I'll Show You (Justin Bieber song)

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"I'll Show You"
Justin-bieber-ill-show-you.jpg
Promotional single by Justin Bieber
from the album Purpose
Released November 1, 2015 (2015-11-01)
Format Digital download
Genre EDM[1]
Length 3:19
Label Def Jam
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Music video
"I'll Show You" on YouTube

"I'll Show You" is a song recorded by Canadian singer Justin Bieber for his fourth studio album Purpose (2015). Written by Bieber, Josh Gudwin, Sonny Moore, Michael Tucker and Theron Feemster, the song was produced by Skrillex and Blood. It was released as a promotional single from the album on November 1, 2015 by Def Jam. A mid-tempo EDM ballad, the song includes trap percussion and synthesizer beds as its main instrumentation. Bieber's vocals on the track were considered emotional, lower, and calmer. Lyrically, "I'll Show You" was considered an autobiographical song about his public image, with lyrics about the pressure of fame and the need for human connection.

The song received positive reviews from most music critics, who praised Skrillex's production and his chemistry with Bieber, while also noting his rawness and praising his vocals on the track. Commercially, the song was successful, reaching the top-ten in seven countries, including his native Canada, as well as the top-twenty in another six, including Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States where it received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America. The song's music video was shot in South Iceland and released on November 2, 2015. It shows Bieber on lush mountainsides, gazing at nature from a cliff's edge, and skateboarding on top of a broken-down airplane. "I'll Show You" was included on his Purpose World Tour.

Background and release[edit]

While working on his then-upcoming studio album, Justin Bieber enlisted American DJ Skrillex to produce songs for the record after successfully working with him on "Where Are Ü Now", which was a song that he sent to Skrillex and Diplo for their project Jack Ü and that became a worldwide hit and helped to revamp his career.[2] Regarding his will to work with the producer, Bieber commented: "Skrillex is a genius. He’s super futuristic and I just love his sounds. I think being able to incorporate that sound with what I’m doing has been super cool because it’s like new and fresh, and I feel like no one’s done it before."[3] Skrillex, on the other hand, commented about his involvement on the album, saying: "I heard some well-written songs that were really good that they wanted me to do production on and from there, we wrote some new songs. It was an opportunity to try some stuff that I had never done before and we ended up making something really unique."[4] Skrillex also invited Michael Tucker, under his producer name Blood, to help him produce some tracks for the album, with one of them being "I'll Show You".[5] Regarding the song, Skrillex commented: "There was a very different version of that track, and after I heard it I wanted to re-produce it so it was more slowed down and emotional. That track is one of my favourites on the album. It has some of the best lyrics on the album. That was one of the songs that he [Bieber] really liked, and we were both proud of."[6] It was later released as a promotional single from the album on November 1, 2015.[7]

Composition[edit]

"I'll Show You" was written by Justin Bieber, Josh Gudwin, Sonny Moore, Michael Tucker and Theron Feemster, with production being done by Skrillex and Blood. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Universal Music Publishing Group, the song is composed in the key of A minor with a tempo of 100 beats per minute. Bieber's vocals range from the note of E4 to E5.[8] The song is a "chilled-out EDM" ballad,"[1][9] having "shadowy R&B atmospheric synthesizers,"[9][10] a trap percussion line and thick beds of synthesizers.[11] For Bianca Gracie of Idolator, "[the] brooding tune picks up where the R&B-flecked 'Journals' left off,"[12] while Carolyn Menyes of Music Times noticed that the song is "notably more down-tempo than his previously released Purpose cuts 'What Do You Mean?' and 'Sorry.'"[13] During the track, Bieber uses a "suave yet hurt croon",[10] as well as "lower, calmer, sturdier, and delicately cradled by Skrillex’s glass-case-of-emotion production,"[14] having an emotional,[15] rich, deep tone."[13]

