Catching the attention of Justin Timberlake and Usher through the vehicle of Youtube, which has become a launching ground for undiscovered talent, teen sensation Justin Bieber has already started on the path to success.
The 15-year-old singer recently released his debut album, My World, a project that documents the journey and experiences of teen love. It's a “fun album,” the teen star says. “It's a lot about love and teen love and what would be in my world.”
He does want to clarify the notion that the content is strictly filled with songs about girls and establish that it does touch on some deeper subjects. “There's a lot of stuff that's not just about love. There's songs that teens can relate to, as far as parents not being together and divorce,” he explained. “And just stuff that happens in everyday life. There's a lot of kids my age [and] their whole album [is] 'Everything is perfect.'”
“Real life isn't perfect,” he said, “so my album kind of portrays that. You just have to make the best of what you have.”
Track-by-Track Analysis:
“One Time”:
On the lead single, he reveals his feelings by saying “girl, I love you” and effectively sets the stage with a nice introduction, that is not only age appropriate, but firmly equipped with a bouncy beat and solid vocals.
“Favorite Girl”: “It’s you”, he declares on the record about the girl that stands out from the crowd and takes the crown as his favorite. It has a catchy hook, which he drives home quite nicely.
“Down to Earth”: Produced by Midi Mafia, the cut sees the singer diving into the deeper subject of dealing with the separation of his parents and the emotions that come with dealing with the pain. Although he hasn’t exactly managed to find the emotive force necessary to completely sell a record of this depth, he still demonstrates it well beyond the realms of his fifteen years.
“Bigger”:
“I was a player when I was little”, he says on the second product of Midi Mafia, that takes place as nothing more than a useless filler. He goes on to confess that he’s grown and become “bigger” sense those days, which doesn’t quite feel right coming for someone this youthful, although lyrically it never overlaps into adult territory.
“One Less Lonely Girl”:
In what is an undeniable highlight, Bieber pushes for the chance to “show you what you’re worth”, and heal the broken heart of a lonely girl. It has an slight acoustic feel in parts and his vocals sound really pure, which magnifies the record's beauty.
“First Dance”:
Assisted by his mentor Usher, he imagines taking his first dance, which is given a metaphorical meaning through the lining of the lyrics. His slight soulful vocals are showcased nicely on the slower paced jam, and the R&B stud happily takes the backseat and allows his protege to shine.
“Love Me”: A poppy cut that samples the Cardigans’ “Lovefool”, and is equipped with a nice feel that despite running into the territory of becoming extremely cheesy, still manages to find footing on the grounds of solid.
“Common Denominator”: A piano-laced cut that sees Bieber talking about the girl that makes every thing balance out and takes the pain away, which is nicely done on all fronts (vocals, production and lyrics).
Final Verdict:
While Bieber may only be a teenager, he has the looks, natural ability and personality to elevate this sub-par material to new levels, but with the journey being so short (roughly 30 minutes) and the material being so short ranged, he runs out of gas before making it pass the finish line.
Still with Bieber being so young, he really does have a confidence or swagger (as some people would call it), that performers twice his age have yet to find and this is one of the things that makes ‘My World’ seem slightly better than it really is.
2.5 out of 5
Celebrity Bug’s Key Tracks:
“One Time”, “One Less Lonely Girl” & “Common Denominator”.
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