Justin Bieber was in a weird spot in early 2020. He was pivoting. After years of being the poster child for "Bieber Fever" and then a somewhat chaotic transition into EDM-pop, he dropped Changes. It was an R&B-heavy, mid-tempo project that focused almost entirely on his new life as a married man. At the heart of that vibe was forever by justin bieber, a track featuring Post Malone and Clever that basically served as the mission statement for the entire era.
It wasn't a "Baby" level smash. Honestly, it didn't even have the chart-topping dominance of "Despacito." But if you look at the streaming numbers and how the song has aged, it’s clear that "Forever" tapped into something specific. It was the moment Justin stopped trying to please everyone and started writing for his own life.
The Raw Vibe of Forever by Justin Bieber
The track feels like a hazy, late-night conversation. It’s stripped back compared to the maximalist pop of the Purpose era. Produced by Poo Bear and Sasha Sirota, the beat relies on a steady, hypnotic pulse that allows the vocals to breathe.
Justin’s opening lines are incredibly direct. He’s talking about his wife, Hailey Bieber. There’s no metaphor here; it’s a literal plea for longevity. When he sings about being "first to wake up" just to look at her, it’s cheesy, sure. But it’s authentic. Fans who grew up with him felt that shift. He went from "Somebody to Love" to actually finding that person and being terrified of losing them.
Post Malone brings exactly what you’d expect—that warbling, melodic grit. It’s a contrast to Justin’s clean runs. Then there’s Clever. A lot of people were confused when a relatively unknown rapper from Alabama popped up on a Bieber/Posty track. But Clever’s verse is technically dense. His vibrato is wild. He brings a sort of "street-poet" energy that keeps the song from getting too sugary.
Breaking Down the Changes Album Context
You can't talk about forever by justin bieber without looking at the Changes album as a whole. At the time, critics were lukewarm. Pitchfork gave the album a 4.5. They called it "unremarkable."
They were kinda wrong.
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Critics were looking for another "Sorry." They wanted a dance-floor filler. Justin was giving them a domestic R&B record. The album was about stability. When he performed "Forever" on Saturday Night Live in February 2020, the staging was a neon-lit box. It felt claustrophobic but intimate. That performance actually helped the song gain traction on social media because people realized it wasn't just a background track; it was a vocal showcase.
Why the Post Malone Collaboration Actually Worked
Usually, when you put two titans like Bieber and Post Malone on a track, it feels like a label-mandated cash grab. This felt different. Posty and Justin have been friends for years—Post even opened for the Purpose World Tour back in 2016.
Their chemistry is genuine.
In "Forever," their voices don't fight for space. Posty’s verse is self-deprecating. He talks about his "greasy hair" and "stinky breath," which is the most Post Malone lyric possible. It grounds Justin’s more polished "prince of pop" persona. It makes the idea of "forever" feel more like a real relationship with real flaws, rather than a fairy tale.
The Clever Factor: High Risk, High Reward
Clever’s inclusion was the biggest gamble. He was signed to Grade A Productions (the same label as Juice WRLD). His verse on forever by justin bieber is polarizing. Some listeners think his theatrical delivery doesn't fit the trap-soul beat. Others think it’s the best part.
Specifically, his line about "If you're not the one then I'm mistaken" hits a certain emotional frequency. He uses a lot of internal rhyme schemes. It’s a different kind of penmanship than Justin’s straightforward "I love you" style.
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- Justin Bieber: Focused on the emotional core and the hook.
- Post Malone: Provides the melodic texture and "cool" factor.
- Clever: Delivers the technical vocal gymnastics.
It’s an odd trio on paper. In practice? It’s a masterclass in how to layer different types of "soul" music.
The Cultural Impact and TikTok Longevity
The song didn't just disappear after 2020.
Because of the "Would you be here with me forever, ever, ever?" hook, it became a staple for wedding videos and couple montages on TikTok and Instagram Reels. It’s a "slow burn" hit. It’s the type of song that lives in thousands of curated "Lover" playlists.
Even in 2026, as we look back at the mid-2020s pop landscape, this song remains a benchmark for "Married Justin." It marked the end of his "Bizzle" era and the start of the mature artist we see now. He wasn't chasing a TikTok trend when he made this; TikTok found the song because the sentiment was universal.
The Technical Side: Production and Mixing
If you listen to the track with good headphones, the low-end is surprisingly thick. Poo Bear (Jason Boyd) has been Justin’s secret weapon for a decade. He knows exactly how to layer Justin’s vocals to make them sound like a choir.
In forever by justin bieber, there are subtle ad-libs in the background that you might miss on a first listen. Justin is doing a lot of the heavy lifting on the harmonies. The "ever, ever, ever" isn't just a sample; it's a meticulously tracked vocal arrangement. It’s meant to sound like an echo, a literal representation of time going on forever.
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Addressing the Critics: Is It Too Simple?
A common complaint about "Forever" and the Changes album was that the lyrics were repetitive.
"I love you, you're my wife, I'm happy."
That was basically the summary. But there's a complexity in that simplicity. After the Journals era (which was about heartbreak) and Purpose (which was about redemption), Changes was about arrival. "Forever" is a song of contentment.
Contentment is hard to write about without being boring. Justin managed to make it sound atmospheric. He captured the feeling of a "safe" love. In a world of high-drama breakup songs (looking at you, Selena Gomez "Lose You to Love Me," which came out around the same time), Justin chose to lean into his reality. It was a bold move that prioritized his mental health and personal life over "radio-friendliness."
How to Truly Appreciate the Track Today
To get the most out of forever by justin bieber, you have to view it as a piece of a larger puzzle. It’s not a standalone pop anthem. It’s a chapter in a journal.
- Listen to it alongside Journals: You’ll hear how his R&B sensibilities have evolved from teenage angst to adult stability.
- Watch the SNL performance: It changes the way you hear the rhythm. The live band adds a pocket that the studio version slightly hides.
- Focus on the transitions: The way Post Malone slides in is one of the smoothest guest entries in 2020s pop.
The song isn't trying to change the world. It’s just trying to tell one person that they aren't going anywhere. That’s why it’s still on everyone's playlists. It’s honest. It’s vibey. And honestly? It’s one of the most underrated collaborations in Bieber’s entire discography.
If you're building a "Best of Bieber" playlist, you can't skip this. It's the bridge between the kid he was and the man he's become. Take another listen to the vocal layers in the final chorus—there’s a lot more going on there than the radio ever gave him credit for. Dive into his later live acoustic versions if you want to hear the soul behind the trap beats; that's where the song really shines.