So I was given the Justin Bieber documentary Never Say Never to watch by Craig last week. Both he and my friend Malisha had watched it and assured me that it was worth watching. When people who share the same music taste as you, and can spend a lot of time talking about Ryan Adams, recommend you watch a Justin Bieber documentary, you have no choice but to have an open mind and say yes. So I indeed watched Never Say Never and am now somewhat of a Belieber. I still think the kid’s a grade A brat, but there’s no denying that he’s talented. He learnt to play the drums at a really young age, and would be better than a lot of drummers around. And when a kid can play guitar and sing with a guitar that’s about twice the size of him, you know there’s something special about him.
I also didn’t realise just how hard he worked to get where he is today. He was driven around the US in a van going from radio station to radio station and playing acoustically day after day, just to try and get commercial radio to play his songs. And 86 shows in a row is pretty massive for anyone, let alone when it’s stadium shows being performed by a 16 year old kid.
I also found myself thinking that if I was a parent of a child, I’d be quite happy for them to like the Biebs. I think he’s a far better role model for kids than Miley Cyrus parading around on stage in lingerie and getting high every chance she gets. I also admit that if I was 10 years younger, I’d be one of the girls on the documentary with the crazy eyes saying “Justin and I will be married someday, he just doesn’t know it. I’m his biggest fan you know, way bigger than any of these other girls. Our babies are going to be soooo beautiful because they’ll have Justin’s floppy hair”.
So Mr Bieber, whilst I may still think you’re a brat, I’ve got a hell of a lot more respect for you than I ever did before. And may I suggest that if you have nothing better to do on a Friday or Saturday night, you sit in front of the TV in your pyjamas, put on Never Say Never, sing along and imagine yourself 10 years ago being One Less Lonely Girl (you’ll have to watch the movie to see what I’m talking about.)