5 Takeaways From Justin Bieber’s ‘What Do You Mean’ Music Video

Yahoo Music
Updated

The MTV VMAs telecast had scarcely ended when Justin Bieber dropped the new music video to his tropical-tinged comeback single “What Do You Mean.”

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After teasing the single’s release with a star-studded social media campaign and countdown, Bieber dropped the song’s lyric video on Aug. 28 and performed it for the first time live at the 2015 VMAs tonight. Watch the full music video above.

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Here are some of our quick reactions to the song and music video release.

1. Tropical house has arrived

With Felix Jaehn‘s remix of OMI's "Cheerleader" ruling the Hot 100 and Bieber joining fellow Scooter Braun signee Martin Garrix in employing the sub-genre’s cheery synth plucks, the sun-soaked sounds spearheaded by viral streaming sensation Kygo have officially hit the mainstream.

2. Justin Bieber wants to be a sk8er boi

Someone alert fellow Canadian Avril Lavigne. The track's lyric video found the pop star hitting the streets with pro skateboarders Ryan Sheckler and Chelsea Castro, and the official video continued the theme. While commencing with a kidnapping storyline, the video ends with a triumphant half-pipe throwdown.

3. Xenia Deli looks ready for primetime

The sultry brunette model, who co-stars (and gets quite close to Bieber) in the clip, previously graced the cover of Playboy and popped up in the music video for Calvin Harris’ “Thinking About You” in 2013. Expect to see much more of her after this memorably steamy role.

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4. Is music video the new “film?”

The music video’s opening credits unabashedly read “A film by Brad Furman.” Where have we heard that before? Oh right. Just three hours prior when Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams” video premiere commenced with “A film by Joseph Khan.” Both Furman (The Lincoln Lawyer) and Khan (Torque, Detention) boast silver-screen credentials, but 3 minutes ain’t quite 3 hours.

5. Bieber’s new hair is a thing

Love it or hate it, it’s here to stay for now. At least the pop star has a sense of humor about it.