Justin Bieber
photo: lou stejskal · cc by 2.0 ↗Justin Bieber went from a Stratford, Ontario YouTube cover kid to the defining teen-pop phenomenon of the early 2010s, then spent the following decade methodically rebuilding his sound around R&B, dancehall, and EDM textures. Discovered via home-video covers of Ne-Yo and Usher and mentored directly by Usher himself, he built a career on an unusually direct, conversational vocal delivery. Few pop stars have had as public or as scrutinized a coming-of-age.
Bieber has said Michael Jackson is his single biggest inspiration, telling interviewers he wants to 'emulate his career as much as possible' and citing Jackson's refusal to be anyone but himself as a personal touchstone.
listen forPlay Jackson's 'Billie Jean' next to Bieber's 'Boyfriend' — listen for the same syncopated, percussive vocal phrasing riding a stripped-down groove, a direct inheritance Bieber has never hidden.
Usher discovered Bieber's YouTube covers, signed him, and mentored him directly — Bieber's debut single 'One Time' video even features Usher himself, and the two toured together as Bieber launched his career.
listen forPlay Usher's early, vocally acrobatic 'U Got It Bad' next to Bieber's debut 'One Time' — hear how directly Bieber's phrasing and falsetto runs are modeled on Usher's turn-of-the-2000s R&B template, mentor's fingerprints all over the student's first single.
Bieber has named Stevie Wonder among the artists he 'looked up to' growing up, part of the classic soul diet — alongside Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey — that shaped his ear before he ever picked up a guitar.
listen forPlay Stevie Wonder's funk-clavinet showcase 'Superstition' next to Bieber's stripped-back, soul-inflected 'Love Yourself' — different decades and different arrangements, but the same instinct for letting rhythm and vocal phrasing carry a song without much ornamentation.