Abstract
Sociology is the study of human behavior. Sociologists used sociological imagination to understand social interactions better. This paper will employ these tools to analyze Justine Bieber’s Boyfriend as a song that promotes teenage love. It will give a brief history of the song writer and singer in order to understand their musical journey and their motivation. This paper will then use the song a point of reference for romantic problems in the larger society especially in marriage. In the end, we will be able to demonstrate the importance of positive and free spirited attitude towards love.
Introduction
Sociology is the study of human behavior with regard to its effects on societal change. Sociologists study the interactions between individuals and human groups and the resultant influences on people’s attitudes and relationships. Social imagination helps to create societal perspective by allowing observers to identify and analyze the impact of social factors on people and their lives. Sociological imagination creates the link between personal experiences with the larger societal experiences (Sheperd 2).
Sociologists employ sociological imagination to give a holistic examination to issues. Using this approach, sociologists are able to explain various social phenomena more accurately. The multidimensional perspective looks a myriad of causal factors such as biological, psychological and social factors to fully understand issues. Sociological imagination is therefore important for accurate understanding of sociological phenomena.
Society problems are those which collectively affect the individuals who make up a societal grouping. Such problems may be as fickle as how to tell someone they have bad breath to how to deal with increasing insecurity in a community. Some groups within society could be historically predisposed to certain problems. African Americans are still fighting prejudices arising from years of racism. Female professionals are also trying to break the glass ceiling placed over their careers by male competitors.
Personal efficacy is the individual’s belief in their ability to succeed in an endeavor. A poor belief in personal efficacy can cause an individual to develop low self-esteem and become de-motivated in life. The locus of control is the level to which an individual assigns responsibility for occurrences in their lives. An internal locus of control is where an individual believes that they are fully responsible for both positive and negative occurrences in their lives. Such individuals also believe that they can prevent unwanted occurrences by changing their actions. An individual may also attribute occurrences in their lives to other influences beyond their control. Common influences include powerful individuals such as bosses, the government, teachers or parents. Other external influences are blamed on supernatural powers such as an all-powerful entity like a god or fate.
The song and Social Issue
“Boyfriend” is the first song in Justin Drew Bieber’s third studio album after My World and the sequel My World 2.0. The love song was produced by Mike Posner who also doubles up as his co-writer in the song. The song which was released on 26th March 2012 debut on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 2 and sold more than 500,000 digital units on its opening week.
“Boyfriend” is a song about innocent teenage love full of promises of eternal love and fun. This song clearly demonstrates the beauty of love before the hardships of life become a reality. The singer is pleading for an opportunity to love a girl who he promises to stay with forever. The teenager believes that even in adulthood, he will be able to keep the love going. This kind of optimism is absent in adult relationships (Gracyk 181).
One may argue that grown-ups between the ages of 18 to 35 have had the benefit of experience and cannot afford to be as naïve. In life, experience is the best teacher, but pessimism is not the best cure either. The high rate of divorces could be attributed to the disappointment that comes later in life. If couples were as optimistic as they were as teenagers, more marriages would survive. Teenage life is therefore a good reference point for understanding what is causing the high rate of divorces (Andersen, Margaret & Howard 333).
The rate of divorce in America has become something of a crisis. It is estimated that if nothing is done to address the underlying issues, 50% of all marriages in America could end in divorce. There are 2,077,000 marriages in America. The marriage rate stands at 6.8 per 1000 people. The rate of divorce for first marriages is between 41%- 50%. This seems to escalate with subsequent marriages. Up to 60%- 67% of second marriages end in divorce. For those who dare to enter into marriage for the 3rd time, 74% end up in divorce. Childless couples are at a higher risk of divorcing because children are one of the biggest issues of conflict in marriage (Andersen, Margaret & Howard 391).
The optimism of teenage love seems to dwindle too quickly into adulthood. This is because couples under the age of 20 have the highest divorce rate while couples above the age of 35 have the lowest prevalence of divorce. Studies have also revealed that children brought up by divorced parents are 4 times more likely to have a divorce in their own marriages.
Biography of Justin Bieber
Justine Bieber is an 18 year old musician who was born in Ontario, Canada on March 1st 1994. This sensational teenage singer was discovered by Scooter Braun a talent manager who saw his talent from a video posted on YouTube. Braun moved Bieber to Atlanta, Georgia where the young singer met Usher Raymond who became his mentor and guide through stardom. Justin was quickly signed into Raymond Braun Media Group before moving to Island Record. “Justin Bieber Music.” 2012. Web. 2 Oct. 2012.
