Holy

The harmony in 'Holy' is deliberately uncluttered: a rotating I-V-vi-IV loop in A major that prioritises emotional clarity over harmonic movement. The choice fits the gospel-pop aesthetic — the devotional lyric lands cleanest when the listener is not navigating unexpected changes. The layered production textures and dynamic swells do the structural work that the harmony leaves intentionally undone.

Eight writers are credited on 'Holy': Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper, Jon Bellion, Jorgen Odegard, Michael Pollack, TBHits, Mr. Franks, and Tone Jones. That headcount reflects the collaborative workshop model common in contemporary pop — several of the same names double as producers. Bellion, best known as a solo artist on Island Records, brought his layered production-songwriting approach to the session; Odegard had previously worked with Bieber on earlier material.

Released September 18, 2020 as the lead single from Justice, 'Holy' signalled Bieber's return with a sound grounded in gospel warmth and contemporary R&B smoothness. Eight writers — including Jon Bellion, Jorgen Odegard, and Chance the Rapper — built a track around the idea of treating a relationship with the reverence of religious devotion. It hit the top five of the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the defining pop moments of an otherwise quiet year for live music.