Music

Justin Bieber spending his retirement recording new music in Toronto

by Mark Teo

Remember when Justin Bieber threatened his retirement on an L.A. radio station, and the music world exploded in seas of cheers and suicidal tweets? That was so, like, last week.

Well, since then, the undeniably swagged-out 19-year-old caused further heart palpitations: On Christmas, he made it official when he tweeted this message, one that surely ruined the holidays for countless music fans.

My beloved beliebers I’m officially retiring

— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) December 25, 2013

Of course, many of the anti-Bieber brigade took this as excellent news—note that the above tweet was favourited nearly 250,000 times. But before the haterade-sippin’ detractors got too smug, the Biebman retracted his statement 45 minutes later with this cryptic tweet.

The media talks a lot about me.They make a up a lot of lies and want me to fail but I’m never leaving you, being a belieber is a lifestyle.

— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) December 25, 2013

Naturally, Bieber’s is-he-or-isn’t-he approach to retirement left plenty of fans and pundits confused. And with his increasingly erratic behaviour—see: the song he wrote with R. Kelly about having sex on tables, his forcible removal from a Brazilian brothel, and the countless other tabloid-worthy transgressions—no one’s really certain what’s going on in Bieber’s tatted-up mind.

Douglas Romanow, the award-winning Canadian producer and head of Toronto’s Noble Street Studios, stepped in to clear the air: Not only is Bieber not retired, says Romanow, but he’s been recording with him all throughout the holidays. And he posted this picture as proof.

Justin Bieber’s retirement rumors are greatly exaggerated > I’ve been recording him in Toronto. #bieberintoronto pic.twitter.com/khoYmzq1TS

— Douglas Romanow (@douglasromanow) January 2, 2014

Of course, it’s possible this photo is a plant and is all part of the bigger Bieber plan. But breathe a sigh of relief, suicidal Beliebers. Justin’s back. But may we never forget the week he threatened to retire.