“Summer Of Love” By Shawn Mendes: A Nostalgic Anthem 

Shawn Mendes, the Canadian singer-songwriter, has consistently charmed the world with his soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics. His music often explores themes of love, relationships, and personal growth, resonating with listeners of all ages. 

In 2021, Shawn Mendes released "Summer of Love,” often referred to as SOL by Mendes and his production team. The song encapsulates the essence of the season and is all about feeling nostalgic about good times with the person you love. 

The Story Behind The Lyrics

One of Shawn Mendes's strengths as an artist is his ability to connect with his audience through raw and honest storytelling. "Summer of Love" is no exception. In the song, Mendes reflects on the time he spent with his then-girlfriend Camilla Cabello in Spring 2020 at the beginning of the COVID lockdowns. 

In an interview, he shared, “I had a lot of nostalgia around that time and I think without that time, Camila and I would have found it a lot harder to connect. It really, really brought us together."

In the song, Mendes sings:

“Meditation and tequila
Hate it when I have to leave ya”

This verse was a call back to lyrics “I love it when you call me señorita / I wish I could pretend I didn't need ya” from the couple's second collaboration – “Señorita.” (Their first collab was “I Know What You Did Last Summer.”)

A Perfect Summer Tune 

Mendes first teased the song in a short video on social media on August 6. In the clip, he was singing the song while driving his car. Two days later, on his birthday, the singer announced he would be releasing the song later the same month. 

For “Summer Of Love,” Shawn Mendes collaborated with Tainy, a Puerto Rican producer known for his Reggaeton sound. Tainy once shared, “SOL has a very "summer vibe" feel, led by main guitars and chords so I just wanted to give it more movement and heavy bass. That paired with Shawn's vocals made it a perfect fit."

The accompanying music video, released the same day as the song, features dreamy visuals while Mendes has a carefree day with his friends in Mallorca, Spain. There are scenes of them driving around in a convertible, hanging out on the beach, jumping into the ocean, and living it up at a nightclub. 

"Summer of Love" made its mark not only on the music charts but also on popular culture. The song's carefree spirit and its message of embracing love align perfectly with the idea of the "Summer of Love" itself, a term originally coined to describe the countercultural movement of the 1960s in San Francisco. While Mendes's song is undoubtedly different in style and context, it evokes the same spirit of love, freedom, and optimism that characterized that era.

With its catchy melody and uplifting beats, “Summer Of Love” is an invitation to dance, laugh, and embrace the feeling of freedom that summer brings. It was nominated as the Song of Summer for the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards, made it to #8 on the Canada Top 40 chart, and was certified gold. 

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