Wonder (Shawn Mendes album) explained

Wonder
Type:studio
Artist:Shawn Mendes
Cover:Shawn Mendes - Wonder.png
Recorded:2020
Genre:Pop[1]
Length:39:58
Label:Island
Producer:
Prev Title:Shawn Mendes
Prev Year:2018
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Wonder is the fourth studio album by Canadian singer Shawn Mendes, released by Island Records on December 4, 2020. Its production was handled by Mendes, Frank Dukes, Kid Harpoon and Scott Harris, among others. The album is his first since his 2018 self-titled album.[2] It was preceded by , a 2020 Netflix documentary capturing Mendes' off-stage life.

Upon release, Wonder received generally favourable reviews from music critics, most of whom noted Mendes' vocal improvements, but were polarized over the album's production and songwriting, deeming them predictable and formulaic. Wonder debuted at number one in Canada and the United States. Three singles supported the album: "Wonder", "Monster" with Justin Bieber, and "Call My Friends", with the former two reaching the top 20 of the US Billboard Hot 100.[3] [4] The album's lead single, "Wonder," peaked at number 18 on the Hot 100, and reached the top ten in several other countries. The second single, "Monster," reached number eight on the US Hot 100 and topped the Canadian Hot 100. To promote the album, Mendes embarked on the Wonder World Tour, which commenced in June 2022 in Portland and was set to conclude in August 2023 in Dublin, before Mendes prematurely ended the tour in July 2022 due to mental health issues.[5] [6]

Background and promotion

In August 2020, Shawn Mendes got the word "wonder" tattooed on his right arm, which would later turn out to be the title of the album and its lead single.[7] On September 30, 2020, the singer took to his social media to tease towards the project with the caption "WHAT IS #WONDER".[8] Hours later, he went on to announce the title and release dates of both lead single and album,[9] [10] as well as release the interlude "Intro", the first track on the album.[11] The album pre-orders were released to streaming services on September 30.[12]

In a statement, Mendes said of Wonder: "It really feels like a piece of me has been written down on paper and recorded into song. I tried to be as real and as honest as I've ever been. It's a world and a journey and a dream and an album I've been wanting to make for a really long time. I absolutely love it. Thank you for being by my side for so many years. I love you all so much."

To promote the album, a feature-length documentary titled directed by Grant Singer was released on Netflix on November 23, 2020, chronicling the past few years of Mendes' life, including his rise to fame, his 2019 self-titled world tour and the making of Wonder. Mendes executive produces the film, which was honored as a special selection at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival.[13]

Mendes revealed the album's tracklist through a Spotify canvas that was updated daily starting November 2, 2020. On November 13, Mendes revealed the tracklist on social media.[14]

Singles

"Wonder" was released as the title track and lead single from the album on October 2, 2020.[15] Teasers for both the song and accompanying music video were released alongside the announcement.[9] [11] "Monster", a collaboration with fellow Canadian singer Justin Bieber, was released as the second single on November 20.[16] "Call My Friends" was released as promotional single alongside the album release on December 4.[17] [18]

Critical reception

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 65 out of 100, which indicates "generally favorable reviews" based on 9 reviews.

Rolling Stone writer Jon Dolan defined Wonder as a compelling mixture of "youthful passion" and "coming-of-age agony", characterized its production as "grandiose" with backing choirs and dramatic drums, with sentimental lyrics inspired heavily by Camila Cabello. Vulture's Craig Jenkins found the album predictable, but praised Mendes for improving his vocals. He described it as a "headphone album, full of intriguing tones, lush textures, and unexpected twists", with "short and sweet" songs that lack the energy of his 2016 hit singles "Treat You Better" and "Mercy".[19] Quinn Moreland of Pitchfork felt the album was "naive—and vaguely terrifying" while opining "it’s nice to see his cup overflow so bountifully, but the near-constant awe quickly grows tiresome." He also noted that Wonder is Mendes' "most musically adventurous album" but that "every song is plagued by the same problem: Production that attempts to compensate for lyrical blandness by forcibly inserting drama." He ended his review by saying that Mendes "has yet to make a statement that truly sets him apart."

