When two artists release their albums on the same day, November 13, there is anticipation over which star will take the coveted number one spot. Just imagine, if one of these artists is the most popular male solo act, and the other is the most popular group. This match-up equals lots of drama-and lots of publicity, which is why Justin Bieber and One Direction decided to go head-to-head to see who could pull off a number one album. Justin Bieber comes with an intimate comeback album, in attempt to repair the dents made in his career, and One Direction comes with a farewell album as they attempt to go on a hiatus after the release of this album.
Justin Bieber’s fourth studio album Purpose begins with soulful first track, “Mark My Words,” showing influence from rising R&B singer, The Weeknd. Bieber also mentioned in a recent interview that this track was inspired by his ex-girlfriend, Selena Gomez. This album is laced with hints of desperation and pain, especially evident in song “I’ll Show You,” where Bieber utters lyrics like, “I’m not made out of steel” and “Don’t forget that I’m human.” Although, many of his songs, like his hit single “Sorry” and B-side track “Get Used To It,” feature a pop-influenced electronic melody, his fourth track “Love Yourself” features an electric guitar emitting a bluesy riff. The instrumental for this romantic track seems like something you would hear in a coffee house sooner than a Justin Bieber album, but this song allows great differentiation. Unplugged tracks like “Life Is Worth Living” show a different side to Purpose and allow Bieber to show off his vocal ability. One standout song is “The Feeling,” a song featuring alternative singer Halsey. This song manages to connect a verse containing staccato sixteenth notes and a chorus with tied eighth notes in the most beautiful way, creating an eerie vibe. This electronic pop album, overall, showcases a lot of growth from this pop prodigy proving that Bieber has much more to showcase to the world.
One Direction begin their fifth studio album, Made in the A.M., with song “Hey Angel,” featuring strong vocals from youngest member Harry Styles and psychedelic guitar licks. This album does include classic “boyband” type songs, examples being tracks “Love You Goodbye” and “Perfect,” but it also shows some rock influences. Beatles influenced track, “Olivia,” showcases the talent of oldest member, Louis Tomlinson, as he belts out the last chorus, further proving his wide vocal range and capability. Niall Horan begins guitar driven track, “Temporary Fix,” with strong and resonant vocals, allowing the song to have a climactic chorus. The rhythm at the beginning of eighth track, “Never Enough,” is structured by acapella vocals from the band, allowing differentiation. Member Liam Payne harmonizes with the last chorus of this song, adding just enough flair to make this song great. The tenth track “What a Feeling,” shows melodic influences from rock band Fleetwood Mac, being especially evident in the song’s chorus. The standout of this album though, is track “End of the Day.” This song includes a chorus and verses that almost sound like they belong in two separate songs. The drums in this song though, pull the parts of the song together, making the song connected and interesting.
Justin Bieber held a strong number one spot on the iTunes charts all of Friday, but One Direction had 60,000 more preorders than Bieber. Both albums have had major success and are definitely some of the top-selling albums of 2015, with the help of hard work, talent, and a little bit of competition.