I’m continuing my recap of the Village Voice Pazz & Jop poll this week, I hope with less Kanye West.
Clocking in at #11 is Justin Timberlake’s ‘Mirrors,’ the second single from his album The 20/20 Experience.
I like Timberlake more as an actor and a Saturday Night Live performer than a musical act. I’m just not all that into his brand of smooth R&B.
He’s undeniably talented, but songs like this one don’t do it for me. I can’t name a Timberlake song since ‘Cry Me a River’ that I’ve wanted to listen to more than once.
Aren’t you somethin’ to admire
Cause your shine is somethin’ like a mirror
And I can’t help but notice
You reflect in this heart of mine
If you ever feel alone and
The glare makes me hard to find
Just know that I’m always
Parallel on the other side
[Bridge]
Cause with your hand in my hand and a pocket full of soul
I can tell you there’s no place we couldn’t go
Just put your hand on the glass
I’m here tryin’ to pull you through
You just gotta be strong
[Hook]
Cause I don’t wanna lose you now
I’m lookin’ right at the other half of me
The vacancy that sat in my heart
Is a space that now you hold
Show me how to fight for now
And I’ll tell you, baby, it was easy
Comin’ back here to you once I figured it out
You were right here all along
It’s like you’re my mirror
My mirror staring back at me
I couldn’t get any bigger
With anyone else beside me
And now it’s clear as this promise
That we’re making
Two reflections into one
Cause it’s like you’re my mirror
My mirror staring back at me, staring back at me
[Verse 2]
Aren’t you somethin’, an original
Cause it doesn’t seem merely a sample
And I can’t help but stare, cause
I see truth somewhere in your eyes
I can’t ever change without you
You reflect me, I love that about you
And if I could, I
Would look at us all the time
[Bridge]
[Hook]
[Break]
Yesterday is history
Tomorrow’s a mystery
I can see you lookin’ back at me
Keep your eyes on me
Baby, keep your eyes on me
[Hook]
You are, you are the love of my life
[Verse 3]
Baby, you’re the inspiration of this precious song
And I just wanna see your face light up since you put me on
So now I say goodbye to the old me, it’s already gone
And I can’t wait wait wait wait wait to get you home
Just to let you know, you are
[Verse 4]
Girl you’re my reflection, all I see is you
My reflection, in everything I do
You’re my reflection and all I see is you
My reflection, in everything I do
Meet Me In Montauk 
I’m with you on Timberlake. Very talented, but I don’t feel all that compelled by his music. “Suit and Tie,” however, was catchier than this song if I were to feature a recent single.
What the heck is going on in this video?! I’m ready to write a dissertation on it. I agree with all you say – nice enough sound but not compelling, but I like him very much just the same.