Two weeks ago, I met Justin Bieber – insert gasp here – and I’m glad, but not for the reasons you may think. The millisecond seemed like eternity, and the blood that rushed to my cheeks lasted even longer. I felt the heavy gazes from the entire room reach and temporarily incapacitate me; although they weren’t exactly directed at me and instead at the 21 year-old pop star walking to my right. As we crossed paths, he gave a brief wave, a nod of the head, and a “hey” towards my direction. “Oh god, you’re gushing,” my friend said to me. I drew my sweaty palms to my scorching forehead, and decided that I had all the sympathy in the world for Bieber.
Urban Dictionary defines the term Bieber Fever as “The biggest epidemic since the Black Plague.” In a recent comedy video, a grown man effusively describes Bieber’s new album as “danceable, [totally] playable.” These guys are Beliebers, just as much as the four to sixteen year-old fan girls normally screaming at earsplitting pitches in the presence of him or his music. A few years ago, it was considered commonplace by anyone over the age of 25 to not like Bieber or his sound. Most adults took a lack of interest, skipping over the past seven years of his music career. Yet as of pretty recently what seems like the entire world has jumped on the Justin train.
Despite some of his (forgivable) antics over the past few years, Bieber has proved himself to become a multigenerational sensation, touching the ears and hearts of moms, dads, daughters and sons alike. His electro-synth collaborations with reputable DJs Skrillex and Diplo get even my grandma up and dancing. So flash-forward to the other week, when I brushed shoulders with said superstar and exchanged a heart-fluttering smile. Before this moment, I was one amongst many parents, kids and families curious to catch a glimpse of the singer. After, I became aware of the fact that he is not just a talented musician, but also a person. One that yes, does seek attention, but also one that deserves respect; not cameras pressed against his nose or people literally kissing the ground he walks on.
In one of his newest tracks titled "I'll Show You," Bieber reminds us that he’s “not made out of steel” and that he’s just “human.” Yet as I witnessed during that (fleeting) feeling of stature, he is most definitely not treated as such. I’m guilty of this – I admit I talk about him as if we are on a first name basis – as I know you do too. But I’ve learned to regard him as someone who is just a twenty-something year old, standing in front of the world, asking it to Just(in) let him B(i)e(b).
