Friends (Justin Bieber and BloodPop song) explained

Friends
Cover:Justin Bieber and BloodPop Friends.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Justin Bieber and BloodPop
Genre:
Length:3:09
Label:
Producer:BloodPop
Chronology:Justin Bieber
Prev Title:2U
Prev Year:2017
Next Title:Hard 2 Face Reality
Next Year:2018

"Friends" is a song by Canadian singer Justin Bieber and American record producer BloodPop. It was released through Genpop Corporation, RBMG Records, School Boy Records, Def Jam Recordings and Republic Records as a single on August 17, 2017. Bieber and BloodPop wrote the song alongside Justin Tranter and Julia Michaels, with production solely handled by BloodPop. "Friends" peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. On October 20, 2017, Bieber and BloodPop released a remix of the song, which features Michaels.[1]

Background

In July 2017, Bieber played fans a clip of the song at Milan Airport.[2] On August 13, 2017, Bieber first teased the single by tweeting the line: "Can we still be friends". The following day, Bieber announced an upcoming release on social media, the accompanied artwork featured a monochrome illustration of two birds tearing apart a worm in front of highlighter yellow text,[3] [4] [5] [6] captioning: "New music. Thursday noon".[7] [8] [9] Justin Tranter and Julia Michaels later revealed on social media that they co-wrote the single alongside Bieber and BloodPop.[10] [11]

Critical reception

Spencer Kornhaber of The Atlantic called the single "sleek electro" and "the zillionth child of the Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" to approach the public in the past three decades". He wrote that BloodPop provided "an insistent beat", "a tight verse-prechorus-chorus structure" and "an on-trend wordless hook".[12] Jordan Sargent of Spin thinks that the four songwriters "seem to nod overtly at that song", and that the song "has the same little between-beat drum fills as 'Sorry', as well as its pitched-up vocal counterpoints".[13] Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone felt that Bieber "traded in the tropical house leanings of his previous solo hits for a more pop direction" with this song.[14] Maeve McDermott of USA Today opined that the song "finally jailbreaks Bieber from the soulless trop-house prison of his other EDM one-offs".[15] Phil Witmer of Vice wrote that the song "pretty much sounds like a synth-disco remix" of "Sorry", in which "the chord progression is the exact same".[16] Beatrice Hazlehurst of Paper called the song "a shameless club banger".[17]

Commercial performance

In Canada, "Friends" charted on the Canadian Hot 100 within a day of release, debuting at number 96 and jumping to number 4 the following week, marking Bieber's 19th top 10 song. It received a double platinum certification from Music Canada for more than 80,000 downloads in the country. In the United States, the song had 16,000 downloads counted only on its release day.[18] The following week, the single debuted at US Adult Contemporary (No. 28), Adult Top 40 (No. 17), Dance Club Songs (No. 42), Mainstream Top 40 (No. 11) and Rhythmic (No. 19). Consequently, it debuted and peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 with 32 million impressions on the radio, 39,000 downloads and 13.3 million streams and being his 23rd Top 20 in the country.[19] It also received a platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

In Europe, the song debuted at the top of the charts in Denmark, Norway and Slovakia, dethroning the remix of "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, which features Bieber, in the second place of five nationalities, including the United Kingdom, in addition to the top 10 of fourteen. He has received platinum certifications from the Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana (FIMI), gold from the Belgian Entertainment Association (BEA), IFPI Denmark, Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI), Productores de Música de España (PROMUSICAE), the Swedish Recording Industry Association (GLF) and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). In Oceania, "Friends" reached at number two both in Australia and New Zealand, receiving double platinum certifications from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and gold from Recorded Music NZ (RMNZ).

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[20]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2017–2018)Peak
position
Argentina (Monitor Latino)[21] 16
Colombia (National-Report)[22] 77
Costa Rica (Monitor Latino)[23] 12
Croatia (HRT)[24] 10
Ecuador (National-Report)[25] 49
El Salvador (Monitor Latino)[26] 11
Euro Digital Songs (Billboard)[27] 3
Greece Digital Songs (Billboard)[28] 2
Honduras (Monitor Latino)[29] 5
Israel (Media Forest TV Airplay)[30] 1
Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20)[31] 1
Malaysia (RIM)[32] 5
Mexico (Billboard Mexican Airplay)[33] 5
Netherlands (Mega Top 50)[34] 11
Panama (Monitor Latino)[35] 14
Slovenia (SloTop50)[36] 5
Uruguay (Monitor Latino)[37] 12
Venezuela (National-Report)[38] 44

Year-end charts

Chart (2017)Position
Australia (ARIA)[39] 63
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[40] 63
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[41] 197
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[42] 83
Croatia (HRT Top 40)[43] 77
Denmark (Tracklisten)[44] 45
Germany (Official German Charts)[45] 35
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[46] 80
Hungary (Single Top 40)[47] 74
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[48] 50
Italy (FIMI)[49] 95
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[50] 45
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[51] 84
Portugal (AFP)[52] 60
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[53] 71
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[54] 83
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[55] 93
Chart (2018)Position
Germany (Official German Charts)[56] 56

