Believe (Justin Bieber album)

Untitled

Believe is the third studio album by Justin Bieber, and was released through Island Records (Universal Music Group) on June 19, 2012. The first single, Boyfriend was released, and was given positive reviews.

History

During the late 2000s and early 2010s, Canadian musician Justin Bieber rose to prominence as one of the world's leading pop stars. He released two studio albums in addition to various EPs. His first album was an R&B and pop collection known as My World 2.0, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States. Never Say Never: The Remixes, a remix album, achieved the same feat. His Christmas collection and second album, Under the Mistletoe, did the same, debuting at number one. Believe would be his third original album.

On March 1, 2012, Bieber appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to announce that the first single from his upcoming album would be called "Boyfriend"; it was released on March 26, 2012. The song was written by Bieber and Mike Posner, and produced by Posner and Mason Levy.

Bieber also invited his fans to participate in one of the creative decisions for the "Boyfriend" single. Two potential cover arts were published on Bieber's website, and fans were encouraged to vote for which one they preferred. The cover with the most votes became the official cover of for the single.

Reception

The album received generally mixed to positive reviews. As of 18 June 2012, it has a score of 69% on review aggregator Metacritic.

While BBC News noted Bieber's ongoing "tween appeal," it also examined his gradual stylist evolution from his previous album. The New York Times noted the search for maturity Bieber exhibited. It complimented the natural strength of his voice, which did not need as much technical enhancement as it did previously. Entertainment Weekly praised the pop star's evolution, calling the album both a "reinvention and a reintroduction." Rolling Stone noted the deeper voice and more intense beats found on the album, although it lampooned one of his euphemisms for newfound sexual maturity.

The New York Times noted the difficulty Bieber faced in creating the album - a tension between his love of R&B and the profitability of pop music - while suggesting that his "savvy compromises" made the conflict manageable." Entertainment Weekly praised the variety of audiences for the album, calling it "the rare album that tries to be everything to everyone and largely succeeds."

Reviews of the vocals on specific songs were mixed. The New York Times review complained of certain songs where Bieber "sounded bored" and un-like himself, although other tracks were said to show him when he "leans on his instincts." The review credited Bieber for his "limber and wounded" vocals. It suggested that Bieber's voice would continue to evolve, and that in a few years it could fully express "angst." It said Bieber was "more credible when begging or retreating," while BBC News stated similarly that "his confidence, for the most part, [is] played down."

A large number of reviews compared Bieber to Justin Timberlake, a once-teenage pop star who achieved great success during his evolution from teenage boy band member to young adult. Most found the situations very different, saying Bieber was better suited to pursuing his own style rather than follow in the footsteps of Timberlake. The New York Times, however, complimented his references to Michael Jackson as aspirational. Meanwhile, reviewers tended to praise Bieber's work with other pop stars. BBC News said that, despite an abundance of guest contributors, Bieber is "never overshadowed."

Assessments of the long-term impact of the album generally avoided calling Believe a revolutionary step forward. The Independent roundly criticized the artist's lack of innovation, calling it a "pitifully timid affair." The New York Times noted that while Bieber was not ushering in radical changes to pop music, he was at least playing to his personal strengths. Billboard noted the singer's potential with future releases, pointing out "multiple songs that hint at what Bieber could become someday."

Singles

Promotional singles

The first promotional single from the album, the Rodney Jerkins, Dennis Aganee Jenkins, Travis Sayles-produced "Die in Your Arms", was released to iTunes on May 29, 2012. The song samples Michael Jackson's "We've Got a Good Thing Going". The second promo single "All Around the World" (feat. Ludacris) was released on iTunes on June 4, 2012. "As Long as You Love Me" featuring Big Sean was released on June 11, 2012, as the third promotional single.

Other songs

On May 7, 2012, Bieber announced that he would release a song titled "Turn to You (Mother's Day Dedication)" on May 11, 2012 for Mother's Day weekend. He stated that the proceeds of the song would go to help single mothers. Although some had suspected it would, "Turn to You (Mother's Day Dedication)" did not make the final track listing for Believe.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"All Around the World" (featuring Ludacris)	Justin Bieber, Nasri Atweh, Adam Messinger, Nolan Lambroza, Christopher Bridges	Messinger, Nasri, Nolan Lambroza	4:02
2.	"Boyfriend"	Bieber, Mike Posner, Mason Levy, Matthew Musto	Posner, MdL	2:53
3.	"As Long as You Love Me" (featuring Big Sean)	Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Andre Lindal, Atweh, Bieber, Sean Anderson,	Darkchild, Lindal	3:49
4.	"Catching Feelings"	Bieber, Patrick "j.Que" Smith, Antonio Dixon, Eric Dawkins, Damon Thomas, Kenneth Edmonds	The Pentagon, j.Que	3:54
5.	"Take You"	Bieber, Raphaël Judrin, Pierre-Antoine Melki, Ross Golan, James Abrahart, Alex Dezen, Ben Maddahi	soFLY & Nius	3:40
6.	"Right Here" (featuring Drake)	Bieber, Chauncey Hollis, Aubrey Graham, Eric Bellinger	Hit-Boy	3:24
7.	"Fall"	Bieber, Mason Levy, Jacob Lutrell	MdL, Lutrell	4:08
8.	"Die in Your Arms"	Jenkins, Dennis "Aganee" Jenkins, Travis Sayles, Thomas Lumpkins, Kelly Lumpkins, Bieber, Berry Gordy, Alphonso Mizell, Freddie Perren, Deke Richards, Herb Rooney	Darkchild, Aganee, Sayles	3:57
9.	"Thought of You"	Bieber, Ariel Rechtshaid, Thomas Pentz, Bellinger	Ariel Rechtshaid, Diplo	3:50
10.	"Beauty and a Beat" (featuring Nicki Minaj)	Max Martin, Anton Zaslavski, Savan Kotecha, Onika Maraj	Martin, Zedd	3:48
11.	"One Love"	Bieber, Brandon Green	Bei Maejor	3:54
12.	"Be Alright"	Bieber, Dan Kanter	Bieber, Kanter	3:09
13.	"Believe"	Bieber, Atweh, Messinger, Lambroza, Tucker	Messinger, Nasri	3:42

Deluxe edition bonus tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
14.	"Out of Town Girl"	Bieber, Kenneth Coby, Graham Edwards, William Homer	Soundz	3:33
15.	"She Don't Like the Lights"	Jerkins, Lindal, Tiyon Mack, Bieber	Darkchild, Lindal	3:59
16.	"Maria"	Jerkins, August Rigo, Bieber, Scott Braun	Darkchild	4:08

iTunes Store bonus track

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
14.	"Love Me Like You Do"	Bieber, Green	Bei Maejor	4:39

Ticketmaster bonus track

No.	Title	Length
14.	"Hey Girl"	1:38

Japanese deluxe edition/Spotify bonus track

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
17.	"Just Like Them"	Nasri, Bernard Harvey, Anthony L. Saunders, Adam Messinger, Bieber	Harv & S for HarvSquad Productions.	2:52

Swedish bonus track

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
14.	"Fairytale" (featuring Jaden Smith)	Justin Bieber, Jaden Smith, Bernard Harvey, Anthony L. Saunders	Harv & S for HarvSquad Productions	3:12

Notes

• "Die in Your Arms" contains samples of the recording "We Got a Good Thing Going" as performed by Michael Jackson, and written by Berry Gordy, Alphonso Mizell, Freddie Perren, and Deke Richards. It also contains samples of the recording "Synthetic Substitution" as performed by Melvin Bliss as written by Herb Rooney.