The Super Bowl halftime show is historically considered the pinnacle of a pop star’s career: if you’ve made it to the halftime show, you have made it. (The “plot,” as it were, of the recent Netflix Lady Gaga documentary, Gaga: Five Foot Two, is centered on Gaga landing and then preparing for the halftime-show gig, which she refers to and treats as if it is the highest achievement for a musician.
) It makes sense, when given the platform of the world’s largest television-viewing audience, that an artist would try to make the most of it, from a business standpoint. Beyoncé released “Formation” shortly before her halftime show in 2016, and Gaga released her album Joanne shortly before the game last year.This year’s performer, Justin Timberlake, is following suit. The former boy-bander—who performed with ’NSync in the 2001 show (alongside Britney Spears and Aerosmith!) and, infamously, alongside Janet Jackson in 2004—is returning to the stage this year and, in advance, has announced a new album, Man of the Woods, which will be released two days before the game. (The lead single will be released on Friday.) The minute-long visual teaser for the release features a Timberlake who is telling us he is now going to be personal, one who gazes contemplatively in a barren field, wades his hand through water, and traipses past a campfire. There are several quick cuts to horses striding in the wilderness. Also involved: Timberlake’s wife, Jessica Biel—in a cowboy…
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