Format Digital download Genre Rock Label IslandUniversal | Recorded 2016 Length 3:28 | |
Released October 18, 2016 (2016-10-18) | ||
"Mercy" is a song by Canadian singer and 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. 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).
Contents
Composition
"Mercy" is written in the key of E minor with a common time tempo of 144 to 152 beats per minute. Mendes's vocals span from B3 to A5 in the song.
Music video
On September 21, 2016, a music video directed by Jay Martin was released. It features Mendes singing, switching between him drowning in a locked car in the ocean and him performing the song with instruments.
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. The singer later performed the song on Today on September 23, The Late Late Show with James Corden on September 28, The X Factor UK on October 23, and The X Factor Australia on October 31 as well as Saturday Night Live on December 4.