Canadian pop superstars Shawn Mendes and Justin Bieber come together for their first “Monster” collaboration and, of course, it’s a smash. The song debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week (dated Dec. 5).
The two reflect on the toils of teenage stardom, being lifted up on a pedestal before being torn down by the industry and media at large. The haunting music video follows their physical ascension up a deserted flight of stairs, which spotlights the loneliness both have felt at the top in their respective career paths.
Check out the lyrics and music video below.
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 nothin’ left
Rearrange the pieces just to fit me with the rest, yeah
But what if I, what if I trip?
What if I, what if I fall?
Then am I the monster?
Just let me know
And what if I, what if I sin?
And what if I, what if I break? Yeah
Then am I the monster? Yeah
Just let me know, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I was fifteen when the world put me on a pedestal
I had big dreams of doin’ shows and makin’ memories
Made some bad moves tryna act cool, upset by they jealousy
Liftin’ me up (liftin’ me up), liftin’ me up (yeah)
And tearin’ me down (down), tearin’ me down, yeah (down, down)
I’ll take responsibility for everything I’ve done (yeah)
Holdin’ it against me like you’re the holy one, yeah)
I had a chip on my shoulder, had to let it go
‘Cause unforgiveness keeps them in control
I came in with good intentions then I let it go
And now I really wanna know
What if I, what if I trip? (Oh)
What if I, what if I fall? (I fall)
Then am I the monster? (Am I the monster?)
Just let me know (let me know)
And what if I, what if I sin? (Oh)
And what if I, what if I break? Yeah
Then am I the monster? (Am I the monster?)
Just let me know (oh, please just let me know, yeah)
La-da-da, da-da (baby, what if I fall down?)
La-da-da, da-da-da, da
La-da-da-da, da-da
La-da-da, da-da-da, da
La-da-da-da, da-da (please don’t let me fall)
La-da-da-da, da-da-da, da
La-da-da-da, da-da (oh, please don’t let me fall)
La-da-da-da, da-da-da, da
Lyrics licensed & provided by LyricFind
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Shawn Mendes, Justin Bieber, Ashton Simmonds, Mustafa Ahmed, Adam King Feeney