If you’re a pop music fan, you’ve been hearing justin bieber’s name and seeing his face for more than 14 years. He’s one of the most popular recording artists in history, with millions of followers and multiple chart-toppers. He has made a significant impact on global culture and is one of the most searched-for celebrities online.
Bieber was born in 1994 in Stratford, Ontario, Canada to a single mother. He grew up playing the drums, piano, guitar and trumpet and took second place in a local singing competition when he was 13. His mother posted clips of his performances on YouTube, where they went viral. Bieber’s fame grew rapidly, and he signed with Usher’s label within two years.
Since then, he has released six studio albums and 33 singles that have been certified platinum or multiplatinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. He’s also one of the most recognizable faces in the world and is constantly greeted by fans wherever he goes.
A few weeks ago, he returned to the stage at Rolling Loud California to perform his song “Private Landing” alongside collaborator Don Toliver. He was even able to hold his breath for the entire performance. The crowd cheered him on and gave him a standing ovation. It was a much-needed boost for the singer, who had to cancel his tour earlier this month due to Covid-19.
During his downtime, he’s been doing some public service work. He has volunteered at food banks and visited military bases to meet with soldiers. He’s also been helping disadvantaged youth, including those in prison and foster care. He’s been encouraging young people to pursue their dreams and take control of their lives.
In an interview with NPR’s Ryan Good, he discussed his efforts to mentor younger artists. He says that he has a “strong desire to be the solid person that he wish had for himself” and wants to give back. There’s a scene in the documentary film Billie Eilish: Never Be Normal that shows this side of Bieber. It’s a moment in which she is overwhelmed onstage and has to be pulled back to earth by her lifelong fan.
In a lot of ways, this is reflected in the new album, Justice. It has a few lukewarm moments, but for the most part it’s an effort to impose big-tent pop on Bieber. The John Hughes movie chords on “Hold On” and the runway-walk bop of “Somebody” aren’t necessarily bad, but they’re still a bit out of his comfort zone. The only time this fails is on an interlude that samples Martin Luther King Jr’s speech about how “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” The message is powerful and should be heard widely, but as a framing device for the album it feels unanchored.