What The World Was Like When Justin Bieber Released His Debut "My World"

"I'ma let you finish."

The year was 2009.

A helmet-haired, baby-faced Justin Bieber released his debut EP, My World, on Nov. 17.

Jason Merritt / Getty Images

Island Records

Beyonce sang "At Last" at Obama's inauguration, helping start his presidency on a (literal) high note.

Win McNamee / Getty Images

Win McNamee / Getty Images

The world lost an icon.

Frederic J. Brown / AFP / Getty Images

Phil Walter / Hulton Archive

RIP Michael.

Stephen Colbert got a hair cut.

Comedy Central

Lady Gaga achieved peak Gaga with the "Bad Romance" video.

youtube.com

Chris Brown and Rihanna's love affair came to a violent and tragic end.

Chris Jackson / Getty Images

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

This wedding party went viral on YouTube... and began a still-ongoing discussion of Chris Brown's thorny and persistent residence in pop culture.

youtube.com

People were "really into" wolf shirts.

amazon.com

The world was (probably too) surprised by the majesty of Susan Boyle.

youtube.com

This kid had a dentist appointment.

leoleinmuller.tumblr.com

Taylor Swift was that girl who didn't get to finish while Kanye spawned one of the best memes OF ALL TIME.

Christopher Polk / Getty Images

giphy.com

Against the advice of literally everyone, Taylor Swift sought comfort in the arms of John Mayer.

Getty Images / Bryan Bedder

They never got back together.

M.I.A. didn't let being massively pregnant cramp her style.

Jason Merritt / Getty Images

Lonely Island tried to fly a boat to the moon.

youtube.com

Audiences still believed in Glee.

youtube.com

Fast-forward to five years later, and a (not-quite) grown-up Bieber is plotting a comeback.

wifflegif.com

wifflegif.com