Lyrically, "I'll Show You" offers an autobiographical glimpse into the difficulty of growing up in the public eye and the need for human connection.[10][16] During the opening lines, "My life is a movie, and everyone’s watching," he "underlin[es] his typical braggadocio with insecurity and quiet paranoia."[14] Menyes noted that the song has "introspective" lyrics, "go[ing] a little bit deeper into his struggles with depression and his public image,"[13] which can be seen on the pre-chorus: "Sometimes it's hard to do the right thing / When the pressure's coming down like lightning / It's like they want me to be perfect / When they don't even know that I'm hurting."[13] The chorus "reveals his lamentations as a setup for his ashes-rising,"[14] with Bieber singing: "This life’s not easy/ I’m not made out of steel/ Don’t you forget that I’m human/ Don’t forget that I’m real/ Act like you know me, but you never will / But there’s one thing that I know for sure / I’ll show you."[14][17] In the second part, he meditates on his maturation in the public spotlight, explaining that his many scandals were all part of learning "the hard way."[9]

Critical reception[edit]

The song received positive reviews from music critics. Andrew Unterberger of Spin praised the "Skrillex’s glass-case-of-emotion production" calling it "a waterfall of gorgeous Skrillex synths," adding: "It’s as electric a moment as you’ll hear in pop this year." Unterberger also noted that the song shows that "Bieber’s far more concerned about rekindling his relationship with the general public."[14] Sam C. Mac of Slant Magazine opined that the song "takes an Owl City-worthy ballad and beefs it up [...] completing 2015's most empirically perfect singles rollout."[11] Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian noted that the song "is drenched in icy reverb,"[18] while Bianca Gracie of Idolator pointed out that "[i]t is Bieber in his rawest form."[12] Annie Zaleski of The A.V. Club praised Skrillex's production for "inject[ing] life into 'Purpose', citing the " tropical-forest electro mist" song as an example.[19] Carolyn Menyes of Music Times observed that "the lightness and vulnerability in Bieber's vocals help to balance that out and bring in a human element."[13] Amy Davidson of Digital Spy declared that "there's something poignant about his pleas to restore a sense of humanity around him."[20] Alex Macpherson of The National called it "all languid, stretched-out bass until an oddly weedy synth riff hoves into earshot to function as the hook."[21] Michelle Geslani of Consequence of Sound commend Bieber and Srkillex for "continu[ing] to show off their musical chemistry with 'I’ll Show You'," observing that "Skrillex provides the perfect backdrop for Bieber’s suave yet hurt croon."[10] Janine Schaults of the same publication was positive with Bieber's "creamy" voice, declaring that it "begs for sympathy in a way that simultaneously makes you feel sorry for Bieber’s lost childhood and repulsed by his blindness to his own immense privilege."[17]

Chart performance[edit]

"I'll Show You" proved to be very successful for a promotional single. In Bieber's native country, Canada, the song debuted at number twenty-eight, before climbing to number fifteen in its second week. It later peaked at number eight a week later.[22] In the United States, the song debuted at number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100, selling 52,000 copies, which also made it start at number 17 on Digital Songs.[23] After the video's release, the song climbed to number 27,[24] while during its third week, after the album's release, the song jumped to number 19, becoming his fourteenth top-twenty song.[25] It was later certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for selling over a million copies. In the United Kingdom, the song peaked at number 15, becoming his eleventh solo top-twenty song.[26] In Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Norway, the song managed to reach the top-ten, while in Australia, Ireland and Sweden the song was able to reach the top-twenty.[27]

Music video[edit]

A music video for the song was released on November 2, 2015 and it was directed by Rory Kramer.[9][28] It features glacial lagoons and rivers in South Iceland, including the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss.[29] The video features Bieber "running through lush, green mountains, sitting on the edge of a cliff, rolling down hills and skateboarding on top of a derelict airplane."[30] There's also a scene where Bieber is "[braving] ice water in just his [underwear]."[31] Billboard considered it "a beautiful clip full of nature's glory."[30]

Credits and personnel[edit]

Recording and management
  • Recorded and mixed at Record Plant Studios (Hollywood, California)
  • Mastered at Sterling Sound Studios (New York City)
  • Published by Bieber Time Publishing/Universal Music (ASCAP), Yeshua the Gudwin Admin by Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing (BMI), Sonny Moore/Copaface (ASCAP), Michael Diamond Music, Kobalt Songs Music Publishing o/b/o OWSLA TRAX, These Are Songs of Pulse (ASCAP), and Feemstro Adm. by Universal Music - Z Tunes LLC (ASCAP)
Personnel

Credits adapted from Purpose album liner notes.[32]

Charts[edit]

