The rivalry between Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears seems to have spilled over into the music charts. Despite Timberlake’s highly anticipated comeback on “Saturday Night Live” with his new single “Selfish,” it appears that Spears’ 2011 song of the same name is still performing better. Let’s delve into the details and see who is currently reigning supreme on the charts.
After a decade-long absence from Studio 8H, Timberlake made a triumphant return with his performances of “Selfish” and “Sanctified” from his upcoming album, “Everything I Thought It Was.” The former *NSYNC member was introduced by his longtime friend and “Tonight Show” host, Jimmy Fallon. However, despite the hype surrounding Timberlake’s return, it is Spears’ little-known track from the deluxe edition of her “Femme Fatale” album that claimed the number one position on the charts shortly after Timberlake’s release.
The tension between Timberlake and Spears dates back to 2002 when Timberlake released “Cry Me a River,” accusing Spears of cheating on him. The music video even featured a Spears look-alike, adding fuel to the fire. Spears’ fans have held a longstanding grudge against Timberlake since then. Things further escalated last year with the release of Spears’ memoir, “The Woman in Me,” where she detailed their tumultuous 3-year relationship. In the book, she claimed to have undergone an abortion because Timberlake did not want to be a father at the time. She also accused him of adopting a “blaccent” when he first met Ginuwine, imitating a stereotypical African American accent.
When Timberlake performed “Sanctified” on “SNL” with rapper and singer Tobe Nwigwe and a black church congregation, social media users were quick to criticize him. Some felt that Timberlake was exploiting Black culture, using Black people in the band and background singers to prop himself up. The internet was flooded with comments calling out Timberlake for his alleged cultural appropriation and insensitivity.
“Everything I Thought It Was” is Timberlake’s first album since 2018’s “Man of the Woods.” According to reports, he has an ambitious era planned, including a concert tour. While his music career has been successful, Timberlake’s personal life has also seen milestones. Following his breakup with Spears in 2001, he went on to marry actress Jessica Biel in 2012. The couple now has two sons together. On the other hand, Spears shares two sons with her ex-husband Kevin Federline.
In the battle for chart supremacy, it seems that Britney Spears currently holds the upper hand over Justin Timberlake. While Timberlake’s comeback was met with enthusiasm, Spears’ fans propelled her song to the number one position, leaving him trailing behind on the charts. The longstanding tension between the two artists, coupled with the controversy surrounding Timberlake’s recent performance, has generated a significant amount of interest and discussion online. Only time will tell if Timberlake can regain his former glory and reclaim his position at the top of the charts.
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