Justin Bieber Wiki
Register
Advertisement

Sorry” is a song by Justin Bieber. The second single from his album Purpose.



Background[]

Justin Tranter and Julia Michaels were in the room together. Josh Gudwin played them three tracks, one track from Mason Levy and two tracks from Blood Diamonds. The first night, Justin and Julia wrote “Sorry” to the Blood Diamonds track. Michaels and Tranter were asked to go write with Blood Diamonds late one night. For some reason, the word “sorry” popped out of her head—they were in a vocal booth and Justin Tranter and Julia Michaels just hashed it out from there. They wrote the song in about 40 minutes. Then they sent the demo in, and Chelsea Avery, who works with Scooter Braun, loved the song and sent it to Justin Bieber. He loved the song and he changed a couple things to make it feel more like him, because it’s his song he wanted to make it feel specific to him.[2][3]

Originally Skrillex was going to do his own mixes, with Josh Gudwin just doing the vocal mixes and sending Skrillex the a cappellas. But he was on tour in India and didn’t have time to do anything. Skrillex sent all his sessions in Ableton. “With Sorry, Wu and I spent quite a bit of time working on the sounds and creating the final mix.” The very end of the final mix of Sorry was tour-de-force, with Gudwin working on two sides of the US: “We started the final mix at Henson studio D and worked on it through the night. I took a 6am flight to New York and went right to Jungle City and finished the mix that same day/night. Julia Michaels came to the studio to listen and she added some quiet background vocals in the hook. Once I got her parts in, the mix was done. The song was mastered the next day.”[4]

Justin Tranter called Selena Gomez before the song was released.[5]

Composition and lyrical interpretation[]

Lyrically, the song is a plea "for a chance to apologize to an unidentified lover".

Plagiarism allegation[]

In May 2016, Billboard reported that Bieber and Skrillex were being sued by indie artist White Hinterland, who claims the duo used her vocal loop from her 2014 song "Ring the Bell" without permission. Eight seconds of the "Ring the Bell" riff is allegedly used six times in "Sorry." Co-writers are also included in the suit.[6] Producer Skrillex responded to the claim by uploading a video of himself manipulating the vocals of co-writer Julia Michaels.[7] The lawsuit was later dropped.[8]

Lyrics[]

[Intro]
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh

[Verse 1]
You gotta go and get angry at all of my honesty
You know I try, but I don’t do too well with apologies
I hope I don’t run out of time, could someone call a referee?
‘Cause I just need one more shot at forgiveness
I know you know that I made those mistakes maybe once or twice
And by once or twice, I mean maybe a couple a hundred times
So let me, oh let me redeem, oh redeem, oh myself tonight
‘Cause I just need one more shot at second chances

[Pre-Chorus]
Yeah, is it too late now to say sorry?
‘Cause I’m missing more than just your body
Oh, is it too late now to say sorry?
Yeah, I know that I let you down
Is it too late to say I’m sorry now?

[Chorus]
Ooh, ooh
I’m sorry, yeah
Ooh, ooh
Sorry, yeah
Ooh, ooh
Sorry
Yeah, I know that I let you down
Is it too late to say I’m sorry now?
Ooh, ooh

[Verse 2]
I’ll take every single piece of the blame if you want me to
But you know that there is no innocent one in this game for two
I’ll go, I’ll go and then you go, you go out and spill the truth
But can we both say the words and forget this?

[Pre-Chorus]
Yeah, is it too late now to say sorry?
‘Cause I’m missing more than just your body
Oh, is it too late now to say sorry?
Yeah, I know that I let you down
Is it too late to say I’m sorry now?

[Bridge]
I’m not just tryna get you back on me (Oh no, no)
‘Cause I’m missing more than just your body (Your body)
Oh, is it too late now to say sorry?
Yeah, I know that I let you down
Is it too late to say I’m sorry now?

