Lonely

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• Lonely
• Lonely (Acoustic)

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Lonely
Released	October 16, 2020
Album	Justice
Recorded	2020 at 555 Studio, Los Angeles, CA; Astronave, Los ANgeles, CA Cherry Beach Sound, Toronto
Genre	Pop / Ballad
Length	2:29
Written by	Justin Bieber / Benjamin Levin / FINNEAS
Produced by	Benny Blanco / FINNEAS (co.)
Label
Additional information
Vocal production	Chris 'TEK' O'Ryan / Josh Gudwin
Vocal recording	Benny Blanco / Chris 'TEK' O'Ryan / FINNEAS / Josh Gudwin
Engineer(s)	Benny Blanco / Devin Nakao / Elijah Marrett-Hitch FINNEAS / Josh Gudwin / Devin Nakao (for mix)
Mixed by	Josh Gudwin / Elijah Marrett-Hitch (assistant)
Instruments	Keyboards: Benny Blanco / FINNEAS Melodyne: Chris "TEK" O'Ryan Programming by Benny Blanco / FINNEAS
Singles Chronology
← Previous	“Holy”
Next →	“Mood (Remix)”

“Lonely” is a song by Justin Bieber and benny blanco from Justice album.

Background

benny blanco and FINNEAS wrote the song before quarantine and when Justin recorded it he was quarantined in Canada.

FINNEAS and benny blanco originally wrote the song. Justin changed "I have everything but no one's listening" to "I've had everything".

When Bieber recorded it, he broke down crying in the studio and “had to go sit down and, like, drink a tea,” recalls co-writer Blanco. “This is the most honest Justin you’re going to get.” Blanco revealed that Bieber was "real nervous", and contemplated on whether to release the song. "Because he's like, 'People know me for this thing and it's like I've never been this raw.' 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."

Rumors of the title started when Justin Bieber posted a status feeling lonely. Benny Blanco then posted a screenshot of Justin's tweet "One Less _____ Girl" on his Instagram story. Bieber confirmed the title on Instagram TV, posting a video of Hailey hiking dubbed with a song named Lonely, produced by boi1da. The description read "[...] (ps @itsbennyblanco I think there's more to say though regarding lonely what do you think??).

Release

Benny Blanco had long talks with Justin where he questioned whether or not he should even put this song out because it's so personal.

Audio

Lonely-2

Lyrics

[Verse 1: Justin Bieber]
Everybody knows my name now
But something 'bout it still feels strange
Like looking in the mirror
Tryna steady yourself and seeing somebody else
And everything is not the same now
It feels like all our lives have changed
Maybe when I'm older, it'll all calm down
But it's killing me now

[Pre-Chorus: Justin Bieber]
What if you had it all but nobody to call?
Maybe then you'd know me
'Cause I've heard everything
But no one's listening
And that's just fucking lonely

[Chorus: Justin Bieber]
I'm so lo-o-o-onely
Lo-o-o-onely

[Verse 2: Justin Bieber]
Everybody knows my past now
Like my house was always made of glass
And maybe that's the price you pay
For the money and fame at an early age
And everybody saw me sick
And it felt like no one gave a shit
They criticized the things I did
As an idiot kid

[Pre-Chorus: Justin Bieber]
What if you had it all but nobody to call?
Maybe then you'd know me
'Cause I've heard everything
But no one's listening
And that's just fucking lonely

[Chorus: Justin Bieber]
I'm so lo-o-o-onely
Lo-o-o-onely
I'm so lo-o-o-onely
Lo-o-o-onely

Music video

Lonely
Recorded	August 18, 2020
Director	Jake Schreier
Length	2:38
Producer	Park Pictures / Cody Ryder / Jackie Kelman Bisbee (executive)

Originally the video was going to be Justin walking through and doing all of the stuff alone. But Scooter and Justin wanted a younger version. It was Justin's idea to cast Jacob Trembley.

Jacob Tremblay plays the role as young Justin Bieber.

The video shows how depressed Justin was on tour as a kid, showing how different and sad his life was backstage, while he was putting on a show and a smile in front of people.

