But along with money and fame, Bieber has acquired a few tattoos and no small measure of arrogance in the past few years, exemplified tonight by his arrival on stage more than an hour late, at 9:40pm. His young fans didn't seem too fazed, mind, rushing at the stage like stampeding buffalo at the sight of the ten-minute countdown timer, and screaming loud enough to make ears ring long after Bieber's 80-minute show.

To his credit, Bieber delivered. Pyrotechnics and literally launching up through the stage, rocket-style, was a commanding way to kick things off. Like RnB star Usher, the man who signed him back in 2008, on stage Bieber is the complete package - a slickly oiled machine of tight choreography, eyebrow-raising melisma, and confidence that's hard to argue with.

There were three costumes, all of which included low-slung jeans (revealing a whole lot of Calvin Klein boxers in the last act), his own brand of Adidas hi-tops (in white, red and black) and gloves to match each outfit, suggesting that perhaps Biebs feels an affinity with another late, great, gloved performer.