Justine Bieber shared the space with Nick Jonas when I wrote about them as this summer’s favorite teen idols. That was only a few weeks ago but I decided that the 15-year-old’s success deserves another look because he is now the No. 1 selling recording artist in the US. Bieber’s second album, My World 2, first made No. 1 in Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart two weeks ago. It was dethroned by Usher’s Raymond V Raymond a week later and then to everyone’s surprise returned to the top the succeeding week. Take note that Bieber is signed with Usher’s label so the hip-hop star must be having a grand time watching his album and that of his protege playing a game of see-saw in the hit lists.
Every new generation produces its own teen idols and there is no question that Bieber is the latest to make the grade. What is phenomenal about his rise to success is that he changed the rules with hardly any effort. One of these was that the new star would be a product of the Disney starmaking machine. Think Miley Cyrus, the stars of High School Musical or one of the Jonas Brothers. At the very least he should come from television, perhaps like one of the Naked Brothers on Nickelodeon. Canadian Bieber though was discovered after he posted his videos singing songs by Justin Timberlake and Chris Brown.
Another one was that today’s idols would be either rockers or rappers. Not Bieber. His music harks back to wholesome pop heavily influenced by the ‘60s. Check out his Baby. But laced with hip-hop. That is why the likes of Ludacris, Sean Kingston and Usher himself are featured in his albums. Even the way he looks, smooth bangs like early Beatles and sun-kissed school boy looks are unlike most young male singers we have today who go for the edgy, rocker style. Of course, it was also quite an accomplishment trumping his own boss. And Usher is one of the really big ones. But not to forget, none of these would matter if Bieber does not have what it takes to be a star.
I realized this when I saw Bieber’s guesting in the David Letterman Show. I had seen him before in his videos and some stints in kiddie shows. But this one was different because it is not his usual milieu and there are no screaming fans to cover up whatever inadequacies he may have. It turned out that there weren’t any. Bieber looked absolutely cute in a red outfit with matching shoes and he totally captivated the audience with the rendition of just one song, his Baby. I have always believed that stars are born. You can spend all the money you want. You can make sure that all the right breaks come, but if he or she was not born to be one, it will never happen. I saw him and I felt it in my bones that Bieber was made for stardom. It was a week after that appearance when his album made No. 1.
Here now is this week’s Top 10 titles in Billboard Magazine’s Top 200 Albums Chart with Bieber’s second CD on top and his EP debut in No. 1: My World 2 by Justin Bieber; Raymond V Raymond by Usher; Slash by Slash; Need You Now by Lady Antebellum; Now 33 by Various Artists; Still Standing by Monica; The Fame by Lady Gaga; My World by Bieber; New Amerykah Part Two by Erykah Badu; Sticky & Sweet Tour by Madonna; Battle Of The Sexes by Ludacris; Women + Country by Jakob Dylan; The E.N.D. by The Black Eyed Peas; Freight Train by Alan Jackson; I Learned The Hard Way by Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings; Animal by Ke$ha; Here I Am by Marvin Sapp; The Fame Monster by Lady Gaga; Soldier Of Love by Sade; and The Foundation by the Zac Brown Band.
Meanwhile, it is still Rihanna at No. 1 in the Hot 100 hits list: Rude Boy by Rihanna; Nothin’ On You by B.o.B featuring Bruno Mars; Hey Soul Sister by Train; Break Your Heart by Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris; In My Head by Jason Derulo; Need You Now by Antebellum; Telephone by Lady Gaga feat. Beyoncé; Imma Be by the Black Eyed Peas; Baby by Bieber feat. Ludacris; OMG by Usher feat. will.i.am; Say Aah by Trey Songz feat. Fabolous; Carry Out by Timbaland feat. Justin Timberlake; Breakeven by The Script; Bedrock by Young Money feat. Lloyd; Tik Tok by Ke$ha; My Chick Bad by Ludacris feat. Nicki Mina; Young Forever by Jay-Z feat. Mr. Hudson; All The Right Moves by OneRepublic; Your Love is My Drug by Ke$ha; and You And Your Heart by Jack Johnson.