Everybody loves a comeback kid. After a few years getting in trouble with the law, fluffing up the release of his R&B collection Journals, and generally playing up the part of pop's No.1 brat to the point of making Dennis The Menace look like a saint, Bieber returned with some of the finest smash hits of his career.
The hat trick of hits that was 'What Do You Mean?', 'Sorry' and 'Love Yourself' finally opened him up to an audience beyond screaming teens, positioning him as a pop idol Dad can also appreciate when he's inevitably dragged along to the show. The album title summed it up perfectly. Justin Bieber had found his Purpose. Or so we thought.
The thing is, Dad might know a few more of the JB songs these days, but we're willing to bet he still doesn't understand what all the fuss is about. There's no denying Justin Bieber is a talented young man. When he sits with his guitar and sings stirring renditions of 'Cold Water' and 'Love Yourself', his voice is smooth, strong and soulful. When he can be bothered to put in the leg work during high-energy choreographed routines for 'Where Are U Now' and 'As Long As You Love Me', he's pop perfection.
But too many times throughout the show, Justin just looks like he doesn't want to be there. At points he can't even be bothered to mime, holding the mic by his side as his vocals continue to boom across the O2 Arena. This isn't a criticism of him choosing to mime – during the more high octane routines we'd rather a clear pre-recorded vocal to sing along to than a messy, breathless pant. But for someone at Bieber's level, not even slightly pretending to be singing your biggest hit is a downright bizarre attitude to have.
Maybe that's because, judging by the intense screams that never falter throughout the entirety of the show, Bieber Fever is still very much alive. His core fan base don't care. As long as their idol is placed right in front of them to ogle at, he can look as miserable as he wants. They can rationalise it as brooding – or even bad-boy swag.
It's a shame, mainly because Bieber has the potential to be the very best popstar in the world. The staging and production around the Purpose tour is incredible. Immersive, colourful visuals light up the stage, from cosmic explosions to futuristic pyramids. There are acrobats, breakdancers and even a giant trampoline suspended in the air for Biebs to backflip on. It's all put together as the ultimate pop spectacle. But at the centre of it all, the star isn't shining.
There are moments where Bieber looks engaged, and when he does there are glimmers of the superstar we want him to be. 'Life Is Worth Living' is given a defiant outing, while 'Purpose' – for its cloying sentiment – is a beautiful finale, before the inevitable 'Sorry' encore.
We don't think we've ever come away from a pop concert so conflicted before. The songs are huge, the production outstanding, and Bieber had moments of magnificence. But too many times he looked hollow and, we can't believe we're saying this, bored. There's a sense that he's trapped between the artist he wants to be and the artist his fans demand him to be. Purpose might be the name of this particular worldwide jaunt, but when it comes to his popstar mindset at least, Justin is still very much looking for it.
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