Shawn Mendes’ global dominance evident in first of three Melbourne shows
He’s one of the biggest pop stars in the world, with 11 billion song streams and scores of dedicated fans. But 13 months is a long time to wait after Shawn Mendes’ Melbourne tickets went on sale last year — was it worth the wait?
Confidential
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The numbers around Shawn Mendes — 11 billion song streams, 100 million singles sold, and a spot on Time’s 100 Most Influential People — tell an amazing story of his rise to global pop dominance.
But so do the screams. Last night, the stadium-sized joy at the first of Mendes’ three sold-out concerts at Rod Laver Arena told a different tale.
Mendes, 21, arguably 2019’s biggest male pop star, was finally here, 13 months after tickets for these shows went on sale. These days, a year and a bit is a long time to maintain in pop’s upper echelon.
But the Canadian singer-songwriter filled that period with hits including In My Blood, If I Can’t Have You, Senorita (a duet with his girlfriend Camila Cabello), and, because he can, a Calvin Klein underwear campaign.
“Let’s get lost tonight,” Mendes sung amid a swirl of colour and flashing wristbands (worn by the crowd) during last night’s opener, Lost In Tokyo.
He followed with a signature hit, Nothing Holding Me Back, then Stitches.
Mendes transformed Señorita into a piano ballad that stretched into a churning electric medley.
He acknowledged his three Melbourne dates, adding: “There’s not many places I get to do that.”
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His banter was minimal, but on point. A show is music, lights and cameras, Mendes said, “but the most important part is you guys.”
Later, he surfaced on a b-stage, sitting at the piano under a giant rose to deliver a batch of early material, and a nod to the late Whitney Houston.
Indeed, in these quieter --- and rock --- moments Mendes also showed flair and dexterity as a guitarist and pianist — two more feats in his ever-growing list of accomplishments.