Justin Bieber (18 page)

People backstage were freaking out. “What’s wrong?”

Scooter dove into the fray, and my mom was right behind him. “Justin? Oh, my God! What happened?”

I groaned something that basically meant “I broke my friggin’ foot again.”

Scooter threw the green room door open, and Kenny plopped me on the sofa.

“Are you sure?” he said. “Maybe you just twisted—”

“Aagh! Don’t touch it!”

“Okay. Okay. You’re okay.” He whipped out his iPhone to troubleshoot the first aid and find out what an American manager is supposed to do with a wounded Canadian singer in England.

Taylor was so sweet. She was moments from going on. The fans were out there waiting for her – twelve-thousand people chanting her name – but first she dashed back to see if I was okay. She’s a cool person and a real pro. She genuinely cared that I was hurt, but she had the show to do.

“Hang in there, Justin. You’ll be all right.” She gave me a solid hug and was out the door, running for the stage. Her mom stayed with my mom, who was a little unnerved by the whole thing. We located a hospital where I could get X-rays and a cast. Not exactly the after-party I’d dreamed of when I imagined playing my biggest show so far.

The next day, we went to an orthopedist who fitted me with an Aircast. On the outside, the hard shell looked like a stormtrooper boot from
Star Wars.
Inside, it had air cells that inflated to fit tight and immobilize my foot and ankle. This made it possible for me to continue performing, but, still, immobility and I are not good together. It drove me crazy that I couldn’t skateboard or play soccer or skate or much of anything else for eight weeks. I did all the media stuff and the shows, but I was hopping around on my one good foot like some peg-legged pirate.

To summarize the whole broken-foot incident: it sucked.

For one thing, it really hurt. For another thing, I was slated to perform at “Christmas in Washington 2009,” along with Usher, Mary J. Blige, Neil Diamond and a lot of other amazing performers. The night of the performance in Washington – I’ll admit it – I was
nervous. It was a huge honor. And I wasn’t keen on the idea of getting up in front of President Obama and a massive television audience in my stormtrooper boot.

“I’m taking the Aircast off,” I told Mom and Scooter.

They both said, “No, you’re not!”

“Okay,” I said.

As soon as they walked out of the dressing room, I took it off and pulled my shoe out of my backpack. It felt a little strange at first, but I wasn’t even thinking about it when I stepped out in front of the President and First Lady. I sang the great old Stevie Wonder song “Someday at Christmas,” then went back to the dressing room and quickly put the Aircast on before Mom could get to me. How about this for the greatest dodge of all time? “Sorry, Mom. Can’t talk now. Chillin’ with Mary J. Blige and Mrs. Obama.”

Even with all that going on, Mom and I made sure that we were back in Stratford at Christmas, ready to play the gift exchange game and snarf down plenty of Grandma’s turkey and gravy. Some things never change.

That was the Christmas where I met that girl and made out with her furiously for several days straight and we went on to have the most romantic relationship in the history of man. Wait... that did not happen. But I did have fun just pranking you right there while you sat excitedly in your room reading about it. Sorry, I just had to have a little fun. Next chapter. AW, C’MON!!

J
anuary starts the awards season in the music industry, and in the United States the biggest, most epic and most prestigious is the Grammys, of course. Seeing that I’d just gotten my album out five weeks before the end of the year, we weren’t expecting to be included, but I was asked to present with Ke$ha who was also a new artist that year.

The two of us were to promo this upcoming interactive fan thing. Viewers were invited to vote on which song Bon Jovi would perform later in the show. Cool concept, right? I had to read a little blurb off the teleprompter: “You can still go to CBS dot com slash Grammys to vote on which song Bon Jovi will be playing in a matter of minutes.”

But you know me – I can’t resist a good prank. After the long parade through all the media on the red carpet, having my mind blown every five seconds by the amazing people I was meeting, I got up there with Ke$ha and, to my delight, sitting in the
front row was my longtime crush, Beyoncé. She was so beautiful. Sorry, Jay-Z, I’m not trying to hit on your girl but I’m just saying.

I decided to go for it, so rather than saying “Bon Jovi,” I said Beyoncé’s name instead.

“I mean – I mean Bon Jovi. Bon Jovi,” I stammered. “Sorry. Beyoncé’s always on my mind.”

Even though I did it on purpose, everyone in the audience thought I’d genuinely messed up. Gotcha! Even Beyoncé herself thought it was a mistake so she consoled me when I met her backstage. Oh sweet, sweet victory! Ha ha.

It was an amazing night I’ll never forget. I got to meet so many of my idols like Lionel Richie, Dave Matthews, Quincy Jones, Lil Wayne and Mary J. Blige – and Jay-Z and Beyoncé of course. It totally blew my mind.

The main music awards in Canada are the Junos and the MuchMusic Video Awards. I was nominated for New Artist of the Year at the Junos, but Drake edged me out. (Good game, Drake.) Miley Cyrus hosted the MuchMusic Awards, so that was win-win, no matter how you slice it. I was nominated and won UR Fave New Artist and UR Fave Video. I had two songs nominated for International Video of the Year by a Canadian, so I actually beat myself. (Good game, Bieb!)

That was kind of a CHUCK NORRIS moment for me.

Usher reminds me on a regular basis that there will be a whole lot of awards given out during the course of my career. Some will go to me, some won’t. It’s an honor to be nominated and awesome to win, but you can’t lose sight of the real honors and victories that happen off camera. Like this letter I got a couple weeks after the MMVAs:

June 15th 2010

Dear Justin,


I am writing to you to thank you for something you have no idea you did... you helped me get through chemo...


In October of 2009, I was scheduled to have surgery and found out afterwards that I had a malignant tumor. It was removed, but my parents were told that I had to go through a few rounds of chemo just to be safe. As much as I found this devastating, I knew I had to fight it all the way. The day after your concert in Toronto at the Kool Haus, I went into sick kids hospital to start my first treatment. I was very scared of what I was going to be put thru and how my body would react. The only thing that kept me going (other than my mother being by my side) was the fact that I was on stage with you the night before. You sang to me and afterwards gave me the hat right off your head.


Your hat and your pictures decorated my hospital room each time I went for my treatments. I educated the doctors and nurses about Bieber trivia and many times even sang them a few of your songs. When I found the poking and prodding too much to bear, I simply looked at the picture of you and me on stage, smiled and got thru one more ordeal. I remembered you saying those famous words to me, “only you shawty” and everything seemed easier to handle. Words can never express how much that one seemingly little gesture helped me overcome the terrible disease my body was fighting.


I am sure one day I will have the opportunity to meet and thank you personally, but until then,


Your most sincere fan,


Sabrina Moreino