You remember 2015, right? It was that weird, transitional year where the world was moving on from neon EDM and somehow, Justin Bieber became "cool" again. Right in the middle of that Purpose era comeback, a relatively unknown "indie-pop" singer named Halsey showed up on the tracklist for a song called "The Feeling."
Honestly, looking back from 2026, it’s wild how much that single moment shifted the trajectory of Halsey's career. At the time, she was the edgy Tumblr darling with blue hair who didn't want to be a "pop star." Then, suddenly, she’s on stage at the Today Show in the freezing cold, nose-to-nose with the biggest male artist on the planet.
The Collab That Almost Didn't Happen
Halsey was actually super vocal about not wanting to do collaborations at first. She was protective of her brand. She was the Badlands girl. So, how did she end up on a Bieber record? Basically, it came down to a very specific lyric that resonated with her 90s-kid soul.
When she first heard the demo for "The Feeling," she wasn't sold until she heard the line: "Jagged like a pill so hard to swallow." It was a direct, likely intentional nod to Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill. Halsey has said in multiple interviews that she grew up on Alanis. That one line was the hook. She realized the song had this dark, vulnerable undercurrent that fit her own vibe perfectly. Plus, Skrillex was producing it, and he made sure the track kept enough of its alternative edge so it didn't feel like a total "sell-out" move.
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That "Train Wreck" Today Show Performance
If you want to talk about Halsey with Justin Bieber, you have to talk about that 7:00 AM performance on the Today Show. It was November 2015. It was freezing.
Fans went absolutely nuts because the chemistry looked... well, it looked intense. They were touching faces, leaning in close, and for a second, the internet was convinced they were dating. But if you ask Halsey, she’ll tell you it was a "f***ing train wreck."
She later admitted to Billboard that she was terrified. You’ve got to imagine being a new artist on live TV in front of millions of people, and you're not even sure if Justin Bieber is actually going to kiss you or just stay in character. It wasn't romance; it was pure, unadulterated stage fright mixed with a heavy dose of performance art.
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Why the Chemistry Worked
- The Vocal Contrast: Bieber’s smooth, breathy R&B vocals acted as the perfect foil to Halsey’s raspier, "indie-girl" enunciations.
- The Visuals: They looked like they belonged in the same universe—both had that streetwear-meets-high-fashion look that defined the mid-2010s.
- The Shared "Outcast" Narrative: At that point, both were frequently labeled as "polarizing" figures in music. They leaned into it.
The "Love Yourself" Flip
Not long after the collaboration, Halsey did something that cemented her as a legend in the eyes of her own fans. She went on Triple J’s "Like a Version" and covered Bieber’s "Love Yourself."
But she didn't just sing it. She changed the lyrics.
She swapped "love yourself" for "f*** yourself." It was bold. It was cheeky. It also showed that she wasn't just some featured artist riding his coattails; she had her own voice and wasn't afraid to poke fun at the very world she had just entered.
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Where Are They Now? (The 2026 Perspective)
It’s been over a decade since "The Feeling" dropped. Today, Halsey is a massive headliner in her own right—currently on her Back To Badlands tour, playing huge venues like the O2 Academy Brixton and the Hordern Pavilion. She’s transitioned from the "girl on the Bieber song" to a multi-platinum powerhouse and a voice for chronic illness advocacy and artistic independence.
Justin, meanwhile, has gone through several incarnations since then, moving from Purpose to Changes and Justice, eventually focusing more on his health and personal life with Hailey. While they haven't released a follow-up track in years, the "Bonnie and Clyde" energy they brought to the stage in 2015 remains a pivotal moment in 2010s pop history. It was the bridge that brought "alt-pop" into the mainstream.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
Looking at the success of the Halsey/Bieber connection, there are a few real takeaways:
- Look for the "Easter Eggs": Halsey only agreed to the collab because of a lyric reference. If you're a creator, lean into your influences. Authenticity often comes from recognizing your roots.
- Chemistry Can Be Rehearsed: That "romantic" performance was largely about professional stagecraft. Don't believe everything you see on a morning show stage.
- Use Features to Pivot: Halsey used a mainstream feature to bring a massive new audience back to her darker, more conceptual solo work. It’s a masterclass in "Trojan Horse" marketing.
To see how far things have come, you can check out Halsey's current 2026 tour setlists on sites like Setlist.fm—you might be surprised to see which songs from that era she still chooses to perform.