From Flop to Icon: How Justin Bieber’s ‘Journals’ Became a Surprising Fan Favorite!

In late 2013, Justin Bieber found himself in a public relations nightmare, overshadowed by scandals and negative headlines. To combat this, he rolled out his weekly single series, Journals, hoping to turn things around. But instead of striking gold, he faced a flop—both the album and the Believe documentary took a nosedive. Fast forward a decade and you’d be surprised to find that this compilation has transformed into a beloved piece of Bieber’s discography, looking pretty good in hindsight.

On the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger and Billboard’s Kyle Denis unpack this unexpected evolution of Journals. They discuss how, despite being labeled as the “wrong album at the wrong time,” it somehow aged better than Bieber’s other early work. It’s a fascinating conversation about redemption in the music world and the fickle nature of pop culture. Who would’ve thought a low point could morph into a celebrated moment?

So what’s the verdict? Has Journals really become the most important release of Justin Bieber’s career? This podcast episode dives into whether there’s something valuable hidden in those misunderstood tracks. It’s a delightful reminder that sometimes what starts as a flop can end up being a fan favorite, leaving everyone wondering just how much we underestimated this pop star. What are your thoughts: can a failing album ever find its way back into the spotlight like this?

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