Justin Timberlake's Forget Tomorrow World Tour ends today in Istanbul but, judging by the backlash, it couldn't have come to a close soon enough.
What was billed as an anticipated comeback instead exposed how six years away from the road seems to have left the Cry Me a River singer out of touch with what's expected from a modern touring artist. The old assumptions – that sheer star power, a dependable setlist of hits and audiences primed to lap up whatever's presented on stage would suffice – are gone.
For Timberlake, the fall was more than cancelled shows or the occasional bum note. It was about violating what has become an unspoken yet cardinal rule of live music: concerts are no longer solo performances but communal experiences, and it's the crowd that determines if a show succeeds.
The Istanbul outing comes on the back of a growing catalogue of widely shared social media clips, from Dublin, Bucharest and London, showing disgruntled fans accusing Timberlake of delivering half-hearted performances.
In one viral video that has received more than 460,000 likes, a Romanian fan lamented that she paid “a lot of money” to see him, only to feel “disrespected” by a show where he appeared to skulk around the stage in a low-brimmed hat, barely engaging with the crowd.
While Timberlake isn't the first artist accused of phoning it in, the emotional, almost visceral response reveals a new faultline in the touring industry.
In a concert economy where fans are spending hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars for tickets, merchandise and premium meet-and-greet packages, the expectation is no longer just a solid setlist. It's that the artist will show up emotionally and meet the crowd in that shared space. Timberlake didn't just deliver a lacklustre show. He did something worse: he disengaged.
A glance at today’s most successful tours reveals artists who understand that concerts are no longer just musical events, but shared platforms.
Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour, now officially the biggest and most commercially successful concert tour of all time with over $2 billion in revenue, is a case in point.
More than a three-and-a-half-hour showcase of Swift's catalogue, each show was a colourful world-building exercise. Fans arrived in co-ordinated outfits, exchanged official friendship bracelets and chanted lyrics at predesignated cues. The ecstatic crowd left not as audience members, but as active participants.
That same mastery of crowd choreography was on full display during Coldplay’s four sold-out shows at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City Stadium. As The National's review noted of a detail as simple but powerful as the LED wristbands: “The Xylobands, shifting from cherry red to soft tea green, created a cascading effect as the crowd waved their arms, making it seem as though singer Chris Martin was strolling through a dark, enchanted forest.”
The change in expectations also requires, at times, a counterintuitive approach from artists. Where before the ultimate aim was to deliver the best vocal performance, now making the occasional slip-up is not meant to be hidden, but to be part of the show.
Singer Olivia Rodrigo, whose songs are defined by their adolescent vulnerability, leans into that communal intimacy. Her vocal stumbles, also relentlessly documented by fans online during her well-received tour, become shared moments of recognition by fans who praise her in these videos for being real. “You feel like she's your friend, not a pop star,” one fan posted recently under a social media video of Rodrigo's Glastonbury festival performance in June.
And when Oasis reunited this July after 16 years, the press and the crowd didn't care about how polished they sounded or even so much the fact that Noel and Liam Gallagher were back on stage again, but about how their presence and songs made the stadium feel.
This shift in audience expectation is partly driven by economics. The fact is, we are paying more than ever for concert tickets. In North America, ticket prices soared by more than 41 per cent since 2019, according to trade publication Pollstar. While there is no regional data, The National’s coverage of UAE concerts dating back to 2013 showed a general admission to see Black Sabbath at Etihad Park starting from Dh295, while tickets to see British singer David Gray at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena in October and Rod Stewart at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena are both Dh395.
And yet, people are still buying while jettisoning the now outdated idea of “fear of missing out” for “you had to be there”. It is about the event being larger than the music itself, a catalyst for community, making friends, expressing yourself with handmade memorabilia, and sharing a memory that is resonant because it felt real and made for the occasion. That is the emotional return on investment fans are seeking. And that is what Timberlake, by all visible accounts, failed to deliver.
His tour featured none of the crowd participation cues that audiences have come to view as signs of care. There was also reportedly no off-the-cuff banter, rather the shows were viewed as lacking authentic moments and spontaneity.
Perhaps this would have been OK if the music critic's pen still carried weight in shaping public perception, but that mantle has now moved to social media platforms. Fan reactions, often posted while the show is running, are now the ultimate definer of whether a performance is a hit or a dud.
If Rodrigo's voice cracks mid-set, it's viewed as a loving reminder of her authenticity. If Timberlake delivers a smooth yet emotionally detached version of Suit & Tie, it becomes an unflattering meme.
The new, unwritten contract understandably demands much from the artist – each show needs to feel like it was made for the moment while being cognisant that it could be recorded for posterity.
It's a new form of the purity test, where an artist must now be many things on stage: performer, therapist, community builder and content generator. They must be professional yet not too polished, emotionally present but always ready to strike the right pose for crowds looking for social media content.
It is no wonder Timberlake has reportedly been unhappy on the road. The game has changed, but he has yet to.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Quick%20facts
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EStorstockholms%20Lokaltrafik%20(SL)%20offers%20free%20guided%20tours%20of%20art%20in%20the%20metro%20and%20at%20the%20stations%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20tours%20are%20free%20of%20charge%3B%20all%20you%20need%20is%20a%20valid%20SL%20ticket%2C%20for%20which%20a%20single%20journey%20(valid%20for%2075%20minutes)%20costs%2039%20Swedish%20krone%20(%243.75)%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ETravel%20cards%20for%20unlimited%20journeys%20are%20priced%20at%20165%20Swedish%20krone%20for%2024%20hours%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAvoid%20rush%20hour%20%E2%80%93%20between%209.30%20am%20and%204.30%20pm%20%E2%80%93%20to%20explore%20the%20artwork%20at%20leisure%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
Origin
Dan Brown
Doubleday
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
'Lost in Space'
Creators: Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Irwin Allen
Stars: Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, Maxwell Jenkins
Rating: 4/5
RESULTS
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1.600m
Winner: Miller’s House, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Kanood, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Gervais, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Important Mission, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Firnas, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Zhou Storm, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare
Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.
The biog
Simon Nadim has completed 7,000 dives.
The hardest dive in the UAE is the German U-boat 110m down off the Fujairah coast.
As a child, he loved the documentaries of Jacques Cousteau
He also led a team that discovered the long-lost portion of the Ines oil tanker.
If you are interested in diving, he runs the XR Hub Dive Centre in Fujairah
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Bharatanatyam
A ancient classical dance from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Intricate footwork and expressions are used to denote spiritual stories and ideas.
The five pillars of Islam
Results:
5pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,200 metres
Winner: Jabalini, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Younis Kalbani (trainer)
5.30pm: UAE Arabian Derby (PA) | Prestige | Dh150,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Octave, Gerald Avranche, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round 3 (PA) | Group 3 Dh300,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Harrab, Richard Mullen, Mohamed Ali
6.30pm: Emirates Championship (PA) | Group 1 | Dh1million | 2,200m
Winner: BF Mughader, Szczepan Mazur, Younis Al Kalbani
7pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (TB) | Group 3 | Dh380,000 | 2,200m
Winner: GM Hopkins, Patrick Cosgrave, Jaber Ramadhan
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) | Conditions | Dh70,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF La’Asae, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ogram%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Karim%20Kouatly%20and%20Shafiq%20Khartabil%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20On-demand%20staffing%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2050%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMore%20than%20%244%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20round%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%2C%20Aditum%20and%20Oraseya%20Capital%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Where to submit a sample
Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
