Monday, December 10, 2012

Why I don't hate Justin Bieber



I haven't written anything in a long time.  That is not entirely true.  I haven't written anything I thought was blog-worthy in a long time.  I suppose it is time for me to change that.  I have several reasons which trump my other several reasons for NOT writing.  I noticed that my blog has received nearly 300,000 views.  I know many of those are my own visits to my blog.  Also, page views may be counted by the tracking service like Chicago tracks votes, and  the total may be skewed.  Regardless, even if actual views by different living and breathing people account for even a quarter of the total, I am humbled.

Also, I recently received a personal email from a very famous writer (respecting his request for confidentiality I will not name him) essentially expounding on what a disappointment I am to him because he continually stops by to find no new entries.  He called me several names including selfish and said my self-effacing act is getting stale.  He recommends I post everything I write and let my readers decide if it is blog-worthy.  He has faith in me.  I suppose I should find a way to also find worth in my writing.

This installment will be about something I have thought about for quite some time, yet have failed to document.   I didn't expect my reentry into writing would be about:

Justin Bieber
I am not sure there has been anyone since Hitler as despised by so many people as Justin Bieber.  I will admit that I don't have a single song of his on my playlist, but I certainly don't hate him.  From what I can  see, he is a very intelligent, talented, attractive (not to me), charitable, and kind individual.  So why such venom directed at him?  There is a plethora (one of my favorite words) of "I hate Justin Bieber" social media sites, each containing hundreds of thousands of members.   
I can  only assume that any stage entertainer that can cause so much animosity must be doing something right.  I have tried to figure out who comprises this body of haters.  I have come to the following conclusions:

1)  Much less talented musicians and entertainers who are jealous of his meteoric success, when they know realistically that they will continue to deliver pizzas and teach piano to snotty-nosed kids.  The only Usher that will discover them is the one sweeping the theater after a movie.

2)  Snotty-nosed  kids who are jealous that all of the tweener girls idolize Bieber and won't give their pimply faces a second look.  

3)  Pimply faced kids that voice their hate for Bieber because it is fashionable to do so and to admit that they are closet fans would make them uncool.  Kind of like people my age that claimed to have hated Tony Orlando and Dawn but when no one else was around would sing "Knock Three Times" complete with sound effects.   When anyone else was around they would turn on Zeppelin or Black Sabbath.  

4)  People my age that haven't listened to any music released since the 1970's and discount any "modern" music without even giving it a listen.  I think my parents did that with The Beatles.   They just didn't have the Internet to rant on and had to keep it to themselves.

5)  Some people may hate him because he is Canadian.  I don't have a single Rush song on my rotation but I don't hate Geddy Lee.  I would just rather listen to my clothes washer spin out of balance than hear his voice.  That goes for Michael Buble as well.  

6)  Then there are those miserable bastards that call themselves the 99%, that hate anyone successful.   To whom achievement is evil and rewards for accomplishments should be shared with their sorry asses.

7)  I guess the last category are those that can't stand someone who is basically a good person and has not been to rehab a dozen times.  They like to see their celebrities self-destructing and to believe their lives are as wretched as their own.   In all the negative comments about Bieber, I can't find one instance where he has done anything questionable.  He seems to make positive life choices and loves his mother.  He his lived under a microscope since he was 14 and has never stumbled.  (Hello, Lindsay Lohan)   That must drive his critics crazy.

I like a lot of "new" music.  I have heard some Bieber songs that while not IPOD-worthy, were not bad enough for me to initiate a hate campaign.   Music is like any other entertainment medium:  If you don't like it, turn it off or change the channel.  Is it really worth expending the energy required to hate?  There are so many more worthy things to despise.  Bieber doesn't even make my top hundred.  No celebrity does. 

14 comments:

Roger Yale said...
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Roger Yale said...

I wouldn't know a Justin Bieber song if I heard one, but don't have a problem with him.

Your washer v. Geddy Lee reference made me laugh.

Old RPM Daddy said...
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Old RPM Daddy said...

Numbers one, two, and three seem about right to me. I think jealousy and snob appeal have a lot to do with it, with the younger crowd especially. I remember turning my nose up at mere pop in my teen years. Over time it dawned on me that "art" and "pop music" aren't words that go that well together, regardless of people's pretensions. So if Justin Bieber's a zillionaire, with armies of squealing fans (my youngest daughter is one, or was; kids are fickle), I say more power to him!

Anonymous said...

