Monsters (All Time Low song)

"Monsters" is a song by rock band All Time Low featuring Blackbear. The song was written by FRND, Kevin Fisher, Jack Barakat, Alex Gaskarth, Blackbear and Demi Lovato, and produced by Zakk Cervini and Gaskarth. The song was originally released on April 3, 2020, by Fueled by Ramen, as part of the band's eighth studio album Wake Up, Sunshine. Following 11 weeks at number one on Billboard's Alternative Airplay chart, the song was re-released with vocals by Demi Lovato on December 4, 2020.^[1] It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 88 and peaked at number 55.

"Monsters"
Cover of the Demi Lovato remix version
Single by All Time Low featuring Blackbear
from the album Wake Up, Sunshine
Released	April 3, 2020 (2020-04-03) (original version) December 4, 2020 (2020-12-04) (Demi Lovato version)
Genre	Pop-punk alternative pop electronic rock rap rock
Length	2:54
Label	Fueled by Ramen
Songwriter(s)	Andrew Goldstein Alex Gaskarth Demi Lovato Jack Barakat Kevin Fisher Matthew Musto
Producer(s)	FRND Zakk Cervini
All Time Low singles chronology
"Getaway Green" (2020) "Monsters" (2020) "Once in a Lifetime" (2021)
Demi Lovato singles chronology
"Commander in Chief" (2020) "Monsters" (2020) "What Other People Say" (2021)
Blackbear singles chronology
"Worry About Me" (2020) "Monsters" (2020) "My Ex's Best Friend" (2020)
Lyric video
"Monsters" on YouTube

Background

All Time Low, Lovato, and Blackbear teased the collaboration on social media prior to release, all sharing similar artwork, which led fans to believe a collaboration was underway.^[2] The next day, the band confirmed the collaboration, specifically that Lovato would be featuring on a re-release of "Monsters", to be released that night.^[2]

Speaking to People, Gaskarth said Lovato was recruited for a re-release of the track because she had been a "friend for over ten years" and "genuinely has one of the best voices in modern music and always sounds authentic and incredible singing any genre, particularly when she's leaning into rock or punk."^[3] Meanwhile, Lovato shared on Twitter that she was "stoked" to be on a song with both All Time Low and Blackbear.^[3]

Former Neck Deep bassist-turned-DJ Fil Thorpe-Evans, commonly known as Prblm Child, created an electronic remix of the song. It was released as "Monsters: Prblm Child Remix." A distorted version of the chorus behind loud bass drops is heard after the main chorus.

Composition

The song’s overall sound has been described as pop-punk,^[4] alternative pop,^[5] electronic rock,^[6] and rap rock^[6] by critics, while also being compared to Fall Out Boy.^[5][7] The song is in the key of C minor.^[8]

Chart performance

The song is All Time Low's first number one on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart, reaching the summit in September 2020 and remaining there for 18 weeks.^[3] As of January 2022, the song holds the record for the longest continuous run on the respective chart with 88 weeks. "Monsters" is the band's highest-charting song of their career on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 55, as well as their highest peak on pop radio.

In late 2023, "Monsters" was ranked by Billboard as the biggest hit in the history of the Alternative Airplay chart.^[9][10]

Lyric videos

Lyric videos were released for the song, with cartoon illustrations of the All Time Low band members and Blackbear running away from monstrous figures. After the release of the Demi Lovato version, a new lyric video was uploaded, where an animation representing Lovato is included in the lyric video as well, coordinated with when she sings her verses of the song. Lovato's character is also seen singing on stage backed by the band comprising monsters.^[1]

Track listing

Digital download and streaming

1. "Monsters" – 2:54
2. "Monsters" (Demi Lovato remix) – 2:54

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[11]

All Time Low

• Alex Gaskarth – lead vocals
• Jack Barakat – guitars, backing vocals
• Zack Merrick – bass, backing vocals
• Rian Dawson – drums, percussion

Additional musicians

• Blackbear – vocals
• Demi Lovato – vocals

Technical

• Zakk Cervini – producer, engineering, additional production
• Andrew Goldstein – producer, additional production
• Mitch Allan – vocal production (Demi Lovato re-release)
• Demi Lovato – vocal production (Demi Lovato re-release)
• Alex Ghenea – mixing (Demi Lovato re-release)
• Neal Avron – mixing (album version)
• Andrew Cook – artwork
• Chris Gehringer – mastering (Demi Lovato re-release)
• Ted Jensen – mastering (album version)

