KEY POINTS:
Some might say, Mr Timberlake, that you're a cocky little bugger. What with your moon walk and hat tip stolen from Michael Jackson; your love of filming yourself at gigs; and, most chest-thumping of all, your declaration that you're bringing "sexy" back.
"Hey, well, we're putting on a show," he laughs on the phone from Los Angeles. "Honestly, it's not meant to be taken literally," he chuckles again.
And with this, Timberlake, arguably the world's biggest pop star, goes on to explain that when he sings that line he's actually singing it for you - his fans.
"A song like that is meant to get under your skin. It's meant for people to feel it when they sing it. I wanted it to become a part of their inner boast. So I'm not really boasting because it's not about me."
He says that's the reason he disguises his voice on Sexy Back, which has a gravelly and menacing tone rather than his traditional blue-eyed soul voice that has a hint of the Vienna Boys Choir.
Plus, says Timberlake, making music isn't rocket science. "I find these days that a lot of people try to write every song as an encryption you have to decipher. But that's not the case, it's just music, and trust me, I don't really believe it [Sexy Back]."
Timberlake brings his FutureSex/LoveShow tour to New Zealand next month. The two shows at Auckland's Vector Arena sold out in 10 minutes when they went on sale last month. It's his first visit here and he's happy to hear the weather should be getting warmer by then.
His latest album, FutureSex/LoveSounds, which came out last year and won album of the year at the Grammys, has sold more than 40,000 copies in New Zealand. His debut, Justified, released in 2002 while he took a break from his band 'N Sync, sold around 30,000 copies thanks to songs like the robotic pop of Rock Your Body, power ballad Cry Me A River, and the future funk of Like I Love You, featuring the stylish production of the Neptunes (who were pretty hip back then).
With worldwide album sales of more than seven million - and counting - and the past success of 'N Sync, whose second album No Strings Attached sold more than 2.4 million copies in its first week, making it the fastest selling album of all time, it's clear Timberlake is big.
He's so big his management thought it could make a few outrageous demands before this interview. His people wanted the Herald to sign a contract before I talked to him. The wording was pretty heavy.
"All material which journalist intends to use must be submitted to company, artist and Jive Records for reasonable approval," it said. "A copy of all disapproved material will be promptly destroyed by the journalist," it demanded.
We didn't sign it after politely pointing out that we had never done it for anybody else so why should Timberlake be any different?
It pays to stick to your guns and the interview went ahead with strict - verbal - instructions to talk about only music and touring.
And it turns out, as long as you refrain from asking about Britney, Cameron, Scarlett and Jessica, of course, Timberlake is a softly spoken and obliging chap.
You can appreciate why he's paranoid about interviews. Often his love life, which you have to admit is a pretty healthy one, gets far more attention than his music.
It's easy to forget that along with music-making buddies like mega-producer Timbaland, this 26-year-old is responsible for the most catchy and innovative chart-topping pop music around.
Because of this he has gained a level of credibility, among both his fans and peers, that most pop stars never get.
Nowadays he's also a movie star, with roles in gritty movies like Alpha Dog and Black Snake Moan, and he also voiced the character of Artie in Shrek the Third; he has opened a string of restaurants in the United States; he launched a clothing line two years ago; and he runs his own record label, Tennman Records.
He's come along way since his Mouseketeer days alongside Britney and Christina Aguilera in the early 90s before he formed 'N Sync.
"I think the biggest thing I learned going through those times was the business of the music business," he says.
"It's funny man, you know, it seems like five lifetimes ago, so it's all such a blur, but all in all I just feel lucky to have had the platform I have, the life I have. I guess the biggest lesson I learned was to not take anything for granted and appreciate where you are while you're there."
He had a brush with the nasty side of the music business when it was discovered 'N Sync's manager Lou Pearlman was ripping the young band off.
"I was being monetarily raped by a Svengali," is how Timberlake described the situation in an interview last year.
However, after the success of No Strings Attached he realised he could make a career out of music.
"Music has always been a big part of my life but it really hit me when that second album came out that, [I thought] 'Wow. I can really do this'. Still to this day I can't believe that this is my job. I can't think of anything else in the world I could do for a living and have this much fun so I'm just really enjoying the ride to be honest."
