MUSIC
Child prodigy or pop’s biggest brat? Whatever you think of Justin Bieber, you can’t deny his star power or catchy tunes – and he’s bringing both to Dubai this month
All about Justin Beiber, who performs in the UAE this month
Back in 2007, Canadian singer songwriter Justin Bieber was just a geeky 13-year-old with a bad bowl haircut and an acoustic guitar, when a talent manager spotted him playing cover songs on YouTube. A week later, he was singing for Usher. A year after that, he released the platinum selling debut EP My
World, followed by the triple platinum album My World 2.0. And now, ten years later, he’s getting ready for the only UAE show of his Purpose World Tour, when he arrives at Dubai’s Autism Rocks Arena on May 6.
Bieber has come a long way from singing R&B covers on the internet, shedding his sickly sweet, boyband-like image (that bowl haircut, for one), and replacing lovey dovey ballads of earlier albums like Believe with some serious club bangers. His makeover is largely thanks to big name EDM producers Skrillex and Diplo, who produced fourth studio album Purpose. It’s that platinum-selling record that his world tour is celebrating, set to cover six continents and predicted to make Dhs800 million worldwide.
Love him or hate him, you can’t deny the Sorry singer’s success. He’s one of the biggest selling artists of all time, scooping up Grammy Awards, smashing world records (he’s had more number one singles than The Beatles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart) and breaking hearts, thanks to a rabidly loyal fanbase who call themselves Beliebers. But despite impressive numbers, and the fact that even our hippest music- loving friends will quietly admit to having a Bieber song or two on their playlists ( Where Are U Now, anyone?), controversy follows the hit-maker wherever he goes. Only time will tell whether Dubai’s Beliebers will get the best or the worst of their hero. May 6 a Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai-Al Ain Road, Dubai, Sat 4pm, Dhs335. Tel: (04) 4237980. Taxi: Dubai Outlet Mall. 117live.com