Crítica «FutureSex/LoveShow»: Entertainment Centre, Sydney

Laura Taplin and Lorena DePalma join the sell-out Entertainment Centre crowd who watched Justin Timberlake perform last night. POP megastar Justin Timberlake rocked the Entertainment Centre last night, and LAUREN NOVAK was there.

Justin Timberlake
Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Saturday, November 3
Support: Paris Wells
****1/2
In short: Love-stoned Crowd

JUSTIN Timberlake sure knows how to put on a show.

Adelaide’s Entertainment Centre could well have been Madison Square Garden for all the screaming capacity-crowd knew.

There were lights, lasers, hi-tech cameras, moving parts, projector screens and, of course, the man himself.

The circular split-level stage gave 360-degree views of JT in all his glory – dressed in signature suit and sneakers, treating the fans to his trademark dance moves.

The sound was deafening when the heart-throb appeared, sillhouetted on stage, opening with title track FutureSex/LoveSounds.

Backed by an awesome 14-piece band and team of gansta glam dancers, Justin pumped out the expected mix of old and new JT – with all the hits from 2002 album Justified and last year’s release FutureSex/LoveSounds.

The hottie from the US strutted the stage, winking at fans in the specially designed and uber-exclusive Sexy Back Lounge below, jumping down stairs and making sure he paid attention to all sides of the auditorium.

He’s come along way from the Mickey Mouse club and his boy band days with N Sync but the 26-year-old’s more than 10 year’s stage experience served him well – producing a polished, energetic performance replete with smooth moves, witty conversation and plenty of references to Adelaide.

(And for the record, he has promised to return to our «town» on his next Oz tour.)

The mega star singer toasted his first trip to the city of Churches with a shot of tequila on stage but complained light-heartedly about the weather.

A multi-talented performer, Timberlake picked up a number of guitars and hit the keyboard during the two-and-a-alf hour show, including a piano solo for new ballad Until the End of Time.

A special highlight was a jam session between a beat-boxing Timberlake and one of his band members on the bongos.

He pleased the fans with radio hits including What Goes Around Comes Around, Lovestoned, My Love and Summer Love.

A gospel rendition of Losing my way was an almost religious experience while old favourites Cry me a River, Rock Your Body and Sinorita still caused a stir.

It was not all pop though, with a hard rock intro to the song everyone had been waiting for – SexyBack.

Whether crooning or rocking out, Timberlake’s voice was record quality and his falsetto almost unbelievable.

At the end of the main set the idol disappeared through the floor of the stage.

He returned after his encore pause to deafening and prolonged applause.

Once the crowd had settled, the heartfelt artist paid homage to the fans who brought him half way across the world.

«I wake up every day and I can’t believe this is my job», he said.

«From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much».

The adoring audience drowned Timberlake in applause, for which he seemed suitably appreciative.

The over-excited and overwhelmed fans paid good money to be at the one-time, packed-out concert, which sold out in half an hour, and they clearly enjoyed every milisecond.