A Closer Look at Justin Bieber’s “Peaches” Collaboration

If you’re in the mood for some summer nostalgia, Justin Bieber’s new single, “Peaches,” a collaboration with Daniel Caesar and Giveon that’s sure to become a hit. But before you grab one of Georgia’s fresh-picked beauties, let’s take a closer look at both the song itself and its message.

The Story Behind “Peaches”

PEOPLE reported that Bieber composed the chorus for his new single during an intimate session with Shawn Mendes and Andrew Watt at Watt’s house in September 2020. After showing him around their studio, Watt instructed him to play some drums and then begin creating music.

The singer began singing the chorus lyrics over the beat. Subsequently, he sent the demo to his team of producers and they decided to work on it some more.

After recording a drum beat and recreating the piano part in Ableton, they added a synth lead line that would come in during the chorus to help propel the song forward.

In the end, Bieber and his collaborators scored a major hit with “Two of Us”, quickly becoming one of the top songs of 2021 and garnering plenty of critical acclaim.

Jon Caramanica of The New York Times noted that Bieber’s “Peaches” collaboration is “his most vocally flexible moment” and one of the highlights on his latest album Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe). Roisin O’Connor of The Independent and Mikael Wood of Los Angeles Times both agreed that Changes “embodies” what Bieber thought he was tapping into with R&B music, while Sumiko Wilson from Complex Canada called it an epitome of R&B from Justice.

The Song’s Travelogue Chorus

When this song first released, fans were immediately drawn to its lyrical travelogue chorus. This section follows a man as he visits different cities while singing about finding the best peaches he can find.

The song also underscores the reality that many people lack access to fresh peaches and other produce due to their social status or economic standing, particularly those from low-income families or those living in rural areas.

Though the song has gained widespread success and spread a positive message, it not without its faults. Critics have criticized its cheesy, immature and repetitive lyrics as evidence.

Social media has not let that stop them from championing the song. At least 70% of posts tagged #peaches feature it, as have other local vendors and Explore Georgia in an effort to promote Georgia and its many peaches.

Bieber has made a name for himself not only in music, but also the business side of things. He owns both street wear label Drew House and footwear line Crocs.

He’s a beloved global pop superstar whose six studio albums and 33 singles have sold more than one million copies worldwide. Additionally, he ranks as the eighth most-listened to artist on Spotify with 69 million monthly listeners and 30 billion streams of his music.