Justin Bieber’s Under the Mistletoe is a Christmas record built to do two things at once. It wants to sell copies to anyone who hears it, and it wants to prove that Bieber can write pop songs as well as he can sing them. The first goal works better than the second.
The album runs ten tracks and thirty-six minutes, and it splits evenly between covers of old standards and original songs written by Bieber himself. The record opens with “Only Thing I Ever Get for Christmas,” a moody piano-led track that sets the tone for what follows, then moves through classics like “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” and “All I Want for Christmas Is You” before closing with “Silent Night.” The result is a record that knows exactly what it is: a commercial seasonal release aimed at radio and streaming charts alike.
Opening With “Only Thing I Ever Get for Christmas”
The album opens with “Only Thing I Ever Get for Christmas,” a slow-burning ballad that sets the mood early. It is a song about disappointment dressed up as holiday cheer, and it works better than most of the covers around it. The production is sparse, with a piano line carrying the weight, and Bieber sings it with a restraint that suits the lyric.
“Mistletoe” follows, and it is the track that gave the album its title. It is a duet built for radio play, and it lands exactly where it aims to. The melody is simple, the harmony is warm, and it is the best cover on the record. It is not a great song, but it is a functional one, and that is enough for what the record is trying to do.
The Standards That Carry the Middle
“The Christmas Song” is next, and it is a straight cover of the classic chestnuts-roasting standard. Bieber’s version is pleasant but unremarkable, a safe choice for a record that wants to fill space without offending anyone. “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” follows, and it is the best of the covers here. The arrangement is bright, the tempo is up, and Bieber sounds genuinely excited to be singing it.
“Fa La La” is the weakest track on the record. It is a generic holiday tune with no identity, and it drags the middle of the album down. It is the kind of filler that exists to pad the running time rather than to add anything to it.
The Originals Are Where Bieber Sounds Alive
“All I Want for Christmas Is You (SuperFestive!)” is the standout of the original songs. It is a reworking of the Mariah Carey classic, and Bieber’s version is energetic and playful. He is clearly having fun, and that enthusiasm carries over to the listener. It is the track that best captures what the record is trying to do.
“Drummer Boy” is another strong original. It is a percussive, upbeat track that shows off Bieber’s range as a writer. It is not a hit single, but it is a solid pop song with a memorable hook. The chorus is big, the production is clean, and it earns its place alongside the better covers.
The Back Half Closes With Mixed Results
“Christmas Eve” is a quiet, reflective track that works as a palate cleanser after the energy of the originals. It is not a standout, but it does not need to be. “All I Want Is You” is a slower ballad that leans on sentiment rather than melody, and it is the most forgettable track on the record. It is competent, but it is easy to skip.
“Home This Christmas” is a pleasant, mid-tempo track that fits comfortably in the back half. It is not a highlight, but it is not a miss either. “Silent Night” closes the album on a soft note, and it is a fitting end to a record that spends most of its runtime playing it safe.
What the Covers Miss
Several tracks drew sharp criticism for their lyrics, and that is the clearest weakness of the record. The covers are fine, but they lack the spark that Bieber brings to his own writing. The record’s own review quotes suggest this tension directly: “forget the hype…i want it to be about the music. listen to the cd. then judge me.” And a critic noted that “Bieber definitely sounds more enthused by the original songs.”
The record is at its best when Bieber is in control of the material. His originals are more enthusiastic than the covers, and they are the tracks that justify the purchase. The covers are competent, but they are not the reason anyone will return to this record.
The Record’s Own Words
Bieber has spoken about the album directly, and his words capture the tension at its heart. In a direct message, he asked listeners to judge him by the music, not by the noise around him. The record’s own review quotes support this reading: “forget the hype…i want it to be about the music. listen to the cd. then judge me.”
That honesty is refreshing, even if the music itself does not always live up to it.
The Verdict
Under the Mistletoe is a solid, professional Christmas record that will please casual fans and frustrate critics. It is not a masterpiece, but it is not a failure either. The originals are the reason to buy it, and the covers are the reason to leave it behind.
The record is gentle, and it knows it. It is not trying to reinvent the holiday pop wheel, and it does not pretend to. It is a record made to be played during the holidays, and it succeeds at that modest goal.
Here is what stands out:
- “Only Thing I Ever Get for Christmas” — the best cover on the record, moody and restrained
- “Mistletoe” — the title track, pleasant and functional
- “The Christmas Song” — pleasant but unremarkable
- “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” — the best of the covers, bright and exciting
- “Fa La La” — the weakest track, forgettable filler
- “All I Want for Christmas Is You (SuperFestive!)” — the standout original, energetic and playful
- “Drummer Boy” — another strong original, percussive and memorable
- “Christmas Eve” — a pleasant palate cleanser
- “All I Want Is You” — the most forgettable track, dull and sentimental
- “Home This Christmas” — pleasant but not essential
- “Silent Night” — a fitting, soft closer
The record is not perfect, but it is not a disaster either. It is a competent pop record with a clear identity, and it delivers what it promises. It is a record that will be played during the holidays for years to come, and it deserves credit for that.
- Only Thing I Ever Get for Christmas3:12
- Mistletoe3:03
- The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)3:35
- Santa Claus Is Coming to Town3:37
- Fa La La3:06
- All I Want for Christmas Is You (SuperFestive!)4:00
- Drummer Boy3:45
- Christmas Eve3:44
- All I Want Is You3:36
- Home This Christmas3:24
- Silent Night2:49
