Bieber Fever
When I was 13, I had my first love. Shame he was shared with millions of others, though. Bieber Fever infected most of the world’s young girls in the early 2010s, and although we have all inevitably grown up, Justin Bieber’s career is ever strong. After the birth of his first son made Instagram go crazy, the fangirl in all of us has awoken. An exploration of JB’s fashion revision and extensive musical androitness that had the world hooked: can Bieber Fever ever be cured?
Via IG @haileybieber © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Where did it all start? My World was Justin’s first album, in 2009, followed by My World 2.0 in Spring 2010. History-making. Justin was just 15 and had a career of success and iconic, interesting outfits ahead of him. Thank you Scooter Braun, we say in unison. Braun became familiar with Justin through YouTube, where Justin’s mother posted various videos of Justin singing. A real talent, Justin Bieber ended up signing his first record deal with Scooter Braun and Usher. Not bad for a first gig. Next time you think you’re not going to find the love of your life on Tinder, just remember that Justin Bieber signed with Usher from YouTube.
We (we being most of the tween/teen population) experienced what we now realise was jealousy as young girls. Seeing our first celebrity crush flirting with other girls in the One Time music video was true betrayal. Luckily we had Justin's early fashion sense (or…lack of) to distract us. The ‘ick’, for lack of a better term. We can't ignore that the label probably had something to do with it; it's still fun to comment on. Here, Justin is wearing the iconic chunky sneakers that had the 2010s in a chokehold, a grey zip-up hoodie (not fully zipped, obviously) and baggy, timeless Bieber jeans. And the haircut that made him famous, how could we forget? His first single was a hit, the outfit made history, the music video was perfect. What could be next?
Baby, of course.
Justin Bieber in the iconic purple and white look, 2010. Image by Mark Von Holden. Accessed via British Vogue © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
The perfect Halloween costume btw. The most successful song of Justin’s career, 2010, and all time in my opinion, Baby is a fundamental addition to My World 2.0. Oh for the white double denim x purple era to come back, I’d do whatever. Everything about this look and era is so nostalgic. Here, Justin is pictured in concert in 2010 in the signature high tops, white jeans, white denim jacket, and a purple hoodie. And again, not forgetting the usual shaggy haircut that had us shook. Sometimes a purple backwards cap made an appearance, like in the ‘One Less Lonely Girl’ performances of the concerts. Every Belieber was desperate to be picked as Justin’s One Less Lonely Girl. Sigh. This was a perfect start for Justin, and it only got better.
Fast tracking a few years to 2012, Believe was released with a rejuvenated Justin.
Beauty And A Beat, official music video, JB ft. Nicki Minaj, 12 October 2012. That’s it. That’s the post. No words needed. A cinematic masterpiece of Justin’s cool new haircut, style and camera abilities; 1.1B views doesn't do it justice. In this music video, Justin is firstly seen in low waist jeans (still a JB go-to), a white oversized t-shirt and blue shirt over top. He has his newest tattoo ‘BELIEVE’ on show on his left arm. Fitting. Later in the video - after dancing, pool parties and everything 2012 lived for - he switches to a black vest, revealing more tattoos and the antithesis of his usual baggy-clothes preference. The shorter, defined hairstyle marks the beginning of a new era. But, ‘gotta keep an eye out for selener’ is reminiscent of the past ones.
Everyone knows Justin and Selena's relationship journey was a long one. They were allegedly together on again and off again from 2010 to 2018, with Justin even having a tattoo dedicated to Selena. The whole world really thought they were a forever thing, and whilst right person wrong time is bittersweet, the iconic fashion moments make up for some of the sadder experiences. Luckily, Justin has found peace and support with his wife Hailey Bieber. Model, business owner, fashion icon and general girl boss, Hailey and Justin suit each other so well. They welcomed their first child Jack this year. So cute!
Image by Backgrid. Justin and Selena on a date, February 2018. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Valentine's Day 2018 could be one of the last dates Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber went on together. Proving that fashion is their forte, Selena is wearing a glamorous black dress, with a blazer to layer, and elegant black shoes. Justin opts for his usual baggy trousers, paired with a denim jacket and vans. Once again, his signature hairstyle has evolved. If you told me in 2013 that #jelena would break up, I'd probably say what do you mean?
What do you mean? was the leading single on Justin's 2015 album Purpose. With a much more mature music video, and the blonde Justin era, it was more popular than any before - the music video has 2.2B views on YouTube. Let that sink in.
Justin's most recent albums - Changes and Justice - address some serious topics, highlighting a matured and powerful approach to music. ‘Yummy’ of the 2020 album Changes, for one, discusses the darker side to the music industry that society has recently become more aware of. When the MV for Yummy was released, it was initially a little confusing, however now after the exposure of P. Diddy in particular, the deep symbolism makes sense. Yummy is a clever production, educating the world that the music industry is not all glitz and glam, and there is a sinister underside. Unfortunately, Justin experienced harsh situations throughout his career, and was only 15 when he was placed in the spotlight. It is an emotional ordeal to research what Justin Bieber has endured, especially since none of us realised at the time for we were all so young too, but it's definitely important to educate ourselves on the malpractice that goes on behind the scenes. Some stand out moments in the music video that personally evoke emotions are: the end scene, where there is a photo of young Justin on a plate, with ‘Yummy’ underneath, symbolizing that the music industry and certain people with high status can manipulate and use young and new artists. The lyric ‘you’re incriminated’ speaks volumes now after what we know. Justin is a master of his craft, and proves that he is not just a singer, he has the ability to create meaningful pieces that truly trigger emotion and education in people across the world. Yummy is a voice for so many people impacted by this industry and those involved in it who misuse their power. Bringing justice to those who deserve it.
Speaking of, Justin's most recent album is Justice, released 2021. This album reflects Justin's experiences and has a much more relaxed vibe compared to some of his earlier work. Again, he discusses more thought-provoking elements of his job. ‘Lonely’ (ft. Benny Blanco) deliberates how Justin has been affected by hate throughout his career, which is no doubt detrimental to anyone, but imagine being 15 years old and having strangers hurling abuse at you online. He alerts his fans on how although he has achieved immense success, he still feels lonely and that he has no one. “Everybody knows my past, like my house was always made of glass.” In recent years Justin has canceled tours, perhaps to focus on health and his relationship with Hailey, which fans respect and applaud. Everyone struggles sometimes, even fashion superstars and world-famous artists like JB.
Overall, I am a Belieber through and through. His fashion sense and barber visits have evolved over the past decade or so, and so has his music. Whilst Hailey and Justin focus on their son and businesses, the fans have more time to focus on how the music we already have from Justin has shaped our lives. Oh, and btw, it’s almost December 1st, so get Mistletoe in your playlist at the ready.
