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Due to their romance and the controversy surrounding it, Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears will always be associated with each other. Fans can debate which singer had the more significant impact on popular culture, but the Billboard Hot 100 tells a more objective story. While both Timberlake and Spears were massively popular, one (arguably) gave us more No. 1 singles.

Justin Timberlake inspired a horrible toilet video and Britney Spears didn’t

So far, Timberlake has produced five Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits. The songs in question are “Can’t Stop the Feeling!,” “SexyBack,” “My Love,” “Give It To Me,” and “What Goes Around…/…Comes Around.” Each of those tunes were critically acclaimed, with “SexyBack” standing as Timberlake’s signature song.

The real question is whether or not any of those tracks became influential. All of them (except “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”) helped make electro-R&B the defining sound of the 2000s. However, it’s hard to see Timberlake’s impact on modern singers. Many younger listeners probably aren’t familiar with any of his songs except for “Give It to Me” because it appeared in the rancid viral video “Skibidi Toilet.” That’s not a particularly impressive musical legacy.

1 of Britney Spears’ biggest songs is an awful Rhianna remix

Spears also gave the world five Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles. Her chart-toppers were “…Baby One More Time,” “Womanizer,” “3,” “Hold It Against Me,” and a remix of Rihanna’s “S&M.” “…Baby One More Time” is no doubt the most iconic of the bunch. Between its hook, its music video, and its questionable lyrics, the tune will be with us for a long time. In the same vein, “Womanizer” is one of the most famous tracks of the 2000s. It helped bring dance music back into the mainstream in 2008, paving the way for the success of the Black Eyed Peas’ techno era, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry.

“3” and “Hold It Against Me” didn’t have the same staying power. They’re both kind of musically abrasive, which might be why pop listeners left them on the ash heap of history. The most notable thing about “3” is its naught subject matter. On the other hand, “Hold It Against Me” is important for helping usher dubstep into the mainstream, but that subgenre came and went without much fanfare.

“S&M” might be famous today, but that’s thanks to the original version of the song that only features vocals from Rihanna. Frankly, Spears’ addition to the remix was one of the worst moments of her career. She sounds like she’s suffering through a terrible case of the common cold. The only people who should listen to the “S&M” remix are hardcore devotees of camp humor.

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Justin Timberlake’s band might change the scoreboard

It would seem that Timberlake and Spears are tied. However, some readers might give Timberlake an extra point in this competition. His band, NSYNC, reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 one time with the track “It’s Gonna Be Me.” In recent years, that song has inspired many memes because Timberlake sounds like he’s singing “It’s gonna be May.” “It’s Gonna Be Me” is not a great song but, depending on how you look at it, it might put Timberlake in the lead.

Regardless of who won this roundup, Timberlake and Spears were one of the most iconic celebrity couples ever.

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