Top 10 Songs You Didn't Know Were Written by Justin Timberlake
Did you know that these songs were written by Justin Timberlake? Songs like “The Only Promise That Remains” by Reba McEntire and Justin Timberlake, “Cold Case Love” by Rihanna, “Slow Dance” by Keri Hilson, “Falling Down” by Duran Duran, “Miles Away by Madonna, “Work it” by Nelly feat. Justin Timberlake, “Rehab” by Rihanna feat. Justin Timberlake and “Partition” by Beyonce were all written by JT himself!
Top 10 Songs You Didn't Know Were Written by Justin Timberlake
He sings, he dances, he acts and oh yeah, he writes! Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Songs You Didn't Know Were Written by Justin Timberlake. For this list, we’ll be looking at songs that JT wrote for other artists either on his own, or in collaboration with other singers, songwriters or producers.
#10: “The Only Promise That Remains” (2007) Reba McEntire & Justin Timberlake
Now this is what you’d refer to as an “odd couple”. Reba McEntire, whose perhaps best known for her longtime self-titled sitcom “Reba”, is also a successful country music singer with a couple of Grammy’s under her belt. In fact, it was at the 2007 Grammy Awards that she met Justin Timberlake and asked him to be a part of her upcoming album “Reba: Duets”. With the help of producer and songwriter Matt Morris, JT penned this track, a Celtic love song that surprisingly, both artists feel right at home singing. It isn’t exactly what the kids are bumping to these days, but it’s still a pretty great tune!
#9: “Cold Case Love” (2009) Rihanna
“Cold Case Love” was written by Timberlake with help from Rob Knox and James Fauntleroy II, two members of his personal production team affectionately referred to as The Y’s. Not long after the song was released Rihanna admitted that it was about her tumultuous relationship with fellow pop star Chris Brown, who had been arrested a year earlier for assaulting the Barbadian singer. “Cold Case Love”, which was featured on Rihanna’s fourth studio album “Rated R”, received acclaim from critics and was considered a major step forward in her career. …
#8: “Slow Dance” (2009) Keri Hilson
R&B singer Keri Hilson enlisted the help of everyone’s favorite former boy band member Justin Timberlake when writing this steamy sex ballad. The two artists got together during the British leg of JT’s FutureSex/LoveShow tour, and the ensuing collaboration ended up being the sixth single released from Hilson’s 2009 album “In a Perfect World…”, “Slow Dance” peaked at number 49 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and earned praise from critics, who called it “sparkly”, and “psychedelic”. The funny thing is, with a few lyrical adjustments, Timberlake could have just as easily kept this song for himself; the style and tone is right up his alley!
#7: “Falling Down” (2007) Duran Duran
Justin Timberlake has his fingerprints all over this track! Not only did he help write the song but he also produced it and provided background vocals. At this point he might as well just join the band! Alas, legendary British new-wave band Duran Duran would be just fine without him. “Falling Down” failed to generate much success in Europe or North America, although somewhat inexplicably it did quite well in Italy; peaking at number 2 on the Italian Singles Chart. Ironically, Britney Spears, who just so happens to be Timberlake’s ex, inspired the music video’s main character. Small world.
#6: “Don’t Let Me Down” (2009) Leona Lewis
British singer-songwriter Leona Lewis turned to JT for a little lyrical help on this track, which was featured on her second studio album “Echo” in 2009. Lewis had been trying to hook up with Timberlake for some time, so when he invited her to perform with him at a 2008 charity concert in Las Vegas she leapt at the opportunity. It had been reported that the two were planning on covering a song by legendary country singer Dolly Parton, but Lewis and Timberlake ended up penning something original instead and the infectious “Don’t Let Me Down” was the result.
#5: “Miles Away” (2008) Madonna
The third single released from Madonna’s 2008 album “Hard Candy”, “Miles Away” is an electropop track inspired by her long distance relationship with her film director former husband Guy Ritchie. She penned the track with help from Justin Timberlake and record producers Danja and Timbaland. The song was a critical and commercial success for Madonna, who ultimately enlisted Timberlake’s help on many of the album’s songs, including “4 Minutes”, which he wrote, produced and featured on. A downtempo ballad that makes no attempt to hide the fact that her relationship with Ritchie is on the fritz, “Miles Away” is a simple yet honest track made whole by Madonna’s impassioned voice.
#4: “Work It” (2003) Nelly feat. Justin Timberlake
The fifth single released off of the multi-platinum album “Nellyville”, “Work It” hasn’t exactly stood the test of time, but it did manage to make it to number 68 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Lyrics such as “don’t you say a word, I just want to see you work it” and “Keep yo hips poppin” are far from Nelly, Timberlake or any other artist’s best work, but you can’t help but sing along with JT’s classic falsetto chorus. While the song was panned by critics, who called the song one of “Nellyville’s” “weaker tracks”, it can nonetheless get people moving and ‘working it’ on the dance floor.
#3: “Winner” (2010) Jamie Foxx feat. Justin Timberlake and T.I.
Memphis, Tennessee native Justin Timberlake was a member of the writing team for this Jamie Foxx track back in 2009. Working with T.I. as well as his production team The Y’s, Timberlake crafted a song that is pure hip-hip fun. He features on the track as well, although it almost didn’t happen. The story goes Timberlake didn’t want to be on the track, but Foxx convinced him by saying, “Man, my people suffered for 500 years. You owe me this.” Credit where credit is due, Foxx is clearly a man who doesn’t mince words. It all worked out in the end, as the song peaked at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
#2: “Rehab” (2008) Rihanna feat. Justin Timberlake
The fifth single off of her Grammy winning album “Good Girl Gone Bad”, this song’s lyrics compare being broken up with to addiction, an addiction that can only be cured by going to “rehab”. The music video features a sexy-as-all-hell Rihanna rubbing up against a motorcycle-riding, outdoor-shower taking, drop-dead-gorgeous looking Justin Timberlake. And seeing as how it has more than 245 million views on YouTube, we think it’s safe to say Rihanna made the right choice casting the song’s writer and producer in the role of her hot former lover.
#1: “Partition” (2013) Beyoncé
Beyoncé’s self-titled fifth album took the world by storm when it was released in 2013. Topping numerous “Best Album of the Year” lists and ultimately taking home three Grammy’s, “Beyoncé” was one of the most successful albums of Queen B’s career. She owns some of its success to Timberlake, who co-wrote the songs “Partition” and “Blow”; the latter of which is pure funky disco-inspired fun. “Partition” is where we believe Timberlake had the most influence, as the song’s steamy lyrics and thumping beat are reminiscent of many of the songs of off his seminal 2006 album “FutureSex/LoveSounds”.
