In late 2011, Bieber confirmed to radio network Capital FM that he was recording material for his third studio album, which was originally going to be released in early 2012.

[7] He later spoke to MTV News and revealed that Believe would surprise people in different ways, since it musically is a departure from his previous works.

[11][12] The cover art for "As Long as You Love Me" shows Bieber perched on a wooden stool, holding an acoustic guitar.

[13] Sia Nicole of Idolator expressed dissatisfaction with the cover, saying "It’s false advertising for the high-fidelity track that has nary a strum within earshot.

"[13] "As Long as You Love Me" was written by Bieber, Nasri Atweh, and guest vocalist Big Sean, while production was handled by Darkchild, The Messengers and Andre Lindal.

[15][2] "As long as you love me/ We could be starving/ We could be homeless/ We could be broke," Bieber sings over a staccato beat and handclaps, with an undercurrent of a swirling-sounding synth.

"I don't know if this makes sense, but you're my hallelujah/ Give me a time and a place, and I'll rendezvous, and I'll fly you to it," Sean raps.

"[2] Natalie Shaw of BBC Music wrote, "It's fine that his vocal simpers on the verses of As Long As You Love Me, because the song's pulsating undercurrent propels it onto the dancefloor.

"[21] Becky Bain of Idolator commented, "The electro-infused track carries your basic we-don’t-need-money-we-have-love sentiment, while Big Sean cameo is mostly useless, but it does come at a pivotal moment in the Darkchild-produced tune.

"[18] In his review for Fact Magazine, Alex Macpherson described the track: "'As Long As You Love Me' is a post-austerity, us-against-the-world electronic storm in which Bieber promises romantic fealty even as he's buffeted this way and that by a cornucopia of sonic switch-ups courtesy of Darkchild: the 4×4 march leading up to the peak of the second chorus, the way the word 'love' is caught, cut up and tossed into a digital swirl until it becomes helpless surrender.

Notably and surprisingly, too, Bieber's own delivery stands out: his blend of puppy-eyed pleading and genuine tenderness on the line 'We could be homeless, we could be broke' is the song's emotional pivot.

"[22] As part of promotion for "As Long As You Love Me," a music video, which was filmed in early July 2012, was released.

It featured guest appearances by Michael Madsen and Big Sean, the latter of which performs the rapping on the track.

He also performed in late September on Dancing with the Stars, and on the February 9, 2013, episode of Saturday Night Live, which he also hosted.