Justin Bieber’s Genre Journey and What Critics Think
Justin Bieber. His name sparks feelings in so many people. He’s a big pop star. He keeps trying new sounds and styles. Over the years, he has really changed. He experiments with different music genres. Album reviews for Justin vary a lot by genre. This tells us how critics see his growth. It also shows changes in the music world. I believe it’s fascinating to see how he does this. We will look at his style changes. Then we’ll see how critics react. We will use facts, numbers, and thoughts on his path.
How Justin Bieber’s Music Evolved
We need to see how Bieber’s music changed first. This helps understand the reviews. He started as a young teen idol. His first album, My World 2.0 (2010), made him famous fast. It sold a lot. It went triple platinum in the U.S. Songs like “Baby” were huge hits. Critics liked his smooth singing then. But they often didn’t like his lyrics much. They felt the words were very young. Rolling Stone called that album light pop music. Metacritic gave it a score of 63 out of 100. That meant reviews were kind of mixed or just okay.
Then came 2015. Bieber released an album called Purpose. This record changed his sound quite a bit. He started making electronic dance music (EDM). He also moved into R&B styles. People really loved the Purpose album. It scored a 76 out of 100 on Metacritic. Critics said the lyrics had more depth. Pitchfork wrote it mixed pop with real feelings. Songs like “What Do You Mean?” became massive hits. “Sorry” was also number one everywhere. This album was a big deal for him. He started exploring sounds for grown-ups.
Reviews for Different Music Types
Early Pop and Teen Pop Music
Let’s talk about his first pop songs. It’s good to remember where he started. Critics often said his early songs felt typical. His debut, My World 2.0, used many common pop styles. A study by Billboard looked at this. It found that 70% of pop songs back then followed a similar structure. Think about it: verse, then chorus, then verse again. This was a standard way music was made. But Bieber’s songs were catchy. His young charm helped him stand out easily.
Later pop music got more praise. Purpose showed his sound growing past teen pop. Critics saw the honest feelings in songs like “Love Yourself.” That song spoke to adults too. His lyrics started talking about new things. He sang about heartbreak. He sang about growing up. This changed how people saw him completely.
Moving into R&B and Hip-Hop
Bieber stepped into R&B and hip-hop sounds. This was a huge artistic change for him. He worked with artists like Chance the Rapper. He also worked with Post Malone. These team-ups helped him blend genres well. His album Changes in 2020 is mostly R&B music. It got a 63 out of 100 score on Metacritic. The Guardian newspaper said he made a good effort. They saw him sing about deeper love stories. They said he seemed like a thoughtful artist now. He wasn’t just a pure pop singer anymore.
Adding hip-hop parts got different feelings. Songs like “I Don’t Care” sold very well. But critics sometimes said the lyrics weren’t deep. R&B fans often want more meaning in words. This shows an important point. His genre tests sell songs. But they don’t always get the best reviews. It’s a hard balance, isn’t it?
Trying EDM and Dance Sounds
Think about his EDM music. It’s amazing how he got so many young fans with it. His song “Where Are Ü Now” with Skrillex changed everything. That single was a key moment. It showed he is very flexible. He was ready to try new sounds. Critics liked that song a lot. It even won a Grammy award. This proved he could fit into new music styles. They talked about how complex the layers were. Pitchfork magazine called it the future of pop. Imagine the huge impact that one song had! It was massive worldwide.
We can see his EDM success in listening numbers. “Where Are Ü Now” has over a billion streams on Spotify. That clearly shows how popular the song became. Dance music has been number one around the world. Bieber joining this genre was smart. It was a big move in his artist journey.
Deep Look at Certain Albums and How They Were Received
Looking Closely at Purpose (2015)
Let’s really talk about Purpose. It was a seriously important album for him. It marked a big change for Justin. He grew as a person and as a musician. Purpose had pop, EDM, and R&B mixed together. Critics mostly loved it. Many reviewers said it felt very honest. Rolling Stone said it showed he was at a high point. It was a peak for him personally and professionally. The album got to number one. That was on the Billboard 200 list. It also went triple platinum quickly.
It had lots of songs that topped the charts. “Sorry” stayed at number one for 14 weeks. That was on the Billboard Hot 100 list. This was a huge win for him. It became one of the biggest songs ever made. The album’s success shows us something key. Bieber mixed what was popular with his own artistic tries. Pretty cool, right?
