Marylou's Rant -- Justin Bieber Compares Himself to Kurt Cobain

- by Marylou White



Let's all cross our fingers and hope this quote is just a rapidly viral, mind-numbing and soul-destroying rumor:

"I feel like the Kurt Cobain of my generation. People just don’t understand me.”
-- Justin Bieber

Are you kidding me? You did not just say that.

That’s an alleged quote by Justin Bieber, the number one teen pop star in America, and probably world-wide. Can someone please explain to me how Justin Bieber can compare himself to Kurt Cobain in any way?



Seventeen year-old Justin Bieber was born in Canada and was discovered by the wildly popular R&B star Usher. By the time his first album dropped he was already America's heart throb and posters of his face hung in the bedrooms of every girl (and many boys) between the ages five and eighteen. He's marketed as such, and seemingly embraces his life and his image/persona with therefore no basis to proclaim he is as misunderstood as Kurt Cobain was.

On the other hand, Cobain was a brooding and reluctant icon; presenting himself to the world both musically and socially as a depressed, dark, and talented alternative artist. Cobain, who practically launched a genre, was cursed to carry a generation of grungers on his over-burdened shoulders.

The fact that Justin Bieber compared himself to this musical icon is so wrong on so many different levels. Justin is forced down our throats as a bubbly ray of sunshine. Bieber is indeed the man who sold the world. Meanwhile, Kurt Cobain borrowed a Vaselines song to express that even Jesus didn't want him as a sunbeam.

Musically speaking, the two artists' musical styles couldn't be more opposite. Bieber's songs consist of repetitive use of the word "baby" smothered in an upbeat tone, with focus on his mostly prepubescent vocals. Justin Bieber is more of a brand than a performer.

Oppositely, Kurt Cobain wasn’t even a solo artist (unlike our friend Justin). Not to mention Cobain didn't even have remotely the same fan base. Yes, Kurt Cobain was considered a heart throb, but in a brooding and mysterious way.

The average Justin Bieber fans are eight year-old girls that worship him for his good looks (beauty is in the eye of the beholder) and his expensive, enhanced smile, all shoved down our throats by his corporate marketing team. Kurt Cobain spoke to a wide range of listeners of all ages and genders who flocked to him more for his musical ability and anti-establishment, corporate-negative attitude.

The other thing that I just can’t understand about Bieber's statement is WHY he feels that people just don’t understand him. Please Justin, tell us what we are not understanding! Bieber constantly throws the image of a cocky, hot player with endless charm. Kurt Cobain never tried to charm anyone, never tried to get people to like him and was never conceited. In fact, he was definitively a 180-degree opposite of ALL of that!

Kurt Cobain was a much too talented artist who died far too young because he couldn’t handle the fame forced upon him, nor did he want to. For many years Cobain struggled with depression, addiction and apathy. This is in no way similar to Justin Bieber's G-rated, immature 17 year-old, happy-go-lucky persona. Bieber is an overrated teen idol who thrives in the media, and in my opinion is in fact all too well understood to compare himself to Kurt Cobain. His statement is simply beyond fathom.

~ Marylou White



Marylou White is our office anathemist, junior copy editor and the creator of Jivewired Teen on Tumblr. Occasionally she will post articles in this forum when they are relevant to our mission and to readers of all ages. Comments and opposition to her viewpoint are welcome and encouraged.

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