song review
Shawn taught us that we should never stop pursuing our dream.
In my blood
shawn mendes
Release Date: 22 March 2018
Label: Island Records
Genre: Rock
Today’s music is currently following a mainstream path with constant reference to popularity, celebrities and the buzz of their lives, giving respondents an enthralling insight of the “ideal pop experience”. However the song, “In my Blood” has a deep and original theme, detailing a real life encounter of a well known, successful musician who faced and overcame the common mental health issues; loneliness, anxiety and depression.
Shawn Mendes
The intro of the song begins with an andante tempo, aiming to accentuate the message of the lyrics, “Help me, its like the walls are caving in, sometimes I feel like giving up, but I just can’t, it isn’t in my blood”. This line is further reiterated constantly as the pre chorus, creating an emphasis on the importance of not losing hope and being a fighter instead of giving up. In verses 1 and 2 Mendes details the feelings associated with mental health conditions, appealing to a range of adolescent respondents who, (although not relating on the same scale as the musician) are able to understand the pressures of puberty, social media and high school which bring about insecurities, stress and new fears to the average person.
Mendes then further questions if the situation ever gets better, whilst hinting that resorting to alcohol, medication or other selfish and harming acts are not in fact helpful in creating a sense of fulfillment in life, but instead enhance the negative feelings that cause the problem. This is followed by crescendo dynamics through the use of piano keys, highlighting the change from pre chorus to the chorus. Throughout the chorus, Mendes rather passionately and proudly says “It isn’t in my blood”, evoking a sense of pathos within his audience, eliciting feelings of avidity, faith, determination and fearlessness. “In my Blood” calls for action and liberty in both asking and giving help, as well as being aware of the effects our actions have on the people surrounding us.
-T Singh, Year 10