An old soul is the last thing you would expect to find inside Justin Bieber. But all it takes is one listen to the 17 year-old soul-singing phenomenon to realize that he is light years ahead of his manufactured pop peers.
After posting dozens of homemade videos on YouTube in 2007, where the multi-talented Bieber put his impeccable spin on songs from artists like Usher, Ne-Yo and Stevie Wonder, Justin racked up over 10,000,000 views purely from word of mouth.
"I started singing about three years ago," says the Canadian native who grew up an only child in Stratford, Ontario. "I entered a local singing competition called Stratford Idol. The other people in the competition had been taking singing lessons and had vocal coaches. I wasn't taking it too seriously at the time, I would just sing around the house. I was only 12 and I got second place."
In an effort to share his victory with his loved ones, Justin began posting his performance footage online. "I put my singing videos from the competition on YouTube so that my friends and family could watch them," he says. "But it turned out that other people liked them and they started subscribing to them. That's how my manager found me. He saw me on YouTube and contacted my family and now I'm signed!"
Seven months after Justin started posting his videos online, former So So Def marketing executive Scooter Braun flew the then 13-year old singer to Atlanta, GA to meet with his elite colleagues. As if Justin's natural singing talent wasn't enough to impress Scooter's inner circle, Braun knew Bieber was also a self-taught musician who plays the drums, guitar, piano and trumpet.
"Right when we flew into Atlanta, Scooter drove us to the studio and Usher was there in the parking lot," remembers Bieber. "That was my first time ever being out of Canada so I went up to him and was like, 'Hey Usher, I love your songs, do you want me to sing you one?' He was like, 'No little buddy, just come inside, it's cold out.'"
All it took was a short time online for Usher to realize he was in the company of a future superstar. "A week later Usher flew me back to Atlanta," says Bieber. "I sang for him and his people and he really wanted to sign me then and there but I still had a meeting with Justin Timberlake who also wanted to sign me. It turned out Usher's deal was way better. He had L.A. Reid backing him up and Scooter had a lot of really good connections in Atlanta. I always tease Usher now and remind him he how he blew me off the first time we met."
In October of 2008, Justin Bieber officially signed to Island Records. His debut album, My World is an intimate look into the mind of a budding young renaissance man. With production from star hit men like The Dream and Tricky Stewart who produced "Umbrella" for Rihanna and Beyonce's latest smash, "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)," Justin has everything he needs to achieve pop supremacy.
His first single, "One Time" produced by Tricky, is about one of Justin's favorite topics, puppy love. Usher joins Justin on "First Dance" where the two share verses on a song that Bieber describes as, "A slow groovy song that people can dance to." On the Midi-Mafia produced "Down to Earth" Justin digs deep to talk about growing up. "Bigger" finds the teenaged singer maturing at a steady rate, while motivating his listeners to strive for their goals.
"I'm looking forward to influencing others in a positive way," says Justin. "My message is you can do anything if you just put your mind to it. I grew up below the poverty line; I didn't have as much as other people did. I think it made me stronger as a person it built my character. Now I have a 4.0 grade point average and I want to go to college and just become a better person."
A virtually untapped well of natural artistic talent, Justin Bieber is primed to be a solid force in music for many years to come. "I think older people can appreciate my music because I really show my heart when I sing, and it's not corny," he says. "I think I can grow as an artist and my fans will grow with me." And just think, he's just getting started.
Justin Bieber has revealed that he has been working with rap legend, Dr. Dre.
The pint-sized pop star, who already has an impressive list of collaborations under his belt including mentor Usher, Sean Kingston and Ludacris told fans on Twitter that he was in the studio with Dre.
Dre, who is currently working on his long-overdue Detox LP hit the recording studio with the Somebody To Love singer on Tuesday to work on new material with Justin.
Bieber couldn't contain his excitement on Twitter, telling his followers: "Got to be in the studio with the legend himself Dr. Dre."
He later added: "Made a couple beats and he gave me some advice...i was hyped. can u blame me?,"
The pint-sized pop star, who already has an impressive list of collaborations under his belt including mentor Usher, Sean Kingston and Ludacris told fans on Twitter that he was in the studio with Dre.
Dre, who is currently working on his long-overdue Detox LP hit the recording studio with the Somebody To Love singer on Tuesday to work on new material with Justin.
Bieber couldn't contain his excitement on Twitter, telling his followers: "Got to be in the studio with the legend himself Dr. Dre."
He later added: "Made a couple beats and he gave me some advice...i was hyped. can u blame me?,"
The book will hit shelves in October-November and will be created by Bluewater Productions. Other comics will be released based on the lives of Taylor Swift, David Beckham and Lady Gaga. Writer Tara Broeckel Ooten told RadarOnline about working with the Baby singer: "He is a talented young musician. He has such an enormous global fan base.
"That and his talent will probably give him some real staying power in the industry. I listened to Bieber's music for the first time while working on this project, and I have to admit, it can really stick with you."
The magazine J-14 recently talked to Jay Sean and he got a chance about his favorite topic-his friend Justin Bieber. They talk about how Justin helped him on one of his own songs. You can watch the video above. It is nice that they are talking about Jay Sean’s friend, yet this is supposed to be about him and not Justin. It seems to be more about who he is friends with than who he is. I just feel a little bad for him, but he does seem to lighten up when talking about Justin. However, it still should be more about his upcoming album as an artist and not what he did with Justin Bieber on the record.
