For Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber, the year was pretty much up and down, on and off.(Photo: Jason Merritt, Getty Images)
In 2012, some pop stars made as much noise with their romantic
adventures, or rumors thereof, as they did in the recording studio or on
tour. In addition to the Rihanna/Chris Brown psychodrama (a category
unto itself), there were several name artists who captured attention
simply by riding the roller coaster that is young love. A few examples:
Taylor Swift and Conor Kennedy/Harry Styles
With her latest multiplatinum album, Red,
burning up the charts, this 23-year-old singer/songwriter hardly needs a
guy on her arm to sustain attention. Then again, as John Mayer and Jake
Gyllenhaal could surely tell you, relationships have proven great
source material for Swift; and this year she had another pair of
high-profile ones, both with younger men: Kennedy, 18-year-old heir to
the political dynasty, was succeeded with fellow crooner Styles, the
same age, of the British boy band One Direction. Listen for references
to both in future hits.
Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez
Has
any other couple not yet of legal drinking age inspired more public
hand-wringing than Bieber, 18, and his maybe-on/perhaps-off again flame,
Gomez, 20? After months of speculation, the smooth-faced sweethearts
split in November, then reconciled and were spotted together at a
December concert event where, by alternate accounts, they cooed and
cuddled adorably and/or had a massive argument. Ah, puppy love.
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth
There were no real signs of trouble in paradise for the 19-year-old
former tween darling and her 22-year-old Australian fiancé as a couple.
Cyrus, who's supposedly working on her next album, seemed liberated by
l'amour, chopping her hair and modeling increasingly skimpy outfits. But
her beau raised eyebrows a little differently after he got into brawl
outside a Philadelphia bar. This is, apparently, a hot couple in more
than one sense.
USA Today