Our top 10 Shawn Mendes songs list looks at the catalog of a Canadian singer who rose to fame after posting cover videos on several social platforms. Born in 1998, Shawn Mendes was passionate about music from a tender age, growing up listening to Garth Brooks, Led Zeppelin, and country music. His zeal to learn the guitar saw him acquire skills from watching tutorials and playing the instrument when he was fourteen.
Months after, Shawn Mendes started posting cover songs on platforms such as YouTube and Vine. His cover versions attracted more viewers each day, making him a celebrity on Vine. Shawn Mendes’ cover for Justin Bieber’s “As Long As You Love Me” was a career-defining rendition. The cover saw him receive more than ten thousand likes and a similar number of followers overnight.
He would now grow his fanbase slowly but steadily, and by the end of 2014, Shawn Mendes was Vine’s third most-followed singer. A month before signing to Island Records, Shawn Mendes won Best Cover Song in Ryan Seacrest’s contest. At that time, he gave a rendition to A Great Big World’s “Say Something.” Shawn Mendes signed to Island Records in May 2014.
After signing to the record label, Shawn Mendes released his debut single, “Life of the Party.” The song debuted at number twenty-four on the Billboard Hot 100. This made him the youngest artist to debut in the top twenty-five on the chart. Shawn Mendes released an EP, The Shawn Mendes EP, in July 2014. The EP peaked at number five on the Billboard 200.
Shawn Mendes was featured on “Oh Cecilia (Breaking My Heart)” by The Vamps. Soon after, he released his sophomore single “Something Big” in November 2014. His Platinum-certified debut album Handwritten (2015) debuted at the peak of Billboard 200. This saw him break the record for the youngest musician to debut at number one on Billboard 200. The record had been set earlier by Justin Bieber with My World 2.0 (2010).
“Stitches” from his debut album rose to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making it his first top ten hit on the chart. In the same year, Shawn Mendes opened for Taylor Swift, after which he recorded the hit “Believe” for the soundtrack to the 2015 adventure-comedy film Descendants. He later teamed up with Camila Cabello (former member of Fifth Harmony) for the release of “I Know What You Did Last Summer.”
Shawn Mendes released “Treat You Better” in June 2016. The song served as the lead single to his sophomore album Illuminate (2016). The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. By this time, Shawn Mendes had become one of the most influential teens, as listed on Forbes.
In 2018, Shawn Mendes released his eponymous third album. The album featured several artists, including Khalid, Julia Michaels, Camila Cabello, John Mayer, and Ed Sheeran. Some of the musical gems featured on the album include “In My Blood,” “Youth,” and “Lost in Japan.” The album peaked for the third time in a row at number one on the Billboard 200. After this, Shawn Mendes released several successful singles, including “If I Can’t Have You” and his second collaboration hit with Camila Cabello, “Señorita.”
After the release of the Netflix documentary Shawn Mendes: In Wonder, Shawn Mendes released his fourth and latest studio album Wonder (2020). Like his previous albums, Wonder (2020) made it to the number one position on the Billboard 200. With all his albums peaking at number one on the Billboard 200, Shawn Mendes has proved to be a force to reckon with in the pop scene.
While his music is majorly pop, some of his songs ooze elements of pop-rock and folk-rock. Some of his major influences in the music industry include Justin Timberlake, Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, and Taylor Swift. The Canadian singer has won over a hundred music accolades throughout his career. However, while his incredible songs have catapulted him to the popstar status, Shawn Mendes has failed to win any of his nominations in the Grammy Awards. Nevertheless, his pure talent has gifted him enough fame for a musician who started by posting covers on social media. Here we present the best Shawn Mendes songs you might want to add to your playlist.
#10 – If I Can’t Have You
Ushering us to the top 10 Shawn Mendes songs is the hit “If I Can’t Have You.” The song is featured on his eponymous studio album. Its lyrics allude to how Shawn Mendes is smitten with a lady. However, the narrative is different from the girl’s side. Sadly, Shawn Mendes can barely get the lady out of his mind. The song rose to number two on the Billboard Hot 100.
