Justin Bieber – “Changes” Album Review

Story posted February 19, 2020 in Arts & Entertainment by Sarah Nekich.

After nearly a five-year hiatus, Justin Bieber has returned to the music industry to release his highly anticipated fifth album “Changes.” Justin’s return to music marks a pivotal point in his life; now a married man who is trying to break away from his bad boy image and floppy haired teen idol self – “Changes” hopes to be his claim to maturity and adulthood.

Belieber’s have been anticipating “Changes” since the release of Justin’s first single “Yummy,” as well as his announcement of a YouTube documentary series and a worldwide tour. Although “Yummy” is no “Baby” or “Sorry,” it has a catchy beat and raunchy lyrics that will certainly become an earworm for any listener. As for the rest of the album – “Yummy” and his second single “Intentions” might be the only catchy ear worms Belieber’s might be enjoying.

The album opens with a smooth R&B track “All Around Me.” A simple song where Bieber’s vocals soar and the light guitar keeps the song at a mellow pace. This seems to be Justin’s pledge of commitment to his music and his new wife Hailey Baldwin, as he sings a heartfelt line, “Never thought I could ever be loyal to someone other than myself.” This theme of commitment and love seems to be the common thread throughout the album as he declares his love and loyalty to his wife.

The album continues on at this slow rhythmic R&B pace with other songs such as “Habitual,” “Come Around Me,” and “Available” — all seemingly about his love for his lady, and wanting to be around her. If Bieber’s intentions were to have every song sound the same and have the album have a cohesive sound, then he certainly accomplished that.

The more notable songs on the album were a few of the songs with features, including Quavo, Post Malone, Clever, Lil Dicky, Travis Scott, and Kehlani. The featured artists really bring color to the album and take listeners away from the mundane beats featured in the first half of the record. Working with some of R&B and Raps top artists may have been Bieber’s best move in creating “Changes.”

A notable fan favorite is “Get Me” featuring Kehlani, who will also be opening up for Justin this summer on his 2020 summer tour. The song follows the same basic R&B beats featured throughout the album but Kehlani’s beautiful vocals add a whole new dynamic to the sound and is a positive addition to the album.

The most heartfelt track on the album is clearly the title track “Changes.” Comparing it to the likes of some of Bieber’s other heartfelt songs like “Purpose”, and “Believe”, “Changes” is a great addition to his ballad discography. As the songs title describes, he discusses his many life changes throughout the past few years.

Justin sings “I just wanna be the best of me, even though sometimes I forget to breathe. So that I can be the best for you, that’s all I want to do. I be goin’ through changes” as he soulfully sings over a simple acoustic guitar. Certainly, his most memorable song off the album when it comes to lyrics and a deeper meaning.

As the album wraps up with more mellow R&B beats about Justin loving his new wife, there is not much more to offer other than a remix of “Yummy” by Summer Walker. All in all, Justin Bieber’s “Changes” may have excited Bieber fans after five years of being MIA, but it was not his most prolific album to have hit the charts.

Surely, hardcore Beliebers ate up this album and appreciated the mellow tunes and boring lyrics, but will Justin Bieber be remembered for “Yummy” and “Intentions”? Probably not. Though “Changes” may be as memorable as his “Journals” album released in 2013, sitting along the likes of some of Justin’s most forgettable songs like “PYD” and “Hold Tight”.

Justin Bieber could have had a chance to change up the course of his music career with this comeback album, but instead it reflects a teen pop god that used to be. He is a mature adult artist who has talent pouring out of his ears, but is wasting it on basic sounding R&B songs that all in all left fans re-listening to “Purpose” and “My World 2.0” to relive that Justin Bieber magic.

Rating: 4/10

Reviewer’s Favorite Tracks: “Intentions (feat. Quavo),” “Changes,” “That’s What Love Is”

Reviewer’s Least Favorite Tracks: “E.T.A,” “Come Around Me,” “Available”

 

Sarah Nekich is a junior majoring in Music Studies and Telecommunications. To contact her, email sen19@psu.edu.