RodeoHouston closed a record-breaking season — more than 2 million people through the gates — with a double-shot of scream-worthy, swoon-inducing, out-of-your seat teen pop.
Canadian sensation Justin Bieber and Grand Praire girl Selena Gomez shared a Sunday bill that was bright, brisk and stuffed with nonstop singalongs. Even parents likely found themselves humming a few times.
Bieber offered a carefully crafted performance that made good use of his band and a quartet of dancers. There’s nothing quite like seeing a pop star at peak commercial power.
Love Me riffed on the Cardigans’ ’90s hit Lovefool, and Bigger boasted a flurry of staccato beats. Bieber serenaded a fan and offered her roses during One Less Lonely Girl. (You could almost feel the envy throughout the stadium.)
Acoustic takes on Never Let You Go and Favorite Girl served as nice contrasts to the pop bounce of One Time and Baby. He ably handled a mashup of covers (Michael Jackson’s Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’, Aerosmith’s Walk This Way) and dressed them up with energetic dance routines.
Bieber is an engaging vocalist, and at just 16, he’ll undoubtedly improve with age. It will be interesting to see if so many screaming fans stick around for the ride.
