Pop/rock band Crowded House owned the air waves in early 1987, mesmerizing millions with “Don’t Dream It’s Over”–less a song with a linear story line, more a montage of images, insights and thoughts.
Taking the slot reserved for hauntingly powerful ballads today is impossibly young (he’s 19-years old!) Shawn Mendes’ “In My Blood”—the song draws you in with the music, vocals, emotion, and those familiar vague, dreamy snatches of imagery and emotion:
Just have a drink and you’ll feel better
Just take her home and you’ll feel better
Keep telling me that it gets better
Does it ever?
Help me, it’s like the walls are caving in
Sometimes I feel like giving up
But I just can’t
It isn’t in my blood
Sometimes I feel like giving up
But I just can’t
It isn’t in my blood
This is a “big” song, lots of vocal power with emotional push. Mendes says it’s his most personal song yet. Right now, it’s hovering around the “Top 10” on Top 40 and Adult Top 40 radio.
The Shawn Mendes take-away:
He’s Canadian.
He turns 20-years old in August.
In the past three years, he’s had FOUR Top 10 hits.
His first album, in 2015, hit number one by the end of its first week of release.
His fan base is growing.
His third album is in process.