Editorial: Bieber's hair today, gone tomorrow

Opinion

What did it all mean? A question many were left asking even after this week's saturation news coverage of the visit by internet-propelled phenomenon Justin Bieber.

The name, the hair and the teenage hysteria seemed to descend upon an unsuspecting adult public before they could type Bieber into Google.

This particular shooting star, unknown to the teen-ignorant before causing riotous scenes in Australia the day before coming here, literally put 20-somethings to shame.

All over town even the young and hip had to admit that they were showing their ages in admitting to a blindspot in popular culture.

Canadian Bieber, 16, has arrived from nowhere, a clip of him singing on YouTube attracting the attention of a US musician and the digital age doing the rest. His could be the narrowest yet most fervent fanbase demographic in music.

Around 500 pre-teen and teen girls, some carpooling with parent chaperones, made it to his arrival at midnight at Auckland Airport.

One stole his cap, hoping to ransom it for a hug. Someone else knocked over his mum. He sang at a school, every outstretched hand capturing the moment by phone or camera for upload to social media.

A television music host, oversized beside him, asked how long ago the kid had been just an ordinary kid. TV3 psycho-analysed the screams of the teen groupies, who pursued him all the way back to the airport.

By the end of the day, a grown-up duty-free store staffer with a goatee beard had got enough of the vibe to stop Bieber on departure for a photo and autograph, proudly displayed on Facebook and to the news media.

And then he was gone. Where? Why? Google him fast, before you miss the next instalment.