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
VariousAugust 17, 2017
ItalyAugust 18, 2017Contemporary hit radioUniversal[57]
United KingdomAugust 19, 2017Virgin EMI[58]
United StatesAugust 22, 2017[59]
Rhythmic contemporary radio[60]

Notes and References

  1. Justin Bieber, BloodPop Recruit Julia Michaels for 'Friends' Remix. Rolling Stone. Reed. Ryan. October 20, 2017. November 29, 2017.
  2. Web site: Jack. White. August 14, 2017. Justin Bieber's new single Friends is out this Friday. Official Charts Company. August 15, 2017.
  3. News: Alex. Ungerman. August 14, 2017. Justin Bieber Teases New Music Weeks After Canceling Tour: 'Can We Still Be Friends?'. Entertainment Tonight. August 15, 2017.
  4. News: Alexandra. Whittaker. August 14, 2017. Justin Bieber Has New Music—and It's All About Friends. InStyle. August 15, 2017. August 14, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170814233917/http://www.instyle.com/news/justin-bieber-friends-bloodpop-song. dead.
  5. News: Justin Bieber & BloodPop Announce 'Friends' Collaboration. Rap-Up. August 14, 2017. August 15, 2017.
  6. News: Mike. Nied. August 14, 2017. Justin Bieber Readies New BloodPop Collaboration "Friends," Releases Cover. Idolator. August 15, 2017.
  7. News: Johnni. Macke. August 14, 2017. Justin Bieber Makes A Big Announcement. People's Choice Awards. August 15, 2017.
  8. News: Julia. Hunt. Vicki. Newman. August 14, 2017. Justin Bieber sends fans into a frenzy as he teases new music weeks after cancelling Purpose world tour. Daily Mirror. August 15, 2017.
  9. News: Wade. Sheridan. August 15, 2017. Justin Bieber announces new song 'Friends' will release on Thursday. United Press International. August 15, 2017.
  10. Sadie. Bell. Taylor. Weatherby. August 14, 2017. Justin Bieber Has a New Song Coming This Thursday. Billboard. August 15, 2017.
  11. News: Justin Bieber teases release of new track 'Friends'. Malay Mail. August 15, 2017. August 15, 2017.
  12. News: Spencer. Kornhaber. Justin Bieber Has Another Question for the Pop World. August 18, 2017. The Atlantic. August 17, 2017.
  13. News: Jordan. Sargent. Justin Bieber and BloodPop's "Friends" Might Be the One That Makes You Tired of Justin Bieber. August 18, 2017. Spin. August 17, 2017.
  14. Brittany. Spanos. Brittany Spanos. Hear Justin Bieber Make Amends With Ex on Upbeat 'Friends'. August 18, 2017. Rolling Stone. August 17, 2017. August 19, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170819234809/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-justin-bieber-make-amends-with-ex-on-upbeat-friends-w498307. dead.
  15. News: Maeve. McDermott. Justin Bieber's 'Friends' is his best song in ages. August 18, 2017. USA Today. August 17, 2017.
  16. News: Phil. Witmer. Justin Bieber's New Song "Friends" Is Not About the TV Show, Still Goes Off. August 18, 2017. Noisey. August 18, 2017.
  17. News: Beatrice. Hazlehurst. Here is Justin Bieber's New Single "Friends," His 2017 Answer to "Sorry". August 18, 2017. Paper. August 17, 2017.
  18. 'Despacito' on Hot 100: Second Song Ever to Lead for at Least 15 Weeks. Billboard. Trust. Gary. August 21, 2017. December 15, 2017.
  19. Hot 100 Chart Moves: Justin Bieber & BloodPop Bow, Demi Lovato Doubles Up. Billboard. Trust. Gary. August 29, 2017. December 15, 2017.
  20. Web site: Credits / Friends - Justin Bieber. Tidal. August 17, 2017.
  21. Web site: Top 20 Argentina – Del 18 al 24 de Septiembre, 2017. Monitor Latino. September 25, 2017. es. September 18, 2017.
  22. Web site: Top 100 Colombia. es. National-Report. July 22, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20170918231807/http://www.national-report.com/top-colombia/. September 18, 2017. live.
  23. Web site: Costa Rica General. es. Monitor Latino. May 10, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107030401/http://charts.monitorlatino.com/top20/Costa%20Rica/General/20171023. November 7, 2017. live.
  24. Web site: ARC 100 - datum izlaska: 23. listopada 2017. http://www.freezepage.com/1509635730MEHFQQKWXX?url=http://radio.hrt.hr/clanak/arc-100-datum-izlaska-23-listopada-2017/10534/. dead. November 2, 2017. HRT. October 29, 2017.
  25. Web site: Top 100 Ecuador. es. National-Report. May 14, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180514102530/http://www.national-report.com/top-ecuador/. May 14, 2018.
  26. Web site: El Salvador General. es. Monitor Latino. May 10, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180510080100/http://charts.monitorlatino.com/top20/El%20Salvador/General/20171127. May 10, 2018. live.
  27. Euro Digital Songs. Billboard. October 27, 2017.
  28. Web site: Greece Digital Song Sales, 2 September 2017. billboard.com. October 30, 2017.
