Justin Bieber might be so popular that understanding just how much is meaningless. Taylor Swift is the queen of pop and the biggest artist in the world, but Bieber isn't far off. He has, as of Friday, released seven studio albums. The first six have hit number one in the United States.
Once, everything the performer touched turned to gold. His last few records haven't done quite as well recently, though. They still rise to number one, but they don't stay there very long. Even a relatively underperforming album for Bieber, such as 2021's Justice, sold more than 3 million copies worldwide.
Over the last year, though, Bieber has been vocal about struggling with mental health concerns. This is especially true on his Instagram page, where he has mentioned feeling "broken" and "unworthy." For an artist who used to portray pure arrogance, at 31 years old, he now seemed weathered by time.
Justin Bieber's surprise album might be his most personal yet
This might explain his latest album, SWAG. The project was a surprise drop on Friday, and this isn't some random EP. 21 songs appear on the record, and they are full songs, even if one of them doesn't feature Bieber. The last track, "Forgiveness," features gospel singer Marvin Winans.
This might sound odd, but the track fits with Justin Bieber's new album as well as anything else on the record. Instead of a series of bleeps and beeps, SWAG is far more toned-down, cerebral, acoustic, and full of feelings.
Does it mean the album is better than his previous efforts? Not at all, but it is Bieber's most personal album. The record also feels like his most authentic. He isn't trying to be a version of what one believes he should be, but instead is being honest to himself.
And he is extremely open about certain subjects in his life. Marriage can be a struggle, and having children can be hard work. Mere mortals know this already, but Bieber seems to just be learning this. For too long, he was a pop star instead of just being a human being.
Now life is apparently more real, and the new album reflects that. We are all better off for it, and hopefully Justin Bieber will be fine in the future.