You remember the summer of 2019, right? It was almost impossible to walk into a grocery store or turn on a car radio without hearing that tropical, synth-pop beat. Justin Bieber I Don't Care was everywhere. But despite the song being a massive global juggernaut, the story behind it is actually kind of weird. It wasn't just another flashy pop collaboration. It was a career-saving moment for a guy who was, quite literally, on the verge of quitting music for good.
Honestly, the track feels like a lighthearted bop on the surface. You've got Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber—two of the biggest names in the world—singing about being at a party they hate. But if you actually listen to the lyrics, it's pretty dark. Bieber was going through it. He’d just stepped back from the spotlight to deal with some heavy mental health issues. He was "crippled with anxiety," a phrase he uses directly in his verse.
Why Justin Bieber I Don't Care Hits Different Now
When the song dropped on May 10, 2019, people were shocked. Bieber hadn't released a solo lead single since Purpose back in 2015. He was the guy who had everything but felt like he had nothing. Most people don't realize that Justin Bieber I Don't Care was the lead single for Ed Sheeran’s No. 6 Collaborations Project, not a Bieber album.
The production was a powerhouse effort. We’re talking Max Martin, Shellback, and Fred again.. (back when he was mostly known as Fred Gibson). These guys are the architects of modern pop. They managed to take a song about social anxiety and turn it into something you could dance to at a wedding. It's a weird contradiction. You’re singing about wanting to "sneak out the back" of a party while you’re currently at a party.
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The Poo Bear Connection
There is a cool bit of trivia most fans miss. Poo Bear (Jason Boyd), Justin's long-time collaborator, was the bridge here. According to industry reports, Ed Sheeran already had the song mostly finished. He wanted Justin on it, so Scooter Braun reached out to Poo Bear. Poo Bear actually went to Max Martin’s house in West Hollywood to work on Justin’s parts. Interestingly, Ed kept a lot of Poo Bear’s demo vocals in the final mix as background layers because they just sounded right.
The Music Video Nobody Expected
If the song was a bit serious under the hood, the music video was a total fever dream. Directed by Emil Nava, it didn't use some high-budget set in the Maldives. They used a green screen. A lot of it.
- The Costumes: You had Ed in a panda suit and Justin dressed as a bear and an ice cream cone.
- The Locations: Thanks to the green screen, they "traveled" to Japan, Egypt, and even outer space.
- The Vibe: It was intentionally low-budget and "bad" looking. It was their way of saying, "Yeah, we’re the biggest stars on Earth, but we’re not taking this seriously."
The video was filmed while Ed was on his Divide tour in Japan and Justin was in LA. They weren't even in the same room for most of it. That’s the magic of 2019 technology, I guess. It sort of reflected the "I don't care" attitude of the song perfectly.
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A Chart Monster That Nearly Missed No. 1
You’d think a Bieber-Sheeran collab would be a guaranteed No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It wasn't. It debuted at No. 2. Why? Because it ran head-first into the brick wall that was Lil Nas X and "Old Town Road." That song was a cultural phenomenon that refused to move.
However, in the UK, it was a different story. It stayed at No. 1 for eight consecutive weeks. It became one of the most streamed songs of the year. People loved the relatability. Bieber’s line about "all the bad things disappear" when he's with his "baby" was a direct nod to his wife, Hailey Bieber. It gave fans a glimpse into his recovery and how his relationship was helping him stay grounded.
Awards and Legacy
The song didn't just fade away. It won an iHeartRadio Titanium Award for reaching 1 billion total audience spins. It was nominated for "Song of the Summer" at the MTV VMAs. Even years later, in 2026, it remains a staple on "Feel Good" playlists. It proved that Bieber could still command the charts even after a four-year hiatus.
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How to Apply the "I Don't Care" Energy Today
If you’re feeling the same kind of social burnout the song describes, there are actually a few things you can take away from how Justin handled that era of his life.
- Prioritize Your "Person": The song is basically an ode to finding one person who makes the noise of the world go quiet. Whether that's a partner, a best friend, or a sibling, lean into that.
- Be Honest About the "I'm Not Okay" Moments: Bieber was very vocal on Instagram around this time about his therapy and his struggles. It made the song feel authentic rather than a corporate product.
- Find Your "idc" Exit Strategy: Sometimes, you really do just need to sneak out the back. Protecting your peace is more important than fitting in at a party where nobody’s looking you in the eye.
To really get the full experience, go back and watch the lyric video versus the official music video. The lyric video is actually a lot more "vibe-heavy" and fits the mood of the song's production better than the green-screen chaos of the official one. It’s a great study in how two different visuals can change the entire meaning of a track.