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Summer Love (Justin Timberlake song)

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"Summer Love"
Single by Justin Timberlake
from the album FutureSex/LoveSounds
B-side"Until the End of Time"
ReleasedApril 10, 2007 (2007-04-10)
StudioThomas Crown (Virginia Beach, Virginia)
Genre
Length
  • 6:24 (album version)
  • 4:11 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriters
Producers
Justin Timberlake singles chronology
"Give It to Me"
(2007) 		"Summer Love"
(2007) 		"LoveStoned"
(2007)

"Summer Love" is a song by American singer Justin Timberlake from his second studio album, FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006). The song was released as the fourth single from the album in April 2007. It was co-written and co-produced by Timberlake, along with Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley and Nate "Danja" Hills. The song was produced following Timberlake's two-year hiatus from the music industry, when he felt "burnt out" after the release of his debut solo album Justified in 2002. "Summer Love" is a dance-pop song about "wanting to fall in love with the lusty seasonal lover". Its instrumentation consists of keyboards, drums, guitars, pianos and handclaps.

"Summer Love" received generally positive reviews from music critics; with some comparing it to his work with his former group 'N Sync. "Summer Love" reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Pop Songs chart. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over one million units. The song also peaked at the top 10 in Belgium and Canada.

Background and production

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"Summer Love" was recorded at the Thomas Crown Studios, located in Virginia Beach, Virginia (pictured).

After the release of his debut solo album Justified in 2002, Timberlake thought he "lost his voice" in the sense that he did not like what he was doing.[1] He felt "burnt-out" after Justified; this partly changed his career's direction, and he took a break from the music industry and instead appeared in films.[1] The first role he took during this time was as a journalist in the thriller Edison Force, filmed in 2004 and released on July 18, 2006.[2] He also appeared in the films Alpha Dog,[3] Black Snake Moan,[4] Richard Kelly's Southland Tales,[5] and voiced Prince Artie Pendragon in the animated film Shrek the Third, released on May 18, 2007.[6]

When he felt inspired to compose songs again, he did not choose to reunite with his former band 'NSYNC, although he considered it after his first record.[7] Instead, he went to Justified collaborator Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley's studio in Virginia Beach, Virginia to begin sessions for his second album.[1][8] However, neither of them had an idea of what the album would be–no plan for it, and even a title.[8] "Summer Love/Set the Mood (Prelude)" was written and produced by Tim "Timbaland" Mosley, Nate "Danja" Hills, and Timberlake himself.[9] The song was recorded by Jimmy Douglas, while its mixing was done by Douglas together with Timbaland. The keyboards were provided by Timberlake, Timbaland, and Danja; the latter also played the drums in the single.[10]

Composition

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"Summer Love" (2006)
A 20-second sample of the chorus of "Summer Love". Its instrumentation consists of keyboards, drums, guitar, piano, and "handclapping".[11][12]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Summer Love" is an uptempo pop song, with a length of 4 minutes and 13 seconds.[12][13] According to digital sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Universal Music Publishing Group, "Summer Love" was written in the key of D minor, in common time with a moderately slow 96 beat-per-minute tempo.[12] Timberlake's vocal range in the song spans from the low note of D4 to the high note of A5. Its instrumentation consists of keyboards, drums, guitar, piano and handclaps.[11][12] Barry Schwartz of Stylus Magazine praised the song and commented that "with its good foot hesitation boom-clap and cascading chorus synthline" 'Summer Love' shows Timberlake's best vocals on FutureSex/LoveSounds." Schwartz further said that "the beat drops out while he sings in perfect harmony, 'Tell me how they got that pretty little face on that pretty little frame girl'".[14] Lyrically, the single is about "wanting to fall in love with the lusty seasonal lover".[11]

Critical reception

[edit]
Justin Timberlake performing on his 2007 FutureSex/LoveShow tour.

