"Mercy"
Single by Shawn Mendes
from the album Illuminate
ReleasedOctober 18, 2016 (2016-10-18)
Recorded2016
Length3:28
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Shawn Mendes singles chronology
"Treat You Better"
(2016) 		"Mercy"
(2016) 		"There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back"
(2017)
Music video
"Mercy" on YouTube

"Mercy" is a song by Canadian singer-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.[1][2] 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).[3]

Composition

"Mercy" is written in the key of B minor with a common time tempo of 144 to 152 beats per minute. Mendes's vocals span from B2 to A4 in the song.[4]

Music video

On September 21, 2016, a music video directed by Jay Martin was released.[5] 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.

Cover versions

In October 2016, Muslim Nasheed artist Siedd released a cover version of 'Mercy' on YouTube.[6] The song which has over 1 million views on YouTube features a modern style a capella arrangement with rewritten lyrics to reflect his Islamic faith.[7]

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.[8] The singer later performed the song on Today on September 23,[9] The Late Late Show with James Corden on September 28,[10] The X Factor UK on October 23,[11] and The X Factor Australia on October 31 as well as Saturday Night Live on December 3. Mendes performed the song live at the Juno Awards of 2017; this version was subsequently released as a digital download.[12][13] On May 27, 2018, Mendes and singer James Bay performed the song together at BBC Music's Biggest Weekend.[14]

Track listing

Digital download[3]
No.TitleLength
1."Mercy"3:28
Loote remix[15]
No.TitleLength
1."Mercy" (Loote remix)3:23
Acoustic guitar version[16]
No.TitleLength
1."Mercy" (acoustic guitar)3:41
Live from the JUNOs 2017[13]
No.TitleLength
1."Mercy" (Live from the JUNOs 2017)3:37

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[71] 7× Platinum 490,000‡
Belgium (BEA)[72] Platinum 20,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[73] 5× Platinum 400,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[74] 3× Platinum 270,000‡
France (SNEP)[75] Platinum 133,333‡
Germany (BVMI)[76] Platinum 400,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[77] 3× Platinum 150,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON)[78] Platinum 60,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[79] Gold 15,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway)[80] 2× Platinum 80,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[81] 2× Platinum 40,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[82] 2× Platinum 20,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[83] Gold 20,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[84] 3× Platinum 120,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[85] 2× Platinum 1,200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[86] 5× Platinum 5,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States August 18, 2016 Digital download
[3]
October 18, 2016 Top 40 radio
[87]
Worldwide November 4, 2016 Digital download – Loote remix
[15]
January 27, 2017 Digital download – acoustic guitar version
[16]
April 2, 2017 Digital download – live from the Juno Awards of 2017
[13]

References

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  5. ^ "Shawn Mendes - Mercy - YouTube". YouTube. September 21, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  6. ^ "Thunder Bay Muslim singer has a million hits on YouTube". [[CBC][. Mar 28, 2017.
  7. ^ "Siedd - Mercy (Official Nasheed Cover) | Vocals Only". YouTube. Oct 14, 2016.
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