Believe Acoustic

Background

Bieber confirmed the project on December 8, 2012, by tweeting, "Been writing a lot...new stuff...and yeah. the acoustic album, new arrangements, is happening." The track listing for the (then) EP was revealed on December 22, 2012, with eight tracks. On January 6, 2013, it was announced that 11 tracks would be on the album instead, including new songs "Nothing Like Us", "Yellow Raincoat" and "I Would".

Critical reception

Believe Acoustic received mixed reviews from music critics. Robert Copsey of Digital Spy wrote that the removal of the multi-layered production and "studio trickery" on Believe reveals a "smoother and less [...] babyish vocal than most will be familiar with". He noted that "embarrassingly weak lyrics" are a recurring issue throughout the album, though it is "largely saved" by Kanter, who "ensures the melodic hooks remain largely intact". He noted that it is "less of an issue" on the album's three new songs. He concluded, "We'd prefer the polished, shinier and glossier Justin Bieber any day." Andrew Leahy of The Washington Times cited Believe Acoustic as a way of "squeezing extra cash out of material that already has been released". He wrote that only a few of the new arrangements "shine any new light" on the original versions.

Andy Kellman of Allmusic wrote that like My Worlds Acoustic (2010), Believe Acoustic "maintains the flow of Bieber product following a proper studio album". He noted that the "playful side" of Believe is not "well-suited for earnest, stripped-down renderings" and added, "Party anthems like 'Beauty and a Beat' and lines like 'Chillin' by the fire while we eatin' fondue,' from 'Boyfriend,' seem silly when performed with the singer in serious artist mode." Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone wrote that as "cash-grab" remix albums go, Believe Acoustic offers a "little added value, for hardcore fans, at least". According to Rosen, the acoustic versions of "blustery" dance-pop songs like "All Around the World" and "Beauty and a Beat" sound "a tad wan", with "a six-string standing in for the synths and bludgeoning rhythms". She, however, thought that Bieber "gives the songs his best, and his raspy, soulful vocal tone stands out nicely against the stark musical backdrop". Rosen thought the best songs on the album were the three new studio tracks.

On February 9, 2013, Bieber gave a debut performance of "Nothing Like Us", a bonus track on Believe Acoustic on Saturday Night Live. He was both the host and musical guest and also performed an acoustic set of "As Long as You Love Me".

Track listing

• Justin Bieber

• Mike Posner

• Mason Levy

• Matthew Musto

• Bieber

• Dan Kanter

• Josh Gudwin*

• Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins

• Andre Lindal

• Nasri Atweh

• Bieber

• Sean Anderson

• Bieber

• Kanter

• Gudwin*

• Max Martin

• Anton Zaslavski

• Savan Kotecha

• Onika Maraj

• Bieber

• Kanter

• Gudwin*

• Jerkins

• Lindal

• Tiyon Mack

• Bieber

• Bieber

• Kanter

• Gudwin*

• Bieber

• Raphaël Judrin

• Pierre-Antoine Melki

• Ross Golan

• James 'JHart' Abrahart

• Alex Dezen

• Ben Maddahi

• Bieber

• Kanter

• Gudwin*

• Bieber

• Kanter

• Bieber

• Kanter

• Gudwin*

• Bieber

• Atweh

• Adam Messinger

• Nolan Lambroza

• Christopher Bridges

• Bieber

• Kanter

• Gudwin*

• Bieber

• Levy

• Jacob Lutrell

• Bieber

• Kanter

• Gudwin*

• Bieber

• Tom Strahle

• Gudwin

• Bieber

• Strahle

• Gudwin*

• Bieber

• Marcos Palacios

• Ernest Clark

• Aaron Michael Cox

• M. Moody

• S. Fenton

• Da Internz

• Cox

• Bieber

• Gudwin*

Note: (*) denotes a co-producer

Personnel

Credits adapted from album's liner notes.

• Justin Bieber — vocals (all tracks), producer (tracks 1–9, 11), guitar (tracks 8, 9)
• Tim Carmon — grand piano (track 1)
• Aaron Michael Cox — producer and instrumentation (track 10)
• Da Internz — producer (track 10)
• Josh Gudwin — co-producer and engineer (tracks 1–9, 11)
• Brendan McReynolds — assistant engineer (tracks 1,3,4)
• Wizard Jones — grand piano (track 6)
• Jaycen Joshua — mixing (track 10)
• Dan Kanter — producer (tracks 1–8), guitar (tracks 1–5, 8)
• Dave Kutch — mastering
• Manny Marroquin — mixing (tracks 1–5, 7, 9)
• Tom Strahle — guitar (tracks 7, 9), producer (track 9)
• Phil Tan — mixing (tracks 6, 8, 11)

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

References

1. Corner, Lewis. (December 8, 2012). "Justin Bieber confirms acoustic album". [[Hachette Filipacchi UK]].
2. (December 22, 2012). "Justin Bieber Releases 'Believe: Acoustic' Cover Artwork & Tracklist".
3. (January 10, 2013). "Justin Bieber acoustic album features three new tracks".
4. Kellman, Andy. "Believe Acoustic - Justin Bieber". [[Rovi Corporation]].
5. Dolan, Jon. "Believe: Acoustic".
6. (January 30, 2013). "Justin Bieber: 'Believe Acoustic'".
7. Leahy, Andrew. (January 28, 2013). "Justin Bieber's 'Believe Acoustic,' Kris Kristofferson's 'Feeling Mortal'". Washington Times.
8. (10 February 2013). "Justin Bieber Sorry for Smoking Weed, Performs on 'SNL' (VIDEO)".
9. (2013). "Believe Acoustic". *[[Island Records.
10. (February 2013). "CAPIF".
11. "Brazil Albums (March 23, 2013)".
12. "MAHASZ – Magyar Hangfelvétel-kiadók Szövetsége".
13. "ビリーヴ〜アコースティック". Oricon.
14. "Mexico Top 100". [[AMPROFON]].
15. Caulfield, Keith. (February 9, 2013). "Official: 1 of 7 Justin Bieber Scores Fifth No. 1 on Billboard 200". Prometheus Global Media.
16. "RecordLand".
17. "Rapports Annuels 2013". Ultratop.
18. "Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2013".
19. "Top 100 Albums Annual 2013".
20. "Årslista Album – År 2013". Sverigetopplistan.
21. "End Of Year Charts: 2013". [[UKChartsPlus]].
22. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2013".