Purpose is the fourth studio album by Justin Bieber, released on November 13, 2015, by Def Jam Recordings and School Boy Records. The album was preceded by the release of the worldwide number one lead single "What Do You Mean?", and the record-breaking second single "Sorry". The third single "Love Yourself" was even more successful, reaching number one in eighteen countries, including the UK, New Zealand, Australia and the United States. "Company" was announced as the album's fourth single. It was serviced to CHR/Pop stations. Purpose became Justin's 6th album to debut at number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Every song on this album has hit the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart. This happened on December 5, 2015.
Background[]
In March 2015, Justin spoke with USA Today about the album. “I had to re-do my whole (new) album. It was done but it didn't match up to where I am now and where my head's at. I want to tell my story, but I also want to give people hope. I lost hope for a while, I was in a dark place, but it's about getting out of that rut. It's about knowing there's sunshine on the other side.”[1]
Justin Bieber told Poo Bear that he wanted his next album to be “inspirational” — a chronicle of being built up only to be torn down. They wrote more than 100 songs together for “Purpose,” often workshopping melodies and tweaking lyrics from Poo Bear’s sketches.[2]
The name and the concept of Purpose, which was an idea from Scooter Braun, came at the end of the album.[3]
The album was announced on 2, September 2015. The title was revealed through Bieber's social accounts with a black background having a hashtag of "6 Weeks" and the album's title.
Track list[]
The writer credits from iTunes were leaked on October 16, 2015 on ATRL.[4]
- Mark My Words 2:14
- I'll Show You 3:19
- What Do You Mean? 3:25
- Sorry 3:20
- Love Yourself 3:53
- Company 3:28
- No Pressure (featuring Big Sean) 4:46
- No Sense (featuring Travis Scott) 4:35
- The Feeling (featuring Halsey) 4:04
- Life Is Worth Living 3:54
- Where Are Ü Now (with Jack Ü) 4:02
- Children 3:43
- Purpose 3:30
Deluxe songs[]
Bonus songs[]
- Hit the Ground (Japan bonus track) 3:48
- The Most (Japan bonus track) 3:20
- Home To Mama (Japan bonus track) 3:23
- What Do You Mean? (Remix) (featuring Ariana Grande) (Pre-Order Only) 3:24
Singles[]
Artwork[]
Premiered as a 9-piece collage Instagram post, Justin collaborated with well-acclaimed artist RETNA for the artwork of his upcoming album, "Purpose". There are 2 variants, a black and a blue cover. The blue covers are for special editions like Japan, Walmart, super deluxe,... There was also another cover which didn't release, which RETNA had put the image on his Instagram on September 11, 2015.
Justin's cover was banned by Muslim countries because he has a Christian cross tattoo, so Justin and his team had to make a new and exclusive cover in which photos from his I'll Show You shoot were used.
Commercial performance[]
Debuting at number 1 on the Billboard 200 selling 640,000 copies in its first week, it was the biggest first week sales since November 2014. The mark was broken a week later by Adele's '25'. Purpose became the biggest first week sales by a Justin Bieber album.
Charts[]
Purpose debuted number 1 in the US Billboard 200, becoming the 4th n. 1 Justin Bieber's studio album and the 6th overall.
Charts (2015-2016) | Peak Position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA) | 1 |
Austrian Albums (O3 Austria) | 3 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) | 2 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) | 6 |
Brazilian Albums (ABPD) | 1 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard) | 1 |
Croatian Albums (HDU) | 4 |
Czech Albums (CNS IFPI) | 5 |
Danish Albums (Hitlisten) | 1 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 1 |
Finnish Albums (Suomeng Virallinen lista) | 4 |
French Albums (SNEP) | 8 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 3 |
Greek Albums (IFPI Greece) | 5 |
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ) | 10 |
Irish Albums (IRMA) | 1 |
Italian Albims (FIMI) | 2 |
Japanese Albums (Oricon) | 7 |
South Korena International Albums (Gaon) | 5 |
Mexican Albums (AMPROFON) | 2 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) | 1 |
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) | 1 |
Polish Album (ZPAV) | 4 |
Portuguese Albums (AFP) | 2 |
Scottish Albums (OCC) | 2 |
South African Albums (RISA) | 4 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) | 2 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 1 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) | 1 |
UK Albums (OCC) | 2 |
USA Billboard 200 | 1 |
Charts (2015) Monthly | |
Argentine Monthly Albums (CAPIF) | 3 |
Awards and nominations[]
Year | Award | Nomination | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | GAFFA Awards | International Album of the Year | Nominated |
Žebřík Music Awards | Album of the Year | Nominated | |
2016 | American Music Awards | Favorite Pop/Rock Album | Won |
ARIA Music Awards | Best International Album | Nominated | |
Billboard Music Awards | Top Billboard 200 Album | Nominated | |
Danish Music Awards | Arets Internationale Udgivelse | Won | |
Guinness World Records | Most Streamed Album on Spotify in one week | Record | |
Juno Awards | Album of the Year | Nominated | |
Pop Album of the Year | Won | ||
Los40 Music Awards | International Recording of the Year | Won | |
MTV Video Music Awards Japan | International Album of the Year | Nominated | |
2017 | Grammy Awards | Album of the Year | Nominated |
Best Vocal Pop Album | Nominated |
Trivia[]
- Justin favorite songs from Purpose album are "Life is Worth Living" and "Purpose"
- It is the second best selling album of 2015.
- It is the most streamed album released in 2015 on Spotify.
- It's Bieber's most streamed album on Spotify.
- Purpose is Justin's best selling album.
Certifications[]
COUNTRIES | CERTIFICATION | CERTIFIED
UNITS/SALES |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) | 5x Platinum | 350,000*** |
Austria (IFPI Austria) | 4x Platinum | 60,000* |
Belgium (BEA) | Gold | 15,000* |
Canada (Music Canada) | 4x Platinum | 320,000*** |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | 10x Platinum | 200,000** |
Germany (BVMI) | Gold | 100,000** |
Hungary (MAHASZ) | Gold | 1,000*** |
Italy (FIMI) | 2x Platinum | 100,000* |
Japan (RIAJ) | Gold | 100,000*** |
Mexico (AMPROFON) | Diamond + 2x Platinum | 420,000** |
New Zealand (RMNZ) | 2x Platinum | 30,000*** |
Norway (IFPI Norway) | 7x Platinum | 140,000* |
Poland (ZPAV) | 3x Platinum | 60,000** |
Portugal (AFP) | Platinum | 15,000* |
Singapore (RIAS) | 3x Platinum | 30,000* |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) | Platinum | 40,000** |
Sweden (GLF) | 3x Platinum | 120,000** |
United Kingdom (BPI) | 5x Platinum | 1,500,000** |
United States (RIAA) | 6x Platinum | 6,000,000** |
* Sales figures based on certification alone.
** Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. *** Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References[]
- ↑ della Cava, Marco (March 29, 2015). "Bieber exclusive: 'My life is not easy'". USA TODAY.
- ↑ Coscarelli, Joe (October 15, 2015). "Poo Bear, Speaking Softly and Carrying a Bieber Comeback". The New York Times.
- ↑ Fu, Eddie (November 17, 2022). "Behind the Boards with Poo Bear: Producer and Songwriter Talks Justin Bieber, Usher, DJ Khaled, and More". Consequence of Sound.
- ↑ "Skrillex has writing credits on 4 new songs from Bieber's album". Reddit. October 16, 2015.