Crítica «FutureSex/LoveShow»: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

Timberlake spins, croons, jokes – and moves on

JUSTIN Timberlake manages to pull off a rare double act – pop superstar and credible musician.

Timberlake showcased both sides of his appeal at a jam-packed Rod Laver Arena show last night.

More than 15,000 fans were treated to a state-of-the-art production staged in the round.

Performing in 360 degrees on a huge rotating stage that dwarfed the venue was no problem for Timberlake.

He’s an old-school, all-round entertainer who happens to make new-school music that pushes the boundaries of pop.

From the pulsating electro grooves of My Love to the raw funk of Sexy Ladies to the Prince-style ballad Until the End of Time, Timberlake has managed to make the pop charts interesting.

The singer dropped in anecdotes gleaned from golfing in Australia, recalling a bladder-testing incident when a «dive-bombing gangster of the air» – a magpie – swooped him.

Timberlake’s last Australian tour was an intimate club show. It was easy to see where the fans’ money went this time around.

Yet, while he’s effortlessly cool, at times you feel he’s a serious musician trapped in a pin-up’s body.

While the screaming that greeted him as a boy band member continues, his music has moved on especially with the dramatic What Goes Around and his party anthem Sexy Back.