Critics reacted in a generally positive manner to "Summer Love". Barry Schwartz of Stylus Magazine gave "Summer Love" a positive review and additionally praised "its good foot hesitation boom-clap and cascading chorus".[14] Shaheem Reid and Jayson Rodriguez off MTV News stated that "Summer Love" alongside Timberlake's 2007 singles "My Love" and "LoveStoned", rocked every iPod, stereo player and stadium during his tour.[15] North by Northwestern's Dagny Salas called "Summer Love/Set the Mood (Interlude)" a stand-out track on FutureSex/LoveSounds. According to him the song "oozes sun, sex, and a sultry affair".[11] A reviewer of IGN commented that "the bulk of the album is focused on funk lite, but with 'Summer Love/Set The Mood (Prelude)' Timberlake and Timbaland slip into darkness."[16] An editor of Billboard criticized Timbaland's production: "[W]hile the track offers cunning instrumentation, Timbaland's heavy production hand is so overwhelming that the singer is pushed to the back of the track".[17]

Commercial performance

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The song debuted at number 74 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in the issue dated April 28, 2007.[18] After seven weeks on the chart, on June 9, 2007, the single reached its peak at number six.[19] The next week it fell to number eight and stayed on the position for four weeks, before falling to number nine in the issue dated July 14, 2007.[20] "Summer Love" became Timberlake's sixth single to reach the top 10 and stayed a total of 20 weeks on the chart.[21] It ranked at number 39 on Billboard's Best of 2007 – Hot 100 Songs.[22] The single debuted on the US Pop Songs chart at number 39 in the issue dated April 21, 2007,[23] and peaked at number one on June 23, 2007. "Summer Love" became Timberlake's fifth number one single on the US Pop Songs chart.[24] For the issue dated July 28, 2007, the song peaked at number 24 on the US Adult Pop Songs chart.[25] It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) after one million downloads of the song were sold.[26] As of 2018, the song has sold 1.6 million copies in the country.[27] "Summer Love" peaked at number eight on the Canadian Hot 100 chart, for the issue dated June 30, 2007 and stayed on the chart for 16 weeks.[28]

Elsewhere, the song attained moderate success. In New Zealand, "Summer Love" debuted at number 35 on August 27, 2007.[29] After thirteen weeks fluctuating on the chart, it reached its peak of fifteen on November 26, 2007. The song stayed on the chart for a total of 19 weeks.[29] In Europe, the single entered the six national charts. In Austria, it debuted at number 52, and after two weeks, the song peaked at number 47. It stayed on the chart for a total of seven weeks. "Summer Love" was more successful in Belgium, where it reached number six on the Flandrian Singles Chart[30] and number eight on the Wallonian Singles Chart.[31] The single entered the Swedish Singles Chart at number 53 and the next week it reached its peak at number 38.[32] In Germany, "Summer Love" charted together with "Until the End of Time" and peaked at number 39. It stayed on the chart for nine weeks. The song also reached number 22 on the Slovakian Singles Chart.[33]

Live performances

[edit]

Timberlake included "Summer Love" on the set list of his 2007 worldwide tour, FutureSex/LoveShow.[34] He also included it on the set lists of the Legends of the Summer Stadium Tour with rapper Jay-Z (2013),[35] The 20/20 Experience World Tour (2013–15),[36] The Man of the Woods Tour (2018–19),[37] and The Forget Tomorrow World Tour (2024–25).[38]

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of FutureSex/LoveSounds.[10]

