What Goes Around...Comes Around

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This article documents a current single.
Information is likely to change as the song remains on the charts.

"What Goes Around...Comes Around"

Single by Justin Timberlake
from the album FutureSex/LoveSounds
Released	January, 2007 March 5, 2007 March 9, 2007 March 17, 2007
Format	Digital download CD single
Recorded	2006
Genre	Pop-R&B
Length	7:28 (album version) 5:13 (radio edit)
Label	Jive
Writer(s)	Timbaland Nate "Danjahandz" Hills Justin Timberlake
Producer(s)	Timbaland Nate "Danjahandz" Hills Justin Timberlake
Chart positions
#1 (U.S., Europe, Poland,Airplay Denmark) #2 (Latvia, UWC) #3 (Australia, Canada) #4 (UK, Ireland, Norway) #5 (Germany, France) #8 (Netherlands) #10 (Sweden, Belgium) #16 (Netherlands) #17 (South Africa) #18 (Denmark) #24 (Singapore) #64 (Brazil)
Justin Timberlake singles chronology
"My Love" (2006)	"What Goes Around...Comes Around" (2007)	"Give It to Me" (2007)

"What Goes Around...Comes Around" is a song from Justin Timberlake's second solo album FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006). It became Timberlake's third consecutive number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, both from the album and overall and his second consecutive number-one on Polish Singles Chart.

1 Song information
2 Music video
3 The Remixes
4 Charts
5 References

[edit] Song information

"What Goes Around... Comes Around" has been described by critics as a second version of "Cry Me a River", due to the similarity in theme, structure, and tune of the two songs. Both songs are unforgiving indictments of an unfaithful lover. Despite the familiar topic, Timberlake has stated that, unlike "Cry Me a River", "What Goes Around..." isn't about his former girlfriend Britney Spears.^[1] Indeed, popular rumor suggests that "What Goes Around..." is about Timberlake's lifelong friend Trace Ayala and his relationship with Elisha Cuthbert. Cuthbert apparently cheated on Ayala with hockey player Sean Avery, which caused them to break off their engagement. The song is also rumoured to be about the relationship the two developed while on the set of the TV series 24. Other sources have claimed that the song is about the break-up of a family friend aside from Ayala, who was deeply hurt and affected.

The song features a two minute interlude entitled "Comes Around" featuring the album's producer Timbaland. In the beginning of the song, you hear about a 15 second solo of the middle eastern instrument the Oud. The beat then is changed to a more upbeat version of the same melody with more percussion beats. Whereas in "What Goes Around..." Timberlake laments how his ex-lover has hurt him, "...Comes Around" discusses how karma has caught up with the former flame, because now her new boyfriend is treating her the same way she treated Timberlake in the first portion of the song.

The song has received generally positive reviews. Billboard magazine praised the single, suggesting it was superior to the two previous FutureSex/LoveSounds releases, "SexyBack" and "My Love." Billboard reviewer Chuck Taylor said, "To call this 'Cry Me a River, Pt. 2' is among the greatest compliments we can muster, given the disposable quality of the previous two releases." He also went on to predict that the song would continue Timberlake's string of hits: "Sounds like three in a row for Timberlake." About.com reviewer Bill Lamb stated that the song "is one of the most gorgeous pop melodies of the year."^[2]

With "What Goes Around...", Timberlake accomplished another chart feat: he became the first male artist since Usher in 2004 to have three or more consecutive No.1 hits from one album.^[3]

Timberlake performed the song on the Grammy Awards in 2007.^[4]

[edit] Music video

Justin Timberlake and Scarlett Johansson in the beginning of "What Goes Around.../...Comes Around."

The music video for the song has been described as an "epic video" or a short film since the director's cut duration exceeds nine minutes and the beginning even features credits similar to a film. The video was directed by Samuel Bayer with dialogue written by Alpha Dog writer and director Nick Cassavetes. This is Timberlake's first video with explicit language. The video stars Timberlake as well as Scarlett Johansson and Alpha Dog co-star Shawn Hatosy. It also features the interlude ("...Comes Around") to the song.

