: Unlike many other tracks on the album that sprawl past the seven-minute mark, "That Girl" is noted for being more focused and "concise" while still maintaining a rich, live-band feel.
: While some find the sing-song chorus ("I'm in love with that girl / And she told me / 'Cuz she's in love with me") to be "dangerously cheesy," others find it "adorable" and a refreshing break from the "fabulously nasty" tone of his earlier hits like "Cry Me A River". Justin Timberlake - That Girl
"That Girl" is widely considered a highlight of Justin Timberlake's 2013 album The 20/20 Experience , praised by reviewers from The Line of Best Fit for its concise, "buoyant confidence" and soulful energy. : Unlike many other tracks on the album
Timberlake has stated that the song was inspired by the film Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? , centering on a "Romeo and Juliet" type of relationship that isn't fully blessed by those around them. Timberlake has stated that the song was inspired
The track is a mid-album shift toward a and doo-wop aesthetic.
: The song serves as a formal introduction to Timberlake’s talented backing band, who add resonant, brassy undertones to the "Temptations-like" vocal performance.