Can’t get enough of Justin Bieber in Jack Ü’s “Where Are Ü Now” music video?
Then you’ll be stoked that a behind-the-scenes look at the impressive visual is now here. It was posted to the Team Bieber Fahlo account on Wednesday.
Although the actual music video is notable for the weird, wonderful, provocative, fan-made, and artist-created mix of images, messages and graffiti-art that explodes for 4:12 minutes of frenetic psychedelia, the reveal is a look at what went down at a Los Angeles studio on the music video shoot.
The camera opens on the 21-year-old Biebs singing part of “Where Are Ü Now” in an all-white studio before the action cuts to a smoke-filled darkened space, in which he is seen being filmed as he emotes through the song.
Describing the video, Bieber dubs it as “really artsy, like, actually artsy.” He then goes on to explain the process of how artists and fans were invited to draw on video frames at a Los Angeles gallery.
At one point, Bieber reveals he didn’t know how the user-contributed art would look in the final video edit. Pitchfork subsequently reported that the art produced by fans and artists was chosen by the video’s two directors, brothers known as Brewer.
Seconds later, on an atmospheric set, Bieber performs the same dance moves seen when he guested at the Ultra Music Festival in March, when he and Diplo helped Skrillex close out his headlining set. There’s also a shot of the singer thrilling as he watches a playback moment.
Dance choreographer, Nick DeMoura, and one Brewer brother, are also seen putting the singer through his paces. The Biebs is given an instruction to show “nothing but stillness” at the part in the video just before the artist/fan-art slideshow kicks off. More dance shots follow before the wrap moment.
All in all, it’s an interesting insight into what went on behind one of the most creative and innovative videos of 2015 , so far. That it accompanies a song which has drawn praise for Skrillex and Diplo’s production and Bieber’s co-writing and emotional vocals, adds to the artistic weight of the whole.
Billboard Hot 100: #17(-2) Where Are U Now, @Skrillex & @diplo Feat. @justinbieber [17 weeks].
— Chart News (@chartnews) July 2, 2015
In “Where Are Ü Now” single news, the e song is officially received a gold certification in the U.S and UK from the Recording Industry Association of America’s (R.I.A.A.) under its digital singles program.
UK certifications ( @bpi_music ): @Skrillex & @diplo Feat. @justinbieber , Where Are Ü Now Gold (400,000).
— Chart News (@chartnews) July 3, 2015
‘Where Are U Now?’ by @Skrillex , @diplo and @justinbieber has gone Gold in the UK! #bpiAwards pic.twitter.com/4re9etMEb6
— bpi music (@bpi_music) July 3, 2015
The certification was reportedly filed on June 26. It confirms that the track has shifted at least 500,000 units in the US. (Note: A unit denotes one paid download or 100 streams.) The track has just slipped to No. 17 on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart and is #10 on U.S. iTunes. It is the second single from the Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack U album.
Take a look at the Biebs in the music video.
[Image via Sony]