What Do You Mean?

"What Do You Mean?" is a song that delves into the complexities and frustrations of communication in a romantic relationship. Lyrically, the song expresses the bewilderment and impatience felt when a partner sends mixed signals and is indecisive. Justin Bieber has confirmed that the song was inspired by his own experiences, particularly his tumultuous relationship with Selena Gomez. He explained in an interview with Ryan Seacrest that the song is about the common dynamic where women say one thing but mean another, leaving their partners confused. The central theme is a plea for clarity and straightforwardness from a lover who is hot and cold, saying 'yes' while meaning 'no,' and telling him to 'go' while not wanting him to 'move.' The lyrics paint a picture of a relationship fraught with emotional whiplash, where arguments are followed by intimacy, and every interaction is a puzzle. The song captures that universal feeling of being unable to understand a partner's true intentions and emotions, making it highly relatable to a broad audience.

The song's narrative centers on a state of profound confusion and frustration within a romantic relationship. The narrator directly addresses his partner, questioning the mixed signals and contradictory messages she sends. He opens by highlighting the most basic form of this confusion: she nods her head 'yes' but vocally wants to say 'no'. This initial paradox sets the stage for a deeper exploration of their communication breakdown. He feels paralyzed, as she tells him to go yet doesn't want him to move. The sense of urgency and exasperation is palpable as he mentions that they are 'running out of time,' urging her to make a decisive choice.

The narrator perceives his partner as being incredibly 'indecisive' about what he is trying to communicate, creating a disconnect where he's struggling to 'catch the beat' and she needs to 'make up her heart.' He is left in a state of ambiguity, unable to determine if her reactions signify happiness or complaint. His desire to salvage the relationship is clear when he expresses that he doesn't want it to end, yet he is at a loss for where to even begin fixing the problem. This conflict is further illustrated through a series of opposing desires: she wants to go left, then right; she wants to argue all day but then make love all night. This constant oscillation between emotional extremes leaves him caught in the middle, desperately seeking to understand her true feelings.

In the second verse, the dynamic of their relationship is further detailed. He describes her as being 'overprotective' when he is leaving, which clashes with her desire for him to go. He feels like he's in a no-win situation, constantly 'trying to compromise' but never succeeding. She seems to want to make a point, but her words come across as 'preaching,' suggesting a one-sided and ineffective communication style. Despite these challenges, the narrator reveals his deep emotional investment, stating, 'You had me from the start, won't let this end.' This declaration underscores his commitment and adds a layer of emotional weight to his frustration. The song culminates in a repeated, almost desperate, questioning of 'What do you mean?', a simple phrase that encapsulates the entirety of his complex emotional state of longing, confusion, and a deep-seated need for clarity and honesty from the person he loves.

"What Do You Mean?" was written by Justin Bieber, Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd, and Mason "MdL" Levy. The production was handled by MdL, with Bieber credited as a co-producer. This marked a continued collaboration between Bieber and MdL, who had previously worked on the 2012 hit "Boyfriend". The song was recorded in 2015 and released on August 28 of the same year as the lead single from Bieber's fourth studio album, Purpose. The release was preceded by a highly effective 30-day social media campaign, where Bieber enlisted a different celebrity each day to post about the upcoming single, building significant anticipation. The creation of the song was part of Bieber's conscious effort to transition to a more mature sound, moving away from his teen pop origins and embracing a more sophisticated, electronic-influenced style. This new direction was heavily influenced by his successful collaboration with Jack Ü (Skrillex and Diplo) on the track "Where Are Ü Now". Though there was initial speculation that Skrillex produced "What Do You Mean?" due to its similar tropical house vibe, it was confirmed that MdL was the primary producer. Bieber described the song as 'fun' and 'summery,' aiming for a consistent and cohesive sound for his comeback album.

