Take a moment to type ‘Cry Me a River’ by Justin Bieber into Youtube and watch the two-minute video of his performance. At the time this recording was taken, Justin was only around thirteen years old (although he arguably looks more along the lines of eight). In only three short years, he went from being a small-town kid in rural Canada, to a performer at more music award shows than I even thought existed. There are not only websites dedicated to him, but also dedicated to lesbians who very closely resemble him (if you don’t have any idea what I’m talking about, take a look at http://lesbianswholooklikejustinbieber.tumblr.com/). His first song, ‘One Time,’ reached platinum in the United States and #17 on the ‘Billboard Hot 100.’ Although he does sound a bit like a pre-adolescent girl in this track vocal-wise, Justin Bieber has since skyrocketed. He’s done collaborations with everyone from Sean Kingston to Will Smith’s son, Jaden. His love songs about finding that “one less lonely girl” have wooed everyone from toddlers to my grandmother, who recently asked me whether or not he has come out as gay.
So what’s the deal with the world’s obsession with Justin Bieber? Can one kid’s hairstyle seriously be the reason for such massive success? It’s hard to tell for sure, but I’ve compiled a short list of reasons why I, along with every other sad teenybopper out there, am obsessed with this phenomenon.
- He is undeniably adorable. I dare you to watch this video (link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKEQwvaYI_k) and not squeal over how sweet he is with that three-year-old girl. Bieber’s publicity team has done a great job with marketing him as a teenage heartthrob, minus the ‘hunk’ attribute those like Brad Pitt had during his younger years. Whether or not he’s actually this responsive with his fans is debatable (he is, after all, an entertainer), but I do know one thing: show a girl a guy who is this affectionate with younger kids and the deal is sealed. When is he having my babies?
- All those sappy love songs. I’m not sure how intimate Justin has ever gotten with someone of the opposite sex (although I’ve heard he’s waiting for the right one, which would be me), but something tells me he’s no novice based on how charming his lyrics are. There are songs about his “favorite girl” and “baby,” both of which are pretty convincingly adorable. It may be stretching it to say his vocals are comparable to a singer like John Legend, but for a teenage boy whose hair may be longer than mine, his voice is pretty decent.
- That unmentionable girl (aka Selena Gomez). Alright, this is the part where I need to embarrass myself a little and admit that I read way too much about Justin Bieber’s love life. For all of you who currently live under a rock, there has been much speculation going around about the relationship between Justin and Selena. Are they dating, or are they not? Is there a meaning to life, or is there not? Don’t strain yourself too much with these. Either way, the controversy has sparked the attention of every single teenage girl in this country and now we all want to know: WHAT ARE THOSE KISSING PICTURES ABOUT??
- His new film, ‘Never Say Never’. This is what has sparked the most recent upsurge of “bieber fever.” Justin’s new movie is not only a compilation of concert footage, but also an inspirational look at his life thus far. While I have personally not yet seen the film (please don’t ostracize me, Bieber fanbase!), I’ve only heard positive reviews. I don’t know if I would exactly agree with New York Time’s reviewer Mike Hale on Bieber’s “old-fashioned, carefully constructed sex symbol” status, but give him a good few years and we’re getting there.
So there you have it. Hopefully this article has helped you gain some respect for Justin Bieber, and if it hasn’t… well, hopefully you haven’t lost some for me.