My 20/20 Experience

Tags

20/20 Experience World Tour, concert, Justin Timberlake, Omaha, Timberweekend

…And I’m back. At least I warned you I was going to be gone, right? Does that make up for it? Well if it doesn’t, I have photos and videos of Justin Timberlake.

Yep, pretty sure I have your attention now. :)

Two weekends ago I traveled up to Lincoln, Neb. with my friend Mary to see our friend Mimi, who is going to dental school up there. We termed this fabulous girls weekend as Timberweekend because after a couple days filled with shopping, chatting, and getting our nails done we went to the Justin Timberlake concert in Omaha that Monday.

Proof we got our nails did.

We had crazy good seats for the concert. Mary is TicketMaster queen. Hands down.

We snapped a couple of photos while we waited not-so-patiently for JT to take the stage.

Mary, Me, and Mimi. Photo courtesy of Mimi.

Mary, me, Mimi, and Kristen. Photo courtesy of Mimi.

The energy inside the venue was incredible. I was so caught up in the excitement when he sang his first note that I may have shed a happy tear or two. Did I just reveal that?! I know, I know. I am a crazy fan. You’ll just have to get over it accept me for who I am. The crowd roared from the moment the lights went off to the very end of JT’s 2 1/2-hour performance. And Justin (I pretend we’re on a first name basis) was happy to dish the energy right back with each move he made and each word he sang.

Photo courtesy of Mary.

The 20/20 Experience setlist took the audience on a ride through Justin’s discography, with songs from all four of his CDs. Set 1 centered mostly around his first two albums: Justified and FutureSex/LoveSounds.

Set 1

1. Pusher Love Girl
2. Gimme What I Don’t Know (I Want) (Intro)
3. Rock Your Body*
4. Don’t Hold the Wall*
5. FutureSex/LoveSound
6. Like I Love You*
7. My Love
8. TKO*
9. Summer Love
10. LoveStoned
11. Until the End of Time
12. Holy Grail (you know, that one he does with Jay-Z)*
13. Cry Me a River*

I was quite surprised that he played so many songs from his earlier days. (I thoroughly enjoyed the whole concert, but the starred ones are my favorites.) The first half of his performance flew by and we arrived at his 10-minute intermission before I knew it. He acknowledged it was intended to be a beer break for everyone. He said, “Let me help you. The more you drink the better I sound.” JT, I don’t think anyone needs a drink in their hand to enjoy you. Silly man. He also mentioned it was a break for him because he’s 33 and he’s getting old. With all the heart and soul he was packing into the performance, he could’ve fooled me. He had the whole crowd wrapped around his finger.

Photo courtesy of Mary.

Set 2 focused on his latest installments (The 20/20 Experience Part 1 and Part 2), but he threw in a handful of covers and sprinkled in a song from Justified and one from FutureSex/LoveSounds. The only disappointment I had with Set 2 is that he didn’t sing “Amensia,” which is one of my favorite songs. But, I was pleasantly surprised that he slipped “Murder” in — another one of my favorites that hasn’t hit the airwaves yet.

The more I go to concerts, the more I find myself being interested in the stage setup and the videos that play in the background as the artist sings. JT’s stage setup was classy and not at all over done. Would we really expect anything different though? He had videos playing against a textured white background that complemented him and his performance, instead of distracting the audience.

I’m also always impressed and pleased when artists are able to reach the back of the audience somehow. Justin was able to do just that with his stage. As he was singing “Let the Groove Get In,” part of the stage lifted up and moved toward the back of the arena. And that wasn’t the only song those fans got to see with an up-close view of him — he played at least seven songs over there! What a good guy.

Set 2

1. Only When I Walk Away
2. Drink You Away
3. Tunnel Vision*
4. Senorita
5. Let the Groove Get In
6. That Girl
7. Heartbreak Hotel (Elvis Presley cover)
8. Not a Bad Thing
9. Human Nature (Michael Jackson cover)
10. What Goes Around…Comes Around*
11. Cabaret
12. Take Back the Night
13. Jungle Boogie (Kool & The Gang cover)
14. Murder* (See the video below.)
15. Poison (Bell Biv DeVoe cover)
16. Suit & Tie

The end of the concert was very inconclusive for me. (Seriously. I even asked, “When did the encore start again?” two or three times on the way back to Lincoln.) I’m sure it was a mixture between I didn’t want the show to end and the transition to his encore was so quick. One minute he was thanking his band, the next the lights went off, then the lights popped back on a second or two later and he started in on “SexyBack.” He definitely saved the best two for last. The crowd erupted when he started singing “Mirrors.”

Encore

1. SexyBack*
2. Mirrors*

I went into the concert thinking Justin can do no wrong. He can sing. He can dance. He  is funny. And he’s oh so good looking. I came out of the concert thinking the same exact thing only times ten! He is a true performer that has the talent and the charm to captivate an audience for hours.

Thank you, Mary, for letting me use your awesome photos and the “Murder” video. I really appreciate it. And thank you, Mimi, for letting me use your group photos and for letting us stay at your place. <3