Is it time to quit dismissing the taste of teenage girls and start appreciating Justin Bieber?
Eric Gruneisen
It's also worth noting, as others have, the important role these artists play for teens and tweens who are preparing to navigate the world of being an adult with issues in love, sexuality, and image.
Lyrics about romance, desire, heartbreak and those little things that make you perfectly imperfect can be liberating to hear when sung by someone close to their age group, and it's an added bonus for them to have these individuals they can arbitrarily obsess over and identify with. When Demi Lovato came clean about her struggle with bulimia, self-injury, bipolar disorder, substance abuse and subsequent treatment, teen girls suffering from similar problems had a teen icon to look up to who was actually a teenager. Seeing a peer in the public eye open up about issues like this allows those who are more terrified to admit their problems feel a little less alone.
See also: Bieber Fever -- the "Fieber" -- can lead to severe discomfort
So while it has yet to be determined whether or not one of those 1D boys will pop off as the next Justin Timberlake or if Justin Bieber's hair-flip will contain the same historical poignancy as, say, Elvis Presley's hip-swivel, it's not unreasonable to believe that, given a few years and inches in height, we'll all collectively decide it's okay to admit your iTunes play count of "Boyfriend" or "What Makes You Beautiful."
In the meantime, it may be worthwhile to think about not only how we talk about the women who make and perform music but the women and young girls who listen to music, as well. Will you have the balls to admit that maybe those millions of girls have pretty damn good taste?
See also:
- Bieber Fever -- the "Fieber" -- can lead to severe discomfort
- It's official: Justin Bieber more badass than Axl Rose
- Justin Bieber's new track, "Boyfriend," defies those snap judgments you just made
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