"Lonely" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Justin Bieber and Benny Blanco | ||||
from the album Justice and Friends Keep Secrets 2 | ||||
Released | October 16, 2020 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 2:29 | |||
Label |
| |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | ||||
Justin Bieber singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Benny Blanco singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Lonely" on YouTube |
"Lonely" is a song by Canadian singer Justin Bieber and American record producer Benny Blanco. It was released through Def Jam Recordings,Interscope Records,and Friends Keep Secrets on October 16,2020,as the second single from Bieber's sixth studio album, Justice (2021),and was also included on the 2021 reissue of Blanco's debut studio album, Friends Keep Secrets (2018). The song was produced by Blanco and Finneas,who both wrote it alongside Bieber. At the 64th Annual Grammy Awards,"Lonely" received a nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. [1]
"Lonely" marks the fifth collaboration between Bieber and Blanco,but it is the first where Blanco is credited as an artist. Past Bieber songs where Blanco is credited as a producer and songwriter include "Eenie Meenie" and "Somebody to Love" in 2010,"Love Yourself" in 2015,and "Cold Water" in 2016. "When [Blanco] and [Finneas] showed me this song to be honest it was hard to listen to considering how tough it was to get through some of these chapters," Bieber wrote of the song. [2] [3] At one point,Bieber broke down and cried in the studio. [4] "I went into the studio and sang through it which wasn't easy but started to really see the importance of telling this story! It made me realise we all feel lonely at times! Being someone in my position I believe it is powerful to express vulnerability and that's why I believe this song is so powerful!" [5] [6] Speaking of the song,Blanco revealed that Bieber was "real nervous",and contemplated on whether to release the song. "Because he's like,'People know me for this thing and it's like I've never been this raw.' He's raw on this song. This song brought us so much closer together. And it was just he's really opening up on this and he's super vulnerable." [7]
"Lonely" is a pop ballad that is set in the key of B minor with a tempo of 80 beats per minute. [8] [9] It contains a minimalist arrangement and a somber electric piano accompaniment. [10] It has a length of two minutes and twenty-nine seconds. [11] Lyrically,Bieber reflects on the effects of money and fame, [12] as well as the obstacles he faced during his early career, [13] including some perceptions and criticisms he had to deal with as he was gaining fame in his teenage years,and the feelings of isolation and loneliness he experienced as he failed to find anyone who could relate to his situation and provide him with emotional support. [14] [15] [16] He also admits to the wrongdoings he has committed along the way. [17]
The song was first hinted at by Blanco on October 5,2020,when he posted a series of pictures on Instagram,including one with his head photoshopped onto Bieber's advertisement for Calvin Klein underwear. There was also a picture of Blanco standing in front of a real-life billboard with the photoshopped ad. [18] On October 9,Bieber posted a short clip on social media,which features himself,Blanco and American rapper Lil Dicky. The post reads:"Next week ..." Blanco posted the full version of that clip,which sees Lil Dicky arriving at Blanco's mansion and being welcomed with an array of odd phrases,before being greeted by Bieber who was awaiting him inside the house. [19] He also teases a release "next week". [20] On October 12,2020,Bieber and Blanco confirmed the song and its release,along with the artwork and a link for pre-saving the song on digital download and streaming services. [21] He also posted a short snippet of the song on his Instagram Stories, [10] and shared a still from the music video. [22] On October 15,almost a day before the official release time,an early snippet of "Lonely" was made available exclusively in Snapchat's "Featured Sounds" list of its new feature called Sounds, [23] which allows users to add licensed music to their Snaps. [24] [25] [26]
"Lonely" debuted at number one on the Canadian Hot 100 issued for October 31,2020. [27] Music Canada certified the song 2×platinum. [28] On the US Billboard Hot 100,it peaked at number 12; [29] it earned a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA),which denotes one million units based on sales and track-equivalent on-demand streams. [30] "Lonely" reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart,and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified it gold. [31] [32] In Australia,the song charted at number 11 and went double platinum. [33] [34] It peaked at number 12 in New Zealand. [35] "Lonely" peaked within the top five of national record charts,at number one in Hungary, [36] Malaysia [37] and Norway, [38] number two in the Netherlands, [39] number four in Denmark [40] and Singapore, [41] and number five in Portugal [42] and Switzerland. [43] The song received a gold certification in Italy, [44] Norway, [45] and Spain, [46] as well as a double platinum certification in Portugal. [47]
