3 Mirrors - Justin Timberlake.

Number one for 3 weeks

Year end number 10

Number 2 watch -

Pompeii - Bastille

When I Was Your Man - Bruno Mars

Mirrors was the second single from Justin’s  third studio album The 20/20 Experience and was inspired by his relationship with his soon to be wife, Jessica Biel, and the impact she had on his life, and also his grandparents' long marriage. It was his fourth and most recent UK number one and was also co-written and produced by Timbaland.

Prior to this era Justin had taken a break from music since his last album in 2006, to concentrate on his acting career, and had to be persuaded to record again by his manager and Timbaland. The record release was also delayed by his marriage.

Although the final version of Mirrors is eight minutes long (there was a shorter, and lesser, radio edit), the R&B oriented second half was created years later and separately from the original track, the two parts were eventually connected to flow like a single song.

I love Timbaland’s signature sounding production, the first half with its head-nodding percussion driven R&B and grand orchestral strings, followed by the more soulful ballad of the second half. Justin’s fantastic vocals are laidback and soulful but with his excellent falsetto and some lovely layering of the harmonies.

Lyrically I feel there’s a lovely contrast between this and one of JTs best singles from many years before, Cry Me A River. In that song he’s all bitterness, anger, dark and even vengeful, but in Mirrors there’s love, warmth, comfort and safety, maybe more ‘grown up’ emotions? Now he feels complete, realising that his partner is his other half, his mirror. Such a beautiful romantic song.

I definitely prefer the full/longer version and its extended ending (as in the video) with the gorgeous ‘you are, you are the love of my life’ coda.

The video is a beautiful tearjerking ode to the ebb and flow of love and life, even after one partner has passed away, and was a tribute to Justin’s grandparents.

I think this gorgeous song is right up with JT’s solo or NSYNC’s very best, and of course there’s some real bangers among those……Alright, since you ask, they would be Rock Your Body, My Love and Girlfriend!

9

Quiz -

1. Answer - What Does The Fox say? - Ylvis

2. What instrumental track reached the Billboard number one and UK top ten in 2013?

Here comes my #26. I never really get into this, eventhough I usually like Justin‘s and Timbaland‘s stuff. I miss clear hook and don’t remember anything from it after listening. It just goes forever without any highs or lows. Not for me this one, sorry!

01. Icona Pop Feat. Charlie XCX - I Love It (4)

02. Naughty Boy, Sam Smith - La La La (9)

03. Avicii - Wake Me Up (17)

05. One Republic - Counting Stars (22)

06. John Newman - Love Me Again (12)

07. Katy Perry - Roar (8)

08. Eminem Feat. Rihanna - The Monster (24)

09. Lily Allen - Somewhere Only We Know (7)

10. Jason Derulo Feat. 2 Chainz - Talk Dirty (28)

11. Ellie Goulding - Burn (18)

12. Storm Queen - Look Right Through (MK Remix) (10)

13. Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball (6)

14. Martin Garrix - Animals (16)

15. Duke Dumont Feat. A*M*E - Need You (100%) (14)

17. Pharrell Williams - Happy (19)

18. Rudimental Feat. Ella Eyre - Waiting For You (11)

19. Miley Cyrus - We Can't Stop (15)

20. Avicii & Nicky Romero - I Could Be The One (23)

21. The Saturdays Feat. Sean Paul - What About Us (21)

22. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Feat. Wanz - Thrift Shop (5)

23. Calvin Harris & Alesso Feat. Hurts - Under Control (20)

24. Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell Williams – Blurred Lines (31)

25. Will.I.Am Featuring Britney Spears - Scream & Shout (26)

26. Justin Timberlake - Mirrors (3)

27. Sam Bailey - Skyscraper (27)

28. One Direction – One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks) (30)

29. PJ & Duncan – Let's Get Ready to Rhumble (29)

30. James Arthur - Impossible (25)

31. Bingo Players Feat. Far East Movement - Get Up (Rattle) (13)

I hadn't looked up what was left in the top 5, but I suspected they would be much more up my street than the 6-10 section and indeed they are. 'Thrift Shop' was such a fresh sounding #1 when it came out, especially with its lyrical theme - I still prefer it to 'Can't Hold Us' which soon eclipsed its popularity. 'I Love It' was a stormer, I first heard it through Glee and then remember all those fake versions - presumably people thought "I Don't Care" was part of the title to keep the New Music Masters version in the chart long after its release? - but it showcased Charli as a star of the future. 'Mirrors' is a good one too, I'm not sure it needs to be 8 minutes long, but the story behind it is endearing. I think 'Like I Love You' is my favourite of his. That leaves a great final 2, both would be worthy to come out top, though I know which I'm rooting for!

