Shawn Mendes arrives at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards on Jan. 26, 2020, in Los Angeles. Credit: Allen J. Schaben via TNS
After a postponed release, singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes’ highly awaited fifth studio album, “Shawn,” was released Friday, marking Mendes’ first record release since 2020.
The album has been labeled Mendes’ “comeback” album by fans and critics, following the cancellation of his “Wonder: The World Tour” in 2022 due to mental health struggles.
Though “Shawn” is primarily a pop record, Mendes said in a Friday interview with NME that it also takes inspiration from renowned artists like Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan, producing a more folk-focused sound overall.
Mendes finds his voice in tracks like “Who I Am,” “Isn’t That Enough” and “Why Why Why” in a purposeful search for identity, discussing topics related to sexuality and mental health.
According to an Oct. 29 article from Us Weekly, Mendes spoke about long-standing rumors regarding his sexuality, per fan footage posted on social media.
“The real truth about my life and my sexuality is, man, I’m just figuring it out like everyone,” Mendes said. “I don’t really know sometimes, and I know other times. It feels really scary because we live in a society that has a lot to say about that. I’m trying to be really brave and just allow myself to just be human and feel things.”
Mendes’ personal identity — as well as past relationships — is overtly present in the release’s lyrics.
The album’s leading track, “Who I Am” addresses many of the aforementioned struggles despite being the album’s shortest offering.
The lyrics, “And it broke my heart when I canceled tour. Had my soul and my head goin’ back and forth, and I don’t know how I’m gonna face you now,” tap into Mendes’ innermost worries and fears, which continue to appear throughout the rest of the tracklist.
Songs like “Why Why Why” and “Nobody Knows” are seemingly references to Mendes’ on-and-off relationship with fellow singer-songwriter Camila Cabello. Though the two publicly ended their relationship in 2021, they are widely believed to have rekindled a romantic bond in early 2023.
In the fourth track, “Nobody Knows,” Mendes sings, “When you’re so in love and your souls touch, but it’s still not enough. Where does it go? Where does it go? Nobody knows,” the lyrics seem to delve into the emotional aftermath of the relationship, reflecting on love, loss and self-discovery.
The song “Why Why Why” exudes similarly strong emotions with lyrics such as, “I thought I was about to be a father, shook me to the core. I’m still a kid,” likely nodding to the complexity of Mendes’ relationship with Cabello and the serious future he saw ahead.
In “Heavy,” Mendes discusses his struggles with accepting his real emotions and embracing vulnerability, successfully showcasing the slower folk elements he was striving for.
Though the track is well-produced, its lyrics are repetitive and the song itself is rather short, leaving listeners wanting more.
This proves to be the album’s downside as a whole: Given that almost every track falls short of three minutes, the lyrics often succeed in conveying Mendes’ feelings, yet they can hardly be considered particularly deep or clever.
Mendes delves further into speculation surrounding his personal life in “The Mountain,” one of the record’s most lyrically impressive songs.
Referencing uncertainty and a desire to reclaim his reputation, Mendes sings, “You can say I like girls or boys, whatever fits your mold. You can say I’m a dreamer, you can say I’m too far gone, but I’ve never been better, so call it what you want.”
The album comes to a close with a cover of Leonard Cohen’s famed song “Hallelujah.” Dreamy and orchestral, Mendes’ version nods to both folk rock and his own past, perfectly encapsulating the album’s main theme personal growth.
It’s clear Mendes underwent a period of personal discovery in the process of creating “Shawn,” but its surface-level lyrics are often unrelatable and uninteresting.
Moreover, producing such a short record could prove unsatisfactory to fans, considering the scarcity of content from the singer in recent years.
Despite the album’s apparent flaws, however, Mendes’ vocals and use of instrumentals — along with the project’s overall musicality — are heartfelt and enjoyable.
“Shawn” effectively tells the story of Mendes’ life since he was last in the spotlight. Though far from a perfect album, the raw emotions present make it a partially worthwhile listen.
Rating: 3/5
