As I Am (song) explained

As I Am
Type:song
Artist:Justin Bieber featuring Khalid
Album:Justice
Genre:Pop
Label:Def Jam
Producer:
  • The Monsters & Strangerz
  • German
  • Josh Gudwin

"As I Am" is a song by Canadian singer Justin Bieber featuring American singer-songwriter Khalid. It was released through Def Jam Recordings on March 19, 2021, as the third track from Bieber's sixth studio album, Justice. The song was written alongside Scott Harris, Aldae, producers The Monsters & Strangerz, German (of TM&S), & Josh Gudwin, and co-producer Ido Zmishlany.

Background and composition

"As I Am" is a pop ballad set in the key of B major and has a moderate tempo of 100 beats per minute.[1] [2] The song marks the first collaboration between Justin Bieber and Khalid.[3] The "soulful and hopeful" song serves as "a sweet reminder of being grateful for the people who love you even when you are not perfect".[4] The "high-pitched synth and intense percussion" develop into the "upbeat, catchy chorus".[5]

On March 19, 2021, in an interview with Vogue, Bieber spoke on the nature of the song and revealed that it was about the promises that he made to his wife Hailey Baldwin:

I love this song because it has a really hopeful message. A lot of us, including me at times, have felt unworthy of love and so [the hook] is saying, 'Take me as I am and I'll do the best that I can.' It's that commitment that I personally made to my wife. I'm here through thick and thin—this is me, take it or leave it.[6]

Critical reception

Billboards Jason Lipshutz ranked "As I Am" as the twelfth-best song on Justice, opining that the pairing of Bieber and Khalid "plays out just as fans would have hoped" and that it "should be the first of several team-ups between the two".[7] Craig Jenkins from Vulture wrote that the collaboration "fools you into thinking it's another muted ballad before knocking you over the head with a massive drop".[8] Jennifer McClellan of USA Today thought that Khalid's vocals on the track were a "genius addition".[9] Similarly, Chris Willman of Variety believed Khalid was one of several guest artists on Justice "who actually feel like they complement Bieber somehow".[10] By contrast, Ali Shutler of The Daily Telegraph turned down Khalid's guest appearance on the song as unexciting.[11] Uproxx's Bianca Gracie felt that the song was "a formulaic recreation of Believes poppier moments".[12]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[13]

Charts

Chart performance for "As I Am"! Chart (2021)! Peak
position
Greece (IFPI)[14] 48
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[15] 30
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard)[16] 16
Lithuania (AGATA)[17] 32
Malaysia (RIM)[18] 20
Singapore (RIAS)[19] 20

