The Singles Jukebox

Haven’t we heard this before?

[Video][Website]
[3.57]

Juana Giaimo: I don’t necessarily dislike this, but there are so many artists — including Justin Bieber himself — who can do it so much better. “Deja Vu” doesn’t add anything new — another smooth R&B track with almost rapped lines. Post Malone even sounds too groggy comapred to Justin Bieber, who learnt how to mislead us with his sweet yearning voice. 
[5]

Iain Mew: Are we meant to hear this as Post Malone and Justin Bieber singing of their revitalised love for each other? A few “girl” asides and gender-specific slurs suggest otherwise, but it’s the easiest way to make sense of the allocation of lines and alternating the chorus in succession between the two. Hearing it that way certainly introduces a brief frisson of life to a song that’s otherwise nothingy at best.
[3]

Edward Okulicz: It’s two artists! But they’re one! Can’t help but read it as Post Malone being the narrator’s libido and internal dialogue, and Bieber’s playing the part of what the narrator says aloud to get what he/they want(s). I usually believe Biebs but not here.
[4]

Alfred Soto: Well, it’s a novel definition of “deja vu,” one that Drake’s lawyers might use should they hear this Malone-Bieber track after “Hotline Bling.”
[2]

Will Adams: I guess in this case, it’d technically be “déjà entendu.”
[3]

Thomas Inskeep: Learn what “déjà vu” is before you attempt to write a song about it, boys. I’d mark this lower except that I kinda like the spacey production by Frank Dukes and Vinylz.
[4]

Katherine St Asaph: I didn’t know Kidz Bop commissioned original music now. Well, “original.”
[4]