The 10 Best Justin Bieber Songs of All Time

The song that launched Bieber into a global superstar is this sugary, synthy ode to puppy love. The instrumentation is tinny and Bieber’s voice is still boyish, yet the chorus of “Baby” is an inescapable earworm that should be studied by science. A brief Ludacris feature added enough cred to cross audiences, and now that Bieber is long out of his teen idol phase, just try to avoid drunkenly singing along with it during a wedding reception. It’s a blast of joy back to the halcyon days of lovesick Bieber chatting up girls at a Canadian mall. Were we ever so young? — William Earl

Bieber was approaching 20 years old when he released “Journals,” his voice fully through puberty and fanbase still intact. “Confident” was one of the first attempts at a new grown sound for the pop idol, and he steps up to the challenge. Evoking a Timberlake-leaving-*NSYNC level of swagger, Bieber gives a smooth ride over a dizzying beat from Soundz, riding slightly behind the rhythm, too cool to get too bothered by the rattling percussion. Plus, the lyrics are naughty without getting X-rated (“She said it’s her first time / I think she might have lied”), making an age-appropriate step in the right direction that fans of all ages could listen to without judgment. — William Earl 

It wasn’t always easy to find Bieber’s personality in his earlier work, as his adolescence didn’t make way for weightier material. And so, much of his first few albums were about technical construction and performance, which is why “Die in Your Arms” worked so well. Here, Bieber invokes a Motown sound care of Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, who samples and elevates a spidery keyboard sound from Michael Jackson’s “We’ve Got a Good Thing Going” to great effect. The song is so mellifluous that you believe Bieber when he sings that “every time you touch me I could just die in your arms.” Then 18, Bieber did what he does best: he sells it, and keeps you coming back for more. — Steven J. Horowitz

As a sort of stopgap between “Purpose” and “Changes,” Bieber rolled the sound of the former into a one-off single “Friends” with producer BloodPop, easily one of Bieber’s most magnetic and forthcoming singles to date. “Friends” sorts through the wreckage of breakup, languishing in the will-we-won’t-we phase of maintaining a connection once shared. Only, Bieber doesn’t seem so interested in maintaining a friendship for the sake of history; instead, he sets off the throbbing electro-pop tune wondering about his ex’s mother and if she ever sold that car that gave her problems. And then, he arrives at a question that anyone who’s gone through a breakup entertains: “Wonderin’ if you think about me?” He quickly catches himself: “Actually don’t answer that.” It’s in those human moments that we get a glimpse of his interior world; it also helps that the song, frankly, is a banger. — Steven J. Horowitz

Bieber is in sweetie pie mode in this mid-tempo charmer. Over a candyfloss beat from Poo Bear and the Audibles, the pop star pays tribute to his wife Hailey with comments tailor-made for the Instagram generation (“Picture-perfect / You don’t need no filter”). What elevates this track is Bieber’s full-throated pipes and an earworm vocal melody that effectively showcases his rizz. Plus, Biebs sounds like he’s having a blast zipping through the hip-hop-inspired verses, alternately speeding and slowing his delivery with a unique and nimble flow. It’s tough to create a marriage anthem that feels this fun and carefree, but Bieber makes it work. — William Earl

Tucked inconspicuously into the middle of 2012’s “Believe” – an album that marked Bieber’s first big push towards pop adulthood – “Right Here” remains one of the more significant pivots in his catalog. Produced by Hit-Boy and featuring Drake, it doesn’t exactly scream reinvention, but it does play like a breadcrumb to his moody and R&B-heavy follow-up, “Journals.” Bieber’s sugary vocal runs kick off the track over a beat that feels both endearingly dated and quietly fresh – like it could’ve soundtracked a mid-’00s PlayStation game or, at our most generous, recalls a Timbaland demo. Originally intended for Big Sean and J. Cole, the track gains a different kind of gravity in Bieber’s hands, as his harmonies float with a confidence that was still new at the time, hinting at the more emotionally fluent artist he’d soon become. — Thania Garcia

The timing could not have been better both culturally and professionally for Bieber to release his 2015 album “Purpose,” arguably his first step into adult-minded pop. He was fresh off of hits like “Boyfriend” and “Beauty and the Beat” — both fine songs, but mere stepping stones on his way out of adolescence — when he released his fourth record, latching on to the rise in big tent EDM and its most vibrant architects. For “Sorry,” one of three No. 1s from the album, he collaborated with BloodPop and Skrillex for a plea to win back a girl he’s wronged in trop-house and dubstep regalia. It was redemptive in more ways than one: not only did the sentiment ring as authentic, but it helped cement him as a truly durable — and dependable — pop star. — Steven J. Horowitz

On 2021’s “Justice,” Bieber plundered ’80s pastiche for a handful of songs including “Somebody” and “Deserve You,” but kicked up the tempo for that year’s “Stay.” The track, a collaboration with then-upstart Kid Laroi, gallops at the speed of an F1 race, its melodies twisting and turning atop urgent synth lines. It’s no wonder it’s such an instant earworm: Charlie Puth, ever the pop artisan, came up with its signature synth line in a matter of minutes as Laroi delivered his topline with a loose, elastic cadence. Bieber comes into the fold roughly halfway through the all-too-brief tune, giving it a bit of melodic modulation before joining back up with Laroi as they race towards the finish line. The only issue with “Stay?” It’s over almost as soon as it starts. — Steven J. Horowitz

After the success of “Where Are Ü Now,” Bieber kept the dancefloor tempo going with this breezy ode to a couple that just keeps miscommunicating. From the propulsive ticking clock percussion to the loose tropical vibe, the song is a great canvas for a breathy, confident Bieber. “What Do You Mean?” was a true turning point for an artist who worked tirelessly to be a star, finally realizing that maybe the best way to get an audience is to take a breath and let a flute sample do the heavy lifting. — William Earl 

For their collaborative Jack Ü project, Skrillex and Diplo mangled an unreleased Bieber ballad into a club banger that finally brought the singer adoration from an older generation. By manipulating his vocals beyond recognition for unique harmonies and special audio touches in the song (for example, the famous “dolphin sounds” are just manipulated ad-libs), the two DJs conjured a warmth and honesty from Bieber’s voice that nestled perfectly in the bed of electronic sounds. Once the double time hits, the dance floor is shook, and Bieber would wisely collaborate several more times with the two hitmakers. — William Earl