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Monsters" Chart (2020–2022) Peak position Australia Digital Tracks (ARIA)[12] 49 Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[13] 37 Canada Rock (Billboard)[14] 33 Czech Republic (Radio Top 100)[15] 2 Czech Republic (Modern Rock)[16] 1 Hungary (Single Top 40)[17] 27 UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[18] 97 US Billboard Hot 100[19] 55 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[20] 15 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[21] 6 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[22] 18 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[23] 1 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[24] 1

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Monsters" Chart (2020) Position US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[25] 29 US Alternative Airplay Songs (Billboard)[26] 9 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[27] 15 Chart (2021) Position US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[28] 13 US Alternative Airplay Songs (Billboard)[29] 1 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[30] 3 Chart (2022) Position US Alternative Airplay Songs (Billboard)[31] 42

Certifications

Certifications for "Monsters"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[32]	Platinum	70,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[33]	2× Platinum	160,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[34]	Silver	200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[35]	Gold	500,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Legaspi, Althea (December 4, 2020). "All Time Low Recruit Demi Lovato for New 'Monsters' Version With Blackbear". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
2. Dowd, Rachael (December 4, 2020). "See All Time Low, Demi Lovato and blackbear's spooky "Monsters" video". Alternative Press. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
3. "All Time Low Taps Demi Lovato to 'Reimagine' Song 'Monsters': She's 'One of the Best Voices'". People.com. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
4. Danielle Garcia, Erica (December 5, 2020). "All Time Low — Monsters (ft. Demi Lovato and blackbear)". euphoriazine.com. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
5. May, Tamara (30 March 2020). "All Time Low – Wake Up Sunshine (Album Review)". Wall of Sound. Retrieved January 21, 2023. 'Monsters' initially gave me a new-age Fall Out Boy kinda vibe…The addition of Blackbear presents an opportunity for the band to gain some universal reach, it's very alt/pop and they didn't completely lose themselves here.
6. "Album Review: All Time Low – Wake Up, Sunshine". The Alternative. April 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2023. The track bleeds into "Monsters" featuring Blackbear, which is one of the two features that is found on the album. Dabbling in the more experimental, this slick, electro-rap/rock blend feels more at home on Last Young Renegade than it does here…
7. "All Time Low – Wake Up, Sunshine - chorus.fm". Chorus.fm. April 6, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2023. The driving bass line from Zack Merrick makes the song stomp with the some of the swagger that we have grown accustomed to from pop-punk veterans Fall Out Boy, but now All Time Low are taking their own stab at this type of scene royalty.
8. "Monsters by All Time Low featuring Blackbear Chords, Melody, and Music Theory Analysis - Hooktheory". www.hooktheory.com. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
9. Rutherford, Kevin (September 7, 2023). "Alternative Airplay Chart's 35th Anniversary: Foo Fighters Remain No. 1 Act, 'Monsters' New Top Song". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
10. "Greatest of All Time Alternative Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
11. "Monsters (feat. Demi Lovato and blackbear)". Tidal. 6 August 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
12. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 18 January 2021". The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. January 18, 2021.
13. "All Time Low Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
14. "All Time Low Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
15. "CZ - Radio - Top 100 - All Time Low - Monsters" (in Czech). IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
16. "CZ - Radio - Top 20 Modern Rock - All Time Low - Monsters" (in Czech). IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
17. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
18. "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
19. "All Time Low Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
20. "All Time Low Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
21. "All Time Low Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
22. "All Time Low Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
23. "All Time Low Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
24. "All Time Low Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
25. "Year-End Charts: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (2020)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
26. "Year-End Charts: Alternative Songs (2020)". Billboard. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
27. "Year-End Charts: Rock Airplay Songs (2020)". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
28. "Year-End Charts: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (2021)". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
29. "Year-End Charts: Alternative Songs (2021)". Billboard. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
30. "Year-End Charts: Rock Airplay Songs (2021)". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
31. "Year-End Charts: Alternative Airplay Songs (2022)". Billboard. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
32. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
33. "Canadian single certifications – All Time Low – Monsters". Music Canada. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
34. "British single certifications – All Time Low Ft Blackbear – Monsters". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
35. "American single certifications – All Time Low – Monsters". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 1, 2021.