Nobody Knows (Shawn Mendes song)

"Nobody Knows"
Single by Shawn Mendes
from the album Shawn
WrittenMarch 18, 2024
ReleasedSeptember 12, 2024 (2024-09-12)
GenreFolk rock
Length2:32
LabelIsland
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Shawn Mendes
  • Mike Sabath
  • Eddie Benjamin
Shawn Mendes singles chronology
"Why Why Why" / "Isn't That Enough"
(2024) 		"Nobody Knows"
(2024) 		"Heart of Gold"
(2024)
Music video
"Nobody Knows" on YouTube

"Nobody Knows" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes from his fifth studio album, Shawn (2024). He wrote and produced it along with Eddie Benjamin and Mike Sabath, while Scott Harris was also part of the composition. They debuted the song at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards. Island Records released the song on September 12, 2024, as the third single from the album. A Connor Brashier-directed music video premiered on the same date.

Background and release

[edit]

After taking a two-year break from music, Shawn Mendes announced his fifth studio album, Shawn, on July 31, 2024, along with its cover artwork and release date.[1] On the same date, the track listing of the album was revealed, with "Nobody Knows" serving as the fourth track.[2] The song was written on March 18, 2024, at Dark Horse Studios in Franklin, Tennessee, US, on the same day as Shawn tracks "Heart of Gold" and "That'll Be the Day".[3] Mendes teased the track title in an Instagram post on March 27.[4] Two singles from the album were released in August 8: the lead "Why Why Why" and "Isn't That Enough".[5] "Nobody Knows" was released as the third single by Island Records on September 12, and a music video premiered on the following day at 12 p.m. Eastern Time Zone.[6]

Composition

[edit]

"Nobody Knows" is a folk rock song,[7] with country and soul influences.[8] According to Mendes, it was written and recorded in a "tough night", in one take.[9] He explained: "I was dealing with some feelings, and we were having some whiskey, and we were in the studio [...] We did it once, we did it together, and we did it live. And it was just kind of this beautiful captured moment in time".[9]

Live performances

[edit]

Mendes embarked on a intimate concert tour in the United States to promote Shawn, in which he performed the album's songs "from top to bottom", including "Nobody Knows".[10][11] On August 27, 2024, the singer was confirmed as a performer at the 2024 edition of the MTV Video Music Awards.[12] A day before the performance, Mendes revealed that he would be performing the then-unreleased "Nobody Knows", and shared a snippet of the song.[13] Mendes performed the song on September 11, alonside its co-writers and co-producers Eddie Benjamin and Mike Sabath.[9] In contrast to the other performances of the ceremony, it was pared down, with Mendes and his accompanying "closest friends" playing guitar and drums.[14] They performed surrounded by fog and between a collection of candles, with an electric climax.[15][7]

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "Nobody Knows"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[16] 22
South Korea BGM (Circle)[17] 136

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Perkins, Njera (July 31, 2024). "Shawn Mendes Announces Reflective Self-Titled Album, Sets Fall Release Date: 'Feels Like Such a Gift'". People. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  2. ^ Rossignol, Derrick (July 31, 2024). "Shawn Mendes Is Finally Ready To Return To Music As He Announces A New Album And Singles Coming Soon". Uproxx. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  3. ^ "Making of the Album". Island Records. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  4. ^ Mendes, Shawn [@shawnmendes] (March 27, 2024). "nobody knows". Nashville – via Instagram.
  5. ^ Griffiths, George (July 31, 2024). "Shawn Mendes announces new self-titled album, will drop two new singles next week". Official Charts. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  6. ^ Fisher, Kelly (September 11, 2024). "Watch Shawn Mendes Reveal Unreleased Ballad During Soulful VMAs Performance". iHeart. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Lynch, Joe (September 11, 2024). "Shawn Mendes Debuts New Song 'Nobody Knows' at 2024 VMAs". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  8. ^ Johnson, Laura (September 12, 2024). "Shawn Mendes Releases New Single Nobody Knows". Stereoboard. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c Callahan, Erinn (September 11, 2024). "Shawn Mendes Drives The 2024 VMAs Crowd Wild With Brand-New Song". American Songwriter. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  10. ^ Paul, Larisha (August 1, 2024). "Shawn Mendes Will Perform New Album From Top to Bottom on Intimate Tour". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  11. ^ Denning, Reagan (August 1, 2024). "Shawn Mendes is taking the stage once again 'For Friends and Family Only'". Melodic Magazine. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  12. ^ Aswad, Jem (August 27, 2024). "Shawn Mendes, Karol G, Anitta, LL Cool J Join MTV VMAs Lineup". Variety. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  13. ^ Terrania, Camille (September 10, 2024). "Shawn Mendes Teases Performance of Unreleased Song 'Nobody Knows' at the VMAS". Music Times. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  14. ^ Tenreyro, Tatiana (September 11, 2024). "Shawn Mendes Debuts New Single "Nobody Knows" at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  15. ^ Kaplan, Ilana (September 11, 2024). "Shawn Mendes Debuts New Single 'Nobody Knows' Live at 2024 MTV VMAs in Intimate, Candlelit Performance". People. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  16. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 23, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  17. ^ "BGM Chart – Week 37 of 2024". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved September 19, 2024.
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