Take Back the Night

Album: The 20/20 Experience: 2 of 2 (2013)
Charted: 22 29
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The lead single from The 20/20 Experience: 2 of 2 finds Timberlake reuniting with previous collaborators Timbaland, Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon and James Fauntleroy to soundtrack a good night ahead as the singer invites the object of his affection to join him on the dance floor. The song was released on July 12, 2013.
  • The sensual disco track shares its name with the Take Back the Night Foundation, an international group that runs marches and rallies intended as a protest and direct action against rape and other forms of sexual violence. Some critics pointed out the irony of the raunchy video for Timberlake's previous single "Tunnel Vision," getting criticism in its own right for its objectification of women.

    The fact that Timberlake's lyrics for this song were so provocative and suggestive was of concern to the Foundation: "The lyrics are definitely very sexual and not at all clearly anti-sexual violence," Take Back The Night Board Director Katie Koestner told Radar Online. 'Use me,' for example, is not a great phrase for anyone affiliated with the organisation. All of a sudden on Wikipedia, 'Take Back the Night' has a different definition. That's not been helpful."

    Because the Take Back The Night organization trademarked their name back in 1973, people looking to use the name must check in with them first. As Timberlake omitted to do so their legal counsel sent him a letter saying "You used our name without our permission." said Koestner. "They got back to us and said they're sorry."

    "His agent said, 'Justin's a good guy! He's a family man!' They claimed he'd never heard of us before he wrote that song," she added. "I don't know what country he's been in. I suppose it could have slipped off his radar screen somehow. Somebody working for him definitely messed up... because normally, we get asked when people want to use the name."
  • The accompanying music video was directed by the team of Jeff Nicholas, Jonathan Craven, and Darren Craig for the Uprising Creativesees. It sees Timberlake having a dance-off with a young boy on the streets of Chinatown in the blackness of a New York evening. He then makes his way to an intimate club where he performs the song on stage. The visual is spliced with live footage from Timberlake's Legends of the Summer world tour with Jay-Z at Yankee Stadium.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce PavittSong Writing

The man who ran Nirvana's first label gets beyond the sensationalism (drugs, Courtney) to discuss their musical and cultural triumphs in the years before Nevermind.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The Devil

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The DevilSong Writing

Just how much did these monsters of rock dabble in the occult?

Michelle Branch

Michelle BranchSongwriter Interviews

Michelle Branch talks about "Everywhere," "The Game Of Love," and her run-in with a Christian broadcasting network.

Gary LeVox

Gary LeVoxSongwriter Interviews

On "Life Is A Highway," his burgeoning solo career, and the Rascal Flatts song he most connects with.

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.