Timberlake Names 'What Goes Around' Favorite Song
The singer picked the 2007 single from FutureSex/LoveSounds as his personal favorite from his career.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Pop
Justin Timberlake named What Goes Around... Comes Around as his favorite song of his career in a November 5 interview with Billboard. The track was released as a single in 2007 from the 2006 album FutureSex/LoveSounds.
Why it matters
Timberlake's choice offers a rare look at how an artist ranks their own catalog, placing a single from a widely recognized album at the top. For listeners of pop music, it highlights a track that reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 and remains central to his legacy.
The single reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 in March 2007, and Timberlake's personal top five also includes Mirrors, My Love, SexyBack, and Cry Me a River. The extraction does not specify chart performance for the other listed songs.
The players
Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake is a Grammy-winning American singer, songwriter, and actor whose solo career began with the 2002 debut album Justified and includes the 2006 album FutureSex/LoveSounds.
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson is an American actress known for films including Lost in Translation and Marriage Story, who appeared in the extended music video for the song.
Don Toliver
Don Toliver is an American rapper and singer from Houston known for hits including Private Landing and Use Me, with whom Timberlake worked on musical ideas after an August concert.
Billboard
Billboard is an American music industry publication best known for its Hot 100 singles chart, which ranks the most popular songs in the United States.
The details
Timberlake said the song was inspired by a friend's difficult relationship, for which he received permission to share the story. He described the songwriting process as taking approximately 20 minutes, and the extended music video features Scarlett Johansson.
Timeline
2006: FutureSex/LoveSounds album released.
2007: What Goes Around... Comes Around released as a single.
March 2007: The single reached No. 1 on the Hot 100.
August: Timberlake held a concert in Miami, followed by work with Don Toliver on musical ideas.
November 5: Timberlake named the song his favorite in a Billboard interview.
Industry Dynamics
The song's No. 1 Hot 100 run in 2007 came during a period when pop-R&B crossover records dominated the chart. Timberlake's choice to name it his favorite, rather than a later hit, reflects how mid-2000s singles from the FutureSex/LoveSounds era continue to define his career narrative.
Fans can revisit What Goes Around... Comes Around and the rest of FutureSex/LoveSounds through standard streaming and download platforms. Listeners who want to hear Timberlake's other picks can find Mirrors, My Love, SexyBack, and Cry Me a River in the same catalog.
The takeaway
Timberlake's choice shows that an artist's favorite song does not always match the biggest chart moment, as the track he now prefers is the one that became his first No. 1 on the Hot 100. Listeners revisiting his catalog may find that personal favorites from a single album can hold more weight than their chart history suggests.
Further reading
For more on the artists and records shaping the genre, explore the Pop section.
