Mastering the "Breathy" Pop Sound
What Do You Mean? marked a significant shift in Justin Bieber's career, moving into the Tropical House genre with the 2015 album Purpose. Unlike power ballads, this song demands finesse, rhythmic precision, and a "vocal fry" or breathy quality that sits gently on top of the beat.
To sing this well, you need to abandon the idea of "projecting" to the back of the room. This track is intimate. It requires microphone technique where you sing close and soft, using a mix of chest and head voice to navigate the melody smoothly.
AI Coach Tip: The Aspirated Onset
Justin adds an "H" sound to the beginning of vowels to create that airy texture. Instead of a hard attack on words like "Over," try thinking "Hover." Our analysis tracks your breath-to-tone ratio to ensure you aren't singing too cleanly or classically.
Phase 1: The Rhythmic Verses (0:00 - 0:40)
The verses are conversational but highly syncopated. The ticking clock sample in the background is your guide. You must sing *inside* the pocket of the rhythm.
The Trap: Many singers drag the tempo. The lines "What do you mean / When you nod your head yes / But you wanna say no" need to be crisp. Keep your diction light; do not over-enunciate, or you will lose the relaxed pop vibe.
Phase 2: The Falsetto Flips (Chorus)
The chorus introduces the song's signature hook. The melody jumps around the transition point (passaggio) between chest voice and head voice. You will need to flip into a light falsetto for the higher notes and drop back down instantly.
- Range Check: The melody floats up to an Eb5 in the ad-libs and harmonies.
- Placement: Keep the sound forward, near the teeth, rather than back in the throat. This keeps the tone bright and youthful.
- Breath Support: Even though the tone is breathy, your support must be engaged. If you relax your diaphragm, you will go flat on the end of phrases.
Phase 3: The Ad-libs and Runs
Towards the end of the song, Justin introduces vocal runs. These are pentatonic scales common in R&B and Pop. The key is to keep them subtle. Do not overshoot the notes. The AI Coach helps you visualize these runs to ensure you hit every step of the scale cleanly.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main melody stays within a comfortable tenor range, but the falsetto ad-libs and harmonies reach up to Eb5.
Not necessarily. While Justin has a high tenor voice, Baritones can sing this song comfortably by relying more on their head voice/falsetto for the higher sections. You can also transpose it down -1 or -2 semitones in the app.
Because the style is "breathy," you lose air faster than normal singing. You must take quick, silent "sips" of air between phrases. Practice singing the chorus on a lip trill to manage your airflow better.
