Justin Timberlake's "Mirrors" Is My Favorite Song Of 2013 So Far

I haven't been this excited for a pop song in god knows how long. Yes, Justin Timberlake's new promo single "Mirrors" (available with pre-orders of The 20/20 Experience on iTunes) sounds like it was lifted from his previous album, 2006's FutureSex/LoveSounds. Yes, it's another collaboration with Timbaland. And yes, it's that good.



Below are parts of my writeup of the song on Idolator:

The string-laden cut starts off with triumphant-sounding synths before a familiar drum loop kicks in. (We hear you, “What Goes Around… Comes Around”!) And then there’s the buoyant chorus, which has Timberlake harmonizing with himself via multi-tracked vocals, lamenting, “I don’t wanna lose you now, I’m looking right back at the other half of me!”

Clocking in at over eight minutes, “Mirrors” also recalls Justin’s epic FutureSex/LoveSounds single “LoveStoned/I Think She Knows” — except this is even longer than that one. The song just keeps going, and going, and going, almost wiping out any bad taste “Suit & Tie” initially left. (Though, we admit, the latter is sort of growing on us. Sort of.)

A classic Timbaland breakdown, complete with alien-esque, distorted vocal samples kicks in around 5:34. That said, overall, “Mirrors” sounds much more polished than the majority of the producer’s output from the last seven years.

Not really much to add there. This one will be sticking around — if only in my own ears — for some time to come.