Dubbing Mendes as the North American version of Ed Sheeran, The Guardian critic Alexis Petridis was favourable towards Mendes's vocal performance and the "important" teenage themes discussed on Wonder, such as anxiety and toxic masculinity, but thought that it is deficit of personality, criticizing the "least appealing" production, and formulaic ballads with "ponderous-verse-into-epic-chorus" structure. Leah Greenblatt, writing for Entertainment Weekly, asserted that the album sees Mendes "still discovering himself in real time", feeling free, expressing sexual tension and reflecting on early fame, and picked "Call My Friends", "Dream" and "Song for No One" as the best tracks. In a less favourable review, Helen Brown of The Independent wrote that Wonder chronicles "the struggles of the lonely touring musician missing his girl", and complimented the album's vintage-inspired sound, but deemed the songs unoriginal. Malvika Padin, writing for Clash, noted that the album is "ambitious" and "stocked full of emotions," but also wrote that it didn't always succeed, at times "feeling too shallow for it to be as impactful as Mendes intended it to be," but called the album worth a listen. Jon Caramanica of The New York Times complimented Mendes' "understanding [of] how to inflate his voice from whimper to peal," but felt that "his lyrics meander and stop short of true sentiment, and his rhythmic deliveries feel less cohesive" and that the record was "much less polished" in comparison to his previous two album releases.[20] Writing for Stereogum, Chris DeVille named Wonder Mendes' "best (or at least most interesting)" album while complimenting his growth as a songwriter, although he feels that at times the record "falls victim to the same overly broad fairytale love-story clichés."[21]

Commercial performance

Wonder debuted at number one on the Canadian Album Chart for Billboard, earning the highest sales and digital song downloads and the second-highest on-demand streams for the week. It became Mendes' fourth Canadian number-one album.[22]

Wonder debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 89,000 album-equivalent units (including 54,000 pure sales), becoming Mendes' fourth consecutive US number-one album.[23] It made Mendes the youngest male artist and second-youngest artist after Britney Spears to top the Billboard 200 with four regular studio albums. It also made him the fourth-youngest artist in history to log four number-one titles on the Billboard 200. The album's tracks earned a total of 46.92 million on-demand streams in its first week.[23] [24] In its second week, the album descended to number 25 on the Billboard 200 dated December 17, 2020, with 28,300 units sold.[25] It sold 30,000 units in the week dated December 24, 2020, on the Billboard 200.

Track listing

Notes

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[26]

Musicians

Technical

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2020)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Japan Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[27] 66
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[28] 6
Slovak Albums (IFPI)[29] 8
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[30] 5

