"One Time" (CD single)

Review

Common Sense Media says

Usher protege sings clean song about his number-one girl.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

AGE
8
QUALITY
 

Kids say

AGE
9
QUALITY
 

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this single includes no offensive language or mature themes, only a very sweet and innocent message about young love.

  • Positive messages3
    The message here is a positive one, focused not on playing relationship games but rather on treating the person you like with respect and affection.
  • Positive role models4
    Bieber is wholesome, caring, age-appropriate, and inoffensive, with a rags-to-riches story that shows how his hard work has paid off with success.
  • Violence0
    Not applicable.
  • Sex0
    The singer declares his love emphatically, but not too fervently. Some parents may feel that the target age group for this song is a little young for exclusivity, but overall the song is lighthearted, not serious. In the video, Bieber interacts with the object of his crush and she gives him a peck on the cheek.
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What's the story?

ONE TIME is the debut single from Justin Bieber, a fifteen-year-old Canadian R&B singer with a true rags-to-riches story: after his single mother posted videos of her son singing on YouTube, Bieber was eventually discovered by uber-famous R&B artist Usher. Despite being mentored by this more mature singer, Bieber's music remains geared toward his age group, with his song giving a squeaky clean story of falling for a girl that he wants to make his one and only. Though Bieber's claim that he "loves" his girl is a stretch for this age group, the track is mostly just a sweet account of going steady: "I'm a be your one guy / You'll be my number one girl / Always making time for you / I'm a tell you one time."

Is it any good?

 

While Bieber's high voice makes him sound like a very young fifteen, his vocals on this track are strong nevertheless. The arrangement is nothing at all new, sticking closely to the synth-pop recipe that typifies most of the music released by his peers like the Jonas Brothers, Mitchel Musso, and countless others. Still, Bieber's cute looks and heartfelt singing about finding his number-one girl will undoubtedly have many a young heart  swooning over this rising star.

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What families can talk about

  • What does "one guy, one girl" mean for fifteen year olds? Is it OK for kids to be in exclusive romantic relationships at this age, or should they be hanging out with lots of different kids? 

  • Check out our age-appropriate Parent Advice for more on the issues that kids Justin Bieber's age are facing.

This review was written by Stephanie Bruzzese
Parent of 1, 1, and 12 year old
May 5, 2011
AGE
15
 
horrid
Overly-sexualized tune. There's a part where he says "Hey babe... your t!ts... so sweet...". UGH! Disgusting.
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Parent
February 19, 2010
AGE
4
 
One Time
As far as "good" music goes, this is not it. Maybe this will appeal for love-crazed, hormonal teens. But for anybody with a sense of consciousness would know never to waste even a second of your life listening to this.
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Helped me decide (8) | Had useful details (9) | Read my mind (10)
Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 10 years old
May 11, 2011
AGE
17
 
i strongly dislike JB
i strongly dislike JB
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Kid, 11 years old
April 17, 2011
AGE
17
 
jb sucks
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Helped me decide (7) | Had useful details (8) | Read my mind (11)
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Teen, 17 years old
August 3, 2009
AGE
17
 
Never. just never.
Sucks! I hate this guys voice because he sounds like a woman. Yes. a woman.
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Kid, 12 years old
May 3, 2011
AGE
8
 
I hate him.
I honestly dont like JB but the movie DOES inspire kids to become a singer or what ever...
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Helped me decide (9) | Had useful details (6) | Read my mind (9)
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Kid, 12 years old
April 27, 2011
AGE
9
 
He's LAME
I HATE JUSTIN BEIBER!
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Kid, 13 years old
June 11, 2011
AGE
5
 
I hope I only have to hear this song "One time"
I hate this song! I HATE JUSTIN BIEBER! Good message, BUT I HATE BIEBER AND THIS SONG.
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Helped me decide (8) | Had useful details (6) | Read my mind (9)
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Kid, 13 years old
May 7, 2010
AGE
8
 
Stop obsessing over him, stop hating on him~ He`s a 16 year old boy for crying out loud!
I think it really is a sweet and harmless song, but there has been way too much "Bieber Fever" going around here. I mean really, he`s an attractive 16 year old boy.. I`m sure there are plenty of those around. xD I agree with Beliefs-Wonder. Stop obsessing over him! It`s getting creepy. o.o Too many people are hating over him as well~ Okay we get it, you think he sounds like a girl.. NOW SHUSH UP. Justin`s just a regular kid trying to live his dream and doing a great job with it =) Listen to this song!
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Kid, 12 years old
May 1, 2010
AGE
10
 
i need help? i think im ugly ,i have a small nose ,dark brown eyes and have long eyelashes. do u think justin would like me. oh and have blond hair
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This review was written by Stephanie Bruzzese
Artist:Justin Bieber
Release date:July 19, 2009
Label:Island
Genre:Pop
Parental advisory:No
This review was written by Stephanie Bruzzese
 

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
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BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
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