MY WORLD 2.0
My World 2.0 is the latter of two-part debut studio album from Canadian singer Justin Bieber, and is his first full studio release. The album is the follow-up to the first platinum certified half of the album, which was released on November 17, 2009, via Island Records, and 2.0 was first released on March 19, 2010. Bieber worked with producers and writers from his debut release, including Tricky Stewart & The-Dream and Midi Mafia, and several new including Bryan-Michael Cox, and The Stereotypes, among others. In addition to having a more dominant R&B feel than his first release, the album is described as edgier and more mature. In addition to the R&B sound, the album also combines it with pop and hip-hop sounds.
The album has received positive reviews, and debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling over 283,000 copies, making Bieber the youngest solo male act to top the chart since Stevie Wonder in 1963, and the first artist to occupy two top five spots on the chart since 2004. When the album sold more copies in its second week, Bieber became the first act since The Beatles to debut at number one, and sell more the following week. Bieber also had his second consecutive number one album in Canada, and in its second week the album peaked at number one in Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. It also charted in the top ten of fifteen other countries. Bieber will support the album with his very first headlining tour, the My World Tour.
The album was preceded by the lead single, "Baby", featuring Ludacris, which was released on January 18, 2010, and two digital singles, "Never Let You Go" on March 2, 2010, and "U Smile" on March 16, 2010. "Somebody to Love" impacted radio as the album's second single on April 20, 2010, and "U Smile" impacted radio as the album's third single on August 24, 2010.
MY WORLD AND MY WORLD 2.0
In an interview with Billboard at the 2009 Z100 Jingle Ball, Bieber explained the reasoning behind splitting his debut release into two parts, My World and My World 2.0. Bieber said that people do not want to wait "over a year and half" for new music, and it was decided best to give it in parts.
In an interview with the Houston Chronicle, Bieber stated, "I wanted to do something that was a little bit more R&B and that could reach out to everyone. I just wanted to be able to show my vocal abilities." In a piece with The New York Times Bieber stated that most of the production took place in Atlanta, and confirmed collaborating again with Tricky Stewart and The-Dream. Bieber said, that he was hoping that the album would be much better, considering that My World was his first time in a studio, calling himself "a rookie last album because it was during my first year.
In an interview with the Houston Chronicle, Bieber stated, "I wanted to do something that was a little bit more R&B and that could reach out to everyone. I just wanted to be able to show my vocal abilities." In a piece with The New York Times Bieber stated that most of the production took place in Atlanta, and confirmed collaborating again with Tricky Stewart and The-Dream. Bieber said, that he was hoping that the album would be much better, considering that My World was his first time in a studio, calling himself "a rookie last album because it was during my first year.
COMPOSITION
The album has been described as "edgier and more mature" than its predecessor, and also has a more prominent R&B feel to it. Bieber stated, "I wanted to do something that was a little bit more R&B and that could reach out to everyone. I just wanted to be able to show my vocal abilities." Sara Anderson of AOL Music commented that "his sophomore release also showcases pop-y and hip-hop fused tracks". The record has also been said to mine "vintage teen-pop themes" but play as "2010-model bubblegum". It has also been called "catchy, upbeat and dreamy", bringing to mind "smash dance hits". The lyrical content consists of "necessary us-against-the-world teen-love dramatics." Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone commented that, "As long as there has been rock & roll, there have been pretty-boy singers like Bieber, offering a gentle introduction to the mysteries and heartaches of adolescence: songs flushed with romance but notably free of sex itself."
The album’s lead single, "Baby", coined by Rolling Stone as a "consciously crafted throwback" draws from fifties music and doo-wop while incorporating a hip-hop influence. The lyrical contents refer to the departure of a first love in lines such as, "And I wanna play it cool/But I'm losin' you…/I'm in pieces/So come and fix me…." Monica Herrera of Billboard said that "Somebody to Love" and "Eenie Meenie" were "hardwired for Top 40". "Somebody to Love" contains influences of European music, notably dance and disco, and is a "straightforward plea for a soul mate". "Eenie Meenie" has been described as "sultry reggaton", and references childhood rhymes. Two of the album’s tracks, "Runaway Love" and "U Smile" echo Motown, and critics claimed the tracks go beyond Bieber’s demographic. The first has been compared to the work of Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5, influenced by funk and disco. The song has been described as "lush" and "sauntering", giving off a summer vibe. Jon Caramanica of The New York Times said "Runaway Love" was a "winning amalgam" of New Edition and Depeche Mode’s "Policy of Truth." However, the song’s "breezy groove" has been said to reminisce Janet Jackson’s "Runaway" and Justin Timberlake’s "Rock Your Body." The latter, "U Smile", compared to Hall & Oates, has a "bluesy" feel, and makes use of metaphors such as, "You are my ends and my means/With you there’s no in between."
