For Friends and Family Only: Shawn Mendes' Performs 'Shawn' Live
Source: Spotify
After a long two-year hiatus, and four years without releasing music, Shawn Mendes is back with his fifth album Shawn. Although it was originally set to be released on October 18th, the singer pushed the release date to November 15th, to ensure it was perfect for his fans.
Prior to the album's release, he announced he was doing a handful of intimate live shows to perform the album For Friends and Family Only. As a longtime fan, I jumped at the opportunity to see the show.
He performed at the Brooklyn Paramount in Brooklyn, New York on October 18, and the intimacy of the concert with the songs on the new album made for a special night. Performing alongside some longtime band members, new ones, and co-writers, the concert title For Friends and Family Only rang true.
The album has 12 songs and runs for 30 minutes and 36 seconds from front to back. It has four singles: “Why Why Why,” “Nobody Knows,” “Isn’t That Enough,” and “Heart of Gold.” As Mendes has said, each track was inspired by self-exploration and his hardest personal experiences. Hearing the album live was an emotional experience as it is his most vulnerable work to date.
Track 1: Who I Am
After canceling his 2022 tour, Wonder, the 26-year-old singer had time to sit back and reflect on who he was as an individual. Track 1, “Who I Am,” is an acoustic track that gives you a peek into the singer's mind after the cancellation.
“Got a lot of talk in my brain right now
Sorry, got to do it, got to let you down ”
Track 2: Why, Why, Why
“Why, Why, Why” was the first single released from the album. One of his more folk-inspired songs on the album, this track covers insecurities the singer has faced in relationships and daily life after the tour cancellation.
The repetition of the words “why, why, why” was as a cry from the singer. The uncertainty of the future with worries from the past clouded his thoughts.
Track 3: That’s The Dream
“That’s The Dream” is about the singer’s past relationship and how the pair had made promises about their future. Promises were broken and Mendes is learning to cope with that by becoming comfortable alone again.
“I know that space is supposed to help
But I feel like a shadow of myself”
Track 4: Nobody Knows
“Nobody Knows” was another single release mourning the loss of a great love. The confusion of being in love, but also feeling like it’s not enough. Learning how to let go of love when it isn’t present anymore.
The track on the album was recorded in one take, so fans hear the rawest version.
"We did it once, we did it together, and we did it live. And it was just kind of this beautiful captured moment in time," Mendes said.
Track 5: Isn’t That Enough
Released with “Why, Why, Why” as a single, “Isn’t That Enough” holds a completely different sound. It is an understated track that’s about finding peace and acceptance. The singer acknowledges his weaknesses but also his hope for his future self.
The lyrics in this track are full of imagery to put the listener in his shoes.
“My hands still shaking
My mind’s still racing
My heart’s still breaking in two”
Track 6: Heart of Gold
“Heart of Gold” is the final single of the album and was written about Mendes’ childhood friend, Deijomi, who passed away in 2018. When the singer found out about his passing he was deep in a world tour so he never had the time to fully process the loss. This song highlights Deijomi radiance and how he will be remembered.
In Brooklyn, Mendes dedicated the song to former One Direction singer, Liam Payne, who had passed away two days before the show.
“It is about grieving those we miss with tears and it’s also about celebrating them and who they were and what they left in this world,” Mendes said. “Liam, we love you. The world is crying for you, brother, and we're all praying for your son and your family. I miss you. This one's for you tonight, Liam, from all of us.”
Track 7: Heavy
“Heavy” is another song about the difficulty of confronting his emotions. It highlights how hard it can be to acknowledge your mental health and open up to those around you.
“I’ve been so lonely, runnin’ from home
I’ve been on my own now for way too long”
In this song, he showcases his willingness to finally open up and encourages his fans to do so as well. It serves as a reminder that you’re never alone, should never feel that way, and can manage the weight of the world together.
Track 8: That’ll Be The Day
“That’ll Be The Day” is Mendes’ confession to not being able to move on from his past relationship. It creates the image of her building a new life when he can’t do that himself.
“But there will be a day when I don’t hear a sound
I’ll be six feet underground”
Nothing feels as real or as pure as his last love and he’s pushing back the inevitable that he will have to move on and be with someone who isn’t her.
Track 9: In Between
Following “That’ll Be The Day,” “In Between” also reflects on his past relationship and how much they went through together. They experienced ups and downs, but always found a way back to one another.
Before performing the song live in Brooklyn he prefaced by saying, “I’m 26 and I realize if every song I wrote was something I felt for the rest of my life I wouldn’t be growing.”
“I guess I just want to say, for myself, it really calms my heart when I speak to someone and they just say ‘It’s hard to figure it out, love is really hard.’”
“In Between” challenges the stereotypes around love and the expectations the world has for relationships. He echoes “Isn’t that enough” towards the end of the song to pair the tracks together.
Track 10: The Mountain
“The Mountain” was my favorite track after hearing it live for the first time. The song covers how the media perceives him, his habits, and who he loves.
“It’s sad cause I think about little Shawn just trying to do his best job and he has no idea,” Mendes said. “No one told him ‘Hey dude you’re in for one’ because having hundreds and thousands of people daily tell you what they think about you is going to be really intense and it’s going to mess you up a little bit.”
It seems he’s figured out just what he wants to say because the lyrics towards the end of the song include, “You can say I like girls or boys, whatever fits your mold.”
Track 11: Rollin’ Right Along
“Rollin’ Right Along” is a song that tackles themes of moving forward while learning how to respect the memories of a past relationship. Mendes struggled to maintain the personal progress he’s made but reminded himself of the passion and strength he has.
“Two years since I held my baby tight
Learned my heart can break and that’s alright”
Track 12: Hallelujah
After his tour cancellation, the singer couldn’t even think about picking up a guitar without a rush of anxiety. A friend showed him the harmonium, often used in devotional music, to keep his spark alive.
He used the harmonium so he wouldn’t lose his voice and to “sing for the sake of it.” “Hallelujah” is a cover of the original song by Leonard Cohen with Mendes’ own twist. That night in Brooklyn when he preformed the track, it was just him, the harmonium, and an acoustic guitar.
“And every night I do it on stage, it’s beyond. It’s a powerful song,” Mendes said.
Shawn is an album that has shaken everyone’s perception of who the singer is. His vulnerability carries the album in a direction his fans didn’t expect, but are embracing nonetheless.
“I have one job and it’s to express my truth. It’s my responsibility. If people are connecting with the songs and it’s coming from a place that isn’t true, they’re getting a distorted image and I don’t want that.”