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And Finally Artist News Beef Of The Week
CMU Beef Of The Week #149: Justin Bieber v The World
By Andy Malt | Published on Friday 15 March 2013
Poor old Justin Bieber, all he wanted to do was come over to the UK and sing some of his songs. And for the two weeks he was out playing regional arena shows in February he managed to do just that, pretty much unnoticed (save for when he was refused entry to one club in Manchester). But then he came down south for a week in London and it all went wrong.
First of all, there was a second nightclub entry refusal, resulting in him having the “worst birthday” ever. Then, when his week-long residency at the O2 Arena got underway, everyone was unhappy at the pop teen’s time-keeping; punctuality, it turns out, being rather important if you’re more children’s entertainer than rock star. As press interest in Bieber’s late arrival on stage that first night grew and grew, during his penultimate show the star fainted on stage and wound up in hospital.
Then, before departing the UK for dates on mainland Europe, Bieber managed to get into a fight with a British paparazzo, a sweary squabble that was conveniently recorded by another waiting cameraman and immediately posted to the net. Claims that an angry and blubbing Bieber had subsequently declared that he’d never return to the UK (something he later denied) were then splashed all over the press, with some adding the allegation (also denied) that the star had pulled out of one last UK TV appearance, so keen was he to exit the country. Meanwhile the ever reliable Sunday Express ran with the news that Bieber’s grandmother had been on the phone expressing concerns about his antics.
Still, once out of the eye line of the notoriously savage British tabloids, and safely ensconced in the beautiful city of Lisbon, everything would be alright again, and the world could get about forgetting all the Bieber nonsense that weirdly dominated UK news headlines for a week in March. Best for the pop boy to just get his head down and get on with it. Or, alternatively, post a lengthy rant on Instagram. One of those two.
I’ll not leave you in suspense as to what happened next, he took, of course, the latter option. Responding to continued speculation that he can’t handle the pressure of his fame (pressure largely created by people speculating about whether or not he can handle the pressure of his fame), Bieber began: “Everyone in my team has been telling me ‘keep the press happy’, but I’m tired of all the countless lies in the press right now. Saying I’m going to rehab and how my family is disappointed in me. My family is beyond proud, and nothing’s been said by them, my grandparents wouldn’t know how to reach to press even if they did want to. So that was a lie. And rehab, c’mon. If anyone believes I need rehab, that’s their own stupidity”.
I think I would have left it there, but I’m not Justin Bieber and no one’s publishing news stories about my need for rehab (I’m fine, thanks for asking) or pretending to have spoken to my grandparents.
So, with that in mind, Bieber continued: “I’m nineteen with five number one albums. Nineteen and I’ve seen the whole world. Nineteen and I’ve accomplished more than I could’ve ever dreamed of. I’m nineteen and it must be scary to some people to think that this is just the beginning. I know my talent level and I know I’ve got my head on straight. I know who I am and I know who I’m not. My message is to believe. My albums could be about anything but my messages have been to never say never and believe, not to believe in me but to believe in yourself”.
OK Justin, you’re starting to go a bit over the top now. Banging on about how awesome you are isn’t that endearing. Especially when we’ve all heard your records. Best just stop, eh.
Just put the phone down and… oh: “I honestly don’t care if you don’t believe in me because I believe in me, my friends believe, my family believe, my fans believe, and look where that’s gotten me so far. I’m writing this with a smile on my face and love in my heart. Letting you know first hand how I feel rather than have these stories linger. I’m a good person with a big heart. And don’t think I deserve all this negative press, I’ve worked my ass off to get where I am and my hard work doesn’t stop here… All this isn’t easy. I get angry sometimes. I’m human. I’m gonna make mistakes. I’m gonna grow and get better from them”.
Actually, he kind of brought it all round again there. He is only human. He’s one of us. He’s just a guy trying to entertain people. Also, his hamster just died.