Andy Kellman of Allmusic commented that the album’s ballads could be considered adult contemporary "if the singer happened to be of age". The album’s ballads, such as "Never Let You Go" and "Stuck in the Moment" mix "love-struck lyrics with big, lovable, choruses". The previous has been noted to have distinct similarities to Chris Brown’s "Forever", while the latter makes references to doomed couples such as Romeo & Juliet, Bonnie & Clyde and Sonny & Cher. In "That Should Be Me", a "sobbing ballad", Bieber "plays the scorned ex", with lyrics like, "Did you forget all the plans that you made with me?". "Up"'s lyrics have Bieber realize love makes him invulnerable as he sings about how a relationship can only get better, with exaggerated lines such as, "We'll take it to the sky/Past the moon/Through the galaxies." A Wal-Mart bonus track, "Where Are You Now", an extension of sorts of My World 's "Down To Earth", focuses on Bieber's feelings after his parents' splitting up.
CHART PERFORMANCE
CHART PERFORMANCE
In the United States, My World 2.0 debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 selling 283,000 copies in its first week, at the age of sixteen, the charting made him the youngest solo male act to top the chart since 1963 when Stevie Wonder did with The 12 Year Old Genius, and the first artist to occupy two top five spots on the chart since Nelly in 2004. The album fell to number two in its second week in the U.S. but sales were up 3% to 291,000 totaling at 596,000 at that point. This feat made Bieber the first act since The Beatles to debut at number one, and sell more the following week. The album came back for a number one spot in its third week of sales with 102,000 copies lifting its total sales to 698,000 copies. In its fourth week, the album stayed at number one, with sales of 92,000 and totaling at sales of over 790,000 copies in the U.S. In its fifth week of sales, the album fell two spots to number three with another 81,000 copies. In its eighth week of sales, the album went to number one again with another 60,000 copies sold lifting its total sales of nearly 980,000 copies. In its ninth week of sales, album sales were up by 2% with another 62,000 copies sold lifting its total sales to approximately 1.04 million copies thus surpassing the one million mark in slightly over two months. The album has continued to stay within the Top 10 of Billboard 200 since its debut with strong sales week in, week out to the extend of preventing new albums from having a high debut.
In Canada, the album reached number-one, making it his second consecutive number one album in the country. The album has since been certified double platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA). In New Zealand, the album debuted at number two on the week of April 5, 2010. After four weeks, it reached number one on May 3, 2010, and was certified Gold by RIANZ. On May 2, 2010 "My Worlds" debuted directly at number one in Australia shipping more than 35,000 in its first week, the same week the album received Gold Certification by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).
In Spain, My Worlds debuted at ninety-seven on April 18, 2010. On May 2, it soared from sixty-eight to number six. It finally went at the top on May 9, 2010. The album also debuted and peaked at number one in Ireland.
RECEPTION
RECEPTION
My World 2.0 received generally positive reviews from critics, receiving an average score of 68 of 100, according to music review aggregator Metacritic. Andy Kellman of Allmusic have the album four out of five stars, praising the album for its "upbeat R&B-flavored pop songs" along with Bieber's ballads that "might be termed adult contemporary if the singer happened to be of age". He also complimented the dance-pop songs, calling them, "light on the ears yet memorable; and that "the unrequited material sounds deeply felt; the ballads have all the necessary us-against-the-world teen-love dramatics." Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly gave the album a B rating, stating that it "won't likely affect any adults not in the direct blast radius of Bieber's target range", however she praised his "R&B swagger" which reminded her " of early-days Usher and Justin Timberlake", along with commending the song "U Smile" as a "shimmery slice of Hall & Oates-style blue-eyed souland", and finally stating "there's real talent, it seems, under all that hair."
