"Beauty and a Beat" Justin Bieber ft. Nicki Minaj

I initially intended to ignore "Beauty and a Beat," the third release from Justin Bieber's Believe. I was just about done with Canada's biggest export since Shania Twain after his two previous singles proved among the year's most disappointing, wasting perfectly good pop hooks on desperate (and somewhat creepy) attempts to prove that he's all grown up. But my mission would be a futile one—inevitably, "Beat" became another inescapable radio hit—and in its failure, I discovered something unexpected: This may just be the best single of Bieber's young career. It's not the dubby flourishes or the breathy Nicki Minaj guest verse that stand out—not in an era dominated by them. Rather, it's the sense that the Biebs has finally found a pop star persona that fits. Concerned with nothing more than the girl and the music that "make my life complete," this sweet, celebratory serenade hums with a youthful cheeriness that is entirely age-appropriate. It's not poetry, but what more do you want from an 18-year-old? A-