Justin Timberlake & Tobe Nwigwe on SNL: Amazing Performance Gets Standing Ovation!
Justin Timberlake is a titan in the pop music world, but he’s also so much more — he’s a songwriter, producer, and Hollywood actor. The SNL episode on January 27, 2024, will forever be remembered for the extraordinary performance.
Justin Timberlake & Tobe Nwigwe on SNL
On his appearance on SNL on January 27, 2024, Justin Timberlake performed two tracks from his new album Everything I Thought I Was, set for release on March 15 by RCA Records.
The new release arrives six years after Man of the Woods sold 422,000 copies in the US. It’s important to highlight that this was the first JT album not to reach sales of a million stateside.
Tracks and Performers
On the first night of performance, Justin performed a song called “Sanctified” live in New York. This gospel-funk hybrid track, reportedly the album’s second single, featured a scorching verse by Houston rapper Tobe Nwige. The first verse opens with the bold words, “You know I’m an animal/I belong in the wild, wild, wild/When I get out of control ain’t no bringing me down, down, down.”
Next up, Justin also graced the stage with an R&B ballad titled “Selfish”. With soulful lyrics that go, “So, if I get jealous, I can’t help it/I want every bit of you, I guess I’m selfish.”, Justin remarked that the song is a genuinely honest expression of vulnerability, something not commonly associated with men.
Tobe Nwige’s Musical Journey
Before taking the music industry by storm, Tobe Nwige had been an aspiring professional Footballer, even playing college ball. However, an injury derailed his NFL dreams, and it was a turn of fate when he entered the non-profit world. Here, he met motivational speaker Eric Thomas, the person who saw the potential in him and encouraged him to create music ad turn his life around.
Lyrics of “Sanctified”
Verse 1:
– A powerful testimony begins with the confession “I’m an animal”.
– The lyrics continue with “Something about how we break all of the rules, making a sinner feel blessed, moving right along, taking me and fixing my mess.”
– It goes on with a dramatic plea for redemption, culminating in the statement “Sanctified: Rid me of my sins, take and forgive them.”
Verse 2:
– The second verse portrays an emotional scene of repentance and redemption.
– It’s a surreal journey with intense depth where the artist is brought to a spiritual awakening.
Bridge:
– This verse is a poignant prayer, almost like a heart-wrenching call for salvation.
The powerful rap portion by Tobe Nwige adds yet another layer to the already soul-stirring performance. It’s a poignant message weaved in with beautiful metaphors and analogies.
Conclusion
It’s not every day that you witness such a remarkable performance as Justin Timberlake and Tobe Nwige delivered on SNL. The vulnerability, raw emotion, and sheer talent displayed have left a lasting imprint. The audience was treated to a night of music that not only entertained but also spoke to the soul.