Go Behind the Scenes With Shawn Mendes Before Sold-Out Radio City Show
Shawn Mendes played a sold-out show at Radio City Music Hall on Saturday night. Prior to that, he devoted his time to his fans, putting on an intimate performance for around 300 lucky attendees after a meet-and-greet, signing guitars for VIP ticket-holders and surprising a few lucky ones with front-row seats just a couple hours before doors opened. Take a look at an afternoon in the life of one of the world's biggest — and youngest — megastars.
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Waiting
Mendes waits with his entourage to take the elevator up to his dressing room after surprising a few lucky fans with front-row tickets to the show.
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Handwritten
The 17-year-old left a simple note in Radio City Music Hall's guestbook before his sold-out show at the venue.
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Soundcheck
Mendes tuned his guitar before practicing with the full band at soundcheck.
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Duet
Fifth Harmony's Camila Cabello joined Mendes during his show as well as for soundcheck with the full band. Cabello co-wrote and sang on the 17-year-old's single "I Know What You Did Last Summer," which appeared on November's Handwritten Revisited.
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Private Show
Hours before the actual Radio City set, Mendes put on a much smaller show for about 300 lucky fans who had purchased the Shawn Access VIP experience. He performed three songs and joked around with the intimately small audience.
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Blue Moon
Mendes admires the graphics from his show during his soundcheck where he practiced with the new layout for the first time.
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Set List
Mendes separated his show into three acts, which were indicated by moving visuals and animation he debuted at the Radio City performance. During his set, the singer debuted three new songs, including the heartbreaking, blues-pop track "Ruin."
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Harmony
Cabello and Mendes decided to write "I Know What You Did Last Summer" during a chance meeting backstage while on Taylor Swift's 1989 tour. "We were just backstage hanging out," Mendes told Rolling Stone last November. "I pulled out my guitar and we were just messing around, not really thinking about writing a song."
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Guitars
The Shawn Access VIP package included a set of acoustic guitars signed by the singer to be given to fans who had purchased the special ticket.
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Bright Lights
Mendes' Radio City show was sold out, much like the rest of the dates on his headlining world tour, which will take him through Europe and back to North America from April through August.
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Before the Storm
Mendes is pictured here just moments before stepping outside to surprise a few lucky fans with front-row tickets to his show.
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Kids in Love
Mendes' fanbase is primarily teenage and tweenage girls who came out in droves for his Radio City show. Many lingered after to get a glimpse of their celebrity crush and favorite musician.
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“Mrs. Mendes”
Many fans wore matching tops and hats. One group of young girls sported caps that said "Mrs. Mendes" on them.
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Dressing Room
Mendes spent his time in his dressing room drinking tea and preparing his voice for the show later that night.
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Adjust
Mendes fixed his microphone before appearing on camera prior to his show.
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Aftertaste
Mendes sprayed his throat to protect it after spending a day talking with fans and rehearsing for his performance that night.
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“You Made It Shawn”
Fans created posters that said "You Made It Shawn," which they held up during his performance of debut single, "Life of the Party."
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Front Row
The screams were deafening throughout Mendes' packed Radio City debut.
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Capture
Fans kept their phones and iPads handy as they captured every moment of one of Mendes' first shows as a headliner following his gig opening for Taylor Swift on her 1989 world tour.
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Lights
Flashlights on fans' phones lit up the venue during several slower moments of the show.
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Something Big
Mendes performed a 90-minute set on Saturday night, playing many songs off his debut album, Handwritten, and debuting three new ones to the surprise of his fans. The 17-year-old sold out his headlining tour in just a few minutes last month.