AMA 2020: Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes perform together

Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes kicked off the 2020 American Music Awards on Sunday with a medley performance, including a live premiere of their new collaborative single “Monster.”

Bieber started the evening with a solo performance of his song “Lonely”, written with Benny Blanco, followed by a joyful performance of “Holy”, his gospel-influenced single he originally released with Chance the Rapper. Mendes then appeared on a platform to sing the opening chorus of “Monster” and swap verses with Bieber for a virtual reality backdrop that resembled the dark, fantasy forest seen in the single’s music video.

Mendes later returned to the stage to perform “Wonder”, the title track from his upcoming album. The artist sang and played the piano inside an ensemble designed to resemble a homemade cottage, matching the introspective vibe of the song. As “Wonder” soared in the arena-rock chorus, Mendes escaped the cottage setting and sang throughout the Microsoft Theater, surrounded by strobe lights and supported by a full band.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_Yhy5V9Oho

Along with “Lonely” and “Holy”, Bieber appeared this year on Ariana Grande’s “Stuck With U”. Her first album in five years, Changes, arrived in February.

Incredible performance of #Monster by Shawn Mendes and Justin Bieber at AMAs. pic.twitter.com/DLhKkhtgeQ

– Shawmila Janey (@newshawmilafan) November 23, 2020

While Mendes isn’t ready for AMAs this year, he’s gearing up for the release of Wonder, is scheduled to arrive Dec. 4 via Island Records. The singer-songwriter announced the album in September, sharing both the title track and the LP’s short intro. Wonder marks Mendes’ fourth album and follows his eponymous 2018 effort.

Before the release of Wonder, Mendes will also release a new documentary, In Wonder, which releases November 23 on Netflix. Directed by Grant Singer, the film traces Mendes’ rapid rise over the past several years from promising singer-songwriter to true pop star, while also delving into how he grapples with the anxieties of the fame, the maturity of the public eye, and the rigors of the tour.