Despite his dabbling in acting, which he says is just a hobby, there is nothing that beats going on stage and performing live.
"It is one of the ultimate things. I don't think I've found anything else comparable to performing live - it's a pretty unique feeling to get that energy for two and a half hours from an audience. You try to create that environment and the first time you receive it, it's pretty amazing."
His show day routine is "more mellow and boring than people probably think" and he says he approaches a concert tour like an athlete since his show is two and a half hours of non-stop action. So on concert day he tries to do as little as possible and before the show he does the standard stretches and vocal warm-ups.
The tequila shots Timberlake and his dancing boys slug midway through the gig look like they help his energy levels too.
Seeing Timberlake's show, it's obvious that he's still, er, 'N Sync. But ask him the secret to a good song and he's not so sure.
"I'm not the sort of ... I don't know, Scott," he laughs. "When you go in the studio to write a song you just try not to think too much about it. At the end of the day it should just be fun. I think that if it feels that way to you and if it portrays the proper emotion then I think, mission accomplished. You don't go in there trying to make a hit song, you're just trying to make a song you like, and one that's cool and that you respond to.
"I do like to try things that I haven't done sonically, and I did obviously try to better my voice on this record. But I think no one wants to be stuck in the same box and doing the same, so I think it was important for me to try new things on this record.
"I had no idea if it would work or not," he says, "but I just hoped people would respond to it in a positive way."
Lately he's been working on a track with rapper 50 Cent for his new album, Curtis, he's also done a song with 80s stars Duran Duran, as well as his idol, Madonna.
"I remember, and this is crazy, but I remember in middle school how every girl would have the cut-off fingerless gloves, the side ponytails, the skirts and the fishnets. Every girl in my middle school wanted to be just like Madonna. So to be working with someone who's an icon is amazing."
If there's one thing Timberlake would like to be remembered for it's a long career like Madonna has had.
"I think I'd like to have one that stood the test of time. There's no knowing what will inspire us five or 10 years from now, but I just hope that I'm still that inspired then and that I still approach things the same way I do now, which is to just have fun."
LOWDOWN
Who: Justin Timberlake
What: The world's biggest pop star?
Where & when: Vector Arena, Auckland, October 23 and 24 (SOLD OUT)
Essential albums: 'N Sync - No Strings Attached (2000); as Justin Timberlake: Justified (2002); FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006)
THE TIMBERLAKE YEARS
1981
* Born Justin Randall Timberlake on January 31, in Memphis, Tennessee.
Early 90s
* Appears on talent show Star Search, singing country songs as Justin Randall.
1993
* Joins the Mickey Mouse Club. Other Mouseketeers include future girlfriend Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and 'N Sync member JC Chasez.
* Forms boy band 'N Sync.
2000
* No Strings Attached released. Sells 2.4 million copies in first week, making it the world's fastest-selling record.
* Acts in made-for-TV movie Model Behaviour.
2001
* Cameo role in movie On The Line.
2002
* 'N Sync splits up, as do Justin and Britney.
* Releases debut solo album, Justified.
* Wins Grammy nomination for album of the year.
* Dates actress Alyssa Milano.
* Becomes first celebrity to appear on Ashton Kutcher's candid camera show Punk'd.
2003
* Starts a three-year relationship with actress Cameron Diaz.
2004
* Plays a journalist in direct-to-video thriller Edison Force.
* Hits the headlines with "wardrobe malfunction" incident at Super Bowl when performing Rock Your Body with Janet Jackson.
2006
* Stars in movies Alpha Dog, Southland Tales, and Black Snake Moan.
* Releases second album, FutureSex/LoveSounds.
* Wins best album Grammy.
* Splits with Diaz.
2007
* Romantically linked to actress Jessica Biel.
* Kisses actress Scarlett Johansson in the video for What Goes Around ... sparking rumours of romance. Not true.
* Starts his own record company, Tennman Records, and signs 18-year-old Dutch singer Esmee Denters.
* Voices the character of Artie in Shrek the Third.
* Records with Madonna.
