Monster (Shawn Mendes & Justin Bieber)

"Monster" is a collaborative track by Shawn Mendes and Justin Bieber that delves into the dark side of fame and the immense pressure society places on public figures. The song serves as a raw and honest conversation about the artists' shared experiences with being put on a pedestal from a young age and the fear of falling from that elevated position. Mendes explained that the song is about "how society can put celebrities up on a pedestal and watch them fall and it seems to be this entertainment thing. And it's hard." The core message revolves around the dehumanizing effect of celebrity culture, where artists are expected to maintain an image of perfection. The lyrics question what happens when they inevitably make mistakes—"What if I trip? What if I fall? Then am I the monster?" This question highlights the anxiety of being judged and vilified for normal human imperfections. Justin Bieber's verse adds a deeply personal layer, referencing his own tumultuous journey in the spotlight from the age of fifteen, including his public missteps and the feeling of being perpetually judged for them. Ultimately, Mendes has stated the song's theme extends beyond celebrity, becoming a metaphor for the universal human experience of pressure to be perfect and the fear of judgment.

The song begins by describing the experience of being elevated by society, placed on a pedestal, and lauded as the best. This elevation is intense, almost to the point of being suffocating, leaving one breathless. With this newfound status comes a surge of confidence, leading to a willingness to speak one's mind openly. However, this candor is a double-edged sword; the same society that built them up is quick to tear them down, deconstructing their words and persona until nothing original remains. There's a sense of being rearranged and molded to fit a preconceived notion or a collective ideal, losing one's authentic self in the process.

A central, recurring question haunts the narrator: what happens if they falter? The fear of tripping, falling, sinning, or breaking under the immense pressure is palpable. The ultimate anxiety is whether these moments of human fallibility would transform them into a 'monster' in the public eye. There's a desperate plea for clarity, to know in advance what the judgment will be. This reflects a deep-seated insecurity about public perception and the conditional nature of adoration.

The narrative then shifts to a more personal reflection, recounting the experience of being thrust into the spotlight at the tender age of fifteen. It was a time of grand ambitions, dreaming of performing and creating lasting memories. In the attempt to appear 'cool' and navigate the envy of others, mistakes were made. This period was a dizzying cycle of being lifted up and then torn down. A crucial part of this journey involved taking ownership of past actions, yet still facing condemnation from those who position themselves as morally superior. The weight of carrying a 'chip on the shoulder' is acknowledged, along with the realization that letting go is necessary, as holding onto unforgiveness only gives power to the critics. The initial good intentions got lost along the way, leading back to the same haunting question about what would happen if they were to fall from grace now.

The song concludes with this plea for understanding, a raw and repeated questioning of their potential transformation into a 'monster.' It's a vulnerable admission of the fear of not being allowed to be human, to make mistakes without being vilified. The repetition emphasizes the cyclical nature of this anxiety and the profound impact of living under constant scrutiny, where the line between hero and monster feels perilously thin.

"Monster" was a song Shawn Mendes had written three years prior to its release with songwriters Daniel Caesar, Mustafa the Poet, and producer Frank Dukes in Toronto. Mendes felt the song was special but it remained in his archives for a long time. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mendes and Justin Bieber developed a closer friendship. Recognizing the song's theme of being placed on a pedestal by society resonated with Bieber's own experiences, Mendes reached out to him. He told Bieber, "I have this song and it means a lot to me. If it means something seriously to you and you want to put something very real on it, please be a part of this with me." Bieber connected deeply with the song and contributed a verse, making the collaboration happen. The project became an all-Canadian affair, with Mendes, Bieber, Daniel Caesar, Mustafa the Poet, and Frank Dukes all credited as writers. Additional production was handled by Matthew Tavares and Kaan Güneşberk. The collaboration was officially announced on November 16, 2020, after months of speculation fueled by the artists being seen together. The song was released on November 20, 2020, as the second single from Mendes' fourth studio album, Wonder.

