Get FREE NRO Newsletters

 

June 11 Issue  |  Subscribe  |  Renew

Close

New on NRO . . .

The Corner

The one and only.

Print   |  Text
 

Change We Can Belieber In?

Cornerites, you might watch this video and see a wholesome teeny-bopper doing a halfway-decent impersonation of a man with whom we have cause to vehemently disagree just about every day. 

I watch it and I see a semi-articulate pubescent millionaire Canadian with a comb-forward mocking the sitting president of the United States on national television, and I’m ready to fight the Aroostook War

But maybe I’m overreacting.

UPDATE: Of course I’m overreacting. And (mostly) kidding.

New on The Corner. . .


COMMENTS   20

EXPAND  

Dan Ledbetter
   02/16/11 10:43

Not a Bieber fan but I think you're overreacting.

Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse
Bob S
   02/16/11 10:45

Yes, you are overreacting.

Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse
Paul Mitchell
   02/16/11 10:45

People have done impressions of Presidents for at least all of my life.

There's been, I think, a shyness about doing Obama, and I'm pleased to see that going away.

Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse
Seamax
   02/16/11 10:50

You may be too young to remember the War of 1812, Foster, but we've kicked your butt once already. Don't make us do it again.

Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse
   02/16/11 10:51

Saturday Night Live should give the Biebs a call. That impersonation is light-years ahead of the one that Fred Armisen does.

Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse
   JRapp
   02/16/11 10:56

LOL, a 30 something guy isn't that kid's target demo, but I have to admit he is crazy talented. That impression was hilarious. He is just a teenager though, so I wouldn't read too much into it.

Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse
 JJW
   02/16/11 11:07

Anyone who takes a shot downfield and even remotely spoofs this President is OK by me. I think you were just looking for an excuse to bring up the Aroostook War.

Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse
   02/16/11 11:08

Impersonations of sitting politicians are a time honored and thoroughly uncontroversial form of humor. I thought it was pretty funny. I like Bieber more than I expected to.

Relax and live a little, Foster.

Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse
   02/16/11 11:12

Lol, what JJW said.

...although after Obama threatened the Jonas Brothers with Predator drones--and they were fans of his, they hadn't mocked him!--I wouldn't be surprised if there is some sort of retaliation.

Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse
   02/16/11 11:16

No mockery at all. Mockery has to do with pejorative content, and there was none. Heck, there was hardly *any* content at all.

So, yeah, overreacting.

romzburg

Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse
   02/16/11 11:32
   02/16/11 11:48

I have to preface this remark by saying that I am really behind the times concerning Justin Bieber.

Some weeks or months ago, NRO had a hilarious picture on the home page, purportedly of Justin Bieber. I kept staring at the picture, wondering what was wrong with it. I didn't know what the kid looked like, although I had a vague impression of a blonde comb-forward. But I couldn't believe how old he looked in the picture, and how odd.

It took me several views to realize that I was looking at Obama's face with Bieber's hair. *Such* a weird sensation when I finally realized.

Anyhow, I have been looking for that picture ever since, as I know my children would get a kick out of it. It was very well done.

Furthermore, the picture causes you to realize . . . that there actually is a resemblance, beginning with the sweet and winning smile.

Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse
   02/16/11 11:52

The kid's cool and kinda funny in a very pleasant, kid-appropriate way.

(I refuse to take the bait and Google the Aroostook War. Besides, I am pre-occupied with the American War Between the States, an affair only put on hold when our once-great generals, Lee and Johnston, went rogue and sold out our brave heroes while they were still in the field.)

Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse
Mike#9
   02/16/11 11:59

Here is a better reason to hate Bieber -- or pleasantly invite him to grow-up.

External Link 

quote
"You guys are evil," he says with a laugh. ...
In Canada, if your baby's premature, he stays in the hospital as long as he needs to, and then you go home."
unquote

Actually, Toronto (~5 million) often sends premature babies to Buffalo (~1 million), as we don't quite have the facilities.

Or maybe Beiber is an evil genius and that "you gone home" part meant "return to Canada".

Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse
   02/16/11 12:04

Young Master Bieber has some interesting...well, maybe that's overstating it--some "youthful" ideas (that's more charitable) about life and about the USA. There's a new interview out in which he calls the USA "evil" and sings the praises of Canada's healthcare system and other silly stuff. Here's the link to the story--which I'd just read with disgust from a Drudge link when I came and saw this video. WOuld I be sounding my age (57) too much if I just said "Why don't you get a haircut, kid?"

External Link 

Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse
Jerry Ryan
   02/16/11 15:18

That kid was hysterical. . . good for him.

Who is he, anyway?

Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse
Rob Crawford
   02/16/11 15:24

Is there even a difference between the two? Lightweight celebrities whose fame has outstripped their accomplishments.

Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse
   02/16/11 15:43

Rob Crawford:

Ouch! I've got toilet seats I don't slam that hard!

Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse
Darren
   02/26/11 13:55

Yeah, please don't kill us, Americans. You made him.

He is kinda charming though, eh?

Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse
pastol
   05/03/11 17:37

When it comes to Bieber, we adults constantly and consistently show that we take ourselves too seriously and that we are green beyond an Irishman the morning after St. Patty's day. The guy is just a kid who sings. What do you want? Enlightened political orations? An answer to all of the world's problems? Or is it that we want him to say "I'm a no talent punk."? Well that he isn't. He has been a musician since he was at tyke. He worked hard at it and he built a brand and garnered millions in USD while still a teenager. Who in their right mind wouldn't want that for themselves or their own children? Face it, he beat us all at the game. No matter what I think of his art, I give the kid loads of credit for his salesmanship. He follows in the footsteps of many disliked personalities before him. Madonna, Howard Stern, and Mr T. to name a few. Like them or not, you've got to respect someone who finds a niche and fills it to the tune of millions in personal income. To Mr. Bieber I say with a grin: Touche!

Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse

Add a Comment

Already Registered? Log In Here.


The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.


* Designates a required field.
© National Review Online 2012
All Rights Reserved.
Subscriptions
NR / Print
NR / Digital

Gift Subscriptions
NR / Print
NR / Digital
NR Apps
iPhone/iPad
Android

NRO Apps
iPhone
Support Us
Donate
Media Kit
Contact