Five standout tracks from Shawn Mendes’ new album
TORONTO — Shawn Mendes is slowly letting the world capture a glimpse of his soul.
While the Pickering, Ont.raised pop singer has gained millions of fans singing about crushes and breakups, it’s his new album that carries a number of fresh revelations.
Mendes grapples with anxiety, a couple of feisty relationships and rejects a world that seemingly wants to foster more hate.
With his self-titled third album, due Friday, Mendes is growing into a maturity that seems to acknowledge the responsibilities he and his generation are expected to shoulder between the good times and heartbreak.
The musician plays a number of Canadian dates this year, including Ottawa’s Bluesfest (July 7), Festival D’ete de Quebec (July 8) and the Cavendish Beach Music Festival in P.E.I. (July 9). He’ll also embark on a European and North American tour next
March that brings him back to Canada in summer 2019.
Here’s a look at five standout songs on “Shawn Mendes” that signal where he’s headed:
“In My Blood” — Mendes opens with a song about crippling anxiety and the struggle to overcome emotional detachment.
“Particular Taste” — Watch out Justin Timberlake, because Mendes is cornering the market on falsettos with sexy basslines. On this funky booty-shaker he recalls an experience with a woman who clearly knows what she likes.
“Queen” — Same woman, different chapter? Mendes doesn’t show all of his cards, but it’s clear some of these relationships could use some decoding. With this song it appears whatever love once existed with this unnamed woman has soured.
“Youth” — Sharing almost equal vocal time with R&B singer Khalid helps this Mendes song carry a powerful message of unity in troubled times. The lyrical concept formed in the wake of the Manchester concert bombing and terror attack on London Bridge, Mendes has recently said.
“Because I Had You” — While Mendes and his frequent songwriting collaborators Teddy Geiger, Scott Harris and Geoff Warburton take many daring turns on this album, this ballad of a broken heart proves the singer isn’t planning to go rogue on his fans. “You’re with somebody I can’t be,” he sings. “But I can tell that you’re happy. It’s time for me to finally meet somebody new, take her to all the places that I took us to.”