Canada’s very own Justin Bieber once said, “Who’s Shawn Mendes?” Now, the Canadian-born artists have collaborated on their new single, “Monster”.
The single is now the second off of Mendes’ upcoming album, Wonder. Mendes and Bieber touch on the troubles and complications of life and the uncertainty on the music industry and celebrity culture. During a YouTube live with Bieber on release day, Mendes said, “At first, I was writing it out of angst of being a celebrity. You know, feeling like my life was being watched all the time. As I grew, it became more about like this idea of perfection is not real. It’s like you just have to surrender and kind of let go and be and love yourself. That pedestal is not only what society puts us on, it’s what I put myself on. And I had to just be like, ‘You’re cool even if you like miss some note.’ To put it basically — in the bigger picture — it’s not just about singing, it’s about everything in life. It’s OK to mess up. That’s where I was coming from with it.”
Mendes puts those thoughts into words with the opening verse, “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 // Spill my words and tear me down until there’s nothing left.”
The song title, “Monster,” refers to a place of turmoil. The two artists question the ongoing trend of “cancel culture.” In the chorus Mendes and Bieber sing, “What if I, what if I fall? // Then am I the monster.”
Featured Image: Island Records
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