Chart (2015) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[27] 16
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[33] 35
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[34] 38
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[35] 41
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[36] 8
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[37] 10
Denmark (Tracklisten)[38] 8
France (SNEP)[39] 57
Hungary (Single Top 40)[40] 13
Ireland (IRMA)[41] 14
Italy (FIMI)[42] 35
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[43] 7
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[44] 5
Norway (VG-lista)[45] 9
South Korea International Chart (Gaon)[46] 83
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[47] 22
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[48] 4
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[49] 17
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[50] 40
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[51] 15
US Billboard Hot 100[52] 19

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[53] Gold 35,000^
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[54] Gold 30,000^
Italy (FIMI)[55] Gold 25,000double-dagger
New Zealand (RMNZ)[56] Platinum 15,000*
Poland (ZPAV)[57] Platinum 20,000*
Sweden (GLF)[58] Gold 20,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[59] Silver 200,000double-dagger
United States (RIAA)[60] Platinumdagger 1,000,000double-dagger

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

dagger Since May 2013 RIAA certifications for digital singles include on-demand audio and/or video song streams in addition to downloads.[61]

Release history[edit]

Country Date Format Label Ref
Worldwide November 1, 2015 Digital download Def Jam [7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Partridge, Kenneth (November 13, 2015). "Justin Bieber Proves His Growth on 'Purpose' Review". Billboard. Retrieved November 17, 2015. 
  2. ^ Fact Staff (December 17, 2015). "The 50 Best Tracks of 2015". Fact. Retrieved April 19, 2016. 
  3. ^ "Justin Bieber's New Single is Called 'What Do You Mean'". Radio.com. July 29, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2016. 
  4. ^ "Skrillex Opens Up About Working With Justin Bieber: 'His Album Is So Honest" - MTV". MTV News. November 21, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2016. 
  5. ^ Claymore, Gabriela Tully (November 24, 2015). "Q&A: BloodPop (FKA Blood Diamonds) On The Indie/Pop Divide & Working With Grimes, Justin Bieber, & Madonna". Stereogum. Retrieved May 8, 2016. 
  6. ^ Howard, Tom (November 13, 2015). "Skrillex's Track-By-Track Guide To His Work On Justin Bieber's New Album 'Purpose'". NME. Retrieved May 12, 2016. 
  7. ^ a b "I'll Show You - Justin Bieber". JustinBieberMusic.com. Retrieved May 8, 2016. 
  8. ^ "Justin Bieber - "I'll Show You" - Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Universal Music Publishing Group. MN0157600. Retrieved May 8, 2016. 
  9. ^ a b c d Reed, Ryan (November 2, 2015). "Hear Justin Bieber's Introspective New Song 'I'll Show You'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 21, 2015. 
  10. ^ a b c d Geslani, Michelle (November 1, 2015). "Justin Bieber and Skrillex team up again on new song "I'll Show You" — listen". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved May 8, 2016. 
  11. ^ a b Mac, Sam C. (November 16, 2015). "Justin Bieber: Purpose - Album Review - Slant Magazine". Slant Magazine. Retrieved May 10, 2016. 
  12. ^ a b Gracie, Bianca (November 16, 2015). "Justin Bieber's 'Purpose': Album Review". Idolator. Spin Media. Retrieved May 8, 2016. 
  13. ^ a b c d e Menyes, Carolyn (November 2, 2015). "Justin Bieber 'I'll Show You' Review: New Skrillex 'Purpose' Collaboration Gets Personal". Music Times. Retrieved May 8, 2016. 
  14. ^ a b c d e Unterberger, Andrew (November 16, 2015). "Review: Sorry Seems to Be the Easiest Word for Justin Bieber on 'Purpose'". Spin. Retrieved May 9, 2016. 
  15. ^ Bacardi, Francesca. "Justin Bieber Releases New Song "I'll Show You" With Skrillex". E! Online. Retrieved November 21, 2015. 
  16. ^ Holz, Adam R. "Purpose Album Review (2015) - Plugged In". Plugged In. Focus on the Family. Retrieved May 9, 2016. 
  17. ^ a b Schaults, Janine (November 18, 2015). "Justin Bieber – Purpose - Album Reviews - Consequence of Sound". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved May 9, 2016. 
  18. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (November 12, 2015). "Justin Bieber: Purpose review – a look back and a fresh start". The Guardian. Retrieved November 14, 2015. 
  19. ^ Zaleski, Annie (November 13, 2015). "Justin Bieber's comeback narrative has a few plot holes". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 31, 2016. 
  20. ^ Davidson, Amy (November 12, 2015). "Justin Bieber Purpose review: Track-by-track with his best album yet". Digital Spy. Retrieved April 29, 2016. 
  21. ^ Macpherson, Alex (November 26, 2015). "Album review: Does 'Purpose' establish Justin Bieber as now cool?". The National. Retrieved February 1, 2016. 
  22. ^ "I'll Show You" chart positions in Canada:
