Kerre Woodham: Bieber mania baffles

Like many people over 40, I had never heard of Justin Bieber until this week. And now that he's left the country, I very much doubt that I'll hear of him again.

I've only heard snippets of his hit single, Baby - sample lyrics, "Baby, baby, baby, ohh, like, baby, baby, baby, ohh, like baby, baby, baby ohh , I thought you'd always be mine" - but it doesn't seem to be the stuff of rock legend.

And the track record of other tween stars isn't so flash.

I had a picture of a 19-year-old David Cassidy on my bedroom wall when I was a prepubescent squealer and he was washed up and burned out at 21.

The Bay City Rollers were next to be pinned up but once the glare of fame dimmed, the lead singer became an alkie and the drummer pleaded guilty to possession of child porn.

Still, every generation needs its androgynous pin-up boy and it seems for now Justin Bieber is it.

I know I'm not 12, but where is the attraction of something so little and button-eyed, it looks like it should be stuffed and sitting on your quilt?