You’d have to go back five years to remember when Shawn Mendes was hot on the pop charts.
It was 2019 when he and Camila Cabello were number 1 with “Senorita.”
Mendes — who turned 26 yesterday — had two more hits in 2020, one with Justin Bieber, and then started a fade out. He stopped touring and mostly recording or having a career while he dealt with mental health issues. (He also had trouble, and still does, finding a shirt.)
Now Mendes is back today with two new songs preceding an album release in October. So far this morning, “Why Why Why” has had an uneasy launch, currently at 74 on iTunes. The other song, “Isn’t that Enough,” hasn’t charted yet.
Mendes apparently played a small show last night in Woodstock, NY. He has a few more coming up including one on the album’s release, October 18th, in Brooklyn. He’s coming back in small steps.
Mendes has pretty much missed four years of his career. That’s okay when you’re older, but when you’re establishing yourself four years is a high school cycle. So now he has turn to more adult listeners and rebuild. He’s a very good songwriter. I was at his actual first show years ago at the then Nokia Theater in Times Square (my nieces, who were 14, insisted on it). How will this all play out? Last night, Mendes played a birthday show in Woodstock. He’s taking it easy, starting with small shows in London next, then back here.
