Bieber’s new hits as collaborator

I have nothing against the music of Ed Sheeran or Bruno Mars or of The Chainsmokers. I like their songs. But you have to admit it was starting to get boring hearing their hits everywhere even if the likes of Versace On The Floor and Shape Of You are truly excellent examples of the new pop sounds. 

That is why I welcomed with joy the news that there is somebody new on top of the hit charts and a lot of people are listening to his newer sounds. Great! Here is somebody who will lift us up from the doldrums. Greater still! That somebody is Justin Bieber.

Yes. It is the Biebs again and Spotify’s Philippines’ Top 50 Chart has him in Nos. 1 and 2. Well, not really Justin. These new releases are actually collaborations with other artists that the Bieber seems to enjoy doing nowadays. He was in two collabs that sold very well last year. Cold Water with Major Lazer & MO and Let Me Love You with DJ Snake.

The No. 1 song is I’m The One by DJ Khaled featuring Quavo, Chance the Rapper, Lil Wayne and Bieber. The No. 2 tune is Despacito by Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Bieber and would you believe, the kid from Toronto sings for the first time in Spanish in this track. You can bet your last buck that he has now added a million or more followers from the Spanish speaking countries.

There are a lot of singers and songwriters around who are better at it than Bieber. There are also a lot of better looking ones if you will take being a cute pop idol into consideration. But Bieber has this knack for pulling up surprises that makes whatever he does more interesting. He is growing up astute and clever about the nitty-gritty of the business he is in.

Think back on how he sort of repackaged himself after the fall-out from some run-ins with the law and his much-publicized break-up with Selena Gomez. After a hiatus of two years from recording, he resurfaced with the single Where Are You Now?  Technically, it was by Skrillex and Diplo with Bieber as the featured artist, but fans saw it as his statement about the break-up and sympathized by making the song a big hit.

Then on firmer footing, he next released songs from his new album Purpose, with production assist again from Skrillex and Diplo. What came next was a strong single, What Do You Mean? followed by another strong one, Sorry, and then an even stronger one, Love Yourself. When the smoke cleared, Bieber had become the youngest artist to make a Billboard No. 1 and 3 consecutive ones at that from the same album. And they all thought the guy was washed up. 

Now, here he is again, with something new and fresh to offer, I’m The One and Despacito, both of them No. 1 sellers in the Hot 100. Sure these are collaborations, but I see these as Bieber’s way of learning. Note that he was just a boy when he became a pop sensation. He had no time to learn the ropes. He is doing that now, with the teachers he wants to learn from. He is learning a lot indeed. And this early, I am already wondering what his next album will be like.

The Top 20 songs in Spotify’s Philippines Top 50 list are: I’m The One by DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber; Despacito by Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber; Shape Of You by Ed Sheeran; That’s What I Want by Bruno Mars; Something Just Like This by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay; Symphony by Clean Bandit and Zara Larsson; Stay by Zedd and Alessia Cara; Attention by Charlie Puth; Say You Won’t Let Go by James Arthur; Versace On The Floor by Bruno Mars.

Good Life by G-Eazy and Kehlani; Mama by Jonas Blue and William S; There’s Nothing Holding Me Back by Shawn Mendes; No Promises by Cheat Codes and Demi Lovato; Strip That Down by Liam Payne and Quavo; It Ain’t Me by Kygo and Selena Gomez; Touch by Little Mix; Bad Liar by Selena; The Cure by Lady Gaga; and Most Girls by Hailee Steinfeld.