Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.
So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’ allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.
Now we look back to Justin Timberlake‘s inaugural top 10 hit as a solo artist, ‘Cry Me a River.’ The second single lifted from his debut solo album, ‘Justified,’ the tune – the follow-up to the top 20 smash, ‘Like I Love You,’ came shortly after his highly publicized breakup with pop superstar Britney Spears. Perceived as a clear clap at the pop princess (even casting a look-a-like as the video’s love interest), Timberlake set in motion rumors that not only was Spears the cause of the relationship’s demise, but it was due to her infidelity.
Whatever its intent, it got people talking. The song debuted on the Hot 100 this week 14 years ago and would go on to give JT his first top 5 placement on the Hot 100.
Tuck in below to see who occupied the chart’s upper rankings this week in 2002:















