Music Review: Michael Jackson & Justin Timberlake "Love Never Felt So Good"

Michael Jackson & Justin Timberlake

Love Never Felt So Good

Album: Xscape

Year: 2014

                     Michael Jackson’s relationship with his girlfriend is on an upswing in the disjointed  “Love Never Felt So Good.”

                    Fidgety drums and Timbaland “ha’s open the single, setting an anarchonistic tone. Justin Timberlake bosses everyone onto the dancefloor in between panting in the bridge. (“Dancin'/Let me see you move, come on/Dancin'/Let me see you move.”)

               The original arrangment is then inserted, its corners bubbly from the gobs of glue. Jackson says their relationship is special to him. She dances besides him and makes a goofy face. He can’t help but throw his head back with laughter. He has stop for a moment to breathe. (“Baby, love never felt so good/And I doubt if it ever could/Not like you hold me, hold me/Oh baby, love never felt so fine/And I doubt if it's never mine/Not like you hold me, hold me.”)

              In the pre-chorus, Jackson says he knows he’s going have a memorable evening. He’s overwhelmed by his joy and filled with tons of energy. (“And the night is gonna be just fine/Gotta fly, gotta see, can't believe/I can't take it, cause.”)

              In the chorus, Jackson says he doesn’t know how long she will stick around this time. He would like a definite answer but would rather enjoy their brief interludes instead. (“Baby, every time I love you/In and out of my life, in out baby/Tell me, if you really love me/It's in and out of my life, in out baby/So baby, love never felt so good.”)

             Timberlake repeats the first verse.

               In the pre-chorus, Timberlake says for the evening, they are best friends, promising to keep each other’s secrets. (“And the night through the thick and thin/Gotta fly, gotta see, can't believe/I can't take it cause.”)

           The chorus is sung again with both Jackson and Timberlake.

             Timberlake sings an extended bridge. He adds he would like see some classic Jackson choreography.  (“Dancin'/Let me see you move, come on/Let me see you move/Dancin'/Let me see you move, come on/I said let me see you move/Michael.”)

              Jackson sings another pre-chorus. He has lost the inability to speak a coherent sentence. (“And the night, that is good/Gotta fly, gotta see, can't believe/I can't take it cause.”)

             Jackson sings the chorus twice to end the single.

             Jackson’s dapper vocals groove while he has the time of his life. All that matters is that he’s happy. The late 70s/early 80s version of him - pre-mega superstardom- is loose and mature.  His hiccupy tic is reigned in and the affected little boy voice is gone, replaced with a deep lower register.

          Timberlake, though humorless in the bridge, is capable during his verse. Although he’s taking his solo part of the song with the utmost importance, adding in some angst. After Jackson’s upbeat part, Timberlake’s is quite the downer. He is living out every bit of his Jackson fantasy and no one is going to stand in his way.

      The confused “Love Never Felt So Good” left with original production intact is an authentic late 70’s R&B song, which is currently popular until it becomes a half-cooked cover midway through