When You're Gone (Shawn Mendes song)
"When You're Gone" is a song by Canadian singer Shawn Mendes. It was released as a single through Island Records on March 31, 2022. The song was produced by Mendes himself and Jonah Shy and co-produced by Scott Harris, and the three wrote it together.
"When You're Gone" | ||||
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Single by Shawn Mendes | ||||
Released | March 31, 2022 | |||
Genre | Pop rock | |||
Length | 2:52 | |||
Label | Island | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Shawn Mendes singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"When You're Gone" on YouTube |
Background and promotion
Mendes debuted the song on March 19, 2022, performing it live for the first time at his South by Southwest (SXSW) performance in Austin, Texas.[1] He teased the song by posting snippets of the song to the video-sharing app TikTok the week before its announcement and announced the song and its complete details two days later.[2]
Composition and lyrics
"When You're Gone" is a pop-rock song that lyrically sees Mendes singing about the end of a relationship, similar to his previous single from late 2021, "It'll Be Okay". Transitioning from the first verse to the chorus, he sings: "It's hard for me to let go of you / So I'm trying to hold on, hold on / I don't wanna know what it's like when you're gone". Further, into the chorus, he croons: "I didn't know that loving you was the happiest I've ever been / So I'm just trying to hold on".[3] The song has also been described as "a dreamy love song with a punchy chorus".[4]
Critical reception
Before the release of "When You're Gone", Billboard's Jason Lipshutz described the song as "a rollicking pop-rock track that sounds ready for radio play" and added that it "possess[es] a weight and polish that could make them staples of Mendes' set for years to come, and hint at promising new paths for his songwriting".[5] Khushboo Malhotra of CelebMix likewise stated that "[t]he song heralds a new musical era that appears promising and elevated while widening his aural and stylistic horizons", calling it a "heartbreakingly beautiful single".[6]
Music video
The official music video for "When You're Gone" premiered alongside the release of the song on March 31, 2022. It starts with a black-and-white resolution and sees Mendes recording the song in a studio and meeting up with fans. As the song shifts from him emotionally singing, it turns into full color when it turns into a sing-along.[7] Three days before its release, Mendes teased the video on the video-sharing app TikTok, which saw him dancing shirtless, with the caption: "this is unusual behavior".[8]
Credits and personnel
- Shawn Mendes – vocals, songwriting, production, guitar
- Jonah Shy – production, songwriting, vocal production, keyboards, percussion, programming
- Scott Harris – additional production, songwriting, guitar
- Jared Scharff – guitar, bass
- Adam Halferty – drums
- Andrew Maury – mixing
- Joe LaPorta – mastering
- Ashley Jacobson – recording
- Robert Johnson – recording
- Jeremy Dilli – recording
Charts
Weekly charts |
Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[62] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
Poland (ZPAV)[63] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[64] | Platinum | 20,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
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Various | March 31, 2022 | Island | [7] | |
United States | April 4, 2022 | Hot adult contemporary |
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[65] |
April 5, 2022 | Contemporary hit radio | [66] |
References
- Aubrey, Elizabeth (March 20, 2022). "Watch Shawn Mendes unveil new song at SXSW, 'When You're Gone'". NME. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- O'Connor, Siobhain (March 21, 2022). "Watch Shawn Mendes unveil new song at SXSW, 'When You're Gone'". Dork. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
- Chan, Tim (March 20, 2022). "Watch Shawn Mendes Debut New Breakup Song 'When You're Gone' at SXSW". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- Billboard Staff (March 31, 2022). "Shawn Mendes Returns With 'When You're Gone': Watch the Music Video". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
- Lipshutz, Jason (March 20, 2022). "Shawn Mendes Unveils New Song, Brings 'Wonder' on the Road in Billboard SXSW Showcase". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- Malhotra, Khushboo (April 11, 2022). "Shawn Mendes Gives His Fans a Walkthrough of "When You're Gone"". CelebMix. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- Legaspi, Althea (March 31, 2022). "Shawn Mendes Gives Behind-the-Scenes Look at 'When You're Gone' in New Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
- Dailey, Hannah (March 29, 2022). "Shawn Mendes Teases New Single With a Shirtless Dance Video: 'This Is Unusual Behavior'". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
- "Shawn Mendes – Chart History (Argentina Hot 100)" Billboard Argentina Hot 100 Singles for Shawn Mendes. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
- "Shawn Mendes – When You're Gone". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
- "Shawn Mendes – When You're Gone" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- "Shawn Mendes – When You're Gone" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
- "Shawn Mendes – When You're Gone" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
- "Shawn Mendes Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
- "Shawn Mendes Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- "Shawn Mendes Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
- "Shawn Mendes Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
- "HRT Airplay Radio Chart No. 1060 - Issue Date: January 2nd 2023" (PDF). Hrvatska Radiotelevizija. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 202231 into search. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202214 into search. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
- "Shawn Mendes – When You're Gone". Tracklisten. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
- "Shawn Mendes: When You're Gone" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
- "Shawn Mendes – When You're Gone" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- "Shawn Mendes Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- "Official IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart (International)". IFPI. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
- "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
- "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
- "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
- "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on April 9, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
- "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
- "OLT20 - Combined Chart - Week of Sunday April 24th, 2022". The Official Lebanese Top 20. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
- "2022 14-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
- "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 18, 2022" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
- "Shawn Mendes – When You're Gone" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
- "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 11, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
- "Shawn Mendes – When You're Gone". VG-lista. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
- "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
- "Shawn Mendes – When You're Gone". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
- "RIAS Top Charts Week 14 (1-7 Apr 2022)". March 29, 2022. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 202247 into search. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
- "ČNS IFPI". IFPI ČR. Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 202214 into search. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
- "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 14-2022". The Official South African Charts. Recording Industry of South Africa. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
- "Shawn Mendes – When You're Gone". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
- "Shawn Mendes – When You're Gone". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
- "Shawn Mendes Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- "Shawn Mendes Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
- "Shawn Mendes Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
- "Shawn Mendes Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
- "Shawn Mendes Chart History (Billboard Vietnam Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- "Ö3-Austria Top40 Single-Jahrescharts 2022". Ö3 Austria Top 40. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- "Jaaroverzichten 2022" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
- "Rapports annuels 2022" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
- "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
- "Jahrescharts 2022" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
- "Rádiós Top 100 - hallgatottsági adatok alapján - 2022" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
- "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2022" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
- "Adult Pop Airplay Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
- "Pop Airplay Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
- "Radio Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- "Danish single certifications – Shawn Mendes – When You're Gone". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 6, 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter When You're Gone in the search box.
- "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Shawn Mendes)". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2022.