Shawn Mendes released his highly anticipated collaboration with fellow Canadian Justin Bieber at the stroke of midnight on Friday.
"Monster," as it turns out, is a melancholy tale about a subject Bieber is all too familiar with -- the fall from public favor.
The two young singers leave their emotions bare as they painfully ask what's the point of being placed on a pedestal to be adored by all when those same admirers will eventually relish in tearing them down.
"What if I trip?/ What if I, What if I fall?/ Then am I the monster?/ Just let me know," Mendes sings as he ascends the stairway to his own blank pedestal. "What if I, what if I sin?/ What if I, What if I break?/ Then am I the monster?"
"I was 15 when the world put me on a pedestal/ I had big dreams of doing shows and making memories," Bieber croons as the R&B beat swells.
The "Holy" singer admits that "bad moves" and "jealousy" turned his once adoring fans into a mob that kept "tearing me down" even after he took "responsibility for everything I've done."
"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," Bieber sings as Mendes paces dangerously close to the edge.
"Monster" is featured on Mendes' upcoming album "Wonder."
