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There’s nothing holdingShawn Mendesback from (seemingly) singing about climate change.
On Friday, the singer-songwriter released a new song called"What the Hell Are We Dying For?“and said he wrote the song this week amid the Canadian wildfires that’ve sent a blaze of smoke throughout many areas of the United States, causing air quality issues.
“Started writing this song yesterday morning with my friends in upstate New York & finished it only a few hours ago…felt important to me to share with you guys in real time,” wrote Mendes, 24, onInstagram, noting that he’s making a donation to the Canadian Red Cross alongside the song’s release.
Shawn Mendes.Hector Vivas/Getty
Hector Vivas/Getty
“Smoke in the air, the city’s burnin' down / I wanna speak, but I don’t make a sound,” sings the Grammy nominee on the pop-rock ballad, referencing the situation. “Locked in my mind, you’re all I think about / I wanna save us, but I don’t know how.”
While the song seems to be about the wildfires and climate change at large, some of its lyrics appear to nod toward the end of a relationship — leading fans to wonder if Mendes is singing about a possible breakup fromCamila Cabellofollowing their rumored reconciliation.
“If we don’t love like we used to / If we don’t care like we used to / What the hell are we dying for? / If it doesn’t cut like it used to / If you’re not mine and I’m not yours / What the hell are we dying for?” sings the “Stitches” musician in the track’s chorus.
After dating for two years and splitting in November 2021, Mendes and Cabello, 26, sparked rumors of a rekindled romance after they were spottedkissing at the 2023 Coachella Music Festivalin April. Since then, they’ve been seen on numerous occasions strolling around Los Angeles and New York City together.
Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes.John Shearer/Getty
Last month, they were spotteddisplaying some P.D.A.during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour stop at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. But earlier this week,The Sunreported that the pair had split yet again.
Another fan echoed the same sentiment, tweeting, “Actually thought Shawn’s song would be about climate change with the photo he used…it’s about his break up with Camila…once again…”
However, some other fans felt the song is truly commenting on the wildfires, air pollution and climate change, which Mendes has been vocal about in the past.
“Shawn has always always donated and supported organisations that deal with climate change and he even has his own foundation,” expressed aTwitteruser. “He’s not using it for promo, he’s not profiting of that, the song is ABOUT THAT and he just wanted to share it with us. Yall have to hate on everything…”
Feeling similarly, another fantweeted, “shawn is truly one of the few artists who’s constantly talking about climate change issues, because he really cares. he is also constantly taking his platforms to raise awareness and i’m grateful he’s donating and helping out, it’s so important.”
Neither Mendes nor Cabello have commented on the rumors surrounding the song’s meaning.
source: people.com
