Men have seemingly surrendered the pop music landscape to women in recent years, but I do have one male artist among my personal picks for an alternate universe Song of the Summer.
Justin Bieber released his seventh studio album, Swag, on July 11 with no advance notice. His first full-length release in four years debuted at #2 on the albums chart while first single ‘Daisies’ mirrored that feat, debuting at #2 on the Hot 100. Nine weeks later it’s still in the top ten (just), but that wasn’t enough to land it on the official Songs of the Summer chart.
That’s a shame, because this is a breezy delight. ‘Daisies’ takes its cues from another male pop star, Harry Styles, who won an Album of the Year Grammy in 2022 for Harry’s House and hasn’t been heard from since.
I don’t know if the rest of Bieber’s album sounds like this song, but if so I might check it out.
Bieber also released an unexpected second album, Swag II, earlier this month. The prospect of wading through 44 Justin Bieber songs is daunting, so if anybody out there has thoughts on the new albums, please share.
Throwin’ petals like, “Do you love me or not?”
Head is spinnin’, and it don’t know when to stop
‘Cause you said, “Forever,” babe, did you mean it or not?
Hold on, hold on
You leave me on read, babe, but I still get the message
Instead of a line, it’s three dots, but I can connect them
And if it ain’t right, babe, you know I’ll respect it
But if you need time, just take your time
Honey, I get it, I get it, I get it
[Chorus]
Way you got me all in my head
Think I’d rather you in my bed
Whatever it is, you know I can take it
I’m countin’ the days, how many days ’til I can see you again?
[Verse 2]
Blowin’ kisses like, “Will you catch ’em or not?”
I’m Cupid with arrows, babe, I’m just shootin’ my shot, mm-mm
If I could get in, drop me a pin, hop in the— and come over
Don’t wanna be friends, just skin-to-skin, I wanna get closer and closer and closer, uh
[Chorus]
The way you got me all in my head
Think I’d rather you in my bed
Whatever it is, you know I can take it
I’m countin’ the days, how many days ’til I can see you again?
[Bridge]
You got me all, all, my love (All in my feelings, babe)
And you got me all, I’ve been all in my feelings
And you got me all, all weak in my knees every time (You got me all in my head, you got me all in my head, you got—)
‘Cause you got me all, all in my feelings (You got me all in my head, you got me all in my head, you got—)
Every time
[Chorus]
The way you got me all in my head (You got me all in my head)
Think I’d rather you in my bed
Whatever it is, you know I can take it
I’m countin’ the days, how many days ’til I can see you again?
Meet Me In Montauk 
Given that your mom is retired and a certified Bieleber, I think she should listen to those 44 new songs and report back to you.🤪
Peg, the Bieberball is in your court!😛
I’m on it!
Yes! Love this choice. As someone who has taken the time to wade through the 44 Justin Bieber songs from both “Swag” and “Swag II”, I will say there’s a lot of gold in there!
I was very pleasantly surprised to find that “Swag II” especially takes a lot of its cues soundscape wise from this track, “Daisies”. I wonder if that’s in part due to breakaway success of this single debuting it at #2 on the Top 10. I love the feel of this one. It’s got a real 80s throwback vibe as does a lot of the production throughout both of these albums.
It’s worth noting that Mk.gee, a great artist in his own right, it responsible for the guitar work on this single as well as the writing/production behind many tracks throughout the album! He and Dijon who also work together quite frequently collaborated with Bieber and inform much of the sound of these records.
If you have the time to listen to both albums, then I think you’d find it time well spent. However, the tracks that I was particularly drawn to on both records were “All I Can Take”, “Yukon”, “Walking Away” and especially “Devotion” off “Swag” and “Speed Demon”, “Eye Candy”, “Petting Zoo”, and especially “Mother In You” off “Swag II”.
In short, I’d be very happy if this single with its interesting syncopated guitars and 80s esque sound were the song of the summer and I’m excited to hear the rest of your picks!