Heartbreaker (Justin Bieber song)
"Heartbreaker" | ||||
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Single by Justin Bieber | ||||
from the album Journals | ||||
Released | October 7, 2013 | |||
Genre | R&B | |||
Length | 4:22 | |||
Label | Island | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Justin Bieber singles chronology | ||||
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"Heartbreaker" is a song by Canadian singer
Lyrically, the song sees Bieber offering his outlook on love and trying to reunite with an ex-lover. Multiple authors thought that the song was about
Background
Before collaborating with Bieber on the song, American record producer
In the song's description on iTunes, Bieber wrote: "It's a song for people going through a heartbreak -- like I was when I wrote it."[4] The description also included the singer expressing pride for the song and referencing its connection to his fans; he later posted this to Twitter.[4][5] Similarly, Maejor Ali said Bieber penned the song "about things he's been going through with his relationship and everything".[1] Bieber's manager Scooter Braun believed that the song would end "the witch hunt" from his critics by silencing them, adding this would be done through him speaking for himself in a genuine and unique way.[6] On June 3, 2013, Bieber announced on social media that the song would be released as a single shortly. He also posted the cover art, showing a crumbling purple heart in the middle with his name and the title "Heartbreaker" written around it, set to a white background.[3][7][8] Multiple publications considered it similar to the artwork for American rapper Kanye West's 2008 album 808s & Heartbreak, which features a red heart-shaped balloon set against a blue background.[7][8][9][10] On July 19, 2013, Bieber shared a 15-second video advertising his fragrance The Key via Instagram that featured him singing the song's first lines, which was posted to YouTube by his fans.[11][12] "Heartbreaker" was eventually released on October 7, 2013, as part of Bieber's Music Mondays promotional series that ran for 10 weeks in the lead-up to Journals.[10][13] The song marked a difference in sound from previous singles by Bieber; Braun explained that it and the record's other tracks stood out in his catalogue as "very R&B-driven, personal songs, not necessarily songs that he was thinking of as radio records", and dubbed the vocals as "pouring his heart out".[5]
Composition and lyrics
Musically, "Heartbreaker" is an acoustic R&B ballad,[1][4][14] with elements of pop.[10][15] It is also a slow jam,[1][16] marking a difference in style from Bieber's usual pop driven work and his hip hop-influenced tracks.[10][17] The song relies on an emo melody, and chords repeatedly appearing and disappearing over a light groove.[17][18] Snare taps and chirps of "heartbreaker, heartbreaker" are also featured; the latter accompany Bieber's vocals on the chorus.[4] The song includes a 1990s style spoken-word breakdown in the middle from Bieber, which serves as a bridge.[1][4][16] The singer delivers another breakdown towards the end, singing in a robotic voice.[19]
In the lyrics of "Heartbreaker", Bieber delivers his outlook on love and seeks out a second chance with a former lover.[1][20] Multiple writers interpreted the song as being about American singer Selena Gomez, his ex-girlfriend.[1][21][22][23] Bieber uses certain lyrics to convey his desperation for time alone and face time with a woman, desiring to look into each other's eyes.[21] On the chorus, the singer accuses her of breaking his heart: "Don't tell me you're my heartbreaker / 'Cause, girl, my heart's breaking."[21][23] The singer delivers a poem on the bridge, saying he is really trying to tell the woman and hopes she understands that "despite all the imperfections of who I am / I still wanna be your man".[1][22][23]
Release and reception
On October 7, 2013, the song was released at midnight for
"Heartbreaker" was met with generally positive reviews from