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Justin Bieber Croons His Way Through 'As I Am' Ft. Khalid. Marie. Erika. March 20, 2021. HotNewHipHop. June 16, 2021.
  2. Web site: As I Am by Justin Bieber feat. Khalid - Digital Sheet Music. Bieber. Justin. Hein. Gregory. Zmishlany. Ido. Harris. Scott. Gudwin. Josh. Johnson. Jordan. Johnson. Stefan. Peterhof. Oliver. Robinson. Khalid. March 19, 2021. Musicnotes. June 16, 2021.
  3. Every Song Ranked on Justin Bieber's 'Justice': Critic's Picks. Lipshutz. Jason. March 19, 2021. Billboard. June 16, 2021.
  4. Web site: Album Review: Justin Bieber's 'Justice' reminds us it's OK to rely on others. The Post Athens. Berger. Mary. March 24, 2021. March 24, 2021. March 25, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210325070525/https://www.thepostathens.com/article/2021/03/justin-bieber-justice-album-review. live.
  5. Web site: Justin Bieber Demonstrates Love and Healing In 'Justice'. NYU News. Mehrara. Maya. March 31, 2021. March 31, 2021. March 31, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210331212615/https://nyunews.com/arts/music/2021/03/31/justice-justin-bieber-review/. live.
  6. Web site: Justin Bieber ('iPad 7' on Zoom) Reveals the Details Behind His New Album, Justice. Vogue. Collins. Hattie. March 19, 2021. March 19, 2021. March 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210319163013/https://www.vogue.com/article/justin-bieber-justice-album-zoom-interview. live.
  7. Every Song Ranked on Justin Bieber's 'Justice': Critic's Picks. Lipshutz. Jason. March 19, 2021. Billboard. September 1, 2021.
  8. Web site: Justin Bieber's New Album Is Mostly Peace, No Justice (Phew). Jenkins. Craig. March 24, 2021. Vulture. September 1, 2021.
  9. Web site: Listen now: The 5 best songs on Justin Bieber's 'Justice'. McClellan. Jennifer. March 19, 2021. USA Today. June 16, 2021.
  10. Web site: After He Balked at Being Classified as Pop, Justin Bieber's 'Justice' Is an Unabashed Pop Album — and a Good One: Album Review. Willman. Chris. March 18, 2021. Variety. September 1, 2021.
  11. Web site: Shutler. Ali. Unfortunately, Justin Bieber thinks his music is far more powerful than it really is. The Daily Telegraph. March 19, 2021. March 19, 2021. subscription. March 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210319072153/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/unfortunately-justin-bieber-thinks-music-far-powerful-really/. live.
  12. Web site: Justin Bieber's 'Justice' Misses The Redemption Mark. Gracie. Bianca. March 23, 2021. Uproxx. September 1, 2021.
  13. Web site: Credits / Justice / Justin Bieber. Tidal. March 19, 2021. March 29, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210329161045/https://listen.tidal.com/album/177329026/credits. live.
  14. Web site: Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Week: 12/2021. IFPI Greece. July 27, 2021. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20210405180413/http://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html. April 5, 2021.
  15. Web site: Tónlistinn – Lög. The Music – Songs. is. Plötutíðindi. July 4, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210405060832/http://plotutidindi.is/lagalistinn/. April 5, 2021. dead.
  16. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Overseas [2021/03/31 公開]]. Billboard Japan. ja. March 16, 2022.
  17. Web site: 2021 12-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100). lt. AGATA. March 26, 2021. July 2, 2021.
  18. Web site: https://www.facebook.com/RecordingIndustryMalaysia/photos/a.809977782362927/4470953009598701/?type=3&eid=ARCKNZFcexohULOJ_7M5y20zipIA1ie-fFZq797dQJ-_ge11-8B7pWLnJEUsLtS62kpswEPp5321FzF2&__xts__[0=68.ARCwcJ4Ea7ChVrYoqsHFVmuwhmvoI_nRwdps1_mQpCs-yCiLBpvyxlY-A5M1H9_43YivHoRWEvnMZuCyd9aH7EOzWb-ZPha9S1zNCThccBuMZB2NGXRFwKV6FXz5tbwh63uMinPUeC7X2vNF6J12iLBpKkSf5s1VWHTgMV5_lmlFiXN-IZOYcHLFuT0ya_Tu9LEPnXVMiXjfHLzpNFsL5stt2k7_Qj2HprPpL-DwPuDAi3ecG6phqQltw0eMWK3NM6ErmLO0p31AVvC-oRlAhyrcvpdI03HmWGU3rOlnoaoSO7L24gTrTQ #RIMChart Top 20 Most Streamed International + Domestic song Week 12 (19/03/2021-25/03/2021)]. Facebook. live. April 20, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210430125052/https://www.facebook.com/RecordingIndustryMalaysia/photos/a.809977782362927/4470953009598701/?type=3&eid=ARCKNZFcexohULOJ_7M5y20zipIA1ie-fFZq797dQJ-_ge11-8B7pWLnJEUsLtS62kpswEPp5321FzF2&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARCwcJ4Ea7ChVrYoqsHFVmuwhmvoI_nRwdps1_mQpCs-yCiLBpvyxlY-A5M1H9_43YivHoRWEvnMZuCyd9aH7EOzWb-ZPha9S1zNCThccBuMZB2NGXRFwKV6FXz5tbwh63uMinPUeC7X2vNF6J12iLBpKkSf5s1VWHTgMV5_lmlFiXN-IZOYcHLFuT0ya_Tu9LEPnXVMiXjfHLzpNFsL5stt2k7_Qj2HprPpL-DwPuDAi3ecG6phqQltw0eMWK3NM6ErmLO0p31AVvC-oRlAhyrcvpdI03HmWGU3rOlnoaoSO7L24gTrTQ . April 30, 2021 .
  19. Web site: RIAS Top Charts. Recording Industry Association Singapore. dead. March 31, 2021. March 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210330170957/https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/.

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