"Why Why Why" | ||||
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Single by Shawn Mendes | ||||
from the album Shawn | ||||
Released | August 8, 2024 | |||
Genre | Folk-pop | |||
Length | 2:49 | |||
Label | Island | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Shawn Mendes singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Why Why Why" on YouTube |
"Why Why Why" is a song recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes for his upcoming fifth studio album, Shawn (2024). He wrote and produced the song with Eddie Benjamin, Mike Sabath, and Scott Harris. It was released through Island Records on August 8, 2024, as the lead single from the record, alongside "Isn't That Enough". It marked Mendes' first solo release since his 2023 charity single "What the Hell Are We Dying For?". "Why Why Why" is a country-infused folk-pop song with introspective lyrics about a former relationship and Mendes' struggles with anxiety that led him to cancel a concert tour in 2022.
Anthony Wilson and Connor Brashier directed the music video for "Why Why Why". It showcases Mendes singing along and performing in a barn and a river, while interspersing scenes of him performing in an empty venue. The singer included "Why Why Why" in the set list for a series of intimate concerts in the United States. Upon release, it was met with positive reviews among music critics.
Commercially, "Why Why Why" has charted moderately. It reached the top 40 in his native Canada, Belgium, and Netherlands, as well as the top 60 in Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and on the Billboard Global 200. Additionally, it peaked at number 84 on the US Hot 100.
In order to protect his own mental health, Canadian singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes announced the cancellation of his fifth concert tour, Wonder: The World Tour, in 2022. [1] [2] With a total of eight shows completed, it supported his fourth studio album Wonder , released in 2020. [3] He took a break from music for two years, although he released the charity single "What the Hell Are We Dying For?" the following year. [4] In an interview, he stated that he was "looking forward" to returning to the studio. [5]
In 2024, Mendes started to teasing his next musical era on social media. [6] He announced the release of his fifth album, titled Shawn , on July 31, 2024, along with its cover artwork and release date. [7] In a statement, he praised his family and closest friends for helping him throughout its conception. [8] He subsequently revealed that he would be releasing two singles from the record, titled "Why Why Why" and "Isn't That Enough", on August 8, 2024. [7] The Official Charts Company revealed that "Why Why Why" would be serving as the lead single off Shawn. [9] Island Records sent it to Italian radio on that date, [10] and released it to US contemporary hit radio on the following day in company with Republic Records. [11]
"Why Why Why" is a folk-pop track [12] [13] with touches of country music. [14] In its vulnerable lyrics, [15] Mendes expresses himself about his own mental health issues and struggles with anxiety that led him to cancel his tour, [13] as well as a previous relationship. [16] A verse of the song about Mendes imaginating a potential future as a father and a "pregnancy scare" received media coverage. [17] [18] [19]
In an interview with Apple Music's Zane Lowe, Mendes opened up about the process of recording "Why Why Why". [13] He cited that the anxiety he experienced estimulated his creativity. [20] The singer said: "If I started to experience some pretty heavy anxiety in the studio, everyone was sure that a great song was going to be coming after it because there was some sort of healing crisis, some sort of breakthrough that was supposed to happen". [21]
In a positive review, Isadora Wandermurem of Clash described the song as a "refreshing shift from the singer's previous productions, highlighting his willingness to explore new sounds". [14] The critic found "Why Why Why" and "Isn't That Enough" as "not just additions to his music catalog but a testament to his growth as an artist and as a person". [14] She gave both songs a rating of eight out of 10. [14] While adding "Why Why Why" to its list of the "must-hear" releases of the week, Billboard 's Jason Lipshutz said that it is "highly compelling", and finds Mendes "vulnerable to the point of sounding haunted". [12]
Billboard Canada reported that "Why Why Why" was the most played new radio single in the country for two consecutive weeks. [22] [23] In the country, it debuted at number 30 on the Canadian Hot 100, marking Mendes' seventeenth top 40 single. [24] The song debuted at number 84 on the US Billboard Hot 100 issued for August 24, 2024. [25] [26] It reached number 59 on the UK singles chart. [27] "Why Why Why" also peaked within the top 40 in the Flanders region of Belgium at number 23, [28] and on the Netherlands' Dutch Top 40 at number 38. [29] It debuted at number 58 on the Billboard Global 200. [30] Additionally, the song has reached number 51 in Switzerland, [31] number 60 in Sweden, [32] and number 65 in Ireland. [33]
