It's been 10 years since you were shaking your booty to the pop anthem of summer '06, Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack." To soften the blow, Cosmopolitan.com rounded up some fun facts about the song, so you can throw yourself a little reminiscing party. And if you're having a bad day, just scroll directly to no. 9. You are very welcome.
1. The song was inspired by David Bowie's "Rebel Rebel." Other influences include James Brown, David Byrne, Freddie Mercury, and Prince.
2. It was Justin's first song to make no. 1 in the Billboard Top 100, and it stayed there for seven weeks. It was also certified double platinum.
3. Justin made the "SexyBack" video with Michael Hausmann, who worked on Madonna's "Take a Bow," and it was shot in beautiful Barcelona. "Obviously we went for the architecture, the exteriors, the interiors — the vibe in Spain is different than anywhere else in the world. It's so cool to shoot there, but the girls are also pretty hot, so that doesn't hurt either." Classic.
4. The video was producer Timbaland's self-proclaimed "acting debut."
5. Justin said that his record label (Jive Zomba) didn't want to release "SexyBack" and that people thought the song "was a joke." He even had to call radio stations to assure them that it was in fact his song.
6. Justin doesn't necessarily identify with the song. "People feel like it's an extension of who I am, but ... when I get the opportunity to tell them I was playing a character, sometimes they get it and sometimes they don't." Does JT's modesty make him even sexier, or is that just me?
7. Justin jokingly threatened to sue an Australian journalist who told him she was hosting a show called "Bringing Sexy Back."
8. Justin completely improvised the title line "I'm bringing sexy back." He doesn't write down the lyrics or melodies he creates, because he has a theory that if he doesn't remember, then it wasn't worth remembering. Guess this one stuck for a reason.
9. Justin wrote "SexyBack" with ~you~ in mind. "I hope that people listen to 'SexyBack' or 'LoveStoned' or 'Sexy Ladies' or just the whole album and feel like they are the sex symbol. We're all bringing sexy back. You. And me."
10. Nelly Furtado was recording new music in the same building as Justin when he was making "SexyBack." They would eventually record a song together.
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