  29. Web site: Honduras General. es. Monitor Latino. May 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509205352/http://charts.monitorlatino.com/top20/Honduras/General/20171120. May 9, 2018. live.
  30. Web site: מדיה פורסט - לדעת שאתה באוויר . Mediaforest.biz . October 21, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170316183730/http://www.mediaforest.biz/WeeklyCharts/#/international_tab3 . March 16, 2017 . dead .
  31. Web site: The Official Lebanese Top 20 - Justin Bieber. The Official Lebanese Top 20. September 7, 2017.
  32. Web site: Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles in Malaysia. Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. October 26, 2017.
  33. Mexico Airplay: Nov 4, 2017. Billboard. May 16, 2018. subscription .
  34. "Lijst van 16-09-2017 - MEGA TOP 50 " (in Dutch). Mega Top 50
  35. Web site: Panamá Top 20 - Del 25 de Septiembre al 01 de Octubre, 2017. Monitor Latino. April 18, 2020.
  36. Web site: SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart. slotop50.si. November 21, 2017. August 30, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180830073821/https://www.slotop50.si/Glasbene-lestvice/Tedenske-lestvice/?year=2017&week=45. dead.
  37. Web site: Uruguay General. es. Monitor Latino. May 14, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20171110154400/http://charts.monitorlatino.com/top20/Uruguay/General/20170904. November 10, 2017. live.
  38. Web site: Top 100 Venezuela. es. National-Report. May 14, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180514091930/http://www.national-report.com/top-venezuela/. May 14, 2018.
  39. Web site: ARIA End of Year Singles 2017. Australian Recording Industry Association. January 5, 2018.
  40. Web site: Ö3 Austria Top 40 – Single-Charts 2017. oe3.orf.at. December 29, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171230060411/http://oe3.orf.at/charts/stories/2886107/. December 30, 2017. dead.
  41. Web site: Top 200 faixas em streaming - 2017. pt. Pro-Música Brasil. May 10, 2022.
  42. Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2017. Billboard. December 17, 2017.
  43. Web site: Croatia ARC 100 – Year-End 2017. HRT. January 6, 2018. October 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211017042241/https://radio.hrt.hr/clanak/airplay-radio-chart-2013/10534. dead.
  44. Web site: Track Top-100 2017. Hitlisten. January 11, 2018.
  45. Web site: Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts. de. GfK Entertainment. offiziellecharts.de. December 29, 2017.
  46. Web site: Rádiós Top 100 – hallgatottsági adatok alapján – 2017. Mahasz. February 17, 2018.
  47. Web site: Single Top 100 – eladási darabszám alapján – 2017. Mahasz. February 17, 2018.
  48. Web site: Stream Top 100 – 2017. Mahasz. February 17, 2018.
  49. Web site: Classifiche annuali dei dischi più venduti e dei singoli più scaricati nel 2017. FIMI. it. January 9, 2018. Click on "Scarica allegato" and open the "Classifica annuale 2017 Singoli digital" file. https://web.archive.org/web/20180108233439/http://www.fimi.it/news/top-of-the-music-2017-lalbum-piu-venduto-in-italia-e-divide-%c3%b7-di-ed-sheeran. January 8, 2018. dead.
  50. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2017. Dutch Top 40. November 9, 2019.
  51. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 2017. Hung Medien. December 23, 2017.
  52. Web site: Top AFP - Audiogest - Top 100 Singles 2017. Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. pt. July 5, 2020.
  53. Web site: Årslista Singlar – År 2017. Sverigetopplistan. sv. January 16, 2018.
  54. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2017 – hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. December 31, 2017.
  55. Web site: End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2017. Official Charts Company. January 10, 2018.
  56. Web site: Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts. de. GfK Entertainment. offiziellecharts.de. December 21, 2018.
  57. Web site: JUSTIN BIEBER & BLOODPOP® - Friends RadioDate. Radio Airplay. 18 August 2017. 21 August 2017.
  58. Web site: BBC – Radio 1 – Playlist. https://web.archive.org/web/20170819191300/http://bbc.co.uk/radio1/playlist. 19 August 2017. BBC Radio 1. 18 August 2017. 18 August 2017. live.
  59. Web site: Top 40/M Future Releases. https://web.archive.org/web/20170820180042/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases. 20 August 2017. All Access. All Access Music Group. August 17, 2017.
  60. Web site: Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases. 17 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170820180250/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases. 20 August 2017. 17 August 2017. AllAccess Music Group.

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