http://uk.askmen.com/celebs/interview_400/430_justin-timberlake-interview.htmlHe’s not just blessed with being a handsome, musical mastermind. Justin Timberlake is the kind of rare guy men enjoy glugging beers with, women dream of introducing to their grandmother and professionals clamor to work beside.
One of the latest collaborations the star has made is with French brand, Givenchy, to come up with Play, a fresh fragrance with a nuance of that hip and smooth Timberlake attitude. Venturing into perfumes is a likely progression for someone who has already dabbled in film, TV and fashion.
Despite the time difference, his endless list of appointments and the searing temperature in Dubai, the “SexyBack” singer took time out with AskMen’s Tarek Hijazi for what seemed like a chat with an old friend. Laid-back, genuine, insightful, and to our -- and a lot of people’s -- surprise, 6-foot-1 Timberlake elaborates about the connection he feels with the modern scent, why he admires doctors so much and how jet lag and fame come hand-in-hand.
Q1:AskMen.com : Tell us about your experience with Givenchy?
Justin Timberlake : When we first started on this partnership, it wasn’t for the women’s fragrance, it was for the men’s fragrance, obviously, and that’s been out for a while. I think it was just sort of a natural progression for them to move to the women’s fragrance as well. I had a little more of creative input on the men’s fragrance than I did on the women’s. I told them I did not want to have anything to do with the women’s fragrance because I didn’t even know what to do (laughs).
On the men’s side, they sent ideas my way to see how I responded to them, and I responded well to everything that they were making. I thought it was really cool, and non-traditional. We collaborated on the scent, the bottle and on everything else. It was a full collaboration, and it was a lot of fun.
Q2:AM : What is it about Play that makes it so unique?
JT : I give credit to Givenchy because they were trying to turn the perfume industry on its head and I think they did a good job of it. It doesn’t look like a huge teardrop bottle. I think a lot of perfumes and cologne are sold to men and women in a very whimsical way, and Givenchy wanted to do something modern and sleek, and I think they accomplished it. The bottle looks like an MP3 player and so the name was really just a play on words.
Q3:AM : They say “Play for Her” is tailor-made for the female alter ego of the daring "Play man," which is you. In just a few words, how would you define a female alter ego of yourself?
JT : Modern, sleek, bold, playful, fresh, and not too serious.
Q4:AM : How much is too much cologne?
JT : If I could smell you when you first walked into the room, then you’re definitely wearing too much.
Q5:AM : Where do you most like to smell a perfume on a woman?
JT : Probably somewhere close to her collarbone. You know what I mean? It’s right there… a little bit lower than the neck.
Q6:AM : You don’t like to get too personal during interviews. What’s some of the strangest questions that you have been asked?
JT : (Laughs) I’ve been asked everything you can think of. I’m not going to get into it because sometimes you get asked so many strange questions that they don’t appear that strange anymore.
Q7:AM : Do you ever wish you had a normal life?
JT : That’s a really tough question to answer. “Celebrity” is sort of an idea. I mean, I get to do something extraordinary, but I don’t think it makes me extraordinary. That’s my opinion. I like to be an artist, I like to do things that are involved in the arts, but I don’t think it makes me more special than a doctor, for example. A doctor is an extraordinary person. Doctors should be celebrities. We just entertain people. They save lives.
If there’s anything that I do that’s extraordinary it's giving people an opportunity to forget about the bad things that are happening in their lives and just enjoy the moment. That’s all that I do. I don’t save their lives. I don’t make their lives better. I just give them a break, and that’s how I look at what I do. But, again, I don’t think that makes me anything special. We’re all people. I just get to do something really cool for a living and I feel lucky.
Q8:AM : What would you have done if you hadn’t been a musician?
JT : I don’t know. Honestly, the only thing I loved when I was a kid was basketball. I was an athlete when I was a kid, and that was it.
Q9:AM : As an artist today, what advice would you give to a 16-year-old version of yourself?
JT : I’d talk about the whole idea of fame. There’s nothing there to hold on to. It’s sort of a mirage. See, a mirage is a good thing to talk about when you’re here. When you walk outside and it’s so hot [in Dubai], your mind starts playing tricks on you (laughs). Seriously though, it’s important to have things close to you that mean something to you rather than putting your importance and what everyone else thinks of you first. I think a lot of people in our business get caught up in that. So, if I were telling a younger version of myself something like that, I’d say: “The things that are important to you right now are the things that should be important to you as you grow into an adult. Those ‘ideals’ should be less important to you.”
Q10:AM : Has there ever been an experience that changed your outlook on life?
JT : All the time. Whether it’s the death of someone close to me that I love very much or disasters like that of Haiti. I was raised in a very humble environment and I was always taught to be humble to the things that are happening in my life because they’re blessings. They’re blessings in every way. Whether you’re able to help someone get through a tough time in their life through your music or through comedy, or whatever it is, you’re just a channel. You’re not dictating what’s happening. You’re just able to portray it in your own unique way.
Q11:AM : What has been the most surprisingly difficult part of fame?
JT : I think it’s the schedule. It’s interesting because everything I’ve just been saying about feeling like you are a normal person who just gets to do something very cool; sometimes the job is a 24-hour job, and that’s very hard to do. Sometimes you do want some time to yourself, and sometimes you become misunderstood. But the most difficult part will have to be the schedule and the travel because you’re always on the bus, on a plane or in a car.