Video will appear as you scroll through the story
Justin Bieber · S2 E8
Ellen
The talk show circuit, the charm offensive, and an America that can’t decide if it loves or hates him
Justin Bieber is sitting on Ellen DeGeneres's couch again, and the studio audience hasn't stopped screaming since he walked through the door. Ellen looks at the crowd, looks at Justin, and mouths the word "wow."
"Mistletoe" (Justin Bieber, official music video, 2011). This is peak charm-era Justin: sweet, wholesome, impossible to dislike. The same energy that made him Ellen's favorite guest and every parent's reluctant approval. Before the tabloids took over, this is who America saw on their TV screens.
Mistletoe, Justin Bieber (2011)
"Mistletoe" was produced by Nasri from the band MAGIC! before they had their own hit. The production wraps Justin's vocal in ukulele and soft percussion, making it feel handmade rather than manufactured. Listen for how relaxed he sounds compared to the My World singles. This is Justin learning to stop performing and start just singing.
Sources
Under the Mistletoe album liner notes, Island Records, 2011.
Ellen's Couch
Ellen DeGeneres becomes Justin's biggest champion on American television. She invites him back repeatedly, gives him pranks to pull on unsuspecting staff, and treats him like a nephew rather than a guest. The Ellen appearances do something crucial: they make Justin approachable to parents who might otherwise just hear noise.
Sources
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, various episodes, 2009-2011.
“He's the most talented kid I've ever had on this show. And I've had a lot of talented kids on this show.”
— Ellen DeGeneres, paraphrased from The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2010-2011)
TAP TO REVEAL: How many times did Justin appear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show?
Warner Bros. Studio, Burbank, California
Home of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Justin walked through these doors more times than almost any other musical guest in the show's history.
The Media Blitz
Up, Justin Bieber (2010)
"Up" is the most optimistic track on My World 2.0, and it captures the energy of this exact moment in Justin's career: everything rising, everything possible, the whole world paying attention. After the Grammy stage and Ellen's couch, this song sounds like a victory lap by a kid who hasn't even started running yet.
Up, Justin Bieber (2010)
"I'm coming up, I'm coming up." Justin wrote this when things were still accelerating, and the lyrics have the breathlessness of someone watching their own life change in real time. Read them knowing he's sixteen, on every talk show, on the Grammy stage, and still not old enough to drive in most states.
Who produced Justin Bieber's "Mistletoe"?
The charm offensive is working, but Justin isn't a kid anymore. Next season: a Christmas album, a new sound, an entourage that gets louder every day, and the first cracks in the armor.
0 XP earned this session
To be continued
Season 3: Believe
Coming soon. Enter your email to get notified when new episodes drop.