JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE BRING’S ‘The Forget Tomorrow World Tour’ TO LONDON’S O2 ARENA

★★★★★ (5/5)

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE PERFORMING AT LONDON’S O2 ON HIS ‘THE FORGET TOMORROW WORLD TOUR’
PHOTOCREDIT: GETTY IMAGES FOR LIVE NATION UK

For those living under a rock, Justin Timberlake did the most perfect promotion for himself last month when his quote became viral on Twitter. ‘This is going to ruin the world tour’ became people’s most favourite meme, but it got Justin’s ‘Forget Tomorrow World Tour’ and his new album ‘Everything I Thought It Was’ in the spotlight, bringing the powerhouse of his show production to London’s O2 for two nights this weekend.

Justin Timberlake has been a popstar in his own right for decades, proving continuously that he can sing and dance. For those who grew up in the 2000s, Justin was everywhere to be heard, with his songs becoming anthems for a whole generation, establishing hit after hit. He has got experience not only as a band member of the iconic boyband NSYNC – allegedly establishing the boyband culture as it is today – but also as a solo performer, and his tour has proven nothing but the fact that ‘he’s still got it’.

Going into the O2, I already knew about the scale and production of his tour, with the Sunday Times naming him ‘an Olympic champion of the pop world’, I was expecting a full on cinematic audio-visual experience, as well as a throwback to the hits that made him famous in the first place. And of course, Justin did not disappoint. He said production and his crew listened, with the lightshow, the visuals, the stages and the setlist being so well-thought and organised, it was set to be a gig that will remain in history.

Justin Timberlake’s setlist was well curated to cover an array of songs, from newer songs such as ‘No Angels’, ‘Technicolour’ and ‘Imagination’, to older bangers such as ‘Señorita’, ‘Cry Me a River’ (and the crowd sang their lungs out in this) and ‘Summer Love’. Justin’s vocal ability was very well showcased through a mix of upbeat dance-y songs all the way to acoustic sets. The show was non-stop and it has to be highlighted, the crowd was wild. It was insane to see so much crowd engagement for an artist, but I guess a singer of this scale expects nothing less – and the crowd gave it.

The highlight of the night was however the encore, when Justin performed ‘Sexy Back’ followed by ‘Mirrors’. During the former, the singer yelled ‘Is London the shit?’, to which the crowd roared in excitement as the dance party kept going, straight on to perform the iconic ‘Mirrors’, suspended on a stage above the audience in a dramatic Chris Angel-like spectacle that was not only a flex of showmanship but also an insane visual to witness. It is an impressive show, bringing back nostalgia as well as fresh sounds from his newer releases, ensuring that each song is an unforgettable experience.

Justin Timberlake’s shows are part of his European tour which is highly anticipated. As he is set to perform in London for a second night – because honestly, is one night really enough? – he is truly setting up the bar high for delivering shows that are iconic and momentous. For those who haven’t seen him yet, you will not be disappointed. For those not sure about seeing him, get your ticket!!!