Forever (Justin Bieber song) explained

Forever
Type:song
Artist:Justin Bieber featuring Post Malone and Clever
Album:Changes
Cover:JustinBieberForever.png
Alt:December 22,2020
Released:October 2,2020
Recorded:June 2020
Studio:April 2020
Genre:Trap
Length:3:40
Label:Def Jam
Producer:

"Forever" is a song by Canadian singer Justin Bieber featuring American rappers and singers Post Malone and Clever. This track marks Bieber and Malone's second collaboration, following Bieber's feature on Malone's 2016 single "Deja Vu", from his debut studio album Stoney (2016).[1] [2] "Forever" is a trap song about an extreme urge to be with another individual until the end of their life.

"Forever" was well-received by professional critics, who made favorable comments towards the vocal performances, the contributions of the guest stars, sound and composition. It peaked within the top 40 in more than 15 territories, among them the United States, where the song debuted at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also reached the top 20 in Bieber's home country on the same magazine's Canadian Hot 100.

Background and composition

On January 3, 2020, TMZ reported that Post Malone was among the featured artists to appear on Justin Bieber's upcoming album.[3] Bieber had completed his parts for the collaboration and was waiting on vocals from Malone.[3] Bieber last collaborated with Malone on the song "Deja Vu", featured on the latter's debut studio album Stoney (2016).[3] Forever was one of the names being thrown around as a possible title for the new album, with Bieber also recently getting the word tattooed on his neck.[3] On February 5, Bieber revealed the tracklist for Changes, which listed Malone and rising hip hop artist Clever as features on the seventh track titled "Forever".[4] According to Dustin Fox of The Gadsden Times, Clever recorded his vocals in Gadsden at GAD3 Studios.[5]

"Forever" is a trap song set in the key of C minor with a tempo of 136 beats per minute.[6] [7] Lyndsey Havens of Billboard remarked that it is one of the few songs on Changes "that strays from more traditional-sounding R&B".[8] NMEs Hannah Mylrea described the track as a "jangly cut" with "upbeat production and warm, nostalgic beats".[9] Jeremy Helligar of Variety noted the song's use of "plunky synths", which he characterized as "sound[ing] like drops of water".[10] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian compared the vocal delivery on the song to that of mumble rap.[11] It is a love song dealing with one's "overpowering urge to be with [another] until the end of [their] days".[12]

Critical reception

Lynn Sharpe from HotNewHipHop praised the vocals on "Forever", feeling that Bieber and Malone "compliment[ed] each other" in a seamless manner and that Clever beautifully reflected the track's "passionate nature".[12] Billboard critic Taylor Weatherby ranked it as the third-best song on Changes and regarded it as "one of the most distinctive tracks" on the album, highlighting "[t]he plinking production, the staccato chorus, Post Malone's very Posty verse and Clever's punchy lines".[13] Koltan Greenwood of Alternative Press called the song "a catchy and emotional bop".[14] The A.V. Clubs Annie Zaleski felt it was one of Changess "most enduring moments", adding that Malone and Clever bring "gruff vulnerability" to the song.[15] Carolyn Droke from Uproxx wrote that the song "boasts a full, resounding beat and succinct lyrical delivery".[16] Pitchforks Jayson Greene considered Malone's guest appearance one of the "[s]cattered bright spots" on Changes.[17]

However, Ben Devlin from musicOMH found Clever's voice on "Forever" to be "obnoxiously weak".[18] Joshua Bote of Paste remarked that Malone "adds a frantic tension to the cut", but disapproved of Bieber as "sound[ing] drained".[19] Hannah Mylrea of NME thought that the song "begins to drag" after the start before it "stutter[s] to a stop".[9] The Music writer Cyclone said that the track "never really goes anywhere" aside from the vocal performances.[6]

Commercial performance

In the United States, "Forever" debuted at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated February 29, 2020. It became Clever's first Hot 100 hit.[20] Furthermore, it was one of the eight tracks from Changes to debut on the Hot R&B Songs chart. It led the pack with an entrance at number six and secured Bieber's 10th top 10 entry on the chart.[21] On the UK Singles Chart, the song debuted at number 29 as the third top 40 track from Changes, after "Yummy" and "Intentions".[22]

Music video

A dance visual for "Forever", directed by Nick DeMoura, was released on March 9, 2020, as part of a collection of 16 music videos titled Changes: The Movement.[23] [24] In an interview with MTV News, DeMoura said the video came about after being inspired by the film Entrapment (1999).[24] Straying away from the previous visuals for "Habitual" and "All Around Me" which focus on intimate and intricate routines, the video centers around a group of masked performers wearing riot gear-styled attire that dance as lights flicker around them.[23] Trey Alston from MTV News described it as a high-tech espionage thriller with a cinematic flair.[23]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[25]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2020)Peak
position
Estonia (Eesti Tipp-40)[26] 26
Greece (IFPI)[27] 28
Italy (FIMI)[28] 67
Lithuania (AGATA)[29] 30
Singapore (RIAS)[30] 98
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[31] 98
US Rolling Stone Top 100[32] 9

