After spending a couple years out of the spotlight, Justin Bieber came back to town last Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23 to perform his Purpose Tour at the Allstate Arena. Despite the fact that his last concert in Chicago was almost two years ago, it felt as though his fans never left.

His last world tour, Believe, was quite the production, featuring Bieber coming on stage with enormous wings and fireworks exploding around the arena. While the special effects for his last tour were incredible, Purpose had a much more sentimental feel.

Bieber entered the stage from the ceiling in a glass box while singing “Mark My Words,” a slower song. All the song titles were written out in a gold font on the box as he lowered to the audience’s level.

As expected, Bieber’s choreography did not disappoint. His dance numbers to “Children” and “Company” energized the entire arena, and his dancers did an excellent job of showcasing Bieber and his song’s message.

Of the songs he performed, highlights included “I’ll Show You,” “Life is Worth Living” and of course “Purpose.” All of these songs hold a similar message– regardless of what people tell you, your ambition and self-worth mean more than your reputation.

He started his song “Purpose” while laying down and eventually sat up at the end of the stage, singing directly into the fans. He really emphasized the lyrics in this song, which made this moment intimate and personal.

Bieber’s main focus for the Purpose Tour was to reconnect with his fans and share his message. This toned-down performance was the perfect way for him to transition after his two-year break. It was an incredible experience seeing all of his fans back in one arena, continuing to support the artist after his turmoil.