MANILA, Philippines—Canadian pop superstar Justin Bieber has scores of young girls around the world under his spell. But he looked like a regular 17-year-old as he walked, almost shyly, into an air-conditioned tent backstage to meet local media, just a few hours before his concert Tuesday night at the Mall of Asia open grounds in Pasay City.
In some countries, traffic jams or entire cities being blocked off are normal occurrences when Bieber is performing. Three hours before his Mall of Asia gig, fans in long, long lines patiently waited for the gates to open. Many wore headsets, nodding to… a good guess is Bieber music. “You know you love me… I know you care…”
TEEN IDOL Singer Justin Bieber arrives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Tuesday for his “My World Tour” concert. AFP
Many had been there since 2 p.m.— although their idol’s plane didn’t touch down in Manila until 2:45—determined to do anything to get close to him, maybe touch his hair, or just catch his eye.
Earlier, the boy had entered the Presidential Lounge at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 (he had taken a Philippine Airlines flight from Singapore) carrying a skateboard and wearing a set of headphones over a gray bonnet. But of course he had been scurried into the lounge by two burly bodyguards. And when finally he went down the escalator from the arrival concourse, hundreds of teenage fans shrieked and screamed his name. Some even recognized his mother on sight.
Bieber kept his head down—an instruction from the escorts, one news photographer said—and didn’t acknowledge his fans. Some girls were irked, but most of them blamed the bodyguards. “Overacting,” they mumbled.
Whisked away
Hundreds more waited outside the airport—and not just teenagers—waiting to catch a glimpse of the singer; never mind getting an autograph. Few even knew it when their idol was whisked away in an SUV van that had driven right past them.
For the press conference, Bieber was casually dressed in a checkered polo shirt, knee-length denim shorts and Vans sneakers. When he spoke, he sounded unaffected by the fame and fortune that had come his way as the world’s hottest teenage singer.
PINOY BACKUP Justin Bieber is touring the world with Legaci, a group of backup singers who are all Filipino-Americans. ROBERT CAPLIN/CONTRIBUTOR
He’s not bothered by critics who thumb down his music as “bubblegum,” he said. What’s wrong about singing love songs? he argued. “It’s a universal thing, and I sing it like it suits my age. My music will grow as I grow older.”
He points out the relevance that his songs play in the lives of his fans. “People going through hard times turn to music. There’s this girl who’s been undergoing chemotherapy… she told me that listening to my songs helps her get through it.”
Asked how surreal it felt to be treated like a god by millions of adolescent girls, Bieber smiled and said, “I don’t think about that.” But having cameras following him around was, he said, “Crazy, really.”
The international press has extensively quoted his comments on just about anything under the sun, including his view that “Canada is the best country” because of its excellent health care system, unlike the United States. When the Philippine Daily Inquirer reminded him that he was currently living in America, Bieber said he might have been quoted out of context.
Fil-Am backup
He explained, smiling his trademark beaming smile, “America is a great country … It has great food. The doctors are really good, too … But Canada is still the best.”
Moving quickly to a more pleasant subject, Bieber reminded the local press that he had been touring the world with Legaci, a group of backup singers who are all Filipinos.
Bieber and Legaci have a few things in common, the superstar said: Both were discovered on YouTube, and they love Boyz II Men.
Legaci is composed of Mathew Arcilla, Jason Atencion, John Daria and Micah Tolentino.
“I love Michael Jackson, too, especially ‘Man in the Mirror,’” Bieber added, and went back to Legaci. They are talented young men, he said, and so he gives them a spot number in his concerts to showcase their own skills: “They’re all cool guys, I admire them.”
Successful collaborations
Collaborating with other artists has become the norm in contemporary pop, and Bieber has been very successful at it. His most popular song, “Baby,” features rapper Ludacris.
“I collaborate with people I like,” the teen idol said, “but working with them depends on the timing, whether they’re available on a given date.”
Asked to name his personal favorites, he rattled off the names Kanye West, Chris Brown, Drake, Rascal Flatts and, naturally, his mentor, Usher.
It would seem that Bieber really intends to seriously explore music and grow with it. In the meantime, he’s still 17, and enjoys playing pranks on friends—like hacking into their Twitter accounts and posting messages for fun. He’s also into video games and playing basketball on his days off from touring.
“I enjoy hanging out with friends and chillin’ out,” he insisted. “I also catch up on sleep whenever I can.”
Throat congestion
Whenever he can may not be enough at the moment, since the rigors of touring seem to be taking a toll on his health.
“Lately I’ve been having this throat congestion,” he revealed. “It doesn’t feel good.”
Even so, he promised to go “all-out” for his concert. With a report from Tina G. Santos