Holy (feat. Chance The Rapper)

"Holy" by Justin Bieber, featuring Chance The Rapper, is a song that intricately intertwines the themes of romantic love and spiritual faith. The primary meaning revolves around the idea that the love for a significant other can feel so profound and pure that it becomes a sacred, or "holy," experience. Bieber uses his relationship with his wife, Hailey Bieber, as the main inspiration, comparing the security and love he feels with her to a divine encounter. The lyrics express a deep sense of devotion, both to his partner and to God, suggesting that the two are interconnected. The line "Runnin' to the altar like a track star" signifies an eagerness for commitment, which reflects his own quick engagement and marriage.

The song also serves as a testament to Bieber's personal journey with his Christian faith. He acknowledges his imperfections ("I hear a lot about sinners, Don't think that I'll be a saint") while simultaneously expressing a desire for redemption and a closer relationship with God. The collaboration with Chance The Rapper, who is also known for his Christian faith, reinforces the spiritual undertones of the track. Chance's verse explicitly references Christian concepts like baptism and the paternal love of God, further blurring the lines between romantic and divine love. Ultimately, "Holy" suggests that true love, in its most devoted form, is a reflection of God's love and can lead to a sense of spiritual fulfillment and salvation.

The song begins with a confession of not being a saint, acknowledging past sins, yet expressing a desire for spiritual cleansing, perhaps through baptism, suggested by the line "I might go down to the river." The touch of a loved one is described as a transcendent experience, making the sky open up and feeling profoundly "holy." This feeling is equated to a divine connection, with the singer impulsively wanting to commit fully, like a sprinter heading to an altar, signifying a deep and immediate sense of rightness and devotion.

The narrative continues by rejecting superficiality and drama, stating a disbelief in concepts like nirvana but finding life-affirming love in a real, tangible relationship. This nightly love is portrayed as a source of unexplainable life and vitality. The central theme is reinforced through the chorus, where the act of being held by this person feels sacred, holy, and divinely ordained. This intense feeling of love and commitment is so strong that it overrides societal judgments about being too young or foolishly rushing into things.

Chance The Rapper's verse introduces a more explicit Christian perspective. He speaks of taking the first step of faith, which pleases "the Father," and acknowledges that this can be a difficult path. He uses the imagery of coming out of the water, a clear reference to baptism, as a moment of becoming a true believer. His verse weaves in contemporary cultural references with spiritual truths. He talks about honoring his partner, recognizing his identity as a child of God, and the Father's pride in a son's first steps of faith. He connects the formalization of their union (marriage) with a sacred communion that God can trust. The verse culminates in a powerful declaration of mutual belief and commitment: the knowledge that he won't leave his partner is as certain as his faith that God won't leave them, and that their shared belief in God is reciprocated by God's belief in them.

The song concludes by reiterating the central message: the physical and emotional embrace of a loved one feels sacred and holy. This repetition drives home the idea that this human love is a direct reflection of, and a path to, a divine experience. The love shared is not just a feeling but a spiritual reality that provides salvation and a sense of sacredness in a world full of imperfections.

"Holy" was released on September 18, 2020, as the lead single from Justin Bieber's sixth studio album, Justice (2021). The song marked a new musical "era" for Bieber, following his 2020 album Changes. The track was co-written by Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper (Chancelor Bennett), Jon Bellion, Tommy Brown, Jorgen Odegard, Steven Franks, Michael Pollack, and Anthony M. Jones. The production was handled by a team including Bellion, Brown, Odegard, Franks, and Pollack.

The song is widely interpreted as being about Bieber's wife, Hailey Bieber, and his relationship with God. The lyrics touch upon themes of faith, loyalty, and divine love. Chance the Rapper, a frequent collaborator with Bieber, brings his own faith-inspired perspective to the track, making it their fifth collaboration. The director of the music video, Colin Tilley, mentioned that Bieber told him the song's message was about how the love for his wife kept him going even on the worst days. An acoustic version of the song was released on November 6, 2020, and a charity version featuring the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir was released on December 18, 2020.

"Holy" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that primarily revolve around the fusion of romantic love and religious devotion.

• Holiness as Love: The central metaphor of the song is the comparison of the feeling of being loved to a holy, sacred experience. The repetition of "the way you hold me... feels so holy" equates a physical and emotional embrace with divine connection and sanctity.
• The Altar: Running "to the altar like a track star" is a powerful metaphor for eager commitment. The altar symbolizes not just marriage in a traditional sense but also a place of spiritual sacrifice and devotion, merging the commitment to a partner with a commitment to God.
• The River and Water: The line "I might go down to the river" and Chance The Rapper's verse "when you come out of the water" are clear allusions to baptism, a Christian sacrament symbolizing purification, rebirth, and a new life in faith. This imagery suggests that the love he's found is redemptive and cleansing.
• The Sky Opening Up: The lyric "the way that the sky opens up when we touch" serves as a metaphor for a revelatory, divine experience. It suggests that the connection with his beloved provides a moment of clarity and a glimpse of heaven.
• The Father's Pride: In his verse, Chance the Rapper uses the metaphor of a father being proud of his son's first steps to describe God's joy at a person's initial steps into faith.