Ian Drew Us Magazine gave the album three and a half stars, stating that Bieber serves up more "hard-to-resist R&B pop and uniquely grown-up vocal trills". However he was weary of some of the lyrical content, as in "Eenie Meenie in which he called corny the line, "Catch a bad chick by her toe" in the nursery rhyme-derived 'Eeenie Meenie'." Bill Lamb of About.com gave the album four our of five stars, stating, "this is not just a continuation of the first. Justin Bieber is significantly more defined as an artist here. He appears as a genuinely talented singer of pure R&B-edged bubblegum pop." He goes on to say, "There is evolution here on model 2.0, and it is into a tighter, no filler definition of the sound of Justin Bieber. He has a sweet teen male voice in the classic tradition of young Michael Jackson, Donny Osmond, and the Hanson brothers." When speaking of "U Smile", Lamb said, "It is guaranteed to generate warm and fuzzy emotions in millions of young fans. However, it should not disappoint adults either. There is a clarity and resonance in Justin Bieber's young voice that would be the envy of most American Idol contestants. Just like in the past it is easy to disparage these tunes in their simplicity and lack of high-brow pretension, but it is just that which makes My World 2.0 such a refreshing experience. There is no significant filler here. If you are looking for a pure, engaging pop record, you can't do much better right now.
SINGLES
SINGLES
"Baby", featuring Ludacris was released as the album's lead single on January 18, 2010, and went on to impact mainstream and rhythmic radio formats. The song has been Bieber's highest peaks to date, reaching number three and five, respectively in Canada and the U.S., and charted in the top ten of five other countries.
"Somebody to Love" was sent to mainstream and rhythmic radio as the album's second single on April 20, 2010. It reached the top twenty in most of the countries it was released in.
"U Smile", which was originally released as the second digital single, will be impact mainstream radio as the album's third single on August 24, 2010,[36] and in on September 6, 2010. It has already peaked at seventeen and twenty-one in Canada and the United States, respectively. It also peaked at number ninety-eight in the United Kingdom due to strong digital downloads.
Digital singles
"Never Let You Go" was released as the first digital-only single from the album on March 2, 2010. It debuted at fourteen and twenty-one in Canada and the U.S., respectively. The song has an accompanying video, which was shot at the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas. It was thought to be the album's second single, but is unknown since "Somebody to Love" was sent to radio as the second single.
PROMOTION
PROMOTION
As he did with My World, Bieber went on a radio promotion spree in addition to other appearances. Bieber performed in Berlin for the The Dome 53 on March 5, 2010. In the United Kingdom he appeared on British talk show Alan Carr: Chatty Man,on breakfast television show GMTV, and on Live from Studio Five. Bieber performed several songs from My World and My World 2.0 on QVC's "Q Sessions" on March 9, when his album was up for pre-sale on the network. He and Selena Gomez performed at a concert at the Houston Rodeo on March 21. Bieber also appeared on ABC's Nightline and in a CBS News segment interview with Katie Couric. on He also performed on The View on March 23, and returned on the show for the March 24, episode, during which he also performed on BET's 106 & Park and The Late Show with David Letterman. Bieber followed up the album with performances at the 2010 Kids' Choice Awards on March 27, 2010 and as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live in April. Bieber also promoted the album on The Oprah Winfrey Show on May 11, 2010, and performed on this season's American Idol. Bieber continued the albums promotion by performing on The Today Show on June 4, 2010 and on June 19 at the "MuchMusic Awards".
TRACKLISTING
The official track listing was confirmed on Bieber's official website on February 26, 2010.
No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "Baby" (featuring Ludacris) Terius Nash, Christopher Stweart, Justin Bieber, Christina Milian, Christopher Bridges Tricky Stewart, The-Dream 3:36
2. "Somebody to Love" Jonathan Yip, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus, Heather Bright, Bieber Stereotypes 3:42
3. "Stuck in the Moment" Yip, Reeves, Romulus, Bright, Bieber Stereotypes 3:43
4. "U Smile" Jerry Duplessis, Arden Altino, Dan August Rigo, Bieber Jerry Duplessis, Arden Altino (co.) 3:17
5. "Runaway Love" Melvin Hough II, Rivelino Wouter, Timothy Thomas, Theron Thomas, Bieber Mel & Mus 3:33
6. "Never Let You Go" Johntá Austin, Bryan-Michael Cox, Bieber Bryan-Michael Cox 4:26
7. "Overboard" (featuring Jessica Jarrell) Waynne Nugent, Kevin Risto, Dapo Torimiro, Taurian Shropshire, Bieber Dirty Swift, Bruce Waynne 4:11
8. "Eenie Meenie" (with Sean Kingston) Benny Blanco, Kisean Anderson, Carlos Battey, Steven Battey, Bieber, Marcos Palacios, Ernest Clark Benny Blanco 3:23
9. "Up" Nasri Atweh, Adam Messinger, Bieber The Messengers 3:55
10. "That Should Be Me" Atweh, Messinger, Luke Boyd, Bieber The Messengers 3:53