#9 – Never Be Alone
“Never Be Alone” is an impressive release from the album Handwritten (2015). Shawn Mendes got inspiration from “Hey There Delilah” by The Plain White T. The song features fiction-based lyrics, exhibiting Shawn Mendes’ archetypal songwriting skills. Some lyrics in the song thematically draw a parallel to “All of the Stars” by Ed Sheeran.
#8 – Monster ft. Justin Bieber
Shawn Mendes teamed up with fellow Canadian pop star Justin Bieber for the release of “Monster.” The song is featured on his album Wonder (2020). Bieber and Mendes were joined by Mustafa the Poet and Daniel Caesar in the songwriting process of this Canadian written and produced hit.
The song finds the artists singing about the liabilities of life. Additionally, the duo touches on the uncertainty in the music industry. This was the first time the two Canadian pop stars teamed up for the release of a song. “Monster” peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100.
#7 – In My Blood
“In My Blood” is a touching pop-rock hit from Shawn Mendes’ eponymous album. The song alludes to overcoming impediments in our lives. Shawn Mendes revealed that this is one of his best songs ever penned. He writes this song from the standpoint of a person who feels overwhelmed by impediments and burnout. However, he pushes on, asserting that it is not in his blood to give up!
The song peaked at number eleven on the Billboard Hot 100. Shawn Mendes was almost scooping a Grammy Award for the Song of Year category with this hit. However, “This Is America” by Childish Gambino stole the show at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards event by winning this accolade.
#6 – Mercy
Number six on the top 10 Shawn Mendes songs is the hit “Mercy.” The song was co-written by Teddy Geiger, Isley Juber, and Danny Parker. This ominous hit is featured on Shawn Mendes’ sophomore album Illuminate (2016). The song alludes to how Shawn Mendes feels caged in the jail of uncertain love, something that is tearing him into pieces. “Mercy” rose to number fifteen on both the UK Singles Chart and Billboard Hot 100.
#5 – I Know What You Did Last Summer ft. Camila Cabello
After disbanding from Fifth Harmony, Camila Cabello teamed up with Shawn Mendes for the release of the hit “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” This was her debut single as a solo artist. This emotional love duet alludes to a conversation by two lovers in a collapsing relationship that no one wishes to admit is fading. The song peaked at number twenty on the Billboard Hot 100.
#4 – There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back
“There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” is a 2017 single written by Scott Harris, Geoff Warburton, Teddy Geiger, and Shawn Mendes. The song finds the Canadian pop star singing about a relationship that makes him experience happiness uncensored. Shawn Mendes seems to have drowned in the lady’s jar of love and now wishes to go to wherever this will take them. The song peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100.
#3 – Treat You Better
Number three on our top 10 Shawn Mendes songs is the hit “Treat You Better.” The song finds Shawn Mendes trying to attract the attention of a lady he seems to love. He knows no pickup line might work to his advantage since the lady is already in a relationship. However, he tries to assert that he can treat the lady better than her current boyfriend. He goes on to promise that he will not let her down and always be a gentleman for her. The song rose to number six on both the UK Singles Chart and Billboard Hot 100.
#2 – Stitches
“Stitches” is one of the most reputable releases from Shawn Mendes’ album Handwritten (2015). After being a star in Vine, Shawn Mendes released several songs for his debut album. However, “Stitches,” his third release, was his first major song to appear on Billboard Airplay Chart. The song would later rise to number four on the Billboard Hot 100. Shawn Mendes became recognized by many in Europe after the song peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart.
#1 – Señorita ft. Camila Cabello
Coming in at number one is the collaboration hit “Señorita.” Shawn Mendes teamed up with Camila Cabello for the second time for the release of this successful hit on his eponymous studio album. This smooth Latin finds the two crooning about their made-up romance. “Señorita” peaked at number one on both the UK Singles Chart and Billboard Hot 100. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category. However, it lost to “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus.
Photo: Tom Rose / Shutterstock.com
Top 10 Shawn Mendes Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2022
Classicrockhistory.com claims ownership of all its original content and Intellectual property under United States Copyright laws and those of all other foreign countries. No one person, business or any organizations is allowed to re-publish any of our original content anywhere on the web or in print without our permission. All photos used are either public domain creative commons photos or licensed officially from Shutterstock under license with ClassicRockHistory.com. All photo credits have been placed at end of article.