A study on the song's lyrics noted the prevalence of abstract and orientational metaphors, using concepts of space and force to convey the depth of the emotional and spiritual experience.

The predominant emotional tone of "Holy" is one of hopeful, joyful, and reverent love. The song creates a deeply emotional and uplifting atmosphere through its combination of heartfelt lyrics and gospel-infused music. Justin Bieber's vocal performance is filled with sincerity and passion, conveying a sense of profound gratitude and devotion. There is a feeling of spiritual awakening and personal transformation, as the singer moves from acknowledging his past as a "sinner" to finding a sacred connection in his relationship.

The song builds emotionally, starting with a more subdued verse and rising to a powerful, choir-backed chorus that feels like a celebration. Chance The Rapper's verse adds a layer of thoughtful and earnest reflection on faith and commitment. The overall emotional landscape is positive and optimistic, suggesting that love and faith are powerful forces for redemption and happiness. Even in the music video, which depicts hardship, the underlying emotion is one of hope and the belief in the goodness of strangers and the power of love to overcome adversity.

"Holy" had a significant cultural impact upon its release, marking a new phase in Justin Bieber's career that embraced his Christian faith more explicitly in his pop music. The song was a commercial success, debuting at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reaching number one in Canada. It also performed well internationally, reaching the top ten in several countries, including the UK and Australia.

The music video, directed by Colin Tilley and co-starring Ryan Destiny and Wilmer Valderrama, also garnered considerable attention. It depicted a narrative of a struggling couple facing unemployment and eviction, finding kindness from a stranger. This storyline was seen by some as a commentary on the economic hardships faced by many during the COVID-19 pandemic. The song was praised by many for its positive and uplifting message, while some critics found the blend of sacred and secular themes confusing or the music video's social commentary to be somewhat superficial. Bieber performed "Holy" on major platforms like Saturday Night Live, further solidifying its place in the cultural conversation of 2020. A charity version with the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir was also released, aiming to become the UK Christmas number one.

"Holy" features a relatively straightforward and effective rhyme and rhythm that contribute to its pop and gospel feel. The rhyme scheme is not strictly formal but often relies on couplets and near rhymes to create a sense of flow and connection between lines. For example, in the first verse, "sinners" and "river" create a slant rhyme, as do "saint" and "say".

The chorus is highly repetitive, with the words "hold me" and "holy" repeated multiple times, creating an internal rhyme and a strong, memorable hook. The rhythm of the lyrics often works in tandem with the song's 88 beats per minute tempo. Bieber's vocal delivery is rhythmically precise yet fluid, characteristic of R&B and pop music. There is a clear rhythmic build-up from the verses to the chorus, where the entrance of the full drum and bass groove provides a lift. Chance The Rapper's verse introduces a more complex rhythmic flow, with syncopated deliveries and intricate rhyme patterns that are characteristic of his hip-hop style. The interplay between the steady, uplifting musical rhythm and the varied lyrical rhythms of Bieber's singing and Chance's rapping creates a dynamic and engaging listening experience.

"Holy" employs a blend of musical and literary techniques to convey its message of devotional love.

• Musical Style: The song is a pop track with strong gospel and R&B influences. This is evident in the use of a choir, organ sounds, and gospel piano chords, which create a spiritual and uplifting atmosphere. The production is clean and modern, with tight drums and bass, creating a sound that is both contemporary and reverent. The song is in the key of G-flat major with a tempo of 88 beats per minute.
• Vocal Delivery: Justin Bieber's vocals are smooth and dynamic, with a notable R&B feel. He uses a wide vocal range, jumping up an octave in the chorus which adds to the song's emotional lift. The vocals are mixed to be very forward and present, emphasizing the intimacy and sincerity of the lyrics.
• Literary Devices: The lyrics utilize repetition extensively, particularly in the chorus with the words "hold me" and "holy," which reinforces the central theme and makes the song memorable. There's a narrative voice that is personal and confessional, drawing the listener into Bieber's emotional and spiritual journey.
• Rap Style: Chance The Rapper's verse is delivered in a style that has been compared to Andre 3000. His flow is seamlessly integrated into the song, and his lyrics are filled with Christian allegories and personal reflections on faith and love.