Don’t get me wrong, Justin Bieber is still really embarrassing. He’s the young pop star who recently said something only a 21-year-old would say, “Now being 21, and going through some hardships, I think you can hear that in my vocals.” This is a guy who, last year at a charity gala benefiting AIDS research said, “I’m here to swag!” He’s so ridiculous that even his managers have banned him from doing interviews. But that said, Bieber in 2015 is quite good at making pop music and his new, Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd-produced song called “What Do You Mean” proves it.
No, really.
Let’s talk about what’s working with this track. First, Boyd’s subtle, house-infused beat is actually pretty interesting. It’s surprisingly understated and bubbles up with beach-ready chill vibes. Secondly, “What Do You Mean” is damn catchy. It even pairs nicely with Bieber’s croon. While his voice isn’t the emotional, hardship-rattled husk of a tenor he’s previously suggested, it does show a move away from the processed “baby, baby, ooooh” sheen of his early singles.
What’s not working? The video, which to be fair is just a lyric visual showing some skateboarding. But as someone who grew up watching impressive skate videos soundtracked with snotty punk and metal, hearing this song instead of NOFX
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or something is a little jarring. If I’m being honest, none of this really matters because I know I’m basically just looking for a reason not to like this. Something must be in the water today or maybe I’m reevaluating my taste after having a blast at last’s night’s Billy Joel concert. Either way, watch it below.The song will appear on Bieber’s forthcoming album, his first in three years, which is rumored to drop in November.
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