When Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez were together, it wasn’t just Hollywood gossip; it was the pop culture storyline of the 2010s. Their on-again, off-again romance basically raised an entire generation on drama, Instagram shade, and enough heartbreak to fill a hundred playlists. And of course, Bieber did what any artist in love (and out of love) would do: he turned his feelings into music.
Justin’s discography doubles as a Jelena diary, from sultry love songs to bitter breakup anthems. Some tracks he’s flat-out confirmed were about Selena, while others live in fan theory territory, but either way, they give us a front-row seat to one of the most chaotic celeb love stories ever.
So, let’s break down every Justin Bieber song about (or believed to be about) Selena Gomez.
11. Bad Day (2013)
Released during Justin’s Music Mondays era, Bad Day landed on his Journals album and instantly had fans convinced it was a straight shot at his breakup with Selena Gomez. Built on an Isley Brothers sample and produced by The Audibles, the track dives into the pain of realizing you’ve lost the one thing you were fighting for.
Lyrics like “you took away the biggest part of me” had Beliebers dissecting every line, and given the timing, right after other Selena-inspired tracks like Heartbreaker and All That Matters, it felt impossible not to link this one back to Jelena. Heartbreak never sounded smoother, but it’s also Bieber at his most exposed, giving us a front-row seat to the collapse of their love story.
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10. Nothing Like Us (2013)
Released as a bonus track on Believe Acoustic, Nothing Like Us is Justin Bieber stripped down to his most vulnerable. Just him and a piano, pouring out heartbreak with lyrics like “I gave you everything, baby, everything I had to give” and fans instantly knew who it was about.
The song dropped right after his 2012 breakup with Selena Gomez, and Bieber even admitted in an interview with Billboard (via ABC News) and said,
At the end of the day, there’s nothing like us, you know? That’s just it. It is what it is. People are going to relate to that.
US Weekly reported that the song was indeed about Selena, and a source revealed that,
It tells the whole story about how he broke up with her, she begged him to take her back, and then he decided he was done for good. This is his answer to Selena.
While it may not be the most polished of his love songs, its rawness makes it sting and keeps it etched in Jelena’s history.
9. Mark My Words (2015)
Opening Purpose with just a piano and his voice, Mark My Words feels less like a pop song and more like a promise. Lines like “I won’t let us just fade away” and “Trying to rekindle us” sound like Bieber is speaking directly to Selena, begging her to believe he’s serious this time.
He even admitted during his Ellen sit-down that songs on the album, including this one, were about their on-again, off-again relationship (via Hollywood Life). At under two minutes, it’s short, raw, and stripped back, but that’s exactly what makes it hit: a love letter frozen in time, marking the start of Bieber’s most personal album and one of the most obvious nods to Jelena.
8. Where Are Ü Now (2015)
What started as a stripped-back ballad from Bieber turned into a genre-shifting EDM anthem once Skrillex and Diplo got their hands on it. Where Are Ü Now is full of yearning, with Bieber’s voice aching over lines like “Where are you now that I need you?”, a sentiment that instantly fueled Jelena theories.
The timing, right after his breakup with Selena, only made the subtext louder. Then came the music video, where fan graffiti scrawled across Bieber included messages like “Where R U Now, Selena” and “Jelena 5ever.” Even though his team clarified he didn’t write those himself, the Easter eggs became part of the lore. It’s not just one of his biggest hits of the decade; it’s also one of the clearest snapshots of a love he couldn’t quite let go of.
7. Hold Tight (2013)
Hold Tight showed off his slow-burning R&B side as part of Bieber’s Music Mondays series. With lyrics like “You’re the best I’ve ever had” and the repeated plea to “hold tight,” fans instantly clocked the Jelena undertones. The track dropped not long after one of his messy splits from Selena, and its mix of longing and intimacy made it feel like he was singing straight to her.
In the iTunes description box, Bieber struggled to caption the song but finally landed on saying (via Hollywood Life),
You really want me to describe this song? I told you the journals are bringing you into my most intimate moments. Just listen to the song and HOLD on as TIGHT as you can. Happy Birthday.
Steamy, confessional, and lowkey coded, Hold Tight has lived on as one of his most overt love letters to Selena Gomez.
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6. Friends (2017)
On the surface, Friends is a slick, electro-pop collab with BloodPop, but underneath the beat lies a question everyone asks after a messy breakup: “Can we still be friends?” With lines like “Wonderin’ ’bout your mama” and “I know we ended on the wrong note,” fans didn’t need a roadmap to connect it back to Selena.
Add that Julia Michaels and Justin Tranter, two of Selena’s closest collaborators, helped pen it, and the Jelena subtext practically writes itself.