[Chorus]
Ooh, ooh
I’m sorry, yeah
Ooh, ooh
Sorry, oh (Yeah)
Ooh, ooh
Sorry
Yeah I know that I let you down
(But I know I let you down)
Is it too late to say I’m sorry now?
(I’m sorry now)
Ooh, ooh
I’m sorry, yeah
Ooh, ooh
Sorry, oh
Ooh, ooh
Sorry
Yeah, I know that I let you down
(But I know I let you down)
Is it too late to say I’m sorry now?
(I’m sorry now)


Music video[]

The girl in the lyric video is Lauren Hudson Petrilli and is directed by a youtuber Zach King.

The dance video becomes the official music video. Is directer by Parris Goebel and the dancers are from ReQuest dance crew, and The Royal Family dance crew. Sorry reaches 800 millions views in 3 months. Also becomes the most watched Justin's music video to the date; suprassing Baby.

Performances[]

Awards and nominations[]

Year Award Nomination Result
2015 Žebřík Music Awards Composition of the Year Nominated
VEVO Certified Awards Certified
2016 American Music Awards Video of the Year Won
BBC Music Awards Song of the Year Nominated
Billboard Music Awards Top Streaming Song (Audio) Nominated
Danish Music Awards Arets Internationale Hit Nominated
MTV Europe Music Awards Best Song Won
MTV Milennial Awards International Song of the Year Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards Video of the Year Nominated
Best Pop Video Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards Japan Best International Male Video Nominated
Best Choreography Nominated
MuchMusic Video Awards Canadian Single of the Year Nominated
Premios Juventud Favorite Hit Nominated
Premios Telehit Canción del Año Won
Radio Disney Music Awards Best Breakup Song Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice Music Single: Male Won
LOS40 Music Awards International Song of the Year Nominated
2017 APRA Awards International Work of the Year Nominated
ASCAP Pop Music Awards Winning Song Won
Canadian Radio Music Awards SOCAN Song of the Year Nominated

Certifications[]

Country Certifiation Certified

units/sales

Australia (ARIA) 7x Platinum 490,000 **
Belgium (BEA) 2x Platinum 60,000 *
Canada (Music Canada) 7x Platinum 560,000 **
Denmark (IFPI Denmark) 4x Platinum 360,000 **
France (SNEP) Diamond 360,000 **
Germany (BVMI) Platinum 400,000 **
Italy (FIMI) 6x Platinum 300,000 **
Japan (RIAJ) Gold 100,000 *
Mexico (AMPROFON) Platinum 60,000 **
New Zealand (RMNZ) 5x Platinum 75,000 *
Norway (IFPI Norway) 5x Platinum 300,000 **
Poland (ZPAV) Diamond 100,000 **
Portugal (AFP) 2x Platinum 40,000 **
Spain (PROMUSICAE) 6x Platinum 240,000 **
Sweden (GLF) 7x Platinum 280,000 **
United Kingdom (BPI) 4x Platinum 2,400,000 **
United States (RIAA) Diamond 10,000,000 **
* Sales figures based on certification alone.

** Sales + streaming figure based on certification alone.

*** Streaming-only figures based on certification alone

References[]

  1. "Vocals were recorded here in Studio 3 with Brendan Dekora engineering, Chris Kahn assisting". Facebook. October 23, 2015. 
  2. Mitchell, Julian (December 29, 2015). "Meet Josh Gudwin: The Multitalented Producer Behind Justin Bieber's No. 1 'Purpose' Album". Forbes. 
  3. Kawashima, Dale (November 16, 2015). "Young Pop Songwriter Julia Michaels Co-Writes Big Hits for Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez". Songwriter Universe. 
  4. Tingen, Paul (March 31 2016). "Mix Masters: Josh Gudwin". Mix With The Masters. 
  5. ""Sorry" writer called Selena Gomez before song was released". YouTube. February 19, 2017. 
  6. Stutz, Colin (May 26, 2016). "Justin Bieber & Skrillex Sued Over 'Sorry': Report". Billboard. 
  7. Stutz, Colin (27 May 2016). "Skrillex on Justin Bieber's 'Sorry' Lawsuit: 'Sorry But We Didn't Steal This'". Billboard. 
  8. Britton, Luke (19 Dec 2017). "Justin Bieber 'Sorry' lawsuit dropped". New Musical Express. 


Advertisement