POP SONG REVIEW: "Yummy" by Justin Bieber

Sure but no artist just plays the new stuff when they tour. Taylor has a massively strong catalog, guaranteed to put butts in the seats. Reputation was designed to grow her audience by continuing her exploration of new (to her) styles and presentation. The fact that Lover is back to basics in comparison says a lot IMO. And wasn't it the Swifties who coined "old Taylor" and made the comparisons themselves?

I'm pausing this to say "Bieber sounds like the 8 year old copying the odler kids but doesn't get what they're talking about" is an extremely accurate comparison and a killer drag.

Shiny Skunk

Maybe Justin should just stop making music for a little bit, and live in the forest for a couple of months. Become in one with nature... a real man of the woods.

Franco del Rosario

I don't Witness any Changes here. Doesn't seem like Bieber is going to improve his reputation. I can't think of a Man of the Woods joke.

About the overall shitiness of the 'Yummy' music video, I suspect it was done on purpose to try and milk some viral / meme potential, right down to Justin's bizarre chin warp. An expected sexy-people-dancing-while-eating video would not have gotten any clicks or generate any notable GIFs. Then again, the video is also failing on that aspect as well...

Franco del Rosario

You seem to keep picking songs that tumble before you can get a video out. Outside of the Lewis Capaldi video I don't know if you've got one since the 7 Rings video. Wild

Yeah I have been haunted by this since the clip in the year-end vids thx todd. speaking of bad song words... slizzerd. unappetizing

Saffron C

In he same way that Lana del Rey's moody, downbeat, thoughtful pop paved the way for Lorde, Halsey, Billie, etc., I've always felt Bieber's early faux-R&B days sort of paved the way for Zayn, Nick Jonas, Bazzi, etc.

Franco del Rosario

"Personally, I think I like enough things that teenage girls like" Once again, harnessing the powers of the BTS and Billie Ellish stans, I see. Hahaha.

Franco del Rosario

Damn, Harry Styles really is the anti-Justin Bieber. While Bieber is making sterile R&B love jams that are "popular" even though no one likes them, Styles actually making mature, thoughtful pop songs (that may not be tearing up the chats but are getting critical acclaim and a fair share of fans).

Franco del Rosario

Okay so, I'm going to be frank here. As a woman, when I hear Bieber say the word "Yummy" I don't here hear him talking about sex in general. I hear him talking about a very specific sex act that I personally do not want to see Justin Bieber of all people performing on me or anyone else for that matter. It kicks the skeeviness of the song up to 900, even if it's mostly just the chorus.

AstarothLuLz

I can't believe how disgusting that video is. Also I need a shower after that lil dicky verse.

So pop is dead right? At least when it comes to hits?

Josh Spicer

Besides the Monty Python Mr. Creosote scene, the "Yummy" video reminds me overwhelmingly of this infamous commercial that spoofs it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z-Asq0mvJ8

Jacqueline Sailer

In all fairness, "Intentions" with Quavo is already becoming a hit as well, but still...

Jacqueline Sailer

Lose You to Love Me is great and not "mediocre" in the least and i'm sure we'll see Perry again. I hope this ends Bieber's career for good.

RedBedroomRecords

As soon as you started playing "Bon Appetit", I literally started gagging loudly. Possibly the WORST song of the entire 2010s imo.

Jacqueline Sailer

I'm just flabbergasted at the concept of a "Country Remix." You were right Todd, genre is meaningless.

Melinda

i know you're not big on taylor swift and dislike reputation in particular, but maybe pick a different headline to drive your point home? the reputation tour ended up being the most successful of taylor's career, and one of the highest grossing of the year. https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8489059/taylor-swift-reputation-stadium-tour-345-million now i'm off to keep watching this masterpiece ^^

mjbop

That might've actually improved it! "Get baked" as a double meaning for both food and weed? I mean, it's unfinished, but it's a pun, something to work with. If you're using metaphors for food already, puns are very appropriate if used well. Bieber just needs a good writer.

Steven Choi

That Ohio Express song was what I first thought of when I first saw the title of the Bieber song

He sings "yeah babe"? If Todd hadn't said so, I never would've known it. I was hearing "get baked".

Alina

I know your comment on him was a throwaway line, but for what it's worth I do think Roddy Ricch has some staying power. Give Ballin a listen if you haven't yet, I think that's still on the charts right now.

... at least he doesn't have a scowl or a fake smile on his face. He actually looks like he's enjoying himself.

Charles Arthur

I liked your perspective on why people really seem to hate this so much. I saw a lot of commentary on the astroturfing (which is super tacky) but I definitely thought like why is the song tanking SO hard it’s not that much worse than anything else on the charts. I do think that mentioning that he’s 25 and has been in pop for ten years also puts him at a pretty strong comparison with Harry Styles, who is 26 and has been in the industry just as long and also just put out a new album that, in contrast, is cementing his reputation as actually a good artist and “not just” a teen idol. Then again maybe in another ten years he’ll be what Justin Timberlake is now.

Haemophilus

editing error around 9:53

Michael

Scream and Shout by will.i.am and “Britney Bitch”?

Blahman2816

I feel like I'm going crazy listening to this song because the chorus sounds so familiar. Not the lyrics but the melody, I keep hearing it in my head as "Oh, Ee-oh, Ee-oh-Ee-oh...", like it's ripped wholesale from some other song I don't remember the name of...

I was hoping you'd tackle this one!

Jennifer Layton

I never thought it was possible to make a song called "Yummy" that was even stupider than the extremely nasally 1968 Ohio Express song, but somehow Bieber did it.

Thomas Carmody