U Smile

Released as a digital-only single on March 16, 2010, "U Smile" found Justin Bieber stepping into a more grown-up sound. The piano-driven blue-eyed soul ballad was written by Bieber with Jerry Duplessis, Arden Altino, and Dan August Rigo, with Duplessis and Altino producing. It arrived as the fourth single from his debut album, My World 2.0, and showed a smoother, more mature vocal side than his earlier teen-pop hits.

The song peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 27 on the Canadian Hot 100, while also charting in the UK, Australia, Germany, and Ireland. Critics singled out the stripped-back arrangement and Bieber's delivery, calling it one of the album's strongest tracks. Its gentle, romantic tone hinted at the R&B direction he would explore later.

Bieber performed "U Smile" as an intro to "Baby" on the ninth season of American Idol and also on Saturday Night Live, giving it prime-time exposure. The song's message about unconditional love, tied to the partner's smile, made it a fan favorite and a staple of his early live shows. [edit]