But earlier this month, the 31-year-old Bieber suddenly released a new album, Swag, that made headlines for being rather good. Not “good for Bieber”; good for a modern pop release. Swag filled a void in the summer-listening landscape by meeting listeners where they so clearly seem to be—less in need of a party-fueling energy drink than a soothing slather of aloe.

The Skylrk didn’t stop there: The pop star also wore the label’s bulbous, foam-molded slides in lime and tan, which he zhuzhed with kelly-green cable-knit socks, plus translucent pink sunglasses and a rolled-hem white beanie.

This Greatest Pop Stars podcast flashes back to a moment in Bieber's career - echoed with his current album - that we look at totally differently today than we did 12 years ago.