A teenaged Canadian singer, Justin Drew Bieber came onto the music scene in 2009 with appealing pop songs and fresh-faced looks that made him a teen idol in the eyes of many preadolescent girls. As he gained a bigger audience, he turned to more mature material and expanded his concert tours. He also made good use of the Internet, with videos that quickly went viral.
The videos, which included a few homemade ones, showcased Bieber singing and playing guitar. He drew attention from record producers and talent managers, including Scooter Braun, who signed him to his first recording contract.
Braun’s next step was to help Bieber develop his live show. The result was a tour that took him all over the world. The show was a huge success and set the stage for his next project, a full-length album.
In 2010, Bieber released the acoustic album My World. The record was a big hit, reaching No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 and also charting well internationally. In addition, he released a remix album titled Never Say Never — The Remixes featuring remixes of songs from the first album and guest appearances by such artists as Miley Cyrus, Kanye West and Chris Brown.
The song “One Less Lonely Girl” was a top-10 hit that featured a video in which Bieber tries to win the affection of a young woman by following her around town. She eventually gives in and gives him her number. Bieber’s mother, Pattie Mallette, and one of his mentors, Usher, make cameo appearances in the video.
Bieber followed up with his second album, Believe, in 2012 and a Top 10 summer hit with the Jack U duo Skrillex and Diplo collaboration, “Where Are U Now.” During this time, he also performed a Christmas album, Under the Mistletoe.
As he gained a more mainstream audience, Bieber became more daring with his fashion choices. His look evolved from a teeny-bopper to a full-on glam rock star with lots of sparkly clothes and hair. In addition to making his own clothing line, he has worn pieces by such designers as Chanel and Tom Ford.
At the end of 2013, and throughout 2014, Bieber faced challenges with his personal life. He was arrested several times for alleged offenses like driving under the influence of drugs and resisting arrest. He had relationships that fizzled and he was often in the news for controversial public behavior.
Bieber’s friends describe him as soft, sensitive and all heart. They say he is ruled by emotions so intense that he can’t always control them. That can lead to overreactions, impulsive decisions and a need to numb the pain with drugs or avoid meaningful relationships. In this film, two different brain doctors talk about the effect of these high levels of cortisol on a young person’s mental health and the way that the way in which Bieber was raised has left him without the tools to seek out a more stable and grounded life for himself.