Year-end charts

Notes and References

  1. Listen to Post Malone's Debut Album 'Stoney'. Brandle. Lars. September 12, 2016. Billboard. March 8, 2020.
  2. Post Malone & Justin Bieber Team Up for 'Deja Vu': Listen. Stutz. Colin. August 8, 2016. Billboard. March 8, 2020.
  3. Web site: Justin Bieber Taps Travis Scott, Post Malone, & Kehlani for New Album. January 3, 2020. Rap-Up. June 18, 2021.
  4. Justin Bieber's Changes will have tasty features from Post Malone, Travis Scott, more. Sanchez. Omar. February 5, 2020. Entertainment Weekly. June 18, 2021.
  5. Web site: Gadsden rapper appears on Justin Bieber's new album. Fox. Dustin. February 15, 2020. The Gadsden Times. June 18, 2021.
  6. Web site: Will The Beliebers Be Feeling 'Changes'? We Take You Through Bieber's New LP Track By Track. Cyclone. February 14, 2020. The Music. August 15, 2021.
  7. Web site: Forever by Justin Bieber feat. Post Malone & Clever - Digital Sheet Music. Bieber. Justin. Post. Austin. Huie. Joshua. Boyd. Jason. Bell. Louis. Harvey. Bernard. Darwish. Ali. Walsh. Billy. February 14, 2020. Musicnotes. June 18, 2021.
  8. Five Burning Questions: Billboard Staffers Discuss Justin Bieber's 'Changes' Debut & Latest Top 10 Hit. Billboard Staff. February 25, 2020. Billboard. August 15, 2021.
  9. Web site: Justin Bieber – 'Changes' review: a knackering, loved-up slog lacking substance. Mylrea. Hannah. February 14, 2020. NME. June 18, 2021.
  10. Web site: Justin Bieber's 'Changes': Album Review. Helligar. Jeremy. February 14, 2020. Variety. June 18, 2021.
  11. Web site: Justin Bieber: Changes review – the sound of fame being shunned. Petridis. Alexis. Alexis Petridis. February 13, 2020. The Guardian. June 18, 2021.
  12. Web site: Justin Bieber, Post Malone & Clever Get Soft On 'Forever'. Sharpe. Lynn. February 15, 2020. HotNewHipHop. June 18, 2021.
  13. Ranking All 17 Songs on Justin Bieber's 'Changes': Critic's Take. Weatherby. Taylor. February 14, 2020. Billboard. August 15, 2021.
  14. Web site: Post Malone and Justin Bieber question 'Forever' in emotional new collab. Greenwood. Koltan. February 14, 2020. Alternative Press. June 18, 2021.
  15. Web site: Changes finds Justin Bieber on the bumpy road to maturity. Zaleski. Annie. February 18, 2020. The A.V. Club. June 18, 2021.
  16. Web site: All The Best New Pop Music From This Week. Droke. Carolyn. February 18, 2020. Uproxx. August 30, 2021.
  17. Web site: Justin Bieber: Changes Album Review. Greene. Jayson. February 18, 2020. Pitchfork. June 18, 2021.
  18. Web site: Justin Bieber – Changes. Devlin. Ben. February 17, 2020. musicOMH. June 18, 2021.
  19. Web site: Justin Bieber's Changes Is a Limp Exploration of Grown-Up Romance. Bote. Joshua. February 18, 2020. Paste. June 18, 2021.
  20. Here Are the Lyrics to Justin Bieber's 'Forever,' Feat. Post Malone & Clever. Mamo. Heran. February 27, 2020. Billboard. June 18, 2021.
  21. Justin Bieber Earns First No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart. Anderson. Trevor. February 26, 2020. Billboard. August 16, 2021.
  22. Billie Eilish Scores First U.K. No. 1 Single With Record-Breaking 'No Time To Die'. Sexton. Paul. February 21, 2020. Billboard. June 18, 2021.
  23. Web site: Justin Bieber's 'Forever' Video Looks Like An Espionage Thriller. https://web.archive.org/web/20200310011122/http://www.mtv.com/news/3159146/justin-bieber-forever-video/. dead. March 10, 2020. Alston. Trey. March 9, 2020. MTV. June 19, 2021.
  24. Web site: How Justin Bieber's Changes: The Movement Came Together In Just Three Weeks. https://web.archive.org/web/20200411161634/http://www.mtv.com/news/3162437/justin-bieber-changes-the-movement-nick-demoura-breakdown/. dead. April 11, 2020. Alston. Trey. April 8, 2020. MTV. June 19, 2021.
  25. Web site: Changes / Justin Bieber. Tidal. en. 2020-02-16.
  26. Web site: Eesti Tipp-40 Muusikas: Eesti Laulu lood tungivad edetabelisse – kes kõige kõrgemale?. Nestor. Siim. February 25, 2020. Eesti Ekspress. et. February 26, 2020.
  27. Web site: Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Week: 8/2020. IFPI Greece. May 31, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20200305055940/https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_iel.html. March 5, 2020.
  28. Web site: Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 8. Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. it. February 22, 2020.
  29. Web site: 2020 8-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100). AGATA. lt. February 25, 2020. May 31, 2022.
  30. Web site: RIAS International Top Charts Week 8. Recording Industry Association (Singapore). https://web.archive.org/web/20200301164646/https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/. March 1, 2020.
  31. Web site: Top 100 Canciones: Semana 8. Productores de Música de España. February 26, 2020.
  32. Top 100 Songs. Rolling Stone. February 25, 2020. 2020-02-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20200224170257/https://www.rollingstone.com/charts/songs/2020-02-20/. dead.
  33. Hot R&B Songs - Year-End 2020. Billboard. December 11, 2020.