The music video premiered on YouTube at 9 pm PDT alongside the single on October 15,2020. [24] [48] It was directed by American music video director Jake Schreier and stars Canadian actor Jacob Tremblay,who plays a younger version of Bieber. [49] [50] In an interview with etalk ,Tremblay said that starring in a Justin Bieber music video "is something [he] would have never seen coming". He explained that Bieber's team reached out about the role,and Bieber later texted him to ask if he had any questions. The two ultimately agreed to chat over the phone to address Tremblay's questions,but they did not schedule an exact time,so Bieber ended up calling him when he was in a grocery store. "I was like,to my parents,'I have to go outside because Justin Bieber's calling me.'" Tremblay also revealed that he was nervous about starring in the video,because he had never played a real person before. "I've always played made-up characters,so I just really wanted to make sure that I had the feelings of the song and how Justin wanted me to feel. I really got to understand—it's a bit more of a serious song but I'm really excited for people to hear it,so they can see the story. It's really good." [51]
Bieber praised Jacob Tremblay for his talent,adding that he became emotional when he saw Tremblay play himself,while he acts as a spectator "from the outside looking in". [52] In a livestream on Bieber's YouTube channel after the song's release,both Bieber and Blanco called Tremblay one of the best child actors they have ever seen. "The first time I watched him go through the segment ... I legitimately lost it," Justin said of witnessing Tremblay on set. "I was tearing up,like completely." [53]
On October 27,2020,an acoustic video for "Lonely" was released. Directed by Schreier, [54] the video sees Blanco playing on a Wurlitzer electronic piano,with Bieber singing beside him while sitting in front of a mic in a recording studio. [55] [56]
The video opens with Tremblay sitting alone in a dressing room,staring at himself in the mirror. [57] [58] He is dressed like Bieber in the early days of his career, [59] with bowl-style side-swept hair, [60] a purple hoodie, [61] [62] white denim jacket and pants, [63] [64] and a pair of purple sneakers. [18] Blanco makes an appearance as he enters the room to notify Tremblay it is time to get on stage. [65] Tremblay then proceeds to pick up a hockey stick and practice hockey briefly,before exiting the dressing room. [66] As the video progresses,Tremblay walks around the backstage by himself,and ultimately ends up on stage facing an empty theater,mouthing the lyrics "I'm so lonely". [67] As the camera zooms out,Bieber is revealed to be the only member of the audience,watching Tremblay's performance in his seat with a blank expression, [68] [69] reflecting on and judging his own past. [13] [70]
Credits adapted from YouTube. [48]
On October 17,2020,Bieber and Blanco performed "Lonely" live,alongside Bieber's previous single,"Holy",featuring American rapper Chance the Rapper,the lead and previous single from Justice on Saturday Night Live . Both songs were performed live for the first time. [13] [71] [72] Instead of performing in a traditional stage setup,Bieber started his performance in a backstage dressing room. He sang to himself in a mirror,before wandering through the dimly lit,empty hallways of Studio 8H. [73] [74] [75] He eventually made his way onto the stage under a singular spotlight, [76] [77] [78] with Blanco on the piano. [79] At the end of the performance,he kept his head down for a bit,then walked over to give Blanco a hug. [80] On November 15,2020,Bieber and Blanco performed the song at the 46th ceremony of the People's Choice Awards. [81] [82] [83] The performance began with Bieber sitting alone at a bus stop on an empty city street, [84] [85] with Blanco off to the side playing the keyboard. [86] [87] [88] On November 22,2020,Bieber and Blanco gave another live performance of the song at the American Music Awards of 2020. [89] [90] [91] Bieber,dressed in a blue plaid shirt and orange beanie, [92] performed the song on a stage surrounded by mirrors, [93] while Blanco played the keyboard behind him. [94] [95]
Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
iHeartRadio | The 30 Songs That Made Us Feel Something In 2020 | 20 | [96] |
Weekly charts | Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [34] | 2× Platinum | 140,000‡ |
Belgium (BEA) [142] | Platinum | 40,000‡ |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [143] | Diamond | 160,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada) [28] | 2× Platinum | 160,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [144] | Platinum | 90,000‡ |
France (SNEP) [145] | Platinum | 200,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI) [146] | Gold | 200,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI) [44] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
Mexico (AMPROFON) [147] | 4× Platinum | 240,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [148] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
Norway (IFPI Norway) [45] | 2× Platinum | 120,000‡ |
Poland (ZPAV) [149] | 2× Platinum | 100,000‡ |
Portugal (AFP) [47] | 2× Platinum | 20,000‡ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [46] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [32] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [30] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000‡ |
Streaming | ||
Sweden (GLF) [150] | Platinum | 8,000,000† |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Various | October 16, 2020 |
| [151] | |
United States | October 20, 2020 | Contemporary hit radio | [152] | |
Italy | October 30, 2020 | Radio airplay | Universal | [153] |
Benjamin Joseph Levin, known professionally as Benny Blanco, is an American record producer, songwriter, record executive and author. He is the recipient of the 2013 Hal David Starlight Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He has also won five BMI Songwriter of the Year Awards, won the 2017 iHeartRadio Producer of the Year Award, and received 11 Grammy Award nominations.