Year-end charts

Chart (2021)! scope="col"
Position
US Billboard 200[31] 165

Release history

Release history for Wonder
RegionDateFormatLabel
VariousDecember 4, 2020Island
WorldwideVirgin EMI[32]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Shawn Mendes Aims High (Sometimes Too High) With 'Wonder': Album Review. Jem Aswad. Variety. 3 December 2020. 17 December 2020. 16 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201216230217/https://variety.com/2020/music/reviews/shawn-mendes-wonder-album-review-1234845722/. live.
  2. Blistein. Jon. September 30, 2020. Shawn Mendes Details New Album 'Wonder'. October 8, 2020. Rolling Stone. January 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210118051114/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/shawn-mendes-new-album-wonder-1069222/. live.
  3. Web site: Darmon. Aynslee. December 4, 2020. Shawn Mendes Drops Next Single 'Call My Friends' And Album 'Wonder'. December 4, 2020. Entertainment Tonight Canada. February 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210217115923/https://etcanada.com/news/720329/shawn-mendes-teases-next-single-call-my-friends-off-upcoming-album-wonder/. dead.
  4. Web site: Callaghan. Kat. December 3, 2020. [Video] Shawn Mendes Teases New Song, 'Call My Friends' Ahead of Album Release]. December 20, 2020. The New Beat Breakfast. ... he has revealed his latest single will be 'Call My Friends'.. January 7, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210107201025/https://scottandkat.ca/video-shawn-mendes-teases-new-song-call-my-friends-ahead-of-album-release/. live.
  5. Shawn Mendes Unveils His 2022 Wonder: The World Tour Dates. 2021-09-25. Billboard. en.
  6. News: Friend . David . July 27, 2022 . Shawn Mendes cancels North American and European concert tour dates . en . CP24 . July 27, 2022.
  7. Web site: Shawn Mendes's New Album Details Might Have Been Leaked. Fuentes. Tamara. Seventeen. September 29, 2020. October 1, 2020. October 1, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201001212841/https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/music/a34208630/shawn-mendes-new-album-wonder-details-leaked/. live.
  8. Web site: Shawn Mendes Shares 'Wonder' Release. Kennedy. John R. IHeartRadio Canada. September 30, 2020. October 1, 2020.
  9. Web site: Shawn Mendes announces new album 'Wonder'. Langford. Jackson. NME. October 1, 2020. October 1, 2020. October 1, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201001213710/https://www.nme.com/news/music/shawn-mendes-announces-new-album-wonder-2766219. live.
  10. Web site: Shawn Mendes Announces New Album, and You Know Camila Cabello Is Involved. Curto. Justin. Vulture. September 30, 2020. October 1, 2020.
  11. Shawn Mendes Teases New 'Wonder' Single & Album With Trailer: Watch. Mamo. Heran. Billboard. September 30, 2020. October 1, 2020. October 1, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201001010300/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9457699/shawn-mendes-teases-new-wonder-single-album-trailer. live.
  12. Web site: Wonder by Shawn Mendes. Apple Music. December 5, 2020. December 2, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201202121958/https://music.apple.com/album/wonder/1533345318. live.
  13. Here's When Shawn Mendes' 'In Wonder' Netflix Documentary Arrives. Billboard. December 7, 2020. November 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201123200240/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9464771/shawn-mendes-in-wonder-netflix-documentary/. live.
  14. ShawnMendes. 1327357742412075008. November 13, 2020.
    1. WONDER the album tracklist Black heart Out dec 4. pre-order & pre-save now http://wonder.lnk.to/album
    . November 14, 2020.
  15. Web site: Shawn Mendes Reveals New Album Title, Release Date. Countryman. Eli. Variety. September 30, 2020. October 1, 2020. March 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210303024454/https://variety.com/2020/music/news/shawn-mendes-wonder-1234788078/. live.
  16. ShawnMendes. 1328423481709498368. November 16, 2020. November 16, 2020.
    1. MONSTER friday nov 20th @justinbieber. Next single from #WONDER http://monster.lnk.to/single
    .
  17. Web site: Shawn Mendes Drops Next Single 'Call My Friends' And Album 'Wonder'. Darmon. Aynslee. December 4, 2020. Entertainment Tonight Canada. December 4, 2020. February 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210217115923/https://etcanada.com/news/720329/shawn-mendes-teases-next-single-call-my-friends-off-upcoming-album-wonder/. dead.
  18. Web site: [VIDEO] Shawn Mendes Teases New Song, 'Call My Friends' Ahead of Album Release]. Callaghan. Kat. December 3, 2020. The New Beat Breakfast. December 20, 2020. ... he has revealed his latest single will be 'Call My Friends'.. January 7, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210107201025/https://scottandkat.ca/video-shawn-mendes-teases-new-song-call-my-friends-ahead-of-album-release/. live.
  19. Web site: Jenkins. Craig. 2020-12-04. Shawn Mendes Still Leaves Too Much to Wonder About. 2020-12-04. Vulture. en-us. 2020-12-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20201204055706/https://www.vulture.com/2020/12/shawn-mendes-wonder-album-review.html. live.
  20. Web site: Caramanica. Jon. 2020-12-08. Shawn Mendes, the Lonely, Uncertain Pop Heartthrob. 2020-12-09. The New York Times. en-us. 2020-12-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20201208184543/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/08/arts/music/shawn-mendes-wonder-review.html. live.
  21. Web site: DeVille. Chris. December 7, 2020. Wonder Has Me Wondering If Shawn Mendes Is On The Verge Of A Creative Breakthrough. 2020-12-09. Stereogum. en-US. 2020-12-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20201210202159/https://www.stereogum.com/2109634/shawn-mendes-wonder-review/columns/the-week-in-pop/. live.
  22. Web site: On The Charts This Week. FYI Music News. December 13, 2020. December 13, 2020. December 14, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201214132024/https://www.fyimusicnews.ca/articles/2020/12/13/shawn-mendes-achieves-his-fourth-no-1-debut-wonder-album. live.
  23. Shawn Mendes Achieves Fourth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Wonder'. Billboard. Caulfield. Keith. December 13, 2020. December 13, 2020. December 14, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201214031112/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9498963/shawn-mendes-wonder-tops-billboard-200-chart. live.
  24. Grien. Paul. Shawn Mendes Is the Youngest Male Artist to Top the Billboard 200 With Four Regular Studio Albums. December 14, 2020. Billboard. December 14, 2020. December 14, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201214224130/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9499119/shawn-mendes-youngest-artist-top-billboard-200-four-full-length-studio-albums/. live.
  25. Web site: Média. Bell. 'Wonder' Suffers Dramatic Fall On U.S. Albums Chart. 2020-12-24. www.iheartradio.ca. en-CA. 2021-01-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20210107065455/https://www.iheartradio.ca/news/wonder-suffers-dramatic-fall-on-u-s-albums-chart-1.14218262. live.
  26. Web site: Credits / Wonder (Deluxe) / Shawn Mendes . . December 10, 2020 . December 7, 2020 . January 7, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210107220133/https://listen.tidal.com/album/165144404/credits . live .
  27. Web site: Wonder on Billboard Japan Hot Albums. Billboard Japan. December 13, 2020. ja. May 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200520035902/http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums. live.
  28. Web site: Albumų Top100. AGATA. lt. December 14, 2020. December 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201211095258/https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/w50. live.
  29. Web site: Top 100 Slovak Albums. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. July 29, 2024.
  30. Web site: Top 100 Albums: Week 50 (2020) . El portal de Música . . December 17, 2020 . es . December 15, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201215165348/https://www.elportaldemusica.es/lists/top-100-albums/2020/50 . live .
  31. Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 3, 2021.
  32. Web site: The Official Store of Shawn Mendes. Shawn Mendes Official Store. October 6, 2020. October 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201009001729/https://ukshop.shawnmendesofficial.com/. live.

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