Who DIDN'T see this coming (Beiber)

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

www.cnn.com

Yeah, arrested for DUI, Drag Racing, mouthing off to a cop.

He's rich as hell, living the American Dream, but at such a young age, he's off to a bad start.

I think it's a lesson to the parents so eager to do what it takes to see their kids hit the spotlight without truly earning it.

 

[Toxteth O´Grady]

He's been slowly building up to this for the past year. Every time I hear news about him he's always topping his douchey behavior.

I have twin nieces who are 4 years old and thankfully this guy will be a has-been by the time they're old enough to get into music.

 

[Gryffindorian]

Meanwhile, a giant squid is caught off the coast of Japan.

Link

 

[TheSeeker]

This kid is an embarrassment to Canada.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

I think it's a lesson to the parents so eager to do what it takes to see their kids hit the spotlight without truly earning it.

I'm not a fan of his music or offstage behavior, not that I really put any time into thinking about it normally, but this final comment of yours doesn't make any sense. Reading his bio on Wikipedia, it seems he was self-taught on a variety of instruments, went to various singing competitions and placed well before getting noticed by a record producer from a YouTube video, and has been hugely successful as a musical artist and tour performer since then.

Putting aside the usual knee-jerk Justin Beiber hate (for his music, not his antics), in what way has he not earned his fame, compared to how other teen pop idols have risen to prominence over the decades? It's not like he's some talentless hack thrust into the spotlight who can't hold a tune or give his target audience a performance they enjoy. Don't make the mistake of thinking that just because you aren't that target audience (which is fine; neither am I) that he hasn't worked hard and earned his fame as many have done before.

Now, that doesn't excuse his behavior offstage, of course, and it's certainly a valid point about the parenting issues.

 

[auntiehill]

Meanwhile, a giant squid is caught off the coast of Japan.

Link

I find this more interesting that Justin punk.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

I think it's a lesson to the parents so eager to do what it takes to see their kids hit the spotlight without truly earning it.

I'm not a fan of his music or offstage behavior, not that I really put any time into thinking about it normally, but this final comment of yours doesn't make any sense. Reading his bio on Wikipedia, it seems he was self-taught on a variety of instruments, went to various singing competitions and placed well before getting noticed by a record producer from a YouTube video, and has been hugely successful as a musical artist and tour performer since then.

Putting aside the usual knee-jerk Justin Beiber hate (for his music, not his antics), in what way has he not earned his fame, compared to how other teen pop idols have risen to prominence over the decades? It's not like he's some talentless hack thrust into the spotlight who can't hold a tune or give his target audience a performance they enjoy. Don't make the mistake of thinking that just because you aren't that target audience (which is fine; neither am I) that he hasn't worked hard and earned his fame as many have done before.

Now, that doesn't excuse his behavior offstage, of course, and it's certainly a valid point about the parenting issues.

He might have trained in some musical instruments all of that.. but his success was due to his parents pushing him on youtube, getting millions of hits thanks to a couple of viral videos (did you know that anyone can have a viral video) to the point where his ego is inflated beyond measure and he thinks he's above everyone else.

Compare this to a band like Rush, which earned their fan base, earned whatever reputation they have over many years, where success for them was not guaranteed.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I think it's a lesson to the parents so eager to do what it takes to see their kids hit the spotlight without truly earning it.

I'm not a fan of his music or offstage behavior, not that I really put any time into thinking about it normally, but this final comment of yours doesn't make any sense. Reading his bio on Wikipedia, it seems he was self-taught on a variety of instruments, went to various singing competitions and placed well before getting noticed by a record producer from a YouTube video, and has been hugely successful as a musical artist and tour performer since then.

Putting aside the usual knee-jerk Justin Beiber hate (for his music, not his antics), in what way has he not earned his fame, compared to how other teen pop idols have risen to prominence over the decades? It's not like he's some talentless hack thrust into the spotlight who can't hold a tune or give his target audience a performance they enjoy. Don't make the mistake of thinking that just because you aren't that target audience (which is fine; neither am I) that he hasn't worked hard and earned his fame as many have done before.

Now, that doesn't excuse his behavior offstage, of course, and it's certainly a valid point about the parenting issues.

He might have trained in some musical instruments all of that.. but his success was due to his parents pushing him on youtube, getting millions of hits thanks to a couple of viral videos (did you know that anyone can have a viral video) to the point where his ego is inflated beyond measure and he thinks he's above everyone else.

Compare this to a band like Rush, which earned their fan base, earned whatever reputation they have over many years, where success for them was not guaranteed.

Success wasn't "guaranteed" for Bieber, either. He got lucky, as pretty much all popular musical acts did. It's a lottery, of sorts. Plenty of deserving people never make it, and people without much talent end up being superstars. That's how it goes.

In Bieber's case, the issue is not a lack of talent but just being a big jerk. As if he's the first musician to ever get busted for a drunk joyride. That's not at all to defend his behavior, but let's not pretend this sort of thing is shockingly atypical of popular musicians.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Plenty of deserving people never make it, and people without much talent end up being superstars. That's how it goes.