In November 2009 aged 15, Justine Bieber released his first album titled My World. The album was hugely successful it was quickly certified as platinum. Seven songs from the album feature Billboard Hot 100 chart. This made him the first artist in history to have 7 songs from debut album on the chart. The sequel, My World 2.0 was released 4 months later in March. This album was just as successful as the first.
Justin Bieber became an instant hit. He had millions of supporters especially in teenagers and even adults who adored him and bought millions of units of his albums. The young boy from Canada quickly became a superstar whose every move including a simple flip of his coif made headlines.
Justin Bieber has been on several tours to promote his albums. He went for the Urban Behavior tour in 2009. Between 2011 and 2012 he went on the My World Tour. He is expected to go on another tour which will take place between 2012 and 2013.
This sensational talent has had the privilege of working with some of the most talented and well established artists in the industry. Justine has collaborated with Usher, Big Sean, Chris Brown, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Far East Movement, Frank Ocean and Ludacris.
Apart from music, Justin Bieber has featured in several television programs and movies. He had a role in Crime Scene Investigation (CSI), American Idol, X-Factor (UK) and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and many other films including True Jackson, VP.
Lyrics Boyfriend- Justine Bieber
If I was your boyfriend, I’d never let you go
I can take you places you ain’t never been before
Baby take a chance or you’ll never ever know
I got money in my hands that I’d really like to blow
Swag swag swag, on you
Chillin by the fire why we eatin’ fondue
I dunno about me but I know about you
So say hello to falsetto in three two
[Pre-Chorus]
I’d like to be everything you want
Hey girl, let me talk to you
[Chorus]
If I was your boyfriend, never let you go
Keep you on my arm girl, you’d never be alone
I can be a gentleman, anything you want
If I was your boyfriend, I’d never let you go, I’d never let you go
[Verse 2]
Tell me what you like yeah tell me what you don’t
I could be your Buzz Lightyear fly across the globe
I don’t never wanna fight yeah, you already know
I am ‘ma a make you shine bright like you’re laying in the snow
Burr
Girlfriend, girlfriend, you could be my girlfriend
You could be my girlfriend until the ---- world ends
Make you dance do a spin and a twirl and
Voice goin crazy on this hook like a whirl wind
Swaggie
[Pre-Chorus]
I’d like to be everything you want
Hey girl, let me talk to you
[Chorus]
If I was your boyfriend, never let you go
Keep you on my arm girl you’d never be alone
I can be a gentleman, anything you want
If I was your boyfriend, I’d never let you go, I’d never let you go
[Bridge]
So give me a chance, ‘cause you’re all I need girl
Spend a week wit your boy I’ll be calling you my girlfriend
If I was your man, I’d never leave you girl
I just want to love you, and treat you right
[Chorus]
If I was your boyfriend, never let you go
Keep you on my arm girl you’d never be alone
I can be a gentleman, anything you want
If I was your boyfriend, I’d never let you go, never let you go
Na na na, na na na, na na na
Ya girl
Na na na, na na na, na na na ey
Na na na, na na na, na na na ey
Na na na, na na na, na na na ey
If I was your boyfriend
Application of Social theory
Symbolic interactionism is the sociological theory for the song. According to Andersen, Margaret and Howard (15), this theory explains social relations by examining the social patterns present within society. Love and relationships are just one of the ways in which people interact in society. There are various levels of relationships as there are different types. There are committed relationships such as marriages and partnerships. Society has also witnessed an increase in casual sexual relationships. The song paints a picture of romantic teenage love which has the potential of becoming intimate. This theory will shed more light on the effect of such reinforcement on teenage sexuality. Studies can also be undertaken to establish how many teenage love affairs grow into marriage and also find out the success rate of such unions.
Conclusion
This song was chosen because it speaks about love which is a universal subject. The song is popular and the singer is a celebrated musician. The lyrics are relatable especially to the targeted audience who are teenagers. The lyrics can be used to study the evolution of love and emotions between the teenage years and adulthood by examining the emotional changes that occur. This song can be used as a reality check for adults who are caught up in conflicts brought about by the challenges of life forgetting the magic of love in the process.
Work Cited
Andersen, Margaret L, and Howard F. Taylor. Sociology: Understanding a Diverse
Society. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2006. Print.
Gracyk, Theodore. Listening to Popular Music, Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and
Love Led Zeppelin. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2007. Print.
Justine Bieber Music. Island Def Jam Music Group (Agency Net). 2012. Web. 2 Oct.
2012
Shepard, Jon M. Sociology. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2010. Print.
