Justin Bieber is one of the most successful pop stars of his generation, with millions of fans and numerous awards to his name. But before he became a global sensation, he was just a teenage boy with a dream and a catchy song called “Baby”. How old was Justin Bieber when he sang baby, and how did it change his life and career? Here’s a brief history of his breakthrough hit and its impact.
The Making of Baby
According to Wikipedia², “Baby” was written by Bieber with Christopher “Tricky” Stewart and Terius “The-Dream” Nash, both of whom worked with Bieber on “One Time”, R&B singer and The-Dream’s then-wife Christina Milian and labelmate, Ludacris. The song was released as the lead single from Bieber’s debut album, My World 2.0, on January 18, 2010. It was available for digital download on the same day.
The song was produced by Tricky Stewart and The-Dream, who gave it a teen pop sound with a catchy chorus and a rap verse by Ludacris. The song’s lyrics are about Bieber’s first love and heartbreak, as he sings “And I was like baby, baby, baby, oh / Like baby, baby, baby, no / Like baby, baby, baby, oh / I thought you’d always be mine”.
At the time of the song’s release, Bieber was only **15 years old**⁴⁵⁶, making him one of the youngest solo artists to have a number one hit in several countries. He had been discovered by American record executive Scooter Braun in 2008, who signed him to RBMG Records and introduced him to Usher, who became his mentor and co-owner of his label. Bieber had already gained recognition with his debut EP My World, which featured songs like “One Time” and “One Less Lonely Girl”.
The Success of Baby
“Baby” was a huge commercial success, peaking at number one in France and Scotland, and charting in the top ten of the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Australia, Norway, Japan, Ireland, Hungary, Belgium (Flanders), Slovakia and New Zealand². According to Billboard³, “Baby” was the fourth most successful single of 2010 in France. As of May 2013, the song had sold 3.9 million digital downloads in the United States and was certified 12x Platinum in the country.
The song also received positive reviews from critics who complimented the song’s effective lyrics and chorus and commended Ludacris’ part and the song’s ability to have an urban twist. It is widely regarded as one of the defining songs of modern-day popular music and continues to find audiences globally.
The accompanying music video for “Baby” was directed by Ray Kay and featured several cameos such as Drake, Lil Twist and Tinashe. The video takes place in a mall/bowling-alley setting, where Bieber chases after a girl played by Jasmine Villegas. The video became one of the most-viewed videos on YouTube at the time, surpassing Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” in July 2010. It also became one of the most-disliked videos on YouTube due to its popularity and backlash from some viewers who disliked Bieber’s music or image.
Bieber performed the song several times on various shows and events, such as Saturday Night Live, American Idol, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show and the 2010 Juno Awards. He also performed an acoustic rendition of the remix version with Drake at the Juno Awards. The official remix in the United Kingdom features British hip-hop artist Chipmunk.
The Legacy of Baby
“Baby” is considered to be Bieber’s signature song and one of his most iconic hits. It helped him establish himself as a teen idol and a pop phenomenon, paving the way for his subsequent albums and singles that explored different genres and themes. The song also influenced many other artists who followed his footsteps or collaborated with him, such as Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, Billie Eilish and BTS.
The song has also been parodied, referenced and sampled by various media outlets and personalities, such as The Simpsons, South Park, Glee, Weird Al Yankovic, Jimmy Fallon and Barack Obama. The song has also been covered by many artists from different genres and backgrounds, such as Taylor Swift, Cody Simpson, Jaden Smith, Selena Gomez, Kelly Clarkson and Pentatonix.
“Baby” is not only a song, but a cultural phenomenon that marked a turning point in Bieber’s life and career. It is a testament to his talent, charisma and perseverance, as well as his impact on the music industry and the world. How old was Justin Bieber when he sang baby? He was just a kid with a dream, but he made it come true. And he’s not done yet..