I haven’t thought all that much about the Life is Strange television series since it was announced back in 2016. I love the world of Blackwell. I’ve read the LiS comics and played all the games – the first one especially is amongst my favourites of all time. It’s unsurprising then that True Colors is my most anticipated game of the year and has been ever since it was revealed. I haven’t forgotten about the TV show because of a lack of interest in the idea, but because it felt like one of those projects that gets announced to a ton of buzz and then no one ever hears of it again right from the get-go. The Watch Dogs movie first spoken of back in 2013 is a classic example of this. Last week though, we had our first taste of actual news about the project – Shawn Mendes is doing the music. I mean… what?
I have nothing against Mendes personally. Despite ostensibly working for a games website, I have written articles about Ariana Grande (several, in fact), Lorde, and Taylor Swift in the past. I’ve referenced Billie Eilish, Kim Petras, Dua Lipa, and Megan Thee Stallion in articles here, along with a bunch of other pop stars. I don’t really like Shawn Mendes, but it’s certainly not because I’m too cool for him. He’s fine. The issue is that he doesn’t make the type of music that’s in Life is Strange, and after five years of radio silence, this isn’t the kind of announcement that lends the series the kind of authority it needs to succeed.
Related: I Can’t Wait To Play Dungeons And Dragons With Steph Again In Life Is Strange: True Colors
Casting would have been a great piece of news to start with, for example. If the news instead was that Sophia Lillis was to be Max, Sadie Sink was cast as Chloe, and Anya Taylor-Joy was Victoria, my excitement would be untethered and my anticipation would know no bounds. Of course, the big issue with adaptations can be fancasting – even if the cast was loaded with unknowns, at least there would be something to cling to. I’m mostly unfamiliar with Daniella Pineda’s work, but she has already convinced me she has the right stuff for Faye Valentine after the whole Cowboy Bebop costume controversy.
It didn’t need to be casting though – any kind of confirmation whatsoever that the show was being worked on and was a real thing that was actively going to come to fruition some time in the near future would have been enough. Mendes’ attachment is proof positive that someone somewhere is still working on this thing, but it feels like such a colossal misstep – as the first step, that’s worrying.
Mendes may argue his music is in the same ballpark as Life is Strange, especially his more acoustic songs, but he’d be wrong. He’s too produced, and has too much of a pop glean to him. It’s all hooks and chorus and very little soul. If you read the names I listed at the start of this piece, you’ll see that I have no issue with highly produced pop. If Kim Petras or Ariana Grande were heading up the music, I probably would have had thick enough rose-tinted glasses to spin it into a positive thing, but deep down I’d know neither were right for the job. Again, in fancasting land I’d give it to Phoebe Bridgers or Chloe Moriondo, but it wouldn’t need to be them – again, it wouldn’t need to be anyone I’ve heard of. It just needs to be someone whose sound suits Life is Strange. “And now that I'm without your kisses, I'll be needing stitches” doesn’t exactly fit the bill.
I know Mendes is not egotistical enough to insist that all of the songs are his own work. Selena Gomez had a similar role as producer of 13 Reasons Why, and the soundtrack almost entirely consisted of other artists. But Gomez’s soft ballad pop was perfect for 13 Reasons Why’s identity. Mendes’ car commercial fluff is not for Life is Strange.
Music is crucial in Life is Strange. Last week our own Jade King interviewed Julia Stone, who scored True Colors, about how much music matters to the series. Meanwhile mxmtoon, who incidentally would have been another perfect choice for Mendes’ position, provides protagonist Alex Chen’s singing voice in the game. Several scenes in the previous entries are defined by music, whether that be listening to it, watching it live, or playing it yourself.
Music matters to Life is Strange more than it matters to just any TV show. Mendes seems like a nice guy and is clearly a successful musician, but he feels so desperately wrong for this gig. Maybe Mendes, and the production in general, will prove me wrong, but for the first piece of news in five years to be some chart favourite taking the lead on the music in a series that typically treats its soundtrack with such attention, it doesn’t give me all that much hope.
Next: We Should Talk About Life Is Strange 2 More
