Shawn Mendes’ “Wonder” is wondrous
November 24, 2020
With his newly released single, “Wonder,” Shawn Mendes has solidified himself as our new pop overlord, and I can’t be happier about that.
Though pop is loved for its easy listening and production-based polish, I can’t say that much of the current pop scene sounds as good as Mendes’ vocals do in this track. The production is splendid, placing the listener in a soundscape I could liken to a misty forest—which is aptly where a majority of the music video takes place. It’s a feeling that not many pop songs can pull off so well. The booming drums combined with the piano give off a truly magical atmosphere.
Other than being a wonderful composition on its own, the song also shows a maturation of Mendes’ music. The lyrics and instrumental pair well and together portray a deep sense of introspection from Mendes as he examines his emotions and questions how others perceive him. By looking at topics such as reflecting on relationships with friends and pushing past toxic masculine stereotypes, “Wonder” manages to walk the line between being deeply personal and relatable with ease.
Mendes has stated in a handful of interviews that he put his heart and soul into his upcoming album, and if the level of honesty portrayed in “Wonder” remains consistent throughout the album it comes from, I can say with certainty that it will be the best thing he’s ever released.
It can be difficult to maintain creativity and mainstream appeal when writing music, but Mendes’ single does this with ease. The song is well worth a listen to if you have even the slightest interest in pop, and I’m excited to hear the rest of the album when it comes out this December.