It premiered on iTunes Store on February 9, 2007. This was the first time an artist ever premiered its video in the store. Before the official release online, trailers were released on Timberlake's official website as well as on many TV outlets. The director's cut is only available online and a shorter edited version sent out to television channels. The video's official television premiere was during MTV's 2007 Grammy Awards pre-show on February 11, 2007. On iTunes Store, two versions are available for download; the clean version, as well as the explicit version. It currently holds the record for the fastest selling video on the iTunes Store, selling a record breaking 50,000 downloads.^[5]

The video starts off with Timberlake flirting with Scarlett Johansson on the rooftop of a 1950's Moulin Rouge circus styled club. She rejects with a tease at first but eventually leaves with him to go back to his place. They are shown in bed together then Johansson is shown jumping into his pool and floating underneath the surface as if drowning. Timberlake runs out and pulls her up as she laughs it off and starts to kiss him in the pool. Timberlake is then shown introducing her to a drunk Shawn Hatosy at the club calling her "The One".

Hatosy seems to be interested in Johansson which can be confirmed for sure when Timberlake catches the two making out in a stairway later on, despite Timberlake's wish for Hatosy to look out for her. After punching Hatosy and chasing after Johansson (who has sped off in her car), Timberlake then chases her in his Porsche Carrera GT until seeing her run right into a fiery car crash pile up in which she is thrown from the car and lands feet away from the crash. He gets out and kneels over her while the camera view moves toward the sky and ends the video.

[edit] The Remixes

Original – 7:28
Instrumental – 7:28
Radio Edit – 5:13
Remix featuring Kanye West - 8:17
Remix featuring Rick Ross & Pitbull - 7:58
Quentin Harris Mix – 10:29
Junkie XL Big Room Remix – 9:47
Junkie XL Small Room Remix – 4:55
Junkie XL Small Room Single – 3:19
Larry Rock Remix – 6:00
Mysto & Pizzi Remix – 7:42 - (watch Mysto & Pizzi make the remix here)
Mysto & Pizzi Radio Edit – 3:58
Mysto & Pizzi Radio Mix – 4:55
Paul Van Dyk Club Mix – 8:48
Paul Van Dyk Dub – 8:19
Paul Van Dyk Radio Mix – 5:01
Sebastien Leger Radio Edit – 5:32
Sebastien Leger Remix – 11:25
Terry Hunter Remix – 6:24
Wookie Remix – 8:48
Wookie Remix Radio Edit – 3:55

[edit] Charts

Chart	Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart^[6]	3
Belgium Singles Chart^[7]	10
Bulgarian Airplay Chart	1
Canadian BDS Airplay Chart^[8]	3
Canadian Singles Chart^[9]	11
Dutch Top 40^[10]	16
Euro Top 200^[11]	1
Finnish Singles Chart^[12]	3
French Singles Chart^[13]	5
French Download Chart^[14]	2
Latvian Airplay Top^[15]	2
Nejhudba chart TOP 21 ^[16]	11
New Zealand Singles Chart^[17]	3
Polish Singles Chart^[18]	1
Swedish Singles Chart^[19]	10
Swiss Singles Chart^[20]	9
Swiss Download Chart^[21]	19
U.S. Billboard Hot 100^[22]	1
U.S. Billboard Pop 100^[22]	1
U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40^[23]	17
U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream^[23]	1
UK Singles Chart^[24]	4
UK Official Download Chart^[25]	5
Russian Airplay Chart^[26]	20
Russia Top 20^[27]	1
South Africa Single Charts	17
United World Chart^[28]	2

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Preceded by "Say It Right" by Nelly Furtado	*U.S. Billboard* Hot 100 number-one single** March 3, 2007	Succeeded by "This Is Why I'm Hot" by MIMS
Preceded by "Relax, Take It Easy" by Mika	Polish Singles Chart number-one single March 26, 2007	Succeeded by "Gdzie Są Przyjaciele Moi?" by Yugopolis featuring Maciek Maleńczuk
Preceded by "Shine" by Take That	Bulgarian Airplay Chart number-one single March 26, 2007	Succeeded by incubment