"Monster" follows a relatively straightforward structure common in pop music. The rhyme scheme in the verses tends to be AABB or ABCB, with lines like "You put me on a pedestal and tell me I'm the best / Raise me up into the sky until I'm short of breath (Yeah) / Fill me up with confidence, I say what's in my chest / Spill my words and tear me down until there's nothing left." This simple rhyme structure makes the lyrics accessible and direct. The chorus uses repetition and parallel structure for emphasis: "But what if I, what if I trip? / What if I, what if I fall? / Then am I the monster? / Just let me know." The rhythm is driven by a steady, mid-tempo beat of 146 BPM, creating a pensive and deliberate pace. This moderate tempo, combined with the moody synth pads, establishes a contemplative and somber feel. The lyrical rhythm often flows conversationally, mirroring the song's confessional nature. The interplay between the vocal melody and the underlying beat creates a sense of tension and vulnerability, especially as both singers ascend into their higher registers and falsetto, reflecting the emotional strain discussed in the lyrics.

Musically, "Monster" is a midtempo pop song with a dark, moody atmosphere, built on a foundation of synths and a prominent drum beat. The song's tempo is set at 146 beats per minute and it is composed in the key of D minor, which contributes to its somber and introspective tone. Vocally, both Shawn Mendes and Justin Bieber utilize a vulnerable, and at times, falsetto delivery, which enhances the emotional rawness of the lyrics. The production is initially minimalist, allowing the vocals and lyrics to take center stage, before building with more layers as the song progresses. Lyrically, the song employs direct address and rhetorical questions to engage the listener and convey the central theme. The recurring question, "Then am I the monster?", acts as a powerful lyrical hook and the song's central thesis. The narrative structure, with Mendes setting the general scene and Bieber providing a specific, personal anecdote from his past, creates a compelling and relatable story arc. The blending of their voices in the chorus creates a sense of shared experience and solidarity.

"Monster" was a highly anticipated collaboration between two of Canada's biggest pop stars. Upon its release on November 20, 2020, the song achieved significant commercial success. It debuted and peaked at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100, marking Shawn Mendes's sixth top-ten hit and Justin Bieber's 21st. The song also reached number one in Canada and Denmark, and entered the top ten in over fifteen other countries, including the UK and Australia. It was the second single from Mendes's fourth studio album, Wonder, which also debuted at number one in the US and Canada. Mendes and Bieber performed the song for the first time at the 2020 American Music Awards, bringing the song's themes to a major televised stage. The song and its accompanying music video were widely discussed for their open vulnerability regarding the pressures of fame and mental health, a conversation both artists have contributed to throughout their careers. The collaboration itself was seen as a "full circle moment" by Mendes, who had looked up to Bieber as an inspiration since he was a child.

The most prominent metaphor in "Monster" is the titular "monster" itself, which symbolizes the public's perception of a celebrity after they've made a mistake or shown a flaw. It represents the fear of being vilified and losing public adoration. The song also heavily utilizes the metaphor of being placed on a "pedestal." This pedestal represents the idealized status and impossible standards of perfection that society imposes on celebrities. Mendes sings, "You put me on a pedestal and tell me I'm the best / Raise me up into the sky until I'm short of breath," illustrating the suffocating nature of this adoration. The music video, directed by Colin Tilley, visually represents this by placing Mendes and Bieber on a literal white, cube-like platform in the middle of a dark, foggy forest as a storm brews. This setting symbolizes the isolation and turbulent environment of fame, with the platform being the precarious stage they are forced to perform on. The act of "tripping" or "falling" from this pedestal is a direct metaphor for making a public mistake.

The most significant recurring motif in "Monster" is the rhetorical question that forms the core of the chorus: "But what if I, what if I trip? / What if I, what if I fall? / Then am I the monster?". This phrase is repeated by both Mendes and Bieber, unifying their individual experiences into a shared plea. Its repetition throughout the song hammers home the central theme of fearing public condemnation for human error. The idea of being placed on a "pedestal" is another crucial recurring motif. Mendes introduces it in the first verse ("You put me on a pedestal"), and Bieber echoes the sentiment in his verse ("I was fifteen when the world put me on a pedestal"), creating a direct parallel between their stories despite their different paths. This repetition emphasizes how this is a common experience for those thrust into fame at a young age. The music video visually reinforces this with the ever-present white platform. The outro features the repeated, slightly varied phrase "La-da-da-duh-duh (But what if I fall?)", turning the anxious question into a haunting, melodic refrain that fades out, leaving the listener with a sense of unresolved vulnerability.