Mercy (Shawn Mendes song)

"Mercy" is a song by Canadian singer and songwriter Shawn Mendes. It was co-written by Mendes with Ilsey Juber, Danny Parker and Teddy Geiger, with the latter handling the song's production with Jake Gosling.[2][3] It was released on August 18, 2016, through Island Records as the third promotional single, and later as the second single on October 18, 2016, from his second studio album, Illuminate (2016).[4]

"Mercy"
Single by Shawn Mendes
from the album Illuminate
Released	October 18, 2016
Recorded	2016
Genre	Rock[1]
Length	3:28
Label	Island Universal
Songwriter(s)	Shawn Mendes Teddy Geiger Danny Parker Ilsey Juber
Producer(s)	Jake Gosling Teddy Geiger
Shawn Mendes singles chronology
"Treat You Better" (2016) "Mercy" (2016) "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" (2017)
Music video
"Mercy" on YouTube

Composition

"Mercy" is written in the key of E minor with a common time tempo of 144 to 152 beats per minute. Mendes's vocals span from B₂ to A₄ in the song.[5]

Music video

On September 21, 2016, a music video directed by Jay Martin was released.[6] It features Mendes singing, switching between him drowning in a locked car in the ocean and him performing the song with instruments in a warehouse shot at TriBro Studios.

Chart performance

In the United States, the song peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the second single from Illuminate to reach the top 20. It also peaked at number 13 in Australia, number 15 in the UK and number 23 in Canada.

Live performances

Mendes performed the song for the first time on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on September 22, 2016, backed by mallet drums, electric guitar, bass and piano.[7] The singer later performed the song on Today on September 23,[8] The Late Late Show with James Corden on September 28,[9] The X Factor UK on October 23,[10] and The X Factor Australia on October 31 as well as Saturday Night Live on December 4. Mendes performed the song live at the Juno Awards of 2017; this version was subsequently released as a digital download.[11][12] On May 27, 2018, Mendes and singer James Bay performed the song together at BBC Music's Biggest Weekend.[13]

Track listing

Digital download[4]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Mercy"	3:28

Loote remix[14]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Mercy" (Loote remix)	3:23

Acoustic guitar version[15]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Mercy" (acoustic guitar)	3:41

Live from the JUNOs 2017[12]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Mercy" (Live from the JUNOs 2017)	3:37

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2016–17) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[16] 13 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[17] 8 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[18] 24 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[19] 19 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[20] 23 Canada AC (Billboard)[21] 12 Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[22] 8 Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[23] 12 Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[24] 3 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[25] 15 Denmark (Tracklisten)[26] 7 France (SNEP)[27] 168 Germany (Official German Charts)[28] 16 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[29] 25 Hungary (Single Top 40)[30] 22 Ireland (IRMA)[31] 17 Italy (FIMI)[32] 17 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[33] 5 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[34] 6 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[35] 18 Norway (VG-lista)[36] 16 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[37] 71 Portugal (AFP)[38] 3 Scotland (OCC)[39] 8 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[40] 28 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[41] 18 Slovenia (SloTop50)[42] 18 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[43] 20 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[44] 4 UK Singles (OCC)[45] 15 US Billboard Hot 100[46] 15 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[47] 11 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[48] 2 US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[49] 36 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[50] 6

Year-end charts Chart (2016) Position Australia (ARIA)[51] 70 Denmark (Tracklisten)[52] 69 Germany (Official German Charts)[53] 93 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[54] 38 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[55] 71 Chart (2017) Position Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[56] 84 Denmark (Tracklisten)[57] 75 Italy (FIMI)[58] 98 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[59] 93 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[60] 88 Portugal (AFP)[61] 66 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[62] 73 US Billboard Hot 100[63] 54 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[64] 22 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[65] 15 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[66] 25 Chart (2019) Position Portugal (AFP)[67] 435

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[68]	2× Platinum	140,000
Belgium (BEA)[69]	Platinum	30,000^*
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[70]	2× Platinum	180,000
France (SNEP)[71]	Platinum	133,333
Germany (BVMI)[72]	Platinum	400,000
Italy (FIMI)[73]	3× Platinum	150,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[74]	Gold	15,000
Norway (IFPI Norway)[75]	2× Platinum	80,000
Poland (ZPAV)[76]	2× Platinum	40,000
Portugal (AFP)[77]	Platinum	10,000
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[78]	Gold	20,000
Sweden (GLF)[79]	2× Platinum	80,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[80]	Platinum	600,000
United States (RIAA)[81]	3× Platinum	3,000,000
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
United States	August 18, 2016	Digital download	Island Universal	[4]
	October 18, 2016	Top 40 radio	Island Republic	[82]
Worldwide	November 4, 2016	Digital download – Loote remix	Island Universal	[14]
	January 27, 2017	Digital download – acoustic guitar version	Island Universal	[15]
	April 2, 2017	Digital download – live from the Juno Awards of 2017	Island Universal	[12]

References

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73. "Italian single certifications – Shawn Mendes – Mercy" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved April 16, 2018. Select "2018" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Mercy" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
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