Shawn Mendes, Why Why Why | Song Review 🎵

Dashing pop singer/songwriter Shawn Mendes returns with the honest, well-rounded “Why Why Why,” a promo single from his fifth LP, Shawn.

“Opened up my journal to a page / Everything that hurts me’s still the same / Feels like there’s nothin’ new for me to say / Why, why, why?” At least, he’s back! Who? Why, the handsome and talented, Grammy-nominated Canadian singer/songwriter Shawn Mendes.  Mendes had a hella successful run with his first three albums: Handwritten (2015), Illuminate (2017), and Shawn Mendes (2018).  His fourth album, Wonder (2020), debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200 but didn’t reach the same level of success as the previous three albums.  Shawn arrives nearly four years later, led by singles “Why Why Why” and “Isn’t That Enough”.  Focusing on “Why Why Why,” it was penned and produced by Mendes, Eddie Benjamin, Mike Sabath, and Scott Harris.

First and foremost, the voice remains intact.  Mendes always excelled in the vocal department, and nothing has changed.  His tone is ‘simply beautiful.’  He sings authentically and expressively on “Why Why Why,” making some personal revelations. He discusses breaking off a relationship (“But I went off and chose myself instead”), taking a hiatus from touring (“All the lights were fuckin’ with my head”), and not being ready for fatherhood (“I thought I was about to be a father / Shook me to the core, I’m still a kid”).  Even as Shawn reignites his music career after a breakup and mental health issues, he still questions, why, why, why? As a song, “Why Why Why” is respectable and well-rounded.  It’s authentic, rhythmic, and tuneful. Stylistically, it plays to Mendes’ strengths and throws a cool country element into the mix.  It’s not a dramatic change of pace for Shawn, but what’s clear is he remains a gifted vocalist.  Also, did I mention he’s still easy on the eyes? It’s in his blood!

Shawn Mendes // Shawn // Island // 10.18.24

[📷: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; Island; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Królestwo Nauki, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pete Linforth, Tumisu from Pixabay]