In a recent MTV interview, Justin Bieber stated that his five rules for being a good boyfriend are, “Be honest and patient… Forgive and have fun… And be faithful.”
The question is, does the artist follow his own advice in his newest song, “Boyfriend?”
With a new sound, a new style and a beat that sounds a lot like Timberland ft. Justin Timberlake’s “Carry Out,” the song is about what Bieber would do to keep a girl happy. Lines like, “I just want to love you/and treat you right,” and “I don’t ever wanna fight” are particularly sweet, but there are also some more questionable lyrics.
In the first verse, Bieber sings, “I got money in my hands that I’d really like you to blow.” That makes this romance seem very superficial. It also would make a future girlfriend uncomfortable, as if he thought she was there for his money.
The chorus is also somewhat problematic—“If I was your boyfriend, never let you go/Keep you on my arm, girl, you’d never be alone.” This sounds a little controlling. Relationships need room to breathe, and there’s nothing fun about having someone keep tabs on you.
Overall, the song is a mix of good relationship advice and bad. Bieber is sweet while simultaneously being overbearing. I hope the other tracks on his upcoming album better reflect his five relationship rules.
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