Hey all! For this music review I am going to delving into the songs on Shawn Mendes' 2020 album 'Wonder'.
1 - 'Intro'
This first track on the album was a one minute introduction to the album where he speaks about somebody with many faces, telling them to 'get lost in wonderland' - which could speak about the mood he's in at the moment, hence the name of the album!
2 - 'Wonder'
In the song I think Shawn is singing about a variety of things he is thinking about, including what his friends think about him as one of the main examples! He goes on to singing about how he often wants to cry with his head in his hands, but it will make him feel like less of a man...which is often how emotional men feel! Lots of men feel like they aren't able to express their emotions without feeling manly, and actually, it's a natural thing to feel sad, stressed, angry and not always in the perfect frame of mind. This was a great song to start the album as it brings out thoughts of wondering about different aspects in your life, and it's a great starting point for those individuals who want to write their own music. Wonder what's around you, question it and write about it!
3 - 'Higher'
The introduction lyrics of the song describe last year being not so great for Shawn, whether this was in terms of love, a relationship or just the state of his mental health. He has now compared his year this year to 'not being able to get any higher'. he goes on to sing about the food being nice, the view being great, and explains that he enjoys spending time with this special individual, which some will question as being 'fake', but I think his relationship with Camilla Cabello is pretty real!
4 - '24 Hours'
Just by reading this song title, I think the song is about being able to just pull through with plans and not worry about other people's opinions or back up plans. He admits that he often doesn't need to overthink when the feeling is right, so it seems like this young romantic couple are about to move into their new place together! He sings about wanting to come back to this lucky individual, and usually when something feels right, it usually is! One of the other great things I love about this track along are that there are really nice background voices and instruments which make it sound like Shawn has a choir of mini Shawn's!
5 - 'Teach Me How To Love'
I think this is the first song on the album where Shawn sings using his higher pitch ability, and sings quite openly about how he wants to learn how to love...using the words 'touch you, taste you, caress you and please you' asking to be taught how to love. The backing instruments on this song are also really cool and it feels like I'm at a carnival with so many things playing at the same time! At only 22 years old, Shawn might already know how to love, but he wants to get advice from those who might have been in previous relationships, so the song could be dedicated to his girlfriend Camilla Cabello, or a song aimed at somebody that could help him discover the ability to be involved with 'true love'. I really like this song, and it's one of those tracks that you could play for somebody you love and are grateful to have in your life!
6 - 'Call My Friends'
It seems like this is a special dedication song to his friends who he admits 'know him better' than even he does! He speaks about wanting a break from real life and just wanting to escape on a holiday and getting high/drunk with his friends, but admits that he should get in contact with his friends and he's been alone for so long. I think during 2020, a lot of people have been unable to see their family, friends or partners, and it's definitely a good idea to try and stay in contact with people, because eventually all of this will be over...so when Shawn speaks about a holiday being due, I can agree to that!
7 - 'Dream'
I really like the introduction to this song as it's one of those unique ways to begin a song, speaking about his dreams and wanting to lay his head against the pillow! I feel like this song is a dedication to thinking about that person he loves the most, so in the chorus there isn't much singing, but it's one of those instrumental songs where you can imagine being asleep or in an alternative Universe! It was really relaxing to listen to and although it doesn't show off his vocals like in other songs, it's definitely a great addition to the album!
8 - 'Song For No One'
I like how this song has been dedicated for nobody, because usually when songs are written they are aimed at a particular person (or people). He sings about usually having 10 missed calls and 2 texts, but not from the person he is wanting them to be for...which is something I can relate to. So many times, I will wake up and hope to get a text from one of those 'special' people, and it's usually just a voicemail or a Tinder notification saying 'You've matched somebody new, don't leave them waiting!' - and sometimes I do like to let them wait...I like this song because it's so simple, and sometimes songs are often better when the story is left untold or with a confusing meaning, because it means more people will try and work out the meaning of the song!