"One Time" is the debut single by Canadian singer Justin Bieber. It is the lead single from his debut EP, My World (2009). It was first solicited to mainstream and rhythmic radio on May 18, 2009. It was released via digital download in the United States and Canada on July 7, 2009, and was released in several other countries during autumn 2009. An acoustic version of the song called "My Heart Edition" was released to iTunes on December 22, 2009. The song is a teen pop song, moderately paced with pop-soul influences, about puppy love.
Justin Drew Bieber is a Canadian singer. Regarded as a pop icon, he is recognized for his multi-genre musical performances. He was discovered by American record executive Scooter Braun in 2008 and subsequently brought to American singer Usher, both of whom formed the record label RBMG Records to sign Bieber in October of that year. He gained recognition following the release of his debut extended play (EP) My World (2009), which was quickly met with international commercial success and led to his establishment as a teen idol.
My World is the debut extended play (EP) by Canadian singer Justin Bieber. It was released on November 17, 2009, by Island, RBMG and Schoolboy Records. The EP is considered the first half of a two-piece project, later being supplemented by Bieber's debut studio album My World 2.0 (2010). After signing a recording contract in light of his growing popularity on YouTube, Bieber worked with various collaborators, including his mentor Usher and producers Tricky Stewart, D'Mile, and MIDI Mafia. The EP's music incorporates pop and dance-pop styles with R&B influences, and lyrically discusses teen romance and coming of age situations.
"Baby" is a song by Canadian singer Justin Bieber featuring American rapper Ludacris. It was released as the lead single on Bieber's debut studio album, My World 2.0. The track was written by the artists alongside Christina Milian and producers Tricky Stewart and The-Dream.
The discography of Canadian singer Justin Bieber consists of six studio albums, three remix albums, three compilation albums, two extended plays, 76 singles, and 10 promotional singles. Bieber has attained eight number-one hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 and eight number-one albums on the US Billboard 200 charts. As of June 2019, Bieber has sold an estimated 150 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), he has sold 24 million albums and 122.5 million digital singles units as a lead artist, in the United States. Bieber was named the "Greatest Pop Star of 2016" by Billboard. He was also named the Billboard Year-End Top Male Artist for 2016 and placed number seven on the magazine's Decade-End Top Artists Chart for the 2010s.
"Eenie Meenie" is a song by American-Jamaican singer Sean Kingston and Canadian singer Justin Bieber. The song was written by both Kingston and Bieber along with Carlos Battey, Steven Battey, Marcos Palacios and Ernest Clark and Benny Blanco and was produced by the latter. It was originally released as the first single from Kingston's third studio album Back 2 Life on March 15, 2010, but was taken off for unknown reasons. However, it is included on Bieber's first studio album My World 2.0. The song, a dance-pop number with Kingston's reggae influences and Bieber's R&B vocals, is lyrically about an indecisive lover.
"Somebody to Love" is a song by Canadian singer Justin Bieber featuring American singer Usher. The song served as the second single from Bieber's first studio album My World 2.0. It was written by Heather Bright and The Stereotypes, and produced by the latter. The song was originally recorded as a demo by Usher, who was Bieber's mentor, for his sixth studio album, Raymond v. Raymond (2010). After things went stale with Usher's management, The Stereotypes were encouraged to give the song to Bieber, who recorded it, with Usher performing background vocals. The song is an upbeat pop song, which also derives from R&B genre, while making use of Eurodisco influences. It impacted US mainstream and rhythmic radio on April 20, 2010. The remix of the song featuring Usher was featured on Bieber's first compilation album My Worlds: The Collection and his second remix album Never Say Never: The Remixes.
"Mistletoe" is a Christmas song by Canadian singer Justin Bieber. The song was written by Bieber and his producers, Nasri Atweh and Adam Messinger. The song was released on October 17, 2011, as the lead single from his second studio album and first Christmas album, Under the Mistletoe (2011). "Mistletoe" is a pop and R&B song, that has reggae influences. "Mistletoe" received generally positive reviews from most music critics. The song reached the top ten in Canada, Denmark and Norway, and slightly missed the top 10 in the US, peaking at 11, while also reaching the top forty in nine other countries. It set the record for the highest debut for a Christmas song in Billboard Hot 100 history. The song's accompanying music video was directed by Roman White. It features the singer singing on a snowy, lit-up street.
"Sorry" is a song recorded by Canadian singer Justin Bieber for his fourth studio album, Purpose (2015). Written by Bieber, Julia Michaels, Justin Tranter, Skrillex, and BloodPop; the song was produced by the latter two. It was released on October 22, 2015, as the second single from the album. A dancehall pop, tropical house and moombahton song, "Sorry" contains in its instrumentation "brassy horn bleats", warm island rhythms and a bouncy dembow riddim drum beat. Lyrically, "Sorry" is a plea for a chance to apologize to a lover, with Bieber asking forgiveness and a second chance to redeem himself. Bieber has since said that the lover was Selena Gomez.