Released in 2017, just as Bieber and Gomez were easing back into each other’s orbit, the timing couldn’t have been more telling. Friends plays like a late-night text you probably shouldn’t send, but do anyway — a flirty, vulnerable, maybe-we’re-not-over kind of anthem.
5. Heartbreaker (2013)
Kicking off his Music Mondays series, Heartbreaker is Justin Bieber at his most confessional, laying bare the push-and-pull of a messy romance. With lines like “Girl, you don’t know how I feel” and “Don’t tell me you’re my heartbreaker,” he captures the frustration and longing of loving someone who keeps you guessing.
Fans immediately pegged it as a Jelena track, given the timing and the raw emotional edge following his on-again, off-again relationship with Selena Gomez. Smooth, seductive, and tinged with regret, Heartbreaker proves Bieber could turn heartbreak into a track that’s as addictive as it is relatable.
4. All That Matters (2013)
Released on October 14, 2013, as part of Justin Bieber’s Music Mondays series, All That Matters is a sultry R&B track that delves into themes of love and devotion. The song’s lyrics express deep affection and the feeling of incompleteness when apart from a significant other. With lines like “You’re all that matters to me” and “If I ain’t with you, I ain’t myself”, Bieber conveys a sense of longing and the importance of his partner in his life.
The track was co-written by Bieber, Andre Harris, Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd, and Donovan Knight, with production by D.K. the Punisher and Poo Bear. The accompanying music video, directed by Colin Tilley, features model Cailin Russo.
Fans instantly recognized it as one of his most Jelena-coded moments, a song where heartbreak and love collide beautifully, making it one of the standout emotional highlights from Journals.
3. What Do You Mean? (2015)
Released as the lead single from Justin Bieber’s fourth studio album, Purpose, What Do You Mean? is a tropical house track that delves into the confusion and mixed signals often experienced in relationships. With lyrics like “When you nod your head yes, but you wanna say no” and “You’re so indecisive of what I’m saying”, the song captures the frustration of trying to understand a partner’s intentions.
While Justin hasn’t confirmed it was about Selena Gomez, the timing and the relationship drama fans knew about made it feel like a subtle nod. The track became a commercial success, topping charts in several countries and marking a significant milestone in Bieber’s career.
2. Love Yourself (2015)
Love Yourself is Justin Bieber’s most savage breakup anthem, wrapped in acoustic pop charm. Co-written with Ed Sheeran and Benny Blanco, the track is a cheeky kiss-off to a self-absorbed ex, with lines like “My mama don’t like you and she likes everyone” and the unforgettable “If you like the way you look that much, oh baby, you should go and love yourself”.
While Bieber hasn’t confirmed it’s about Selena Gomez, the timing and the relationship drama fans knew about made it feel like a subtle nod. The song topped charts worldwide and became one of his most iconic hits, proving that sometimes, the best revenge is a chart-topping bop.
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1. Sorry (2015)
Released as the second single from Purpose, Sorry is Justin Bieber at his most vulnerable and catchy, wrapped in tropical house beats that make you want to dance while feeling all the feels.
With lyrics like “Is it too late now to say sorry?” and “I know I let you down,” the song reads like a heartfelt apology, and fans have long connected it to his on-again, off-again relationship with Selena Gomez.
Bieber even confirmed during a 2015 interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that Sorry, along with What Do You Mean? and Mark My Words, was inspired by his “first love”, he added (via antiMusic),
It is tough, there is a lot of stuff that reminds me of her. You know like in relationships you’ll see things on TV and you say to yourself, ‘Oh, I remember when we used to watch that show’ or a smell will remind me of a time.
Co-written by Julia Michaels, who has worked closely with both Bieber and Gomez, the track is equal parts regret, charm, and earworm magic, proving that sometimes the best apologies are also the most addictive hits.
| Name | Justin Drew Bieber |
| Genres | Pop, R&B, Dancehall, Hip-Hop |
| Albums sold | 150 million globally |
| Latest Album | SWAG II (Released September 5, 2025) |
| Agency | Formerly managed by Scooter Braun (SB Projects) |
| Years Active | 2007-present |
In 2025, Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez have both reached new chapters. Bieber, married to Hailey Baldwin, dropped his latest album SWAG II, exploring love, commitment, and fatherhood. Selena, engaged to producer Benny Blanco, returned with fresh music, including their joint project I Said I Love You First, offering fans an intimate glimpse into her world.
Both artists continue to evolve personally and musically from teenage romance to adult milestones. Their journeys may have diverged, but they still capture hearts and headlines everywhere.
Which song from the list is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
