The United Center glowed in technicolor Friday night for a performance of Justin Timberlake’s “The Forget Tomorrow World Tour.” After rescheduling Chicago’s concert from its October date, Timberlake’s performance made up for the delay with captivating visuals and a sweet nod to Valentine’s Day.

After a high-energy opening act from Andrew Hypes that had audience members standing in anticipation of the headliner, Justin Timberlake emerged from the center stage trapdoor to a sold-out crowd. The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and former *NSYNC member donned a gray suit and sunglasses and kicked off the night with an electric performance of “No Angels.”

“The Forget Tomorrow World Tour” commemorates both the 2024 release of Timberlake’s sixth studio album, “Everything I Thought It Was,” and his triple-decade career, evoking a sense of nostalgia. 

The concert featured new tracks from the album, as well as classics such as “Cry Me A River,” “Suit & Tie” and “CAN’T STOP THE FEELING!” Though some of the newer tracks tended to blend together, standouts such as “No Angels” and “Technicolor” made for a great Valentine’s Day tribute.

On the main stage, Timberlake and his band members danced together in several dynamic numbers that captured the essence of each song while captivating the audience. Timberlake demonstrated an intimate familiarity with his audience and a strong effort to connect with all sections of the arena. 

Roughly two-thirds into the concert, he made his way through the floor crowd to a second, smaller stage at the back of the arena to perform eight songs, including “Suit & Tie,” “Say Something,” “Until the End of Time,” “Selfish” and “What Goes Around… Comes Around.” While audience members closer to the main stage didn’t get nearly as much crowd interaction with the singer as those closer to this secondary stage, I appreciated the calmer atmosphere, which better matched the energy of the eight songs.

One of the tour’s highlights was its thematically cohesive visuals and artistic stage lighting. During Hypes’ performance, a mysterious box at the end of a desert road appeared on screen. It seemed to inch closer to the audience throughout the opening act — a visual countdown to Timberlake’s appearance. 

The box became a significant motif throughout the night when the center of the screen later detached from the rest of the backdrop, rising out to flash abstract projections of the performer and providing immersive details to the stage. Along with a series of intricate neon strobe light sequences and stunning camera shots, the show’s visual aspects make for a compelling backdrop to Timberlake’s performance.

Timberlake’s band, the Tennessee Kids, produced a stellar accompaniment to Timberlake’s singing. With lively instrumentals and resonant backing vocals, the Tennessee Kids added complexity to Timberlake’s voice. Although he sang most of the songs in their entirety, I was slightly disappointed that a few of his more popular songs, including “CAN’T STOP THE FEELING!,” were overshadowed by the backing track.

For the finale, Timberlake performed an electric rendition of “SexyBack” before disappearing back onto the stage along with his band. Moments later, he reappeared at the stage in the back of the arena for an encore performance of “Mirrors,” which was perhaps the best song of the night for its emotional depth and irresistible rhythm. 

On his first tour in five years, Timberlake defends his skill as a versatile entertainer and talented singer. Despite the public’s speculation over Timberlake’s relevancy as an artist and public figure following his arrest last June, the tour proved critics wrong and was a show that will not be forgotten tomorrow.

Email: sydneygaw2027@u.northwestern.edu

Related Stories:

— Maggie Rogers dazzles in first Chicago arena performance at United Center

— The Moss captivates audience with upbeat music, infectious energy at Lincoln Hall 

— Sabrina Carpenter takes on Chicago for ‘Short n’ Sweet’ tour