I changed my mind about Justin Bieber - Inquirer.net

<div readability="168"> <p><strong>How I turned from skeptic to fan in 20 steps</strong><br />I TURNED from skeptic to fan in 20 steps. When Justin Bieber says "Never say never," you better believe him. Because this could happen to you, too.</p><p><strong>STEP 1:</strong></p><p>Let the realization hit you after an evening spent watching YouTube videos of Maria Aragon and Heather Russell:</p><p>You never gave Justin Bieber a chance.</p><p>Maria and Heather both got your attention on YouTube, the same platform that launched Justin's career. But you've never seen the amateur videos of Justin. You've only seen him post-discovery, post-Scooter Braun, post-record deal, post-Usher—shiny hair, big smile and crazy confidence—and you dismissed him as the product of marketing geniuses, as a kid posing as a pop star, all spin and no substance.</p><p>And now you realize you might be wrong.</p><p><strong>STEP 2:</strong></p><p>Log on to YouTube, search for "Justin Bieber old video" and start clicking.</p><p>Watch a younger Justin sitting outside, playing the guitar, singing a gospel song. Watch 12-year-old Justin playing the guitar and singing Edwin McCain's "I'll Be." Watch Justin with a black cap on his head, playing the guitar and singing Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River." Watch tiny Bieber playing the drums. Watch Justin playing the keyboards. See Justin's silhouette singing "So Sick" by Ne-Yo. See clearer videos of Justin singing "Fallin'" by Alicia Keys and "Respect" by Aretha Franklin. Watch Justin sitting on a couch singing Chris Brown's "With You." Check out Bart Simpson on the poster on the wall behind Justin and realize that even Bart can't distract you from the truth—Justin Bieber can sing.</p><p>The kid is talented—just a handful grainy videos were enough to tell you that. But why didn't you see it before?</p><p><strong>STEP 3:</strong></p><p>Read this comment on one of Justin's videos:</p><p>Guests123: "It's funny because I bet if he wasn't famous and all he did was make vids on YouTube no one would be saying, 'He is a no talent hack' or 'He is a girl who needs to die' or even 'He can't sing.' If Justin Bieber didn't become famous, everyone would be saying, 'WOW WHAT AN AMAZING VOICE WHY HAS NO ONE DISCOVERED YOU YET?!?!?!' It's funny isn't it? It also makes me sick that this is how people think."</p><p>Find yourself nodding along so enthusiastically that you can pass for a bobblehead.</p><p><strong>STEP 4:</strong></p><p>Feel ashamed for the time wasted picking on Justin, making him the punch line, and waving him off as something only pre-pubescent girls can understand. You're not a pre-pubescent girl but you kind of understand now.</p><p><strong>STEP 5:</strong></p><p>When word leaks about the evening you spent doing nothing but watching one Justin Bieber video after another, defend yourself. "No, I'm not turning into a fan!"</p><p><strong>STEP 6:</strong></p><p>Accept that you're an adult and that you need to make informed choices. How did you realize you hated pickles? Because you put one of those nasty things in your mouth. How did you realize you love century eggs? Because you put one of those nasty things in your mouth. How can you be sure you hate Justin Bieber's music if you haven't actually listened to it? Being forced by little kids to dance to "Baby" at a 60-year-old's birthday does not count as listening. And hating for the sake of hating is not cute, it's stupid.</p><p><strong>STEP 7:</strong></p><p>Listen to Justin's first album "My World" and realize with a mixture of horror and relief that he sounds younger than your youngest cousin. Okay, tell yourself, I'm really not his target audience. Okay, I'm off the hook. Breathe a huge sigh of relief.</p><p><strong>STEP 8:</strong></p><p>Listen to Justin's second album "My World 2.0." Find your feet involuntarily moving to Somebody To Love. Find your head moving in time with U Smile. Shout out excitedly, "Oh my god, Eenie Meenie is Justin's?! I like this song!" Realize that you now sound like a pre-pubescent girl. So much for not being Justin's target audience.</p><p><strong>STEP 9:</strong></p><p>Ignore friends who make fun of you for having Justin's songs in your iPod. Thirty is not too old to be listening to his songs.</p><p><strong>STEP 10:</strong></p><p>Ignore friends who speculate about you watching "Never Say Never." Duh. Of course you're watching.</p><p><strong>STEP 11:</strong></p><p>Sit in the dark theater with your big bucket of popcorn and watch "Never Say Never." A few minutes into the film, tell the person beside you, "I'm getting goosebumps." Ignore her when she says, "Malamig lang."</p><p><strong>STEP 12:</strong></p><p>Watch "Never Say Never" in its entirety and feel blown away by Justin's incredible story. Find yourself moved to tears. Find yourself wanting to give Justin's grandpa a hug. Find yourself loving "Never Say Never" so much that you tell everyone on Facebook how much you loved it. Realize with glee that there are Bieber fans on your feed and—here's the best part—they're your age.</p><p><strong>STEP 13:</strong></p><p>Read Marc Shapiro's "Justin Bieber: The Fever!" Read "Superstars! Justin Bieber." Let the experience remind you of those days many years ago when you considered BOP and Teen Beat pinups gold.</p><p><strong>STEP 14:</strong></p><p>Go back to the cinemas to watch "Never Say Never" again. Bring friends who swore they'd never become fans. Resist the urge to cackle when they walk out of the theater a little dazed and hit with Bieber Fever.</p><p><strong>STEP 15:</strong></p><p>Spew Justin Bieber trivia and tell everyone you know to watch "Never Say Never." Ignore the strange looks and expressions of disbelief you get. Make arguments so convincing any lawyer would be proud. Leave people with no choice but to promise you they'd watch the movie.</p><p><strong>STEP 16:</strong></p><p>Notice that you automatically start with "Down To Earth" when listening to Justin's songs. You actually have a favorite Bieber song and you're not ashamed to admit it.</p><p><strong>STEP 17:</strong></p><p>Read "First Step 2 Forever," enjoy it immensely and finally let it sink that the impossible had happened. You, who worshipped Alanis and flew for Rachael Yamagata, who abandoned boy bands after New Kids On The Block, who've managed to resist the charms of Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift and just about any other teenybopper sensation the world has managed to produce, have really and truly become a Justin Bieber fan.</p><p><strong>STEP 18:</strong></p><p>Accept that there is nothing wrong with being a Justin Bieber fan. That there is nothing to be ashamed of. What is wrong with liking a talented kid who works hard, loves his fans and his family, gives back to the world and stays grounded? What is there to hate about someone who inspires people to pursue their passions and fight for their dreams?</p><p><strong>STEP 19:</strong></p><p>Resist the urge to argue with Bieber haters. It's futile and it's their loss. Laugh when a 14-year-old girl tells you, "You're scaring me!" when you start singing along to Justin's songs.</p><p><strong>STEP 20:</strong></p><p>Count the days until Justin's Manila concert and pray that you will get to meet him.</p> </div>