2006 by Preston

6. come on.. its obvious that song's about Britney. He says it isn't, but we all know better. Just like he said *Cry Me A River* wasn't for her and we know it is and her *Everytime* wasn't for him. They both need to face it.. they're still head over heels for each other. Move over Cameron, Brit's single again and she may come back looking for her long lost love. :) I hope they do end up together in the end. I've never seen 2 people so *in love* but then again.. we all thought that about Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey and look what happened. She became white trash and ditched him. Maybe there's future chemistry there again??? Ehh.. who knows.. I just hope Brit and JT get it together.... with each other that is. :)

Posted at 5:05PM on Jan 4th 2007 by Kelly

7. I sincerely feel they were too young before.. and made mistakes, but undeniable love is there has been there and they should probably look back at the relationships that have left them feeling incomplete - It's probably really possible for them to find real happiness now - they are both single and can easily relate to each other... I hope they both find the happiness they deserve. They are both talented and well matched.

Posted at 2:10PM on Jan 5th 2007 by Janelle

8. I'm all for a good romance, and I loved them together...but, Justin is WAY to good for the new and improved miss I have two kids, no baby daddy and where oh where are my panties Spears......

Posted at 9:36PM on Jan 5th 2007 by Brooklyn chick

9. dang writer, get off of Timberlake's dick. the new king of pop. are you fucking serious? and britney and justin were like 100 years ago. people move on. i doubt the two of them will ever get back together.

Posted at 7:01PM on Jan 6th 2007 by yeah right

10. a number of years ago, when brit & jt were in the midst of their break up, i was in florida on business and found myself with my own personal driver who took me around miami. we got to chatting; he mentioned some of the famous people he'd ferried around, and JT came up. the driver didn't flat out say it out loud but he made reference to some commotion in the back seat while driving JT and female friend from Miami to Orlando in the middle of the night; when i mentioned that Justin was essentially accusing Britany of cheating the driver snorted "yeah right." Love JT but I wish he'd just get off the Brit-cheated thing - it's like the pot calling the kettle black. Just like i used to wish Gwen Stefani would stop writing songs about Tony already.

Posted at 10:26AM on Jan 9th 2007 by Kara

11. they belong together in the end they will be back together.they are bth still young yet and have alot of time to grow.there new albums will go big i think buy time they are 30 years old they will say i do.she will have 2-more kids with him i wish you both the best.him and cameron were not a good match.

Posted at 9:39PM on Jan 11th 2007 by zippy

12. As much as I would love to see Justin and Britney together again, it's not gonna happen unless she starts having some respect for herself and those babies of hers. Justin has a great relationship with his mom so can you really see him with someone who doesn't spend time or act motherly towards her boys. There's millions of mothers in the world who take care of their children and go out, while keeping the kids their TOP priority (okay maybe it's something that us middle class people do although I know even if I was as rich as Brit I wouldn't put my boys on the back burner they would always come first.) BTW I agree with zippy, I didn't find JT and Cameron to be a good match either but that's just my opinion no one knows how they were out of the spotlight.

Posted at 11:22AM on Jan 15th 2007 by Tina

13. camer on can i get aiece of ass from you soon my sexy little sexy momma
will you come and see me really soon cameron i really love that sexy body
of your`s if that is ok with you cameron please e mail me back ok at thai e mail address
ok cameron .me email adress cipollafrank@comcast.net please me laret tonight ok so we can talk ok cameron ill be in touch ok my love bunny
frank cipolla from delaware

cipollafrank@comcast.net

Posted at 2:15PM on Jan 16th 2007 by frankcipolla

14. britney and justin are destined to be together just look at their past relationship in the relationships they had after each other they never looked as happy as they did with each other. we all know 'cry me a river' was abt brit if it wasn't why the britney look-alike in the video?'what goes around' clearly is too ,hello 'is he everything you wanted in a man?' and 'it's breakin my heart to watch you run around bc i know that you're living a lie' 'everytime' is about justin and i think i've just begun*having my fun) is too.i just hope that i fthey do get back together the press doesn't give them a stupid nickname like brustin or justney just stick w/ brit and justin ppl. their mom's still talk to each othe rall the time and mothers have like superpowers when it comes to their children so they may convince them that they should give it another go. i wish britney and justin all the luck in the world in whatever they do and whomever they decide to be with.

Posted at 10:38PM on Jan 19th 2007 by chaz

15. "What Goes Around" is not about Britney, its a song for his bestfriend Trace, who just got cheated on by his ex fiancee. Just becuz its a break up song doesnt mean it has ne thing to do with Justin and his ex girlfriend. What everyone here is failing to notice is the fact that Brintey cheated on Justin. And if you are TRUELY in love with someone, you dont cheat, either you break it off, resist temptation or keep your damned pants on. Something Miss Thang didnt do. The only reason ppl are saying how good of a couple they are and why they need to get back together is becuz they were both the top pop icons back then. She made her bed now she has to lay in it...with someone other then Justin.. She obviously wasnt ready to settle down when she was with Justin and still isnt. She got married had 2 kids and is now single, partying with paris hilton instead of being at home with her children where she belongs. I think Justin deserves way better then someone who cant appreciate the sweet, loving and loyal man that he is. As far as that whole driver story...its crap. Like i am going to sit in a back of a car and listen to some drivers stories about how some celeb was in the back with someone they werent suppose to be with. Did you even ask the man if he liked JT? Or Britney for that matter. Chances are he hated Justin and wanted Brintey something fierce.
Just becuz someone writes a song doesnt mean its about them or their life. You try coming up with 9 years worth of songs about your life...im sure your gonna run out of ideas..so you write about whatever is going on in your life AROUND you. DO i think JT and Britney should get back together? hell no, he deserves better. and Cameron wasnt ne better...

Posted at 8:38AM on Jan 22nd 2007 by Noelle

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