Shawn keeps the pop sound going

Pop music got a boost in the Billboard Album charts last week. Amidst all the assortment of hip-hop sounds, there came somebody to keep lone pop holdout Ed Sheeran, company in the hit lists. This is Shawn Mendes, the young singing heartthrob from Toronto, Canada, who has released Shawn Mendes: The Album two weeks ago. It is now the No. 1 seller in Billboard’s top 200 Albums tabulation, and also globally as in Canada, Australia, Spain, Belgium and other countries.

But of course, Shawn also took into account the fact that hip-hop is indeed the music genre of the moment. There is just no escaping its beats and its varied musings. So one cut in his album features the prolific Khalid in a song that these two 20 year olds co-wrote and introduced at the recent Billboard Music Awards. The young rapper behind the breakthrough hit American Teen joins Mendes in Youth, a moving R&B tune about how in this world, youth is so easily sacrificed to violence and terrorism. This is a serious moment in a swoony pop album that shows how Shawn continues to edge towards mature stuff.

This maturity is best embodied in the album’s first single release, In My Blood. A pop-rock ballad enhanced by strings and a choral background, it tells of Shawn’s struggle with anxiety disorder. Now, Shawn maybe barely out of his teens and was discovered on the Internet because he looked cute and could sing nicely. But it now looks like the kid is more serious than he seems. He has taken a very personal problem and turned it into a most appealing, utterly radio-friendly tune. In My Blood is his best work to date and I am sure we can look forward to more.

Shawn has a love song for his second single but that does not mean that he can exempt himself from experimenting. Lost In Japan is also not like his usual in that, it is sexy, funky, R&B and a very well-produced piece. There is more sexy, soulful R&B in another single release, Where Were You In The Morning? A tale of a one-night stand that remained just that but Shawn again toys with the music using a guitar this time to bring out the melody.

Incidentally, aside from co-writing and producing most of the tracks, Shawn also gets stellar songwriting support in the album. Julia Michaels co-wrote two songs, Nervous and Like To Be You, where she joins him in a duet. There is also Ed Sheeran who is co-writer of Fallin’ All In You. Shawn Mendes: The Album also includes: Particular Taste, Why, Because I Had You, Queen, Mutual, Perfectly Wrong and When You’re Ready. This is Shawn’s third album. Released earlier were Handwritten and Illuminate.

The Top 20 sellers in the Top 200 Albums chart are: Shawn Mendes by Shawn Mendes; beerbongs & bentleys by Post Malone; DAYTONA by Pusha T; Testing by A$AP Rocky; Invasion Of Privacy by Cardi B; Love Yourself: Tear by BTS; Harder Than Ever by Lil Baby; Goodbye & Good Riddance by Juice WRLD; The Greatest Showman, the motion picture soundtrack by Hugh Jackman, Zach Efron and others; KOD by J. Cole.

Love Is Dead by CHVRCHES; Stoney by Post Malone; Black Panther: The Album, Music From And Inspired By, the soundtrack; Culture by Migos; Vibras by J. Balvin; ÷ (Divide) by Ed Sheeran; Evolve by Imagine Dragons; reputation by Taylor Swift; ? by XXXTENTACION; and And Justice For None by Five Finger Death Punch.

The Top 20 songs are: Nice For What by Drake; Psycho by Post Malone feat. Ty Dolla $ign; God’s Plan by Drake; This Is America by Childish Gambino; The Middle by Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey; Yes Indeed by Lil Baby & Drake; I Like It by Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin; Boo’d Up by Ella Mai; Meant To Be by Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line; No Tears Left To Cry by Ariana Grande.

In My Blood by Shawn Mendes; Look Alive by BlocBoy JB feat. Drake; Friends by Marshmello & Anne-Marie; Walk It Talk It by Migos feat. Drake; Lucid Dreams by Juice WRLD; Never Be The Same by Camila Cabello; Perfect by Ed Sheeran; Whatever It Takes by Imagine Dragons; I’m Upset by Drake; and Mine by Bazzi.