The Other Side
by Justin Timberlake (featuring SZA)

Album: Trolls World Tour (2020)
Charted: 44 61
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Trolls World Tour is a computer-animated musical comedy co-starring Justin Timberlake as Branch, a grumpy but good-hearted Pop Troll. Branch discovers that there are six different Troll tribes scattered over six different lands, each devoted to a different form of music. When Queen Barb (Rachel Bloom) and King Thrash (Ozzy Osbourne) threaten to take over all other forms of music with hard rock, the Pop Trolls attempt to unify the others against the Hard Rock Trolls.
  • This '80s disco anthem kicks off the soundtrack to Trolls World Tour. The track is a duet between Timberlake and SZA during which the pair encourage each other to stay the course.

    Hey you, stop stressin' 'bout what you're missin'
    So blue, just take it easy, take your time
    If you think my words are wise, just try it for yourself
    I promise the stars will light the path you walk


    Though other people's lives appear better, they reassure each other things will improve. The song title comes from SZAs exhortation that the "grass ain't always greener on the other side."
  • As well as starring in the movie, Timberlake also serves as executive producer of the soundtrack. He had the same role for the 2016 movie Trolls; Timberlake's song "Can't Stop The Feeling!" from that film won the Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media.
  • Timberlake co-produced the song with Swedish composer Ludwig Göransson, who is Childish Gambino's longtime collaborator. His other credits include composing the score for Marvel's Black Panther.
  • The song's epic futuristic music video is set in a shiny platinum land. It is a throwback to the Hype Williams-directed videos from the late '90s, with the gleaming bodysuits worn by Diddy and his Bad Boy Records artists.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.