A Sad Predicament

The wasteland of popular music has reached a new low. I'm speaking of course about the absolute skyrocketing of Canadian backwoods singer Justine Bieber. Not only has this neophyte 16 year-old captured the eyes of some big name celebrities; he's also coveted the savings of every teenage girl from San Francisco to New York. His lackluster lyrics, mind-numbingly repetitive beats and pre-pubescent voice makes Miley Cyrus look like Maria Carey. Is this just another youtube overnight success story? Or is this a deep seated ploy by MTV marketing heads to make a buck off a teenage heart-throb with helmet hair? If it is, they've got it down to a science. Pluck a good looking kid, with some singing ability, out of the obscurity of the internet. Next, dress him up and give him a signature style. Then, cast him in high-budgeted music videos singing crappy recycled songs about love, which he then releases on an album featuring him posing as an edgy, young Justine Timberlake. Have him flirt with high-profile celebrities and make the rounds of late night talk shows. Next thing you know you have a teen heart-throb who has never dated a girl before and is making more money than he ever dreamed of. Ironic huh? Why can't we get back to the portentousness of the 90's? Call me nostalgic, but I think the 90's held something that has been lost on popular culture. That something is a sense of rebellion towards the process of consumerist music. A process clearly illustrated by Justine Bieber. So pop, please stop being so pretentiously aloof to your follies, and Justine Bieber please cut your hair.