Nov. 15 Shawn Mendes released his new album “Shawn.” This new album has 12 tracks. Mendes’s last album “Wonder” came out in 2020. It’s been a while since he released an album, making his new album all the more exciting.
Type of music
Originally his album was going to come out on Oct. 18, but the release date was later changed to Nov. 15. This album is unlike his others. The theme in this album is on the sadder side instead of upbeat like in previous songs such as “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” and “Teach Me How to Love.” Additionally, his song “Why Why Why” sounds more like a country song.
The following is some of what Mendes said, according to a post he made on Instagram on July 31:
“Music really can be medicine. 2 years ago I felt like I had absolutely no idea who I was. A year ago I couldn’t step into a studio without falling into complete panic. So to be here right now with 12 beautiful finished songs feels like such a gift. Honestly thank god for my friends and family. Life can be brutal but having a small group of people you deeply trust to walk you through makes it so much better,” Mendes said.
This album gives you a hit of reality based on the topics discussed and what happens in life. Listening to the songs and the lyrics, it seems like Mendes has been going through a hard time.
Sophia Tronolone, ’24, an NCC alumni, has been a fan since 2015. She was excited for his new album to come out.
“The vibe was very mellow and a little somber. The album had a soft tone, reflecting the vulnerability Shawn portrayed throughout. It was deep, raw and introspective. I think listeners will recognize the authenticity behind the album,” Tronolone said.
The first four songs released before the album came out
The first two songs he released were on his birthday Aug. 8. He released “Why Why Why” and “Isn’t That Enough.” In “Why Why Why” one of the lyrics Mendes sings is, “Thought I was about to be a father / Shook me to the core, I’m still a kid.”
He also released the song “Nobody Knows” which has the following lyrics, “When you’re so in love / And your souls touch / But it’s still not enough / Where does it go? (woah) / Where does it go? / Nobody knows (nobody, nobody) / Where the love goes.”
According to Mendes’s YouTube channel, the video with the title of “Shawn Mendes – Heart of Gold (Live From The Clubhouse Sessions),” Mendes said that his song “Heart of Gold” is about his friend who died of an overdose. When listening to this song, one could relate it to a loved one who has passed, whether due to an overdose or any other reason.
Talking about the lyrics
There are many more lyrics that stood out to me in this album.
In “That’s The Dream“, Mendes sings the lyrics “I don’t know if it’s meant to be, but oo-oo-oo that’s the dream.” The lyrics capture how people grapple with fate and search for certainty in relationships.
In “That’ll Be The Day“, Mendes sings, “But there will be a day when I don’t hear a sound / I’ll be six feet underground / And that’ll be the day I lose you.”
A lot of these songs seem to be about his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Camila Cabello. They have created two songs together in the past, one is called “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and their most recent song is called “Señorita.” They had a lot of chemistry in the latter song. Based on the chemistry they had and because they were in a relationship, it seems like a lot of lyrics in this album could potentially be about Cabello and their relationship.
Diving into two more songs and the lyrics
“Who I Am” is another song on his album where he makes a reference to when he canceled his “Wonder” tour. Some of the lyrics in this song say, “And it broke my heart when I cancelled tour / Had my soul and my head going back and forth / And I don’t know how I’m gonna face you now / Sorry gotta do it, gotta let you down.”
For “The Mountain” he sings the lyrics “You can say I’m too young / You can say I’m too old / You can say I like girls or boys / Whatever fits your mold.” According to People, before his album was released, when Mendes was performing in Colorado, the following is some of what he said during his concert:
“The real truth about my life and my sexuality is that, man, I’m just figuring it out like everyone,” Mendes said.
Additional songs on “Shawn”
He does his version of the song “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen. His voice suits the song well and is opposite of Cohen’s deep voice.
Some other songs on the album include “Heavy,” “In Between” and “Rollin’ Right Along.” Based on some of the lyrics mentioned, a lot of his songs are deep.
Charts
Mendes’s new album charted across multiple UK rankings for the week of Nov. 21-27. On the Official Charts, “Shawn” reached No. 8 on the Albums Sales Chart, No. 15 on the Album Downloads Chart, No. 22 on the Albums Chart Top 100 and No. 62 on the Albums Streaming Chart.
In the U.S., the album debuted at No. 26 on the Billboard 200 for the week of Nov. 30. The album’s lead single “Why Why Why” spent one week on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 84 in August.
Recommendation
Mendes’s latest album reveals a more vulnerable side of the artist. He trades his signature upbeat pop sound for introspective melodies and raw emotions. The album resonates with universal experiences of love, loss and personal growth. Sometimes it takes a few times to get into a new song. Give it a listen and see what you think.
“I would absolutely recommend his album! As someone who has enjoyed his upbeat pop songs, I still thoroughly appreciated this slower side of Shawn. I’m sure listeners can find comfort and relate to some of the themes throughout the songs,” Tronolone said.
