Top 10 Things We Learned in Shawn Mendes: In Wonder
#10: Shawn’s Manager Helped Build His Confidence
After Shawn’s breathtaking cover of “Say Something” caught his now-manager Andrew Gertler’s attention, a beautiful partnership was born. But not before Mendes made sure to ask plenty of questions, since a decision like this was not one he took lightly. It sounds like he made the right choice in hiring him though, since Shawn credits Gertler for helping him become more self-assured. The singer makes standing on a stage with just a guitar and his voice seem effortless because of the ease with which he does it. But it turns out that at first, he insisted he needed a band, because he lacked self-esteem! It was Andrew who insisted he play alone and acoustically, which taught him to trust his talent. Thank goodness he did.
#9: He Has a Strong Support System
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Deciding at a young age that music is something you want to pursue professionally is not for the faint of heart. There’s no telling how the people around you will react. Luckily, Mendes reveals that he received plenty of support from family, friends, and even his vocal teacher Ms. Parker. At one point, he recalls the good advice his father gave him about becoming a songwriter: essentially to just go write songs. It was such an impactful lesson that he actually passed it down to a fan who had similar aspirations. Because those closest to Mendes encouraged his dreams and nurtured his talent, he was given the space to thrive and succeed.
#8: The Importance of His Friendships
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You might wonder if a pop star as famous as Shawn Mendes keeps in touch with old friends. Well, we learn in the documentary that he does more than just that. In fact, his childhood friend Brian Craigen can often be seen on the road with him. Mendes describes him as a crucial part of his support system that keeps him sane and grounded. And the star hasn’t forgotten about the rest of his buddies back home either. He actually describes feeling closer to them now than ever before, because they’ve been with him since the beginning. While he is the one receiving all the glory and attention, he shares the credit with those who helped him get where he is today.
#7: His Mindset for His New Album
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Throughout the documentary, fans get a special glimpse of Shawn working on his upcoming album, “Wonder”. And while there’s no question that it’ll be just as amazing as all his others, there’s something a bit different about how he approached the process this time around. He describes his mindset for this album as being more positive, and focused on love. He reveals that he’s taken a more laid-back approach, where he welcomes imperfection instead of fighting it. Plus, we get to see a bit of the actual process behind the creation of the songs, from Mendes working on lyrics, to him getting in the booth to record. One thing’s for sure, seeing these moments only increased our excitement for the record.
#6: He Craves Normalcy
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It’s no secret that Mendes’ life is anything but ordinary in a lot of ways. After all, most of us don’t go on huge tours to perform for many thousands of adoring fans. But while a lot of his lifestyle might be difficult to understand for someone outside the industry, Mendes proves that he’s just a normal guy. In an extremely touching and relatable moment, he reveals that while he loves what he does, he can’t help but miss the small, simple things he doesn’t get to do. He also shares that he’s been afraid to vocalize that feeling, for fear that people will stop caring about him. We think it’s safe to say there’s no danger of that happening anytime soon.
#5: He Hated the Idea of Being Famous
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We learn a lot about who Mendes is as a person when he goes back to Ontario, Canada. His connection to his roots in Pickering becomes increasingly clear as he reminisces about the field where he used to hang out with friends, and raids his parents’ kitchen for food. From watching him interact with his family, to seeing his childhood bedroom, fans get an intimate look at where Mendes grew up. We even find out that he once told his younger sister Aaliyah that he hated the idea of being famous when she asked him about it. He apparently said it sounded “awful”. Mendes himself has no memory of this, but his little sis remembers it like it was yesterday. Clearly life had other plans!
#4: Manifesting His Sold-Out Rogers Centre Show
What makes a show extra special? Is it the size of the stadium or the amount of people there? Well, for Mendes it’s something entirely different. While it doesn’t hurt that the Rogers Centre is one of Canada’s premier concert venues, that’s not the only reason why he anticipated his sold-out show there. We learn that he’s wanted to play there ever since he began pursuing music. He even put it in his manifestation journal, where he repeatedly writes down positive thoughts. And this is specifically because there’s so much extra love for him in Toronto, with friends, family and acquaintances supporting him. He describes the feeling as nerve-wracking but magical, and we’re sure the audience felt the same way.
#3: Shawn and Camila’s Love Story
Ever since these two went public with their relationship, fans have wanted to know more. Luckily, Mendes and Cabello give fans insight into their story here. They met when Fifth Harmony and Shawn were both opening a show. But while Cabello admits she found him cute even then, they barely spoke. Then, a friendship started to blossom backstage at a Taylor Swift show when they began collaborating on a song. They didn’t know what to make of their mutual attraction but they did form a strong bond. Naturally, this progressed, and as they got older, Shawmila was born. In fact, Shawn reveals that they began living in an apartment alone together for the first time! And he calls the experience a refreshingly normal one.
#2: His Muse
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It turns out that Camila Cabello has been Shawn Mendes’ inspiration for a while. In fact, she’s the subject of most of his songs, even the ones he wrote long before they started dating. Funnily enough, she had no idea. He goes on to make an extremely sweet analogy to describe how their love is bigger than words. While he doesn’t feel like he can articulate it in a way that does it justice, viewers certainly get a glimpse of the couple’s sweet dynamic by watching them interact throughout the documentary. It’s evident how much they care for each other, through subtle things like a small kiss or Shawn tying Camila’s shoe for her. It’s definitely touching to see.
#1: He Has Ongoing Voice Concerns
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A big theme in the documentary is Shawn’s vocal health. One of his biggest fears is that one day he won’t be able to sing anymore. And things did reach a breaking point in Brazil. Fans might remember he was forced to cancel his São Paulo show in 2019. Here, we get an inside look at what happened. Mendes isn’t feeling well, but holds out on making a decision until the last minute, hoping he’ll get better. But when his vocal coach and doctor agree that he not only risks having to cut the tour short, but permanent damage to his voice, he realizes he doesn’t have a choice. Visibly upset, he cancels and goes on vocal rest. But rest assured, he has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.