Technical

Personnel

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

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Certifications and sales
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[47] Gold 20,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[48]
Ringtone 		Gold 20,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[49] Platinum 30,000‡
United States (RIAA)[50] Platinum 1,600,000[27]
United States (RIAA)[51]
Medley: Summer Love/Set the Mood (Prelude) 		Gold 500,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Release dates and formats
Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States April 2007 Contemporary hit radio RCA [citation needed]
Germany December 7, 2007 CD single Sony BMG [52]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Vineyard, Jennifer (February 9, 2007). "Road to the Grammys: Justin Wanted To Channel Coldplay On FutureSex/LoveSounds". MTV News. Archived from the original on February 11, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  2. ^ Susman, Gary (February 10, 2004). "Consolidated 'Edison'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 29, 2008. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  3. ^ Travers, Peter (January 25, 2007). "Alpha Dog". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  4. ^ Lee, Nathan. "Review: Black Snake Moan". Film Comment. Archived from the original on September 18, 2025. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  5. ^ York, Keva (May 1, 2025). ""All These Things That I've Done" in Southland Tales (2006)". Senses of Cinema. Archived from the original on August 12, 2025. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  6. ^ Radulovic, Petrana (May 18, 2021). "Justice for Justin Timberlake in Shrek". Polygon. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  7. ^ Moss, Corey. "Justin's Future Shock". MTV. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  8. ^ a b Vineyard, Jennifer (February 8, 2008). "Justin Timberlake's Fooling 'Around' Resulted In Award-Nominated Song: Behind The Grammys". MTV News. Archived from the original on December 13, 2010. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  9. ^ "Justin Timberlake – Summer Love". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  10. ^ a b FutureSex/LoveSounds (inlay cover). Justin Timberlake. Virginia Beach, Virginia: Jive Records. 2006. p. 19. 8 28768 80622 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ a b c d Salas, Dagny (October 9, 2006). "Album Review of Justin Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveSounds". North by Northwestern. Northwestern University. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  12. ^ a b c d "Justin Timberlake – Summer Love Sheet Music (Digital Download)". Musicnotes.com. Universal Music Publishing Group. 5 March 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  13. ^ Petridis, Alexis (September 8, 2006). "CD: Justin Timberlake, FutureSex/LoveSounds". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  14. ^ a b Schwartz, Barry (September 12, 2006). "Justin Timberlake – FutureSex/LoveSounds". Stylus Magazine. Todd Burns. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  15. ^ Shaheem Reid; Jayson Rodriguez (December 20, 2007). "T-Pain, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake And More Are Our Favorite R&B Acts Of 2007". MTV News. Viacom. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  16. ^ "Justin Timberlake – Futuresex/Lovesounds". IGN. News Corporation. September 14, 2006. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  17. ^ Billboard (14 April 2007). "Billboard single reviews: Timberlake, Snow Patrol". Reuters. Thomson Reuters. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
  18. ^ "Hot 100 – Biggest Jump". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  19. ^ "Hot 100 – Biggest Jump". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  20. ^ "Hot 100 – Biggest Jump". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  21. ^ a b "Justin Timberlake Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  22. ^ a b "Best of 2007: Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  23. ^ "Pop Songs – Biggest Jump". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  24. ^ a b "Justin Timberlake Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  25. ^ a b "Justin Timberlake Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  26. ^ "Searchable Database". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  27. ^ a b Trust, Gary (February 4, 2018). "Ask Billboard: Justin Timberlake & *NSYNC's Career Album & Song Sales". Billboard. Billboard-Hollywood Media Group. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  28. ^ a b "Justin Timberlake Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  29. ^ a b c "Justin Timberlake – Summer Love". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  30. ^ a b "Justin Timberlake – Summer Love" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved April 11, 2011.
  31. ^ a b "Justin Timberlake – Summer Love" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved April 11, 2011.
  32. ^ a b "Justin Timberlake – Summer Love". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  33. ^ a b "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200736 into search. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  34. ^ Checkoway, Laura (August 17, 2007). "Justin Timberlake Brings 'FutureSex' to Madison Square Garden: Live Report". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  35. ^ Ford, Rebecca (July 29, 2013). "Justin Timberlake, Jay Z Affirm Their 'Legends' Status with Rose Bowl Bow: Concert Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  36. ^ Farber, Jim (November 7, 2013). "Concert review: Justin Timberlake kicks off '20/20 Experience' tour with flirty gig at Barclays Center". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  37. ^ Bliss, Karen (March 14, 2018). "Five Highlights From Justin Timberlake's Opening Night of the Man of the Woods Tour". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 26, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  38. ^ Rossignol, Derrick (April 30, 2024). "Here Is Justin Timberlake's 'The Forget Tomorrow World Tour' Setlist". Uproxx. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  39. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 19 November 2007" (PDF) (924). Australian Web Archive. November 20, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-11-19. Retrieved November 18, 2014. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  40. ^ "Justin Timberlake – Summer Love" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  41. ^ "Justin Timberlake Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2020. [dead link]
  42. ^ "Justin Timberlake Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2020. [dead link]
  43. ^ "Charts – TopHit – Highway to Airplay". TopHit. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  44. ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  45. ^ "Justin Timberlake Chart History (Rhythmic Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  46. ^ "Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2007". Crowley Broadcast Analysis. April 3, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  47. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Justin Timberlake – Summer Love". Music Canada. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  48. ^ "Canadian ringtone certifications – Justin Timberlake – Summer Love". Music Canada. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  49. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Justin Timberlake – Summer Love". Radioscope. Retrieved January 18, 2025. Type Summer Love in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  50. ^ "American single certifications – Justin Timberlake – Summer Love". Recording Industry Association of America.
  51. ^ "American ringtone certifications – Justin Timberlake – Medley: Summer Love/Set the Mood (Prelude)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  52. ^ "Summer Love/Until the End of Time Duet With/Basic". Amazon.de. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
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