“Many Men” by Justin Bieber embodies a potent musical narrative that travels across multiple facets from his personal life, struggles, triumphs, and beliefs. It sits on the intersection of self-realization, resilience, and emotional expression in response to struggles. It reflects the singer’s battle with depression, his relationship with his wife, and the struggle to maintain integrity in the face of prejudice and critics, all while being anchored in his Christian faith.
The artist depicts an illustrative picture of his struggles within a culture that readily criticizes and wishes him ill. The lyrics infuse the necessity of individuality and personal courage, mired with the theme of resilience and continued determination to achieve his destiny, notwithstanding the attempts of others to deter him.
One of the song’s key themes revolves around the artist’s inner turmoil from depression and the dependency on medication. Although controversial, it boldly highlights mental health issues, a topic often shunned, yet widespread among celebrities and ordinary people alike.
This song also acknowledges his deep love for his wife, placing her on a pedestal – indicating the respects and values he holds for his partner. Further, he associates his life to the movie The Incredibles, which can symbolize him viewing his life as extraordinary and filled with challenges and triumphs like in a superhero movie.
In the realm of his public image, the singer confronts his critics head-on. Notwithstanding the antagonism he faces, he embraces these challenges with grace, implying his maturity and ability to stay unfazed by criticism. Along with this, the artist’s faith becomes an important part of his lyrical narrative – expressing himself as a Christian with a vision, indicating a clear identity that’s rooted in faith.
On the whole, “Many Men” essentially imparts an undefeated spirit, resilience, embracing personal struggles, love, and the importance of faith. Bieber uses it as a platform to demonstrate his journey, ideals, emotions and with the use of relatable metaphors, and symbolism, he ropes a multitude of listeners in, making the song resonate on a personal level for many.