"Beauty and a Beat" is a song by Canadian singer Justin Bieber from his third studio album Believe (2012). It features rapper Nicki Minaj, who co-wrote it with Savan Kotecha, Max Martin and Zedd. It was also produced by the latter two with a heavy drum machine and "rushing" synthesizers.[1] Lyrically, it speaks about Bieber wanting to take his love interest to a club, where they can "party like it's 3012". It is the only song from Believe that Bieber did not co-write. The song became the third official single from the album.
Following the release of Believe, "Beauty and a Beat" debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at 72 due to strong digital downloads. After the release of the song's music video, it re-entered the Hot 100 at number 72 and peaked at 5.[2] It also debuted on the Canadian Hot 100 at 47.
Backgroundedit
"Beauty and a Beat" was originally written by Anton Zaslavski for his debut album, Clarity. Zaslavski, however, felt the song did not quite fit his new album's style, so he, Max Martin, Savan Kotecha, and Onika Maraj wrote a version for Bieber's third studio album, Believe released in 2012.[3] Maraj, known by her stage-name Nicki Minaj, provides guest vocals on the track.[4] Bieber later spoke upon the collaboration with Minaj, saying: "I wanted a female rapper and I think that she is the best choice. I felt she just fit on the song perfectly."[5] An album of remixes was released on December 11, 2012.
Composition and lyricsedit
"Beauty and a Beat" is an uptempoEDM[6] and electropop[7] song that lasts 3 minutes and 48 seconds.[1] With the chord progression of F–Dm7–Am–Gsus, the song is written in the key of A minor in common time.[8] The song moves at a tempo of 128 beats per minute.[9]
The song contains elements of R&B.[10] Sarah Deen of Metro described it as a "frantic dance track",[6] while Rolling Stone's Jon Dolan called the song a "disco-inferno".[11] "Beauty and a Beat" contains fast-paced drum beats and an acid house break down.[6] Bieber's then-girlfriend Selena Gomez is referenced in the song during Minaj's rap:[6] "Justin Bieber/You know I'm gonna hit 'em with the ether/Buns out, wiener/But I gotta keep an eye out for Selener."[11] Reviewer Jason Lipshutz noted the rhyme between "wiener" and her given name.[7]
Critical receptionedit
The song was met with mixed reviews. Many contemporary critics praised Bieber's attempt to reach an audience not usually interested in his music, while others criticized its lyrics and Minaj's rap. Andy Gill of The Independent listed the song in his "Download" category during an album review for Believe.[12] Laura Sassano commented on the song upon its leak, saying: "The new song continues Justin's quest to grow up and be taken more seriously as an artist".[13] Becca Longmire of Entertainmentwise felt that the song was impressive; she also compared this with Bieber's previous single "Baby".[10]
Music videoedit
The music video was released on October 12, 2012 on Bieber's YouTube channel. According to the video's storyline, in October 2012, 3 hours of personal footage was stolen from Justin and was illegally uploaded by an anonymous blogger. It starts with a short montage of video clips, and heads into a party at a waterpark featuring dancers, and Nicki Minaj rapping beside Justin in a pool. The video ends with Justin sliding down a waterslide. A gameplay clip of "Good Feeling" by Flo Rida from Just Dance 4 was featured.
Bieber wrote the video's storyline himself and co-directed the video itself with Jon Chu.[14] All of the waterpark footage was shot on scene at Raging Waters in San Dimas, a suburb of Los Angeles.[15] Most of the clip was recorded on a GoPro Hero 2 by Bieber, with some footage shots on the Olympus Tough TG-1.[16] As of May 2022, the music video had received more than 1 billion views. [17]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. † Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.
Releaseedit
The song was released on October 12, 2012 on the video-sharing website YouTube; it was included on Just Dance 4 along with other songs on the game. It was also included on the Windows 8operating system, released on October 26, 2012.
^"Justin Bieber Unveils Making Of 'Beauty And A Beat' Behind The Scenes Footage – Video". Capital FM. Global. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-25.
^Lazerine, Devin (22 June 2012). "Justin Bieber and Lil Wayne Collaborate on 'Backpack'". Rap-Up. Retrieved 2012-06-25.
^ abcdDeen, Sarah (2012-06-12). "Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj duet Beauty And A Beat leaks online". Metro. Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 2012-06-25.
^ abLipshutz, Jason (2012-06-13). "Justin Bieber, 'Believe': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2012-06-25.
^Max, Martin (26 October 2012). "Justin Bieber "Beauty and a Beat" Sheet Music in C Major (transposable)". musicnotes.com. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
^"Beauty And A Beat - Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj - Spot On Track". www.spotontrack.com. Retrieved 2017-02-18.
^ abLongmire, Becca (2012-06-18). "Review: Justin Bieber Releases New Album 'Believe'". Entertainmentwise. Giant Digital. Archived from the original on 2012-06-21. Retrieved 2012-06-25.
^Sassano, Laura (2012-06-15). "Justin Bieber Releases Another Song, Manager Says He "Still Needs Guidance"". OK!. American Media. Retrieved 2012-06-25.
^"(EXCLUSIVE) Justin Bieber's "Beauty and a Beat" ft. Nicki Minaj - Behind the Scenes [DS2DIO]". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
^"'Beauty and a Beat' by Justin Bieber featuring Nicki Minaj". Songfacts. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
^"Justin Bieber vs Olympus Tough TG-1 | Olympus Imaging Australia". Olympus.com.au. 2012-10-16. Archived from the original on 2012-11-13. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
^"Justin Bieber - Beauty And A Beat ft. Nicki Minaj". YouTube. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
^"Beauty And A Beat (Remixes EP)". iTunes.com. January 2012. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
^"Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj – Beauty and A Beat". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
^"Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj – Beauty and A Beat" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
^"Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj – Beauty and A Beat" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
^"Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj – Beauty and A Beat" (in French). Ultratop 50.
^"Justin Bieber Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
^"Justin Bieber Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
^"Justin Bieber Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201251,52 into search.
^"Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj – Beauty and A Beat". Tracklisten. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
^"Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj – Beauty and A Beat" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
^"Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj – Beauty and A Beat" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
^"Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
^"Japanese digital single certifications – Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj – Beauty and a Beat" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved February 18, 2022. Select 2022年1月 on the drop-down menu
^"Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved January 11, 2014. Type Justin Bieber in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Beauty and a Beat in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
^"New Zealand single certifications – Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj – Beauty and a Beat". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
^"Norwegian single certifications – Justin Bieber – Beauty and a Beat" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
^"Spanish single certifications" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 27 February 2024. Select Canciones under "Categoría", select 2024 under "Año". Select 8 under "Semana". Click on "BUSCAR LISTA".
^"British single certifications – Justin Bieber ft Nicki Minaj – Beauty and a Beat". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 28, 2021.