Ranking Justin Bieber’s Albums
In celebration of Justin Bieber’s 29th birthday, here are some of his albums ordered from least favorite to favorite.
Throughout his nearly 15-year career in the music industry, pop singer Justin Bieber has established himself as a household name with his extensive catalog of hits. He has accomplished more than he has been given credit for, having done numerous tours, released over ten projects, received hundreds of awards and established an extremely loyal fanbase of Beliebers. Bieber has evolved immensely over the years, with many of the different stages of his life reflected in his music. Since he has released many projects over the years, here are most of them ranked.
8. Changes (2020)
After a five-year break, Bieber returned with “Changes,” unveiling how many shifts in his life influenced his music. The most significant change in his life between 2015 and 2020 was his marriage to model Hailey Bieber, formerly Hailey Baldwin. His marriage and love for his now wife was the premise of this album. As sentimental as it was, this album was not as strong or memorable as his other ones. To top it off, this album housed probably the worst Bieber song to date, “Yummy.” Despite the disappointment of his lead single and some songs not being as great as his previous ones, this album had some notable songs such as “Get Me” with Kehlani, “E.T.A.,” “Confirmation” and “Habitual.”
7. My World 2.0 (2010)
The continuation of his first EP came at the height of what was formerly known as “Bieber fever.” At this time, Bieber was taking over the pop world, with millions of teenagers obsessed with him and his music. This album had many Bieber classics, including one of his most recognizable songs, “Baby.” At the time, “Baby” was Bieber’s biggest hit, with the music video becoming one of the highest-viewed videos on YouTube in 2010.
6. Justice (2021)
Bieber did not leave fans waiting too long for new music when this album was released. The main downside of this album was not necessarily the songs but the theme. Bieber had become active in using his platform to advocate for equality, especially during 2020 and 2021. Since the name of this album was “Justice,” it led listeners to believe the project would be about equality and social justice. However, none of the songs reflected these ideas. Even having released three different versions of this project, the original, a deluxe and a triple chucks deluxe version, not one song had to do with equality. The songs mainly had to do with his wife like the ones on “Changes.” There is nothing wrong with Bieber displaying his love for his wife, but the album could have been received better if the title was different.
5. My World (2009)
Bieber made his 2009 debut with this EP, letting listeners into his world. The structure of this EP worked perfectly for a debut as it mainly consisted of Bieber. The only feature on the album was his mentor at the time and R&B singer, Usher. The lack of features allowed Bieber to be the main focus as he was just getting his name recognized worldwide.
4. Under the Mistletoe (2011)
If this list was ranking holiday albums, this one would be towards the top. Not only did Bieber reinvent Christmas carols but he also created some of his own that are still popular to this day. “Mistletoe” is practically the Bieber equivalent of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas.” It enters the charts and gets played on the radio every holiday season. Bieber even got his own version of “All I Want for Christmas” with Carey on this project.
3. Believe (2012)
Although he was still making music within the pop realm, there was a shift in Bieber’s sound on “Believe,” especially with the tone of his voice. Fans were used to his high, childlike voice. This album was the beginning of Bieber’s voice drop, which gave his music a slightly more mature feel. Also, the overall message of this album was a great sentiment for fans to take in. He was not only grateful for his fans and their continued belief and trust in him, but he wanted to encourage them to believe in themselves. And of course, it would not be a complete Bieber album without some love songs, which were plentiful on “Believe.”
2. Journals (2013)
Although Bieber has made R&B music since releasing “Journals,” this project is still his strongest dive into the genre. Technically, “Journals” was not considered an official album when it was released so it did not get the promotional push that it deserved. It was cohesive, each song fitting into a storyline about his admiration for his girlfriend at the time. The album felt as though listeners were peeking into Bieber’s diary or journals, hearing his innermost thoughts expressed through song. This album also marked the official transition from teenager to man for the singer. He presented a more grown version of himself, touching on topics unlike anything he had previously. This album contained some of Bieber’s best songs so far.
1. Purpose (2015)
Picking the number one Bieber album came down to “Purpose” or “Journals.” With deep thought, “Purpose” ultimately took the crown. At a time when Bieber consistently revealed new sides of himself with each project, especially with “Believe” and “Journals,” “Purpose” showed a version of Bieber that was most spiritual and at peace. This album was also a record-breaking and career-shifting one for Bieber, with multiple hits including “What Do You Mean?” and “Sorry.” With “Purpose,” Bieber solidified himself as not only a pop sensation but a music legend.