"What Do You Mean?" employs a simple and effective rhyme scheme that enhances its pop accessibility. The verses often use couplets (AABB) or alternating rhymes (ABAB) with near rhymes, such as 'saying' and 'complaining,' or 'start' and 'heart.' This straightforward structure makes the lyrics easy to follow and sing along to. The song's rhythm is one of its most defining features. It's set in a common 4/4 time signature with an upbeat tempo of 125 BPM, which gives it a danceable quality. The rhythmic foundation is built on a sparse, ticking-clock percussion mixed with tropical house elements. This creates a hypnotic, laid-back groove that contrasts with the lyrical theme of frustration. The interplay between the smooth, flowing vocal melody and the crisp, precise rhythm of the beat is a key element of the song's appeal. Bieber's vocal rhythm is often syncopated, playfully weaving in and out of the main beat, which adds to the track's sophisticated and modern feel.

Musically, "What Do You Mean?" is defined by its blend of pop and tropical house genres. Its production is minimalist yet effective, featuring a distinctive, flute-like synth melody, looped vocal samples, subtle piano chords, and a prominent ticking clock percussion. This gives the song a breezy, island-like groove. Bieber's vocal delivery is notably breathy and smooth, a departure from his earlier, more forceful pop vocals, which contributes to the song's relaxed yet anxious vibe. The tempo is an upbeat 125 beats per minute. Lyrically, the song's primary stylistic technique is the use of rhetorical questions, with the titular question "What do you mean?" repeated 28 times, functioning as the central hook and emotional anchor. The lyrics employ direct address and a conversational tone, creating a sense of intimacy and immediacy. The structure relies on contrasting pairs of actions and desires ('argue all day, make love all night') to emphasize the theme of indecision and confusion. The simple, repetitive nature of the chorus makes the song incredibly catchy and memorable.

"What Do You Mean?" was a massive commercial success and a pivotal moment in Justin Bieber's career, marking his successful transition from teen idol to a credible adult pop artist. The song debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Bieber's first-ever single to do so and making him the youngest male artist to achieve this feat. It also topped the charts in numerous other countries, including the UK, Australia, and Canada. The song broke the then-record for the most Spotify streams in its debut week with 21 million streams in five days. Its tropical house sound was influential in popularizing the genre in mainstream pop music during the mid-2010s. The song's music video, featuring actor John Leguizamo and model Xenia Deli, also garnered significant attention and has amassed billions of views on YouTube. "What Do You Mean?" was a cornerstone of the critically and commercially successful album Purpose and helped solidify Bieber's comeback, proving he could evolve his sound and maintain massive popularity.

The most prominent symbolic element in "What Do You Mean?" is the recurring ticking clock sound that forms part of the song's beat. This sound serves as a powerful metaphor for time running out, amplifying the urgency and impatience in the narrator's plea for clarity. It suggests that the relationship has reached a critical point where indecision can no longer be sustained. The lyrics themselves are built on a series of contrasts and oppositions, which function as metaphors for the partner's confusing behavior: 'nod your head yes / But you wanna say no,' 'don't want me to move / But you tell me to go,' and 'wanna go to the left then you wanna turn right.' These conflicting actions symbolize the emotional chaos and lack of clear communication that define the relationship, portraying the partner as an unsolvable puzzle. The entire song can be seen as a metaphor for the struggle to find solid ground in a relationship that is constantly shifting and unstable.

The most significant recurring motif in "What Do You Mean?" is the titular question itself. Repeated 28 times throughout the song, it acts as a relentless, central plea that encapsulates the song's entire theme of confusion and the desperate need for emotional clarity. This repetition hammers home the narrator's frustration and transforms the question into a memorable hook. Another recurring motif is the use of direct opposites and contradictions in the lyrics. Phrases like "nod your head yes / But you wanna say no," "go to the left / then you wanna turn right," and "First you're up / then you're down" appear in both the chorus and verses. This lyrical pattern serves to constantly reinforce the theme of the partner's indecisiveness and the emotional instability of the relationship. Musically, the catchy, flute-like synth melody is a recurring instrumental motif that makes the song instantly recognizable from its opening seconds. The ticking clock sound is also a crucial recurring element, underscoring the sense of urgency and passing time.