Dan’s Papers July 29, 2011 danshamptons.com Page 59
Neighbor By Nanci E. LaGarenne He was named Artist of the Year in 2010. He won Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Album at the 53rd Grammy Awards. He was 12 years old when he entered the Stratford Idol singing competition in Stratford, Ontario, where he was born. His star began its ascent when he was discovered from YouTube videos he posted when he was 13. He is the only artist to have seven songs from a debut album chart on the Billboard Hot 100. He has a perfume, called Someday (how ironic! He has arrived), bearing the name he gave it, and a video commercial to go with it. And all net profits go to charity. He is dating one of the hottest young actresses, Disney star Selena Gomez, 19. He is 17 years old. Have you got Bieber fever yet? Justin Bieber is no child. He looked like a cherub with his former moptop Beatles-like hair, now recoiffed, flawless peachy complexion and wide brown soulful eyes. But this kid has ideas and opinions. Not all popular ones, but his own no less, no apologies. A teen idol doesn’t have to apologize. The girls who wear his Someday perfume, love him no matter his middle-of-theroad beliefs. He is lauded as a Pop/R&B singer. If you listen to him sing you might be reminded of a young Michael Jackson. Indeed, artists like Stevie Wonder, Usher and Ne-Yo are his idols. He owes his success to So So Def music exec Scooter Braun, who first saw Bieber on those YouTube videos. That was 2008. Now he has a Platinum album. My World went Platinum in both the U.S. and Canada and sold over a million copies. He was in demand and feted by both Usher and Justin Timberlake. Both wanted to sign Bieber. He went with Usher. Bieber is no lightweight despite his squeaky-clean image. He plays drums, piano, guitar and trumpet. The kid is a musician. He gets those genes from his father, Jeremy Jack Bieber, not a bad-looking dude. He taught Justin to play guitar. They do not live together but have matching seagull tattoos and “a strong bond,” according to celebrity website Gossip Jackal. His single mom, Patti Lynn Bieber, is no slouch in the looks department herself. She looks like his older sister. She encouraged him to pursue a musical career and accompanied him to various events, looking quite pretty. Bieber’s grandparents had a hand in raising him along
Selena & Justin
Justin Bieber Pop Star
the only way for him to go is up, as one can see in his Someday perfume ad. They fly through the air among the clouds, like beautiful cherubic teens, the young woman with him, a very beautiful Scarlett Johansson look-alike, and they “land” together in a room. She is holding a silver charm of a heart and key in her open palm. They lock eyes. “Never let go,” is the tag line. And don’t let go of Bieber, he is here to stay. Even grown women love him. Teens idolize him. And let’s not forget Selena Gomez, his ladylove. They are adorable together, strolling our lovely Hampton streets. “People were doing double takes, as they strolled by,” according to online site “Celebrity Dirty Laundry.” The Bieb and his girl were seen at Flying Point Surf Shop in Bridgehampton. Having ice cream at Candy Kitchen. And dining at Sen in Sag Harbor. Don’t you want to be them?! Well, practice your music kids, this gig didn’t come easy. Quickly maybe, but talent is necessary. At the end of the day, The Bieb is just like the rest of us, seeking a bit of R&R. Being young and in love and enjoying a bit of summer in the Hamptons doesn’t hurt either. As Bieber’s song goes: “…let the music blast, we gon’ do our dance. Bring the doubters on, they don’t matter at all. ‘Cause this life’s too long and this love’s too strong. So baby, know for sure that I’ll never let you go.” And he hasn’t yet.
If you listen to him sing you might be reminded of a young Michael Jackson. with his mom. Where do you go when you are the hottest thing since sliced bread? When you “are the second most followed person on the planet via Twitter, other than Lady Gaga,” according to WhatCulture!’s review of Justin’s movie, Never Say Never. Yep, he has a movie all about his life. Already. What do you do next when you even have a name other than your own, like The Fonz, and you barely have any facial hair? Justin is called “The Bieb.” Apparently