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Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Lopez and the Challenge of Aging a Pop Career Gracefully
Stars like Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Lopez and Madonna face challenges trying to make a lifelong career in pop.
Even those who’ve tried to continue innovating — the Stones with the early-Prince-flavored “Emotional Rescue” and the dub-inflections of “Undercover,” Bowie’s ill-advised explorations of industrial and drum n’ bass in the ‘90s — eventually realized that’s not what their fans wanted and reverted to some form of their former selves, usually with lucrative results. The bulldozer rollout continued in the weeks leading up to the album, with club shows in Memphis, New York and Los Angeles, the latter of which briefly delivered a mouthwatering moment for fans: the NSYNC reunion that he’ll hook up with but won’t commit to. With characteristic contrariness, Madonna waited to make such a move until she literally reached retirement age, instead parsimoniously doling out a handful of classics during her concerts while forcing fans to sit through long segments of the pompously conceptual “Madame X” or the sterile dance-pop of “MDNA.” Not surprisingly, the “Celebration” tour has been received with a level of religious reverence the singer hasn’t inspired in decades.
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