Only the Lonely
Bieber almost yanked newest single over fears it's too `raw'
Justin Bieber doubted whether he should release latest single Lonely because he's “never been this raw” on a song before.
The emotional new track was recorded with Benny Blanco and Billie Eilish's brother and collaborator Finneas, with its lyrics addressing the star's journey to stardom and his mental health issues early in his career.
According to Benny, the track was recorded earlier this year, before the pandemic, but Bieber almost didn't go through with releasing the single because he couldn't get through recording the emotional tune.
“I've been in the studio with Justin when we're singing the song down and he can't get through it,” he tells Zane Lowe on Apple Music. “He was real nervous. He was like, `S---. Should I be putting this out into the world?'
“He's raw on this song. This song brought us so much closer together. And it was just he's really opening up on this and he's super vulnerable. And he was like, `Look, I don't know
I believe it is powerful to express vulnerability and that's why I believe this song is so powerful! Justin Bieber
what people are going to think about this'. ”
As Bieber battled his doubts, Benny assured his pal it's OK to show a different side to his personality and be open about his experience.
“There's this weird stigma and this thing where men are supposed to be like (a superhero). And it's like, `No, I want to be vulnerable. I want to cry. I want to have a good cry', ” he continued.
The single, which was released on Friday, became even more significant in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Benny added it “took on a whole new meaning.”
“Everyone's lived in this different life and it doesn't matter,” he said. “We've seen all different types of people. We've seen athletes, actors, actors that had Covid. Covid isn't scared of anyone. It's coming after anyone. And it's like we're all in this pandemic and everybody's in it together.”
Bieber told fans on Twitter it was “hard” for him to revisit “tough chapters” in his life while working on the track and added that he became “emotional” when he watched actor Jacob Tremblay's portrayal of him in the music video that accompanied the single's release.
“Being someone in my position I believe it is powerful to express vulnerability and that's why I believe this song is so powerful! And @jacobtremblay is so talented. It was emotional to see him play me from the outside looking in,” Bieber wrote.