Just one year after his first album release, Canadian pop singer Shawn Mendes spun around with “Illuminate.”
Mendes’ second album was released Friday on Spotify and in stores. The 15-track CD opened with “Ruin,” a love song about a boy who wants to know if the girl he likes is crushing on him, too. It has a soft feel to it with his acoustic guitar opening and drawn out notes.
“Illuminate” continues with Mendes’ hit singles “Treat You Better” and “Mercy,” which leave you wishing all boys fought hard for you like Mendes.
Listening to his music, it is hard to believe that Mendes is only 18 years old. He has the charm of One Direction and the style of Ed Sheeran.
It is refreshing that Mendes writes his own songs about authentic life experiences he is facing.
“Where I am, I’m just writing about what I’m going through, and they are growing with me and most of them are my age,” Mendes said in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine.
Mendes’ fan base started from an online presence through Vine and YouTube. He became an overnight sensation after posting his cover of Justin Bieber’s “As Long as You Love Me.”
By 2014, Island Records signed Mendes and he released “Life of the Party.” The single reached 24 in the Billboard 100, making Mendes the youngest artist to accomplish this feat.
In his 2015 career, Mendes opened for Austin Mahone, Taylor Swift and Vance Joy. Recently, he wrapped up his North American portion of the “Illuminate” world tour. The small-town boy’s next performance is in the Philippines on Oct. 26. He will be circling back around to the states next summer.
Common themes portrayed in “Illuminate” are commitment and broken relationships. In “Mercy,” Mendes sings, “Please have mercy on me/Take it easy on my heart/Even though you don’t mean to hurt me/You keep tearing me apart.” His pleas tear at your emotions as he builds up and keeps chanting mercy.
Majority of the songs have one word titles, which reflects Mendes’ simple, natural style. His music is polished with only the aid of a guitar and an occasional background choir. “Illuminate” is the type of album to have playing in the background while you do homework since it does not have boisterous instruments or distracting words. While each song is about a different issue, the tracks flow into one another and before you know it, you have reached the end of the CD.
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