The music video for "Why Why Why" was released along with the song. It was filmed in Hudson Valley, New York, where some songs from Shawn were written and recorded. [34] Directed by Anthony Wilson and Connor Brashier, the video features Mendes singing along and performing in a barn and a river; it also intersperses scenes of him performing in an empty venue. [35] It sees the singer enjoying freedom, a contrast to the emotions present in the track's lyrics. [34]
Mendes performed "Why Why Why" and the entirety of Shawn at an intimate concert tour in the United States in 2024, marketed as "for friends and family only". [36] [37] [38]
Chart (2024) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [28] | 23 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [24] | 30 |
Global 200 ( Billboard ) [30] | 58 |
Ireland (IRMA) [33] | 65 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [29] | 38 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [39] | 92 |
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [40] | 4 |
South Korea BGM (Circle) [41] | 40 |
South Korea Download (Circle) [42] | 124 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [32] | 60 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [31] | 51 |
UK Singles (OCC) [27] | 59 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [26] | 84 |
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Italy | August 8, 2024 | Radio airplay | Island | [10] |
United States | August 9, 2024 | Contemporary hit radio |
| [11] |
Shawn Peter Raul Mendes is a Canadian singer-songwriter. He gained a following in 2013, when he posted song covers on the video sharing platform Vine. The following year, he caught the attention of artist manager Andrew Gertler and Island Records A&R Ziggy Chareton, which led to him signing a deal with the record label. Mendes' self-titled debut EP was released in 2014, followed by his debut studio album Handwritten in 2015. Handwritten debuted atop the US Billboard 200, making Mendes one of five artists ever to debut at number one before the age of 18. The single "Stitches" reached number one in the UK and the top 10 in the US and Canada.
"Life of the Party" is the debut single recorded by Canadian singer Shawn Mendes from his extended play The Shawn Mendes EP. Written by Ido Zmishlany and Scott Harris, it was recorded in Toronto, Ontario and released on June 26, 2014. The song was later included on Mendes' debut studio album Handwritten (2015).
Canadian singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes has released four studio albums, two live albums, one reissue, three extended plays, twenty-five singles, and eleven promotional singles. He has sold over 20 million albums and 175 million singles worldwide. According to RIAA, Mendes has sold 50.5 million digital singles and 5 million certified albums in the US.
"Something Big" is a pop song by Canadian singer Shawn Mendes from his debut studio album Handwritten (2015). It was released on November 7, 2014, as the lead single from the album. The song peaked at number 80 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Handwritten is the debut studio album by Canadian singer Shawn Mendes, released on April 14, 2015, by Island Records. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 119,000 album-equivalent units, of which 106,000 copies were pure album sales, becoming the tenth artist to chart under the age of 18. The album includes "Stitches", which reached top 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the UK Singles Chart. The album's reissue, Handwritten (Revisited) features the US top 20 single "I Know What You Did Last Summer". To promote the album, Mendes performed in several television shows and awards. Two concert tours were also supported by the album: ShawnsFirstHeadlines and Shawn Mendes World Tour.
"Stitches" is a song by Canadian singer Shawn Mendes from his debut studio album, Handwritten (2015). It was initially released to iTunes via Island Records on March 16, 2015, as the third pre-order exclusive track and was subsequently serviced to radio via Republic Records on May 5, 2015, as the album's second single. "Stitches" is the first song by Mendes to appear on a Billboard airplay chart, debuting at number 36 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart in June 2015, and eventually reaching number one. It became his first top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100, charting at number four. "Stitches" also reached the top 10 on the Canadian Hot 100, peaking at number 10. It also topped the Slovenian SloTop50 Chart, Scottish Official Charts Company and UK Singles Chart and reached the top 5 in Germany, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
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