  23. ^ Trust, Gary (November 9, 2015). "Adele's 'Hello' Tops Hot 100 for Second Week; Ariana Grande, Meghan Trainor Hit Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2016. 
  24. ^ Trust, Gary (November 16, 2015). "Adele's 'Hello' Leads Hot 100 for Third Week, Is Fastest Radio Songs No. 1 in 22 Years". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2016. 
  25. ^ Trust, Gary (November 23, 2015). "Justin Bieber Breaks the Beatles & Drake's Record for Most Simultaneous Hot 100 Hits". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2016. 
  26. ^ "Justin Bieber | Full Official Chart History". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 10, 2016. 
  27. ^ a b "Australian-charts.com – Justin Bieber – I'll Show You". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  28. ^ Fitz-Gerald, Sean. "Take a Listen to Justin Bieber's Honesty-Fueled 'I'll Show You'". Vulture. Retrieved 21 November 2015. 
  29. ^ Hafstad, Vala (3 November 2015). "Justin Bieber's Video, 'I'll Show You' (Iceland)". Iceland Review. Retrieved 21 November 2015. 
  30. ^ a b Billboard Staff (November 2, 2015). "Watch Justin Bieber Run Through the Mountains in 'I'll Show You' Video". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2016. 
  31. ^ Marquina, Sierra (November 2, 2015). "Justin Bieber Strips Down to Tighty-Whities in Emotional "I'll Show You" Music Video". Us Magazine. Retrieved February 1, 2016. 
  32. ^ Purpose (CD liner notes). Justin Bieber. RBMG Records / Def Jam Recordings. 2015. 
  33. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Justin Bieber – I'll Show You" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  34. ^ "Ultratop.be – Justin Bieber – I'll Show You" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  35. ^ "Ultratop.be – Justin Bieber – I'll Show You" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  36. ^ "Justin Bieber Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  37. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201547 into search. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  38. ^ "Danishcharts.com – Justin Bieber – I'll Show You". Tracklisten. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  39. ^ "Lescharts.com – Justin Bieber – I'll Show You" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  40. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  41. ^ "Chart Track: Week 48, 2015". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  42. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Justin Bieber – I'll Show You". Top Digital Download. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  43. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Justin Bieber – I'll Show You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  44. ^ "Charts.nz – Justin Bieber – I'll Show You". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  45. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Justin Bieber – I'll Show You". VG-lista. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  46. ^ "Gaon Digital Chart – Week 46, 2015" (in Korean). Gaon. Retrieved May 19, 2016. 
  47. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Justin Bieber – I'll Show You" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  48. ^ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201547 into search. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  49. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Justin Bieber – I'll Show You". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  50. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Justin Bieber – I'll Show You". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  51. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  52. ^ "Justin Bieber Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  53. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. 
  54. ^ "Danish single certifications". IFPI Denmark.  Click on næste to go to page if certification from official website
  55. ^ "Italian single certifications – Justin Bieber – I'll Show You" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. 
  56. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Justin Bieber – I'll Show You". Recorded Music NZ. 
  57. ^ "Polish single certifications – Justin Bieber – I'll Show You" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 15, 2016. 
  58. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat" (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.  Type Justin Bieber in the top right search bar. Click on "Sok" and select I'll Show You and see certification.
  59. ^ "British single certifications". British Phonographic Industry.  Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. 
  60. ^ "American single certifications – Justin Bieber – I'll Show You". Recording Industry Association of America.  If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  61. ^ "RIAA Adds Digital Streams To Historic Gold & Platinum Awards". Recording Industry Association of America. May 9, 2013. Archived from the original on June 4, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2013. 

External links[edit]

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