"Love Yourself" is a song recorded by Canadian singer Justin Bieber for his fourth studio album Purpose (2015). The song was released as a promotional single on November 9, 2015, and as the album's third official single on December 7, 2015. It was written by Ed Sheeran and Benny Blanco, and produced by the latter. A pop song, "Love Yourself" features an electric guitar and a brief flurry of trumpets as its main instrumentation. During the song, Bieber uses a husky tone in the lower registers. Lyrically, the song is a kiss-off to a narcissistic ex-lover.
"Cold Water" is a song by American electronic dance music production group Major Lazer, featuring vocals from Canadian singer Justin Bieber and Danish singer MØ. The song was released on July 22, 2016, as the lead single from their debut greatest hits album, Major Lazer Essentials. It became Major Lazer's third collaboration with MØ after "Lean On" and "Lost".
"Let Me Love You" is a song recorded by French DJ and electronic music producer DJ Snake featuring vocals from Canadian singer Justin Bieber. The song was released through Interscope Records on 5 August 2016 as the third single from his debut studio album, Encore (2016). The artists both co-wrote the song along with Andrew Watt, Ali Tamposi, Brian Lee and Louis Bell, while the song's production was handled by DJ Snake, Bell and Watt.
"Eastside" is a song by American record producer Benny Blanco and American singers Halsey and Khalid. The song was released on July 12, 2018, as Blanco's debut single.
"Intentions" is a song by Canadian singer Justin Bieber featuring American rapper Quavo. It was released as the second single from Bieber's fifth studio album, Changes, on February 7, 2020. On March 19, 2020, Bieber released an acoustic version of the song, a solo version that does not include Quavo. The single received positive reviews from music critics, reached number one in Malaysia, New Zealand, and Singapore, and reached the top forty in twenty-two additional countries. The music video for "Intentions" was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award.
"Stuck with U" is a song by American singer Ariana Grande and Canadian singer Justin Bieber. It was released through Republic Records, Def Jam Recordings, and Silent Records Ventures as a single on May 8, 2020. Both artists wrote the song alongside producers Freddy Wexler and Gian Stone alongside Whitney Phillips, their manager, Scooter Braun, and Skyler Stonestreet. Primarily a pop and R&B song, "Stuck with U" features elements of doo-wop. "Stuck with U" marks the second collaboration between Grande and Bieber, following their duet on the remix of the latter's chart-topping single, "What Do You Mean?"; the original song and remix both appear on his fourth studio album, Purpose (2015).
"Holy" is a song by Canadian singer Justin Bieber featuring American rapper Chance the Rapper. It was released on September 18, 2020 as the lead single from the former's sixth studio album Justice (2021). "Holy" is a pop song with elements of gospel. Billboard named it the 41st best song of 2020. The acoustic version was released on November 6, 2020. The official music video for the song was released on September 18, 2020, and features Bieber as a laid-off oil worker and his partner being helped by a charitable soldier.
"Monster" is a song by Canadian singers Shawn Mendes and Justin Bieber. It was released through Island Records as the second single from the former's fourth studio album, Wonder, on November 20, 2020. The song was produced by Frank Dukes and additionally produced by Matthew Tavares and Kaan Güneşberk. The two artists wrote it with Dukes alongside Daniel Caesar and Mustafa the Poet. All producers and songwriters are Canadian.
"Anyone" is a song by Canadian singer Justin Bieber. It was released through Def Jam Recordings as the third single from his sixth studio album, Justice, on January 1, 2021. Bieber wrote the song with producers Jon Bellion, Andrew Watt, and the Monsters & Strangerz production trio, alongside Michael Pollack and Raul Cubina. At the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, "Anyone" received a nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance.
Justice is the sixth studio album by Canadian singer Justin Bieber. It was released on March 19, 2021, by Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from Khalid, Chance the Rapper, the Kid Laroi, Dominic Fike, Daniel Caesar, Giveon, Beam, Burna Boy, and Benny Blanco. The "Triple Chucks" deluxe edition of the album was released on March 26, 2021, exactly a week after the standard version. It features additional guest appearances from Lil Uzi Vert, Jaden, Quavo, DaBaby, and Tori Kelly. The complete edition was released on October 8, 2021, and includes the tracks on store versions of the album that did not make the regular album. It features additional guest appearances from TroyBoi and Poo Bear. The album includes production from Benny Blanco himself, Virtual Riot, Andrew Watt, Skrillex, Finneas, Jon Bellion, the Monsters & Strangerz, and numerous others. It serves as the follow-up to Bieber's previous album, Changes (2020). Justice is a pop, R&B, and dream pop album.