9 - 'Monster' (with Justin Bieber)
I am very confused but also really excited about this collaboration between Shawn and Justin. After Miley Cyrus and Dua Lipa, it's the second best duet of 2020! In the song Justin sings about being put on a pedestal when he was 15, doing some things he wishes he didn't do, but he's greatful for the opportunities he's been given. Both of the boys sing about 'tripping' or 'falling' and whether that would be a good enough reason for them to be described a monster. I'm guessing this either relates to being in love or some form of relationship, but either way...making mistake is often how people learn. Both of them are still really young, and our generation are often known for making mistakes or getting into relationships too quickly, so sometimes coming across some difficult situations helps any future relationships become stronger! I'm sure there will be more collabs from these two next year!
10 - '305'
Song number 10 on the album is quite a fast paced song called 305, and I'm not sure why that is the title of this song, but it's unique! 'If you're the door to heaven, I've have the key' are the opening lyrics to the second verse of this song which show that he is emotionally attached to a specific individual. The song title 305 relates to the time being 3:05 (not sure if it's AM or PM) but either way he admits to having a 'rollercoaster ride' life, but is also sure that he wants nothing more than be with this special person - admitting that he's 'never been so sure in my life'. I definitely wasn't expecting such a fast paced song when all of the others so far have been quite emotional, but with the trumpets in the background, it kind of also sounds unintentionally christmassy!
11 - 'Always Been You'
Another emotional song where he begins with the words '........You've been sent to save me'. After a soft paced introduction verse, the drums and other backing instruments suddenly made a dramatic entrance. I guess this is another love song where he admits his heart keeps coming back to the same person, and I think this is also a relatable thing for people in love. Whether you are going through good, bad or ugly situations, your heart cannot change how it feels about a particular person, so when you forget about everyone else's opinions, it's upto you and your heart who you want to spend your life with. I think he has come to the realisation that although he might have had other crushes or ex girlfriends, his current lover is the right lover for him!
12 - 'Piece Of You'
I think this song describes how jealous Shane is, after stating that 'everybody wants a piece of you' (Maybe about Camila again?)- and he says that 'Sorry if I get possessive, I need these boys to get the message'. I don't think Shawn needs to feel as if he has competition with any other boys, because he's a good looking boy, he's genuine, he's got an amazing talking voice, singing voice and he's 110% my type. I think I could this song straight back at Shawn if I'm being honest! This was a great song, and even celebrities can be jealous of other celebrities, especially if they bring in more likes, love or thirsty boys...which happens to be the case here!
13 - 'Look Up At The Stars'
Another romantic song where he describes the stars in the sky as 'pieces of art', adding that he's not going to let this lucky person down. I think he might be getting inspiration from seeing such beautiful things in the sky, and now he's going to prove his love. He speaks about keeping the angels around him, adding that he'll never be along, and stating that he wants to take this person for a day in wonderland. (If Shawn invites you anywhere, don't say no, because it's most likely to be an amazing offer that you won't want to regret declining!). This song sounds like something that could be part of a romantic movie or short film, so if you're in need of a cute love song or for somebody singing about the stars in the sky, Shaen Mendes' 'Look Up At The Stars' is your track!
14 - 'Can't Imagine'
The final track on the album is an acoustic song called 'Can't Imagine' where he sings that he can't imagine how life would be without 'you', adding that the birds wouldn't be singing...which sort of reminds me of Matilda, who's able to get every single item to sing and dance in her living room! He has such an amazing voice, that he doesn't need backing vocals or instruments, and he's still able to sing such beautiful lyrics! I think singer/songwriters like Shawn Mendes have definitely inspired me to want to get back into writing music properly, as at the moment I only have 3 demo songs which I've posted online, but that was when I was 18/19 and now I'm 22, so I'm sure I've had a lot more interesting experiences since then. At the end of this track he says 'Cool, that's good for now' and I'm sure that meant this single was a little spontaneous compared to the others which might have had written lyrics...but does that mean more music will be coming from Shawn soon? I hope so, and I would love to be able to sing with him somewhere, somehow, one day!
My favourite songs from the album were '24 Hours', 'Teach Me How To Love' and 'Look Up At The Stars'! Thanks for reading this review, and I hope you have a WONDERful rest of 2020!
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