Confident (song)

"Confident"
Single by Justin Bieber featuring Chance The Rapper
from the album Journals
Released	December 9, 2013 (2013-12-09)
Format	Digital download
Length	4:08
Label	Island RBMG Schoolboy
Writer(s)	Kenneth Coby, Justin Bieber, Maurice "Verse" Simmonds, Chancelor Bennett
Producer(s)	Soundz
Justin Bieber chronology
"Change Me" (2013) "Confident" (2013) "Home to Mama" (2014)
Chance The Rapper chronology "Confident" (2013)

"Confident" is a song by Canadian recording artist Justin Bieber featuring American recording artist Chance The Rapper, from Bieber's second compilation Journals (2013). Written by Bieber in addition to Kenneth Coby, Maurice "Verse" Simmonds, Chancelor Bennett and produced by Soundz, "Confident" was released as a single on December 9, 2013, by Island Records, as the tenth and last song from a ten-week digital download campaign entitled Music Mondays, in which one new song was released every Monday night, was held from October 7, 2013 to December 9, 2013.

"Confident" received positive feedback from music critics, who deemed it as a highlight from the album. Commercially it was a failure, debuting and peaking at number 41 and only staying on the chart for 1 week in the United States and while it reached the top forty in Canada, it only spent 2 weeks on the chart. Internationally, it peaked at numbers eight and one in Belgium and Denmark, respectively. The accompanying music video for "Confident" directed by Colin Tilley depicts the singer stalking his confident love interest until they share a kiss in its end. Chance The Rapper brought out Bieber at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival to perform "Confident" in 2014.

Background

On October 3, 2013, Bieber announced that he would release one new song every Monday for ten weeks in a campaign entitled Music Mondays, leading up to the release of his Justin Bieber's Believe theatrical film, which will see a limited one-week release on Christmas Day 2013. The first song released by Bieber was "Heartbreaker", on October 7, 2013, while the last, "Confident" was released on December 9.^[1][2] The same day, Bieber announced that the ten Music Monday releases would be packaged with an additional five new songs in a compilation entitled Complete My Journals.^[3] Although the album was initially set for release on December 16, 2013, the date was pushed back one week to December 23, as Bieber intended to include one more song on the compilation. Though it does not appear on the album itself, the bonus track, "Flatline," is available for a free download on the iTunes Store.^[4] Journals would be available on iTunes until January 2, 2014, and all sixteen songs will be available for purchase individually thereafter.^[3] Although the album was rush-released to gain advantage of the sales rush before Christmas,^[5] the album was commercially unsuccessful.^[5]

Composition

"Confident" is a song composed by hip-hop and reggae elements which features American recording artist Chance The Rapper.^[6][7] Lyrically, it is different from his previous Music Mondays releases and focuses on a new love interest, as the other tracks mostly talked about lament on love. "Confident" is about chasing a girl who drips with confidence when she walks into a room, as opposed to being bummed about his previous relationship, with the singer singing "She's confident/Oh no no, oh no no/And I'm down with it" during its chorus.^[8] Later, Chance The Rapper raps about twerk education and playing the comedic counterpart to Bieber's straight-faced heartthrob.^[9] According to Ben Rayner from Toronto Star, the song was a "sexual momentum" on the album.^[7] For Pop Crush's Amy Sciarretto, "Confident" has an almost "boom chicka bow wow" porno movie-style beat but in an upbeat mood.^[8]

Critical reception

Jason Lipshutz from Billboard deemed "Confident" as the strongest track from Music Mondays.^[9] Glenn Gamboa from Newsday also complimented the track, saying it showed the singer moving into "hip-hop with a catchy, memorable groove and first-rate help from Chance the Rapper. It's a sign that Bieber will move through his current struggles into even greater success".^[6] Alex Griffin from website Mad Good Music shared a similar comment, stating the song "wouldn’t sound out of place on a Justin Timberlake album and has the pair discussing how they’re transfixed with the most confident girl in the room, with a typically hyper Chance verse, laden with his screeching adlibs".^[10]

Music video

An accompanying music video for the song was filmed on December 18, 2013, by director Colin Tilley.^[11] It was released on January 29, 2014.^[12] He had previously posted two photos from its shooting through Instagram in December.^[13] In the video, Bieber tries to seduce a young woman in a gas station but he missteps with an ineffective pun-based pickup line. Although he definitely piques her interest, she says he has to “try harder than that” to get her. Bieber spends most of video following her around and singing and dancing about how into her he is. A group of dancers is also shown dancing with Bieber. During its end, the singer surprises his love interest with a sensual kiss; he then asks her, "Can I have your number now?" while she gives a positive response.^[14]

The video received positive reviews. Emily Longeretta from Hollywood Life commented, "We knew Justin was smooth, but he took things to a whole new level this time!"^[14] Spin's Chris Martins stated the video was fun.^[15] Writer Ton Breihan from Stereogum noted that it was paying homage to Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel" music video (1987).^[16]

Live performance

On April 13, 2014, Chance The Rapper brought out Bieber during his performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, where they performed "Confident."^[17]

Chart performance

References