by Christine Zibas

Created on: February 17, 2013   Last Updated: February 18, 2013

Anyone who watched the 55th Annual Grammy Awards (2013) got a sneak preview of Justin Timberlake’s new release “Suit & Tie,” which also features uber-rapper Jay-Z. Timberlake’s new video, released on Valentine’s Day, can be found on the singer’s own website, as well as posted on YouTube and many other social networking sites.

The video itself features much of same style and verve displayed live in Los Angeles. Much like the earlier performance, the video offers a cultural reference to a perhaps more romantic time.

Filmed in black and white, it features a suave Justin Timberlake (a la Frank Sinatra) in a formally attired Tom Ford suit performing with a band in a classic night club that could be taken from the famed Rat Pack era. There are also plenty of shots of a buff Justin laying in bed playing chess with an underwear-clad beauty and being wheeled around in bed while using his iPad.

Excitement over music video director

It’s not surprising that the video makes such a great stylistic statement (nor, perhaps, that it features a technological gadget so prominently, perhaps a reference to the connection between director and artist).

Indeed, the real coup of the “Suit & Tie” video is that it was made by such an impressive master of cinematography. The director for the Timberlake video was none other than David Fincher, who also directed a more serious Timberlake in the Oscar-winning Facebook film, “The Social Network.”

Fincher is most often associated with such mega-hit movies such as “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” among others.  Yet, Fincher has an extensive background in making music videos, according to the Huffington Post.

In fact, David Fincher got his start with music. He has done videos for musical groups ranging from Aerosmith to the Rolling Stones to Nine Inch Nails. He’s directed videos for individual artists such as Iggy Pop, Madonna, Billy Idol, George Michael, and now, Justin Timberlake.

Timberlake back on top

While the accolades for Timberlake’s latest music video effort are impressive, perhaps more notable is the publicity he has been able to garner. Not only was Timberlake able to showcase his musical comeback (if his absence can really be called that) at the biggest music night of the year, the Grammy Awards, but as soon as the video was released on Valentine’s Day, it was “all over the Internet in the blink of an eye,” in the words of the Huffington Post.

The live performance and video also pave the way for what is likely to be a sold-out tour with Jay-Z. Finally returning to the music world after more than six years away, it looks like Justin Timberlake hasn’t lost his touch.

Learn more about this author, Christine Zibas.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.