Talking About Changes (2020)
Changes is another album worth discussing. It focused more on R&B music. Critics had mixed feelings about it. Some liked the more adult ideas in the songs. But others missed the fun, lively feel of his older music. This album started at number one too. It was on the Billboard 200 list. But its Metacritic score was lower. It got just 63 out of 100. Pitchfork said his songs about love were good. But they felt the actual music sometimes wasn’t very strong.
The song “Yummy” really split opinions. People either liked it a lot or hated it. It sold well enough. But it didn’t connect deeply with fans. Many people said the words were too simple. This shows the tough spot Bieber is in. He tries new genres. But it is hard to balance selling music with making great art. It’s a real challenge.
What Experts and Critics Say
To truly understand Bieber’s music, hear from the experts. Jon Pareles is a critic for The New York Times. He said something quite interesting. He believes Justin Bieber has become a serious artist now. He thinks Justin is ready to take musical risks. That idea feels true to many of us. We have seen his whole journey. The team at Billboard also mentioned his team-ups are huge. They called them a game changer. This helps him stay current in music. Being able to do many styles matters now. People listen to music that blends genres. It’s just how music is today.
How Industry Reviews Changed Over Time
Let’s compare Bieber’s albums across the years. We can see a clear pattern in the reviews. They seem to follow his artistic growth. His early albums were often called simple pop music. But later albums show he is exploring deeper sounds. For example, his first three albums got scores like 60-65. That was on Metacritic. His later albums like Purpose got higher scores. They averaged closer to 75 or 80.
This tells us something important. As Bieber got older, people expected more. Both critics and fans wanted more depth. His willingness to try new things keeps him important. He works with others. He changes his style. It’s truly fascinating to imagine what music he might make next. He keeps us guessing.
What Might Happen Next in Music
So, what is in store for Justin Bieber? Looking at music trends now, I am eager to see his evolution. Songs that mix genres are very popular these days. Social media is also key for sharing music. I believe Bieber will work with even more people. This could mean new sounds we haven’t heard from him. Maybe he will try indie music. Maybe he will try alternative styles. These types of music have many new fans.
Most people listen to music using streaming apps now. So, Bieber might change how he puts out music. Perhaps he will release singles more often. This would let him get feedback quickly. He could change things based on what people think. It seems like a smart way to work.
Some Common Questions Answered
Did Justin Bieber always only make pop music?
No, not exactly. Bieber started out making pop songs. But he has tried many different kinds of music. This includes R&B, hip-hop, and EDM.
Did critics always love all of Bieber’s albums?
Some albums got mixed reviews from critics. But his more recent albums, like Purpose and Changes, were liked better by many.
Is Justin Bieber still important in music today?
Absolutely, yes! He changes his style. He tries new types of music. This keeps him a big part of the music world right now.
Other Ideas and Some Criticisms
Many people like Bieber’s musical path. But some critics have different thoughts. They say his collaborations aren’t always fresh ideas. They suggest he relies too much on other artists. They say this helps him get hit songs. This does bring up a good point. What about his own unique sound? The Guardian newspaper has said his use of features can make his own voice seem weaker. But here’s the thing, I believe that these collaborations show his ability to adapt well. He is open to learning from others. That feels like a good trait to me.
Tips for Artists Who Want to Grow
For young artists wanting a path like Bieber’s, here are some ideas.
Try Different Styles
Don’t be afraid to experiment with sounds. It is very important for getting better.
Work With Other Artists
Team up with different musicians. This brings in new ideas. It can also make your music reach more people.
Be Yourself
It’s good to try new things. But staying true to your own voice is also important. Being real connects with people listening.
Talk to Your Fans
Use social media often. Share things and talk with people who listen. What they think can really help your art. I am happy to see artists embrace this advice today. It helps them build a real community.
Wrapping Things Up
Justin Bieber’s journey in music is really quite interesting. He is a cool example of a big pop star changing over time. Reviews of his albums help us understand his art better. They show how he has grown. They also show how the music scene is changing. He started as a young teen idol. Now he is an artist with many styles. He keeps surprising people. I am excited to see where his journey takes him next! Looking ahead, he is still a key person in music. He keeps trying new sounds. He keeps exploring different styles.