I quite enjoy Mirrors, though I haven’t heard it in a long long time.

His best song post FS/LS for me.

Wasn't particularly keen on 'I Love It' when it charted but have grown to appreciate it now especially with Charli becoming a bigger force. I did quite like and chart 'All Night' and 'Just Another Night' from them though.

Not a fan of Justin too much either but 'Mirrors' is great so no qualms that being this high up!

Mirrors one of a good half-dozen Justin T pop classics, not even counting hosts of good singles, and contender for top track of the year with La La La...

I love this, although it was surprising to see it become as big as it did after so many years away (and feeling quite late career), and even moreso considering the comeback 'Suit & Tie' came and went in a flash.

Not a fan of Mirrors at all. I am JT ambivalent at best tbh.

Mirrors is fine, probably midtable for me, love the top two left though!

5 hours ago, DaTilt said:

Here comes my #26. I never really get into this, eventhough I usually like Justin‘s and Timbaland‘s stuff. I miss clear hook and don’t remember anything from it after listening. It just goes forever without any highs or lows. Not for me this one, sorry!

No problem, as the phrase goes, different strokes for different folks! I actually thought that would be the song that was your #26. I hope you enjoy the remaining two songs, I can see one of them is your #4?

On 21/09/2026 at 09:53, Jade said:

Shame Charli's True Romance era didn't produce any top 40 hits (love that gothic sound) but 'I Love It' was pretty storming. I remember several fake versions of it charting in the top 100 - just double checked and there was: Loreen Harris, Venus Palermo, Remix Junkies, Remix Chix and New Music Masters cashing in on it so an anticipated release for sure.

Thanks for doing the work I was too lazy to do😆! I went as far as finding one fake version and I suspected there might be more, but I didn’t realise just how many! Is that some kind of record do you think?!

5 hours ago, jimwatts said:

'I Love It' was a stormer, I first heard it through Glee and then remember all those fake versions - presumably people thought "I Don't Care" was part of the title to keep the New Music Masters version in the chart long after its release? - but it showcased Charli as a star of the future.

I didn’t realise a fake version stayed around for long, would that have been the most successful of them all then?

24 minutes ago, Jaz13music said:

Thanks for doing the work I was too lazy to do😆! I went as far as finding one fake version and I suspected there might be more, but I didn’t realise just how many! Is that some kind of record do you think?!

This era of the chart is burnt into my brain and I remember Brer had a thread on here where he used to keep track of the fakes back in the day!

Yes, I'm pretty sure 'I Love It' had the most fake versions in the top 100 by far, it was ridiculous

'Mirrors' is a great start to the top 3 btw ❤️

There was a fake version of 'Wake Me Up' by Spark Productions that made the top 40 too.

Ooh I've just found that Bré thread I was referring to:

such a messy effect of this download era period before OA/OS was properly rolled out here / streaming dominated more!

There was an unofficial Alienator remix version of Burn (with a drum and bass beat) that charted in iTunes too for a while before the original was released I remember.

8 minutes ago, Jade said:

Ooh I've just found that Bré thread I was referring to:

such a messy effect of this download era period before OA/OS was properly rolled out / streaming dominated more!

That’s great, thank you!

Wow, the number of them in 2012 is ridiculous!

Number 2 watch

Please bear with me for a  final further detour (indulgence), before the last 2 songs:

Although I’ve been very lucky that I like most of 2013s number ones, there’s a few of the number twos of that year that, let’s just say I’m less keen on. However there were still some brilliant ones, and these are my favourite 5:-

1. So Good To Me - Chris Malinchak

2. Just Give Me A Reason - Pink/Nate Ruess

3. Pompeii - Bastille

4. White Noise - Disclosure/Alunageorge

5. I Knew You Were Trouble - Taylor Swift

In fact, surprisingly, I worked out that Just Give Me A Reason was the only song that spent more than 1 week at number two that year, that must be quite rare?!

Also I have to give a special mention to Ding-Dong The Witch Is Dead, for its sentiments and its song length!

I do have a massive soft spot for that wonderful Chris Malinchak song though, it’s absolutely gorgeous, a real summer banger! Would certainly be at least top five here, if it had got to #1, possibly even higher. Brilliant beautiful video too!

Any personal favourites?

Bastille and Chris Malinchak would be my top 2 of those. I’m going to listen to the latter now….

'So Good To Me' is my favourite #2 hit of the year as well. ❤️🦒

Nah I found it dreary and preferred Taylor Swift I Knew You Were Trouble and its dubstep style drop better than her recent stuff.

Also If You Got It was better from Chris Malinchak more interesting.