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MTV: Bieber Trying To Be The New Timberlake
Quote:
Originally posted by MTV
Bieber Trying To Be New Timberlake
Justin Bieber makes 'Justified' leap from tween-hood to manhood with 'Boyfriend,' a la Justin Timberlake.
 
Who does this kid think he is? Justin Timberlake? Yes. Exactly. Lately, the media has been asking whether Justin Bieber will be the next Justin Timberlake. But there is no correct answer to that question because it's the wrong question. Bieber will not be the next Timberlake because Bieber is already a young Timberlake clone with a little plastic surgery. Just think how much bigger, richer and more famous Justin Timberlake would be if he knew at the beginning of his career what he knows now. His Justin Bieber clone provides the opportunity to find out.
In 2002, Justin Timberlake blew everyone's minds when he dropped Justified, his star-making solo album. It propelled him from tween-dream poster boy to legitimate pop star.
Exactly 10 years later, there's another young singer who is trying to make the same leap. When Justin Bieber dropped "Boyfriend" earlier this week, he laid down the gauntlet and declared his pop-star manhood.
His transition is one that Timberlake faced a decade ago as he looked to carve a new path for himself. With grinding, ear-busting production from the Neptunes and Timbaland, the onetime boy-bander created an album that sounded unlike anything his fans had heard before. This album was different — it was all Timberlake. It was sexy and definitely much edgier lyrically, with him singing about girls and sex in a more-mature way.
At the time, he faced the incredibly difficult pop conundrum of having to grow up right before an audience. That's the challenge Bieber now faces. At 18, he can't stray too far from his "My World" days, but in order to grow as an artist and a person, he also can't make "Baby" over and over again.
And, honestly, who would want him to? Edgy and sexy feel like the innate next step for the teen star, with Usher as his mentor — a dude who made a career for himself singing songs about the things he does in the bedroom and flaunting his abs all over town. Although, it's interesting to note that Bieber chose to follow in Timberlake's footsteps. A little history lesson: Timberlake once was in a bidding war to sign Bieber on as his protégé. He quickly caved, never wanting to win. Usher won. Bieber may have declined the chance to join Timberlake's label, but Timberlake is the inspiration for the teen sensation's upcoming album.
"Boyfriend," Bieber's lead single off his "Believe" album, set for release later this year, is straight from the Timberlake blueprint. The song is the perfect blend of hip-hop, vintage-flavored R&B and pop. It's not a far cry from JT's "Like I Love You" thematically: A young man meets a young woman and uses a song, full of bleeps and beats, to declare all the reasons they should be together. Consider all the young women across the world sold on every one of his swag-heavy arguments.
It's easy to harp on Bieber for playing it very close to the Timberlake playbook. But, why shouldn't he? Lyrically, "Boyfirned" sounds a bit silly at times (like when Bieber proposes he and his girl eat fondue by the fire), but Bieber's delivery of the lines proves that he's willing to take the steps to move forward in the world of pop. Sometimes it seems a little too similar to the way the other Justin delivers lines, but taking several cues from Justin Timberlake's early post-'NSYNC work, the track amps up Bieber's credibility as a teen idol.
With the single poised for a huge debut and radio embracing the teen in a bigger way than ever before, now might be the perfect time for Bieber to become everyone's musical boyfriend. So, grab your fondue pot, get your swaggie on, and blast the track. You know you want to.
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The Most Influential Male Artist of the Century.
A greatly written article. They may have shaded Bieber, but they also did praise him for his willingness to progress. Shading Usher is always a plus.
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