Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber Team Up on Song of the Summer Contender, “I Don’t Care”

Next to Drake, Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars, and The Weeknd, Justin Bieber & Ed Sheeran are the biggest and most influential male artists of the past decade.

Bieber's astronomical rise from YouTube cover star to Grammy-winning chart topper has been one for the history books. His last album, Purpose which debuted at #1, was an immaculate fusion of EDM, pop, and R&B. On that album Bieber teamed up with a fellow Grammy-winning chart topper: Ed Sheeran. The two co-wrote the Grammy-nominated "Love Yourself," which became Bieber's third consecutive Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit from Purpose. Three years later, the dream team have reunited for their first official vocal collaboration, the delightfully poppy "I Don't Care."

Built around a bouncy drum pattern and an excellent melody, "I Don't Care" conveys the story of the joy and euphoria that come with being around the person you love the most. Think of it as a more mature version of "Shape of You."

Bieber's vocal performance is smoother than ever, and his voice is a much stronger fit on "I Don't Care" than Sheeran's. The greatest achievement of this new track is the delicate balance that the chorus strikes; it is simultaneously anthemic but still on trend with the softer, introspective choruses that recent hits have utilized. Like many songs in this era, unfortunately, the bridge is criminally short and the weakest part of the song.

"I Don't Care" is destined to dominate every radio station and playlist this year. The song sounds like a natural combination of Sheeran and Bieber, the lyrics are relatable and catchy without feeling forced, and the song is still enjoyable regardless of how generic it may feel at times.

Listen to "I Don't Care" here.

SCORE: 60