Justin Bieber, Die in Your Arms | Track Review 🎵

“Die in Your Arms,” the 2nd single from the 2012 Justin Bieber LP, Believe, may not make me wanna ‘die in anyone’s arms’, but it’s catchy.

So, any and every time a ‘tween’ artist drops a new single, album, or ANYTHING, the music industry just goes, well, berserk. “Die in Your Arms” is no different for the ubiquitous – I mean hugely ubiquitous, now 18-year old Justin Bieber. Bieber’s first single from his upcoming June 19, 2012 album release, Believe, entitled “Boyfriend”, showed a young man eager to escape the ‘confines’ of his squeaky-clean, teen/pre-teen-posited image. In other words, he is trying to escape from being so cheesy, schmaltz, and innocent.

Enough events in Bieber’s momentous 18-year old life have threatened to assassinate that ‘squeaky-clean’ persona.  There was his middle-finger to the paparazzi, the infamous paternity scandal, his admittance to having had a beer. etc. Whatever – sounds much like your average teen boy (maybe not the paternity mess), unless you are Bieber.  But all chattiness aside, Bieber’s second single, “Die in Your Arms,” is actually, well GOOD.

⇑ Pros ⇑

The positives first… The production by Rodney Jerkins is nothing short of classic and actually gives Bieber a lift before he sings one note.  Additionally, his voice has matured considerably since “One Time” or “Baby”,  and he sounds less schmaltzy and more pop-soul.  Most shockingly, he utters profanity (O.M.G.), albeit sort of softy and almost shyly (“Loving you is so damn easy to me”). Is that shocking for any other artist or truly earth shattering to most folk? No, but for a teen pop star that has had to tread ever so lightly, it is a breakout, adult moment, not even mentioning references to when his girl touches him he “dies in her arms” (rolling eyes right now*).

⇓ Cons ⇓

The negatives? Well, as much swag as Bieber has developed, there is still tween awkwardness about “Die in Your Arms.” Casanova he may be, particularly with Selena Gomez, has Bieber truly experienced ‘love’ that makes him wanna die in ‘her’ arms? That and his youth takes a slight bit of the vigor away and makes “Die In Your Arms” less ‘swag-tastic.’ That said, to Bieber’s credit, I would easily take his maturity on here and on “Boyfriend” (save for that clumsy Buzz Lightyear reference) over his less developed sound on “Baby.” Honestly, he seems to be heading for a more mature direction, which should definitely be more fully developed on forthcoming albums beyond Believe.

Final Thoughts

Do I like it? I’m not going to die in anyone’s arms over it, but it’s kind of catchy. Again, Bieber should be thanking Rodney Jerkins UP and DOWN.

Justin Bieber • Believe • Island • Release: 6.19.12

Photo Credit: Island

[Note: this review was originally published on my original site, Brent Music Reviews as “Die in Your Arms,” Justin Bieber – A Colorful Review and Analysis, on 5/29/2012].