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Review: Justin Bieber masterful at the Barclays Center in New York (Includes first-hand account)

He opened his set with “Mark My Words,” and his grand entrance was met with a raucous response. “This is the Purpose World Tour,” Bieber said, introducing his fans to his latest headlining tour.

Bieber broke into his Grammy-winning “Where Are Ü Now,” as the stage was graced in white and purple lights. “Ladies, hands up,” he said, and the audience placed their hands up in the air, as he showed off his impressive dance moves.

“Get Used to It” had an ambient vibe to it, and it included pyrotechnics, as if it were a 4th of July fireworks celebration. After a sip of bottled water, Bieber explained the story behind the song “I’ll Show You.” He noted that growing up, he was told that he was “never good enough,” and his response to all his naysayers was “I’ll show you.” It is safe to say that he was able to prove his critics wrong. His performance of “I’ll Show You” was authentic and heartfelt.

He underwent an outfit change for “The Feeling,” and the performance was backed with passion and conviction. It was followed by his hit single “Boyfriend,” which he incorporated as a fan sing-along. In return, it was clearly evident that every female fan in the audience would have wanted to be this 22-year-old Canadian musician’s girlfriend.

His set included a solo acoustic cover of “Home to Mama,” sans Cody Simpson. While he had forgotten to perform his latest ballad “Love Yourself,” Bieber more than made up for it, by going back later in his set and playing it on his acoustic guitar. One of the highlight moments was when he ended it a cappella, and the entire Barclays Center was reciting the lyrics verbatim to him.

He picked up the pace with the upbeat “Been You.” He noted that he has been on tour for over one month, and he needs some “company,” prior to breaking into the song of that same name. “No Pressure” had optimistic and heartwarming lyrics, and green laser lights dimmed on the stage as he sang “As Long As You Me,” which was preceded by an electronic music introduction.

“Ladies and gentlemen, put yours hands up for Justin Bieber,” a voice said, and The Biebs went on to perform an impressive drum solo on an elevated platform. After yet another sip of water, he asked his fans, “Are you having a good time so far?” He immediately broke into “Children,” which was well-received by all. “You guys are amazing and unbelievable. Give it up for the children everybody,” he said.

“Life Is Worth Living” was very inspirational and reminiscent of a Dancing with the Stars performance thanks to his back-up dancers. The fans were dancing along with him on “What Do You Mean?” and he closed with his signature tune “Baby,” which felt as if it were the national anthem at Barclays, and the title track of his latest studio album, “Purpose,” which was a tender ballad, where he showcased his mellifluous voice. For anybody that doubts his talent, all they need to do is hear him sing “Purpose” live.

For his encore, The Biebs returned to perform his latest smash single “Sorry,” which has a watery twist to it that left the pop mega-star soaking wet. He went on to thank everybody for an “unbelievable night,” prior to reiterating his gratitude and wishing them all a good night.

The Verdict

Overall, Justin Bieber showcased a tremendous amount of talent and charisma at his live show at the Barclays Center. He lives up to all of the hype, and is highly recommended seeing live whenever he is in the area. His energy throughout the evening was infectious, and there is something in it for everybody. His live concert at the Barclays Center garnered an A+ rating.

Markos Papadatos
Written By

Markos Papadatos is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for Music News. Papadatos is a Greek-American journalist and educator that has authored over 20,000 original articles over the past 18 years. He has interviewed some of the biggest names in music, entertainment, lifestyle, magic, and sports. He is a 16-time "Best of Long Island" winner, where for three consecutive years (2020, 2021, and 2022), he was honored as the "Best Long Island Personality" in Arts & Entertainment, an honor that has gone to Billy Joel six times.

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