Justin Bieber’s latest album receives mixed reviews because it echoes the words of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Released Friday, Bieber’s sixth studio album, Justice, begins with one of the most famous quotes from the late civil rights icon: ‘Injustice everywhere is a threat to justice everywhere’, words from his ‘Letter From Birmingham Jail’ in April 1963.
Six tracks later is ‘MLK Interlude’, a 44-minute, 44-minute excerpt from King’s sermon ‘But If Not’ delivered in November 1967 at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church. “I tell you this morning that if you have never found something so precious and precious to you that you would die for it, then you are not fit to live,” King said as he urged his audience to do what is right, regardless of the consequences.
Because of his contributions, King is even recognized as a songwriter on Bieber’s album.
Some critics, both professional and civil, have had a problem using King’s words and found that they have a disconnect between their origin and their placement on Justice.
As Variety judge Chris Willman – who has written for Yahoo Music in the past – noted that the song after the second King segment is about Bieber who is willing to risk his life for a romance. If you’re now wondering why anyone thinks it’s a good idea to combine civil justice martyrdom with the idea of succumbing to a hot woman, keep wondering: It, like the other MLK bit, or the socially conscious sounding rational for the case, it does not make a lot of sense, ‘he remarks in a piece that was generally positive.
Many listeners agreed with him.
Justin Bieber has an “MLK Interlude” on his album. Then an 80-year-old inspired pop song about dying for love appears. pic.twitter.com/11uBfJVGb3
– RacismSummitBookingAgent (@ KirkWrites79) 19 March 2021
I’m confused why this justin bieber album is called justice and has a whole mlk shit if it’s just about how in love he is with hailey bieber💀
– bri🤪 (@iamabriannaa) 19 March 2021
Justin Bieber uses mlk speeches about justice … to sing about his white wife?
– cxitIyn (@cxitIyn) 19 March 2021
Justin Bieber, who exploits the civil rights movement as a white man, is strange. his album is called ‘justice’ and has an MLK interlude, but nowhere speaks of social justice, and is focused on love and relationships … right?
– aly (@herestokesha) 19 March 2021
Why Justin Bieber gave an MLK speech on his album pit
– Daniel (@ flicker6dalinco) 19 March 2021
Justin Bieber’s album is cute, but call it justice and add a minute MLK speech if the rest of the album is love songs … pic.twitter.com/b7dGPWin7D
– thalia (@ThaliaMariie) 19 March 2021
However, some very important people appreciated Bieber’s move: especially King’s daughter Bernice and the staff of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center. They pointed out that the artist appealed to fans to support the King Center and other organizations dedicated to social justice on the eve of the release of his latest collection.
Yahoo Entertainment did not return immediately after asking a Bieber spokesman for comment.
Meanwhile, it appears that none of the controversies are affecting sales. Justice was the best-selling album in the iTunes Store on Friday. His latest single, “Peaches”, from the album, was the fifth best-selling song.
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