Bieber's beautiful night

What is it about Justin Bieber? Is it that, to misquote Oscar Wilde, he sings a song only you can hear? Or is it the Canadian teen’s heartfelt lyrics, which urge the listener to believe in love and in their dreams?

Whatever the reason, his legion of fans – mainly female and young – are convinced that what they feel for Bieber is true love. Others aren’t quite so convinced, finding him too cocky and contrived.

But the girls who turned out for Bieber’s Bangkok concert on Thursday night definitely fell into the first category. They weren’t all teenaged either, with several families spotted amongst the audience as well as a surprising number of older people. Perhaps they too had fallen prey to Bieber’s lyrical conviction that all girls are beautiful and every girl needs a boyfriend, preferably one who looks just like him, to love and comfort them.

Then there’s Bieber’s message to follow your dreams. Pantapat Kaewkaemkhae, 19, has been following the singer since she was 15 and says she’s become good at English thanks to chatting with members of his international fan club. He even inspired her to become a singer too.

“I’ve been a fan ever since his mother posted his clips on YouTube,” she said. “He made it through his own efforts.” 

She hasn’t even been put off by his recent erratic behaviour, which includes spitting on fans and taking drugs. “I understand that it’s all part of the manager’s style to change Bieber’s image as he grows up,” she said in his defence.

To be fair, Bieber didn’t display any pop brat tendencies at the Bangkok show, performing a professional set with well-choreographed moves.

Fans mooned over his perfectly toned body and good looks. “He is just so handsome,” sighed a transgender dressed in a costume that would have made Lady Gaga proud. When asked if Justin Timberlake was also her type, she grimaced and pointed out that he isn’t nearly as handsome as Bieber. 

That dreamlike perfection also seemed to hold Bieber together, physically and mentally with not even a single strand of his coifed hair daring to fall out of place.

But few shows are ever perfect and many concert goers were more than a little miffed when the fans in the front rows clambered up on to their seats and, despite warnings from Challenger Hall staff, refused to climb down. Their selfish actions forced audience members in the back rows, some of them with small kids in tow, to choose between standing on the seats too or exiting the hall in disgust.

While Bieber has tried to put some hip- hop and rap and a little swag into his songs, it was his earlier hits like “Baby” that tweaked Thai hearts.

And in a move worthy of the pro that he’s become, Bieber picked a girl out of the crowd, sat her on a chair, and wooed her with “One Less Lonely Girl”. And although the lucky fan was probably thrilled at the attention, others were not, saying that the gesture merely left them feeling lonelier. 

“He held her hand and went back stage with her. She’s so lucky,” said one disappointed fan after the concert ended.