Selena Gomez sees Justin Bieber as a little brother. The Wizards of Waverly Place actress revealed that she befriended the One Less Lonely Girl singer and says he is "sweet" and "cheeky". "He's like a brother because he's very protective and very sweet," said Selena when describing Justin. "I tease him about his fling-y hair! "He's also very cheeky. He tries to get me to put on those glasses he wears with no lenses in them," Gomez added to Sugar magazine.
"And last time I wore high heels next to him, he asked me to take them off because he didn't want to be shorter than me. "I was laughing and going 'No, I'm not going to take them off, you're not going to make me take my shoes off!"
"And last time I wore high heels next to him, he asked me to take them off because he didn't want to be shorter than me. "I was laughing and going 'No, I'm not going to take them off, you're not going to make me take my shoes off!"
The Somebody To Love singer, whose mum Pattie Malette revealed last week that Justin plans to save his virginity for the right girl told USA Today that he and his family have strong faith which got him through some tough times. Bieber explained: "[We] are really involved with God. He’s always been like, I don’t know, he’s held our family together." "We grew up with not a lot of money, my mom and I. She was young when she had me. We struggled, but we never blamed him." The 16-year old superstar added: "Hey, all this serious stuff aside, I’m still young, I’m still trying to figure out who I am, and I’m just trying to have fun. I don’t know what I’m here to do yet." Justin also revealed he and his mother survived on local-church handouts and that coming from a 'church background' made him strong. The One Time hit maker claimed: “I grew up below the poverty line. It made me stronger.”
"He’s always been like, I don’t know, he’s held our family together. We grew up with not a lot of money, my mom and I. She was young when she had me. We struggled, but we never blamed him." Justin added to USA Today: "Hey, all this serious stuff aside, I’m still young, I’m still trying to figure out who I am, and I’m just trying to have fun. I don’t know what I’m here to do yet."
Justin Bieber performs on NBC's 'Today' show, New York City
Justin Bieber's mother has claimed that the singer wants to remain a virgin until he meets the right girl. Pattie Mallette, who recently denied reports that she would pose for Playboy, said that the 16-year-old intends to "stay pure", reports MTV News "He's expressed his desire to stay pure, and honour women, and treat women with respect. So hopefully that stays valid," she said.
Bieber, who has insisted that he is currently single, admitted that he finds it hard to trust girls. He told E! News: "It's definitely hard to find a girl that really likes me for me. You gotta be careful. "Right now, I'm like so busy anyway, so I just have fun, hang out with girls and stuff. Try not to take it too seriously."
Justin Bieber's mother has claimed that the singer wants to remain a virgin until he meets the right girl. Pattie Mallette, who recently denied reports that she would pose for Playboy, said that the 16-year-old intends to "stay pure", reports MTV News "He's expressed his desire to stay pure, and honour women, and treat women with respect. So hopefully that stays valid," she said.
Bieber, who has insisted that he is currently single, admitted that he finds it hard to trust girls. He told E! News: "It's definitely hard to find a girl that really likes me for me. You gotta be careful. "Right now, I'm like so busy anyway, so I just have fun, hang out with girls and stuff. Try not to take it too seriously."
Although he is a Canadian and doesn't celebrate independence day on July 4, Justin Bieber is more than happy to take the stage and entertain his fans on the U.S. big day over the weekend. The teen singer took the mic, singing and dancing to "Baby" and "Somebody to Love". "It's still fun to be here," Bieber said. "You know, I enjoy it. I live here now." He performed for the screaming tween under the Queensboro Bridge in New York City.
"I think New York City kind of represents all of the United States. It's kind of the center of America. It's the center of the world they say, so it's pretty cool," he gushed. Aired on NBC, the event is dubbed Macy's 4th of July FireworksSpectacular and also featured performances from Enrique Iglesias and LeAnn Rimes. Nick Cannon and Alison Sweeney hosted the gig. Closing the night was a glorious spectrum of colors, shapes and sparkling dazzlers from more than 40,000 firework shells which illuminated the sky over New York City.
"I think New York City kind of represents all of the United States. It's kind of the center of America. It's the center of the world they say, so it's pretty cool," he gushed. Aired on NBC, the event is dubbed Macy's 4th of July FireworksSpectacular and also featured performances from Enrique Iglesias and LeAnn Rimes. Nick Cannon and Alison Sweeney hosted the gig. Closing the night was a glorious spectrum of colors, shapes and sparkling dazzlers from more than 40,000 firework shells which illuminated the sky over New York City.
JUSTIN BIEBER
Justin bieber is so amazing!!! I was at a concert and I was in the front row. When he was singing baby he touched my hand! I totally flipped out! I nearly fainted but my friend told mr to snap out of it. Later on after the concert we had backstage passes and we got to talk to him in person. Some people think he's all lies and stuff but he's really a nice person. He autographed some posters and cd cases for us. I'll never forget that concert because it was the best concert o my life.
Now I have every cd that he has out and every song of his on my iPod.
Now I have every cd that he has out and every song of his on my iPod.
“It sounded like a little kid,” Miley told Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush in an interview for Access and “The Billy Bush Show” of the “Baby” singer’s recent late-night prank call. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I am so mad.’ Then I get a text, he’s like, ‘Haha.’” However, Miley told Billy that she wound up laughing, too.
“I have him in my phone as Bieber Fever, so that’s always pretty funny when you get one of those [texts],” she said.
The “Can’t Be Tamed” singer said she can’t prank Biebs back thanks to her little sister Noah’s crush. “I can’t really be mean because my little sister is like, never ever going to have a boyfriend until it can be Justin Bieber,” Miley said. “She’s saving herself for the Biebs.” And Justin’s not the only one with a nickname in her phone. “My little sister is Mrs. Bieber in my phone,” she added.