Young Justin goes on stage in a huge theatre, with all seats empty except one, in which older Justin sits and watches his younger self.

Justin Bieber & benny blanco - Lonely (Behind The Scenes)

Justin Bieber, benny blanco - Lonely (The Making of 'Lonely'-Vevo Footnotes)

Performances

• Saturday Night Live (October 17, 2020)
• 2020 E! People Choice Awards (November 15, 2020)
• 2020 American Music Awards (November 22, 2020)
• T-Mobile NYE Live (December 31, 2020)
• Spotify: Stream On (February 22, 2021)
• Los Angeles County's California State Prison (March 23, 2021)
• Vevo’s Official Live Performance (pre-recorded performance) (March 30, 2021)
• Special Performance at Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas (July 9, 2021)
• Made In America (September 5, 2021)
• Met Gala party (September 13, 2021)
• Private event in Provo, Utah (November 6, 2021)
• Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Gran Prix Concert (December 5, 2021)
• Jingle Bell Ball (December 11, 2021)
• Justice World Tour (2022)

Chart and commercial performance

Billboard

Lonely debuted #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, #8 (peak position) in the Billboard Global 200 Excl. U.S. chart, and #5 (peak position) in the Billboard Gobal 200 chart. Months later, the song got more radio spins, iTunes sales and was for several days the most "Shazamed" song of U.S. Thanks to that, Lonely reached his peak position on the Billboard Hot 100 at #12.

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Rolling Stones

The song debuted and peaked #5 in the Rolling Stone chart.

UK Chart

Lonely peaked 17 in the UK Official Chart. And charted 13 weeks.

US Radios

Lonely officially reached #1 at US Pop Radio on Febraury 7, 2021, 114 days after his release.

Certifications

Country	Certification	Units
Australia (ARIA)	Platinum	70,000**
Canada (Music Canada)	2x Platinum	160,000**
Norway (IFPI Norway)	Gold	30,000**
Italy (FIMI)	Gold	35,000**
Portugal (AFP)	Gold	5,000**
Spain (PROMUSICAE)	Gold	20,000**
United Kingdom (BPI)	United Kingdom	200,000**
United States (RIAA)	Platinum	1,000,000**
** Sales + streams certifications alone

Accolades

Publication	List	Rank
Los Angeles Time	The 50 Best Songs of 2020	Placed

Awards and nominations

YEAR	AWARD	NOMINATION	RESULT
2020	JOOX Top Music Year-End Awards Malaysia	Top 5 International Hits	Won
2021	Kids' Choice Awards	Favorite Music Collaboration	Nominated
	Vevo Certified Awards	100 Millions Views	Won
2022	ASCAP Pop Music Awards	Winning Songwriter & Publisher	Won
	Grammy Awards	Best Pop Duo/Group Performance	Nominated

Credits

Credits adapted from Tidal.

• Producer: Benny Blanco / FINNEAS
• Composer: Benjamin Levin / Finneas O'Connell / Justin Bieber
• Lyricist: Benjamin Levin / Finneas O'Connell / Justin Bieber
• Assistant Mixer: Elijah Marrett-Hitch
• Associated Performer: Benny Blanco / Chris 'TEK' O'Ryan / FINNEAS / Josh Gudwin
• Engineer: Benny Blanco / Devin Nakao / FINNEAS / Josh Gudwin
• Keyboards: Benny Blanco / FINNEAS
• Mastering Engineer: Chris Gehringer
• Mixer: Josh Gudwin

Production Coordinator: Andrew Luftman / Sarah Shelton / Scooter Braun

• Programming: Benny Blanco / FINNEAS
• Studio Personnel: Andrew Luftman / Benny Blanco / Chris 'TEK' O'Ryan / Chris Gehringer / Devin Nakao / Elijah Marrett-Hitch / FINNEAS / Josh Gudwin / Sarah Shelton / Scooter Braun

Vocal Engineer: Chris 'TEK' O'Ryan / Josh Gudwin

• Vocal Producer: Chris 'TEK' O'Ryan / Josh Gudwin