Entertainment Weekly's Kyle Anderson branded the song "an atmospheric slow jam" that is completed by the "'90s style spoken-word b[ridge]" and truly "wouldn't sound out of place" on singer Justin Timberlake's The 20/20 Experience (2013), which either reflects well on Bieber or indicates negatives about Timberlake, depending on your point-of-view.[16] For Fact, Aimee Cliff wrote that "Heartbreaker" opens the album "into zero gravity", saying the chords move "in and out of focus over a low-slung groove and vocals float menacingly somewhere over your head" in a prominent production style.[18] She appreciated how Bieber offers "a refreshingly patient take on pop" instead of "the sugar rush of pounding choruses and pseudo-Timberlake / Timbaland" of his early chart hits, thinking he showcases musical space and his voice manages "to roam and reflect around" in it.[18] At Billboard, Jason Lipshutz said the "contemplative track" marked Bieber's "most direct" attempt at adult R&B, with the setting created by a "simple acoustic lick and snare taps", then "completed with the spoken-word breakdown" that he compared to the work of Boyz II Men.[4] The staff of Vibe credited T-Minus, Maejor Ali, and Chef Tone for the "added strung-out emotion".[17] Ben Rayner from the Toronto Star highlighted the production on the song's "peculiarly ominous outro" as "surprisingly interesting".[29] In a mixed review at the Daily Record for his weekly column, Rick Fulton gave "Heartbreaker" two out of four stars and derided it as a "slow burner" that may appeal to Bieber's fans, yet "sounds old fashioned and out-dated".[30]
Commercial performance
"Heartbreaker" entered the Canadian Hot 100 at number 40 for the issue dated October 19, 2013, a week before climbing 25 places to number 15.[31][32] It spent a total of two weeks on the Hot 100.[33] The song debuted at number 77 on the US Billboard Hot 100, with 182,000 downloads in its first eight days of tracking.[5][34] It leapt 64 places to number 13 on the Hot 100 the following week despite a lack of airplay, as a result of sales and streams.[34] The song lasted for two weeks on the chart.[35] On June 25, 2020, seven years after its release, "Heartbreaker" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for pushing 500,000 certified units in the United States.[36]
Outside of North America, "Heartbreaker" was most successful in Denmark, reaching the top position on the Danish
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.[2]
- Justin Bieber – songwriting, production
- Maejor Ali – songwriting, production
- Chef Tone – songwriting, production
- Xavier Smith – songwriting
- T-Minus – songwriting, production
Charts
Chart (2013) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[49] | 30 |
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[45] | 18 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[50] | 8 |
Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders)[51] | 2 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[52] | 15 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[33] | 15 |
Denmark (Tracklisten)[37] | 1 |
Finland Download ( Latauslista)[53]
|
1 |
France ( SNEP)[48]
|
26 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[54] | 32 |
Greece Digital Songs (Billboard)[38] | 3 |
Hungary (Single Top 40)[43] | 12 |
Italy (FIMI)[42] | 7 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[40] | 5 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[55] | 21 |
Norway (VG-lista)[41] | 5 |
Scotland (OCC)[47] | 21 |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[39] | 4 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[56] | 47 |
14 | |
3 | |
US Billboard Hot 100[35] | 13 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[59] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[36] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Various | October 7, 2013 | Island | [13][24] |
References
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- ^ a b c "Journals by Justin Bieber". Tidal. Archived from the original on July 22, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
- ^ a b Vena, Jocelyn (June 4, 2013). "Justin Bieber Unveils 'Heartbreaker' Art, Says New Single 'Coming Soon'". MTV. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f Lipshutz, Jason (October 7, 2013). "Justin Bieber Releases Moody 'Heartbreaker' Single (Audio)". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 12, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
- ^ a b c Lipshutz, Jason (October 18, 2013). "Scooter Braun Q&A: Justin Bieber's Manager Explains 'Music Mondays' & Previews 'Believe 3D'". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 25, 2019. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
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- ^ a b Lipshutz, Jason (June 4, 2013). "Justin Bieber Teases New 'Heartbreaker' Single". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
- ^ Depland, Michael (June 4, 2013). "Justin Bieber's 'Heartbreaker' Single Art Looks Exactly Like Kanye West's '808s And Heartbreak' (Photo)". MTV. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
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- ^ Fulton, Rick (October 11, 2013). "Single reviews: John Newman + Eminem + Justin Bieber". Daily Record. Archived from the original on December 12, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
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