To me "earning" it is something more than being lucky. It's even something more than just having a modicum of talent. It's something you that talent is nurtured over the years and balanced with your own personal needs. I imagine we actually agree with each other, at least on some level, but splitting hairs is what people really like to do on these boards, I guess.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

He might have trained in some musical instruments all of that.. but his success was due to his parents pushing him on youtube

Well, he's certainly the first famous person in history pushed into that fame by overzealous parents. That's never happened before, except for all of recorded history.

getting millions of hits thanks to a couple of viral videos (did you know that anyone can have a viral video)

No, I didn't know that. I'm new to this whole intranetting thing. It has something to do with surfing and globe-spanning spiderwebs, right?

Compare this to a band like Rush, which earned their fan base, earned whatever reputation they have over many years, where success for them was not guaranteed.

YouTube just gives you greater access to the public, it doesn't make the public like you or love to hate you by default. You still have to build the fanbase, and he has done that, with great success (which was no more guaranteed for him than it was for Rush), like it or not. Rush would have been putting their videos up on YouTube when they had started out in addition to playing bars and small events if the option had been available to them then.

Plenty of deserving people never make it, and people without much talent end up being superstars. That's how it goes.

To me "earning" it is something more than being lucky. It's even something more than just having a modicum of talent. It's something you that talent is nurtured over the years and balanced with your own personal needs. I imagine we actually agree with each other, at least on some level, but splitting hairs is what people really like to do on these boards, I guess.

It's not splitting hairs. You're fundamentally missing the point, while continuing to act as if you have some objective final word on the matter. But pontificating like a pseudo-intellectual and pretending to have unquestionable authority on any given subject is what some people really like to do on these boards, I guess.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Plenty of deserving people never make it, and people without much talent end up being superstars. That's how it goes.

To me "earning" it is something more than being lucky. It's even something more than just having a modicum of talent. It's something you that talent is nurtured over the years and balanced with your own personal needs. I imagine we actually agree with each other, at least on some level, but splitting hairs is what people really like to do on these boards, I guess.

It's not hairsplitting. Success in a highly competitive and volatile field such as popular music relies largely on luck. There are thousands upon thousands of talented people trying to get their big break--to run into the right label executive, play just the right gig, post the right YouTube video at the right moment to get the right people's attention. Take two equally talented people doing virtually the same things. One of them gets a record deal, the other toils in obscurity. It's a roll of the dice.

You seem to think it's solely about talent and hard work expended over a long period of time. Those do matter, but they aren't the whole story. Good fortune plays into it just as much, if not more, especially when you're talking about an artistic field.

Your particular criticism of Bieber on that count makes no sense at all, though. As pointed out, he's had considerable musical training and spent years honing his talents. You may not like what he's chosen to do with them, but it seems to me that he met your criteria for talent and hard work, and you're just being contrary because you personally dislike him. I don't like him, either, but I see no reason to claim he didn't work for anything or that he hasn't "earned" it. I don't begrudge him his fame or fortune, but he's in for a rude awakening if he thinks those will let him get away with breaking the law and being an asshole.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

The "talent and hard work expended over a long period of time" factor is what keeps a person still working and still being listened to ten or twenty years after their big hits that luck and good promotion may have featured in. Whether we see this in Bieber has yet to be seen, but he does seem like a hard worker. The douchey behavior is no different (probably less) than what was standard fare for big rock bands of the 70's who got away with a lot more in pre-internet days. Hopefully for Bieber getting bitch slapped by media and the law early will keep him from spiralling downward.

Also, ffs what is it with the hate that gets leveled at any young person who is currently a teen idol? Is it just resentment and jealousy of riches?

 

[Amaris]

Yeah, I'm disappointed in him, because he was doing so well, and he did seem well enough adjusted to handle the fame, but it seems to have become too much for him, and he's decided to be a douchebag. I hope he comes back around, because he's a decent talent, and also I think he's cute. Well, he's cute when he's not being an ass.

 

[RoJoHen]

He's a hugely famous kid, and he has let the lifestyle go to his head.

He just got a DUI, and he's not even of legal drinking age! Give the kid a few years and let him grow up a bit, and we'll see where he ends up. Even if he wasn't famous, it's not like he's the first 20-year old to act like a douche.

 

[Amaris]

There are a significant number of his younger fans that scare me, though. Again, true with just about any celebrity, but still, reading about girls weeping that he got arrested, willing to be arrested in his place, and it just gets crazier from there. It's about as disturbing as the women who told Chris Brown he could beat them anytime. Some people just scare the shit out of me with such slavish devotion.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

That's why I am only slavishly devoted to fiction.

 

[2takesfrakes]

Driving drunk is weak. But he's young. That's right ... he's young. In the meantime, he's having the kind of fun and living the kind of life that I can only fantasize about. That lucky bastard!

 

[Amaris]

That's why I am only slavishly devoted to fiction.

Smart move.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Yes the not getting arrested part is particularly useful.

 

[Amaris]

Yes the not getting arrested part is particularly useful.

You'd do it for a good book. Admit it.