Well you know that I am a huge fan of Bieber's and can right a blog of why I admire and respect Justin Bieber, as well. I actually became very tired of reading negative post after negative post mainly calling him a girl with no other comment listed which very much proves your point here. The particular article I posted on was about his hat trick at the AMA's and how the music companies just gave him the awards because he's popular. This is what I wrote:

"AMA's are fan voted. You like to blame corporate music companies because it's easy. Remember every generation has their Bieber. People hated Elvis and MJ. Is it fun to rip on an 18 year old kid? That's really cool of you. {sarcasm} You call him talentless but if you really listen to his acoustic work, he's amazing. But he's not marketed for that or you. He's marketed to keep teens and tweens entertained. High energy, dancing, beats that cover vocals. It's not for you. It's not meant for you. He plays 4 instruments self taught (drums, trumpet, piano, guitar). He's one of the hardest working kids ever. And he tolerates crap from the likes of you day in and day out. Does he strike out at you? No. He strives to impress you. He is very philanthropic. If you look at what he does for others, you may have a bit more respect for him. He is one of the only stars out there today that I feel comfortable allowing my son to admire and listen to. I have grown to like the boy and can see how genuine he really is. Nothing I can say will change your view of him but give a little credit where credit is due. He's just a kid trying to make his way in this world and doing it with integrity and head held high. Good on you, Bieber. Enjoy your accolades and fortune. Let the rest sit and gripe in jealousy."

He actually proved my point again just last weekend. He didn't get nominated for a Grammy which is actually the only award he still strives to win. His manager struck out and said he deserved a nomination. He responded by saying all he needed was his fans and he would keep trying for a Grammy. It would be easy for him to go on the defensive and throw a fit about not even being nominated. He sees it as needing to work harder. He's 18 and writes a lot of his own songs. Given they are about eating fondue with a girl and being her buzz light year. He's 18. He's still learning and I respect the fact he knows that. I do enjoy his music. Mainly for the beat and not the lyrics but "All Around the World" was used during the Olympics. Pretty good song. My favorite to date is "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" acoustic version. Lol. Okay. I'm done. Bieber fan. Enough said. Great blog!

Love ya. Carly

Anonymous said...

I feel the need to clarify, he co-wrote and wrote all of his songs on his album Believe. Prior to that, I'm not sure because we didn't follow. I would think not.

Love ya.

Carly

Maggie-beth Rees said...

I have no problem with the Bieb - except I think someone should tell him that if he is going to go shirtless, his skinny little body needs a tan - and to pull up his pants, because he is not and never will be "gangsta". I am sure I have heard some, if not many, of his songs - because I am one of those people who listens to current music from time to time just to know what's up (except for rap, which I still loathe.) I actually have 2 songs by New Direction on my vanilla Mp3 player, and I don't know if that makes me shallow - but if so, I'll bear up under the strain of public opinion. I also have Adele, Cee Lo, Coldplay and Winehouse, so I guess it all evens out. One artist I will never have on my play list is Michael Buble. But then, I don't have any Frank Sinatra on my playlist either, so why should I have a Sinatra wannabe? And for the record, the idea of him doing The Hannukah Song (which apparently he just did in front of some camera or other) makes me slightly nauseous. Sinatra clone sings Adam Sandler. Nope - it doesn't ring my chimes. Thank you for your thoughtful piece. There is much truth in what you say, and it's a darned shame. However, I'm guessing the Bieb is not worrying about it too much as he hauls his wads of cash to the bank. I'm not going to lose any sleep over it, either. Happy Holidays, and keep writing - even those of us who are not famous writers like to read your stuff...

myrtle beached whale said...

Maggie: I don't think we are the demographic that Justin is shooting for.

Anonymous said...

By the way, I like that when I google your blog, the blog about the Exploding Toilet pops up. Hahahaha!

Carly

Anonymous said...

Well said old friend. I wouldn't know a bieber song if it hit me between the eyeballs, but I neither like nor dislike him. Rather I am glad he has done well. As far as a Grammy, if he cares that's great and it is something for him to strive for as a personal goal. Winning a Grammy can be a little like winning a Heisman and I would hate for him to that as the only thing to hang his hat on.
He's worked too hard already.

Shammi said...

Whoever that famous writer is, three cheers to him!

Nadja said...

Another clever, made me laugh out loud blog. I don't hate Geddy Lee either, but like you, yeah, the washing machine would definitely be my choice... Enjoyable read, as are all of your writings.

Thank you...

Anonymous said...

ohhhhhhh. seeing a couple of bands whom you do not like listening to is like yummy fodder....

nicely written, man...

as to me, about Beiber... to quote Roark, 'But I don't think of you' --- ok, aside from the occasional stab towards him, with teh kids :)

Anonymous said...

Your writing is impeccable, Rick. Love reading your blogs. You might want to update this one for the people that see Beiber as normal teen that got rich quick and can't handle it. His loud parties, DUI charges, drag racing, egging neighbors' homes in former neighborhoods, smoking pot, destroying hotels, spitting on neighbors, peeing in buckets, being disrespectful, and his graffiti "art" is not the Beiber that you portrayed. And that's just 2013. Maybe he will figure that he needs to go back to his better days in 2014. One can hope.