2016 studio album by Shawn Mendes
Illuminate is the second studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes . It was released on September 23, 2016, through Island Records . It is a follow-up to his debut album Handwritten (2015).[ 2] Musically, the album contains music genres pop , rock and blues .[ 1] The album debuted atop the US Billboard 200 and the Canadian Albums Chart . It was preceded by the lead single "Treat You Better ", which reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 . This album was supported by the Illuminate World Tour , which began in March 2017.[ 3]
"Treat You Better " was released as the lead single from the album on June 3, 2016.[ 4] The music video was released on July 12, 2016. It features a storyline where Mendes would like to help the girl in an abusive relationship, and he can treat her better. The song currently has almost two billion views on YouTube.[ 5] Since its release, "Treat You Better" has peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 .[ 6]
"Mercy " was serviced to US top 40 radio stations as the second single from the album on October 18, 2016.[ 7]
"There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back " was released as the album's third single on April 20, 2017.[ 8] The song debuted at number 7 in the United Kingdom, becoming his highest debut in the country. It also debuted in the top ten in Australia and Denmark. The iTunes version of both the standard and deluxe versions of Illuminate were reissued with "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" as track one upon the single's release.[ 9]
Along with the pre-order of Illuminate , "Ruin" was released as the album's first promotional single on July 8, 2016.[ 10] Its music video was released on July 18, 2016.[ 11]
On July 28, 2016, "Three Empty Words" was released as the second promotional single from the album.[ 12]
"Mercy" was released as the album's third and final promotional single on August 18, 2016. Its music video was released on September 21, 2016, receiving over 200 million views.[ 13] It features Mendes in a car which is filling up with water and it also features Mendes trashing a room with guitars, a drum-set and a piano.
The album received generally positive reviews from music critics.
Writing for Rolling Stone , Joe Levy noted "Illuminate mixes professions of romantic agony like "Mercy" (where a quietly hummed hook explodes into crashing drums), with nice-boy valentines like "Treat You Better" and bedroom come-ons like "Lights On"" while naming the album "disarmingly intimate."[ 15] Jon Reyes of Idolator , wrote that "[Shawn's] most noticeable change, aside from the tight music hall sonics, is the subtle infusion of sex into the lyrics" as well as feeling that the record as a whole "displays his lyrical development" and "polishes a proven formula."[ 16]
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that the album has "a bit of grace and warmth" and that Mendes "came into his own on Illuminate while also complimenting his "small and sweet" voice and how he "has gelled into his pop persona."[ 14] Sonia de Freitas, writing for Renowned for Sound , noticed that it "is apparent that Mendes has shifted to a more mature and soulful sound, and far more introspective lyrical content" while praising his vocals, writing that "he sings earnestly, with an emotive delivery in every song."[ 17]
Billboard listed the track "Don't Be a Fool" at number 90 for the best deep cuts from 21st century pop stars.[ 18] Associated Press listed it at number 5 on their best albums of 2016.[ 19]
Illuminate debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 145,000 equivalent album units , of which 121,000 copies were pure album sales. It became Mendes' second number-one album in the US and his best sales week. Mendes achieved his second number one at 18 years, two months and seven days old, becoming the fifth youngest artist to score their first two number one, following Justin Bieber , Miley Cyrus , Hilary Duff and LeAnn Rimes . In addition, Mendes is the first artist to have their first two full-length studio albums hit number one since 5 Seconds of Summer bowed at number one with Sounds Good Feels Good (2015) and their self-titled debut album (2014), and the first male artist to claim the distinction since 2015, when ASAP Rocky bowed atop the list with At. Long. Last. ASAP , following 2013’s Long. Live. ASAP .[ 23]
In his native Canada, the album debuted at number one with 21,000 total consumption units, of which 17,000 were album units sold, surpassing the highest one week sales total reached with his last album, Handwritten . Illuminate also picked up 3.8 million audio on-demand streams, the second highest total of the week, trailing only Drake 's Views .[ 24]
Illuminate – Standard version [ 25] Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 1. "Ruin" Jake Gosling 4:01 2. "Mercy " 3:28 3. "Treat You Better " 3:07 4. "Three Empty Words" Mendes Harris Zmishlany Warburton Gosling 3:19 5. "Don't Be a Fool" Gosling 3:35 6. "Like This" Pourkarim 3:06 7. "No Promises" Geiger 2:46 8. "Lights On" Gosling 3:21 9. "Honest" 3:19 10. "Patience" Gosling 2:55 11. "Bad Reputation" Gosling 3:18 12. "Understand" Mendes Harris Geiger Warburton Gosling 5:00 Total length: 41:15
Illuminate – Deluxe version (bonus tracks) [ 26] Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 13. "Hold On" Gosling 3:19 14. "Roses" Gosling 3:52 15. "Mercy" (acoustic) 3:39 Total length: 52:05
Illuminate – Japanese special edition (bonus tracks) [ 28] Title 17. "Stitches" 3:27 18. "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" (acoustic) 3:21 19. "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" (NOTD remix) 3:14 20. "Treat You Better" (Ashworth remix) 3:53 Total length: 69:19
^ a b Fekadu, Mesfin (October 27, 2016). "Shawn Mendes, the serious, striking musician, emerges on new album" . Associated Press . Retrieved November 8, 2016 .
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^ "Treat You Better - Single by Shawn Mendes on iTunes" . iTunes Store (US) . Archived from the original on July 8, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2016 .
^ Geffen, Sasha (July 12, 2016). "Shawn Mendes's 'Treat You Better' Video Is A Reminder That No One Has To Tolerate Abuse - MTV" . MTV . Archived from the original on July 15, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2016 .
^ Trust, Gary (August 29, 2016). "The Chainsmokers Hold Atop Hot 100, Shawn Mendes Hits Top 10" . Billboard . Retrieved August 29, 2016 .
^ "Top 40/M Future Releases - Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates" . AllAccess Music Group . October 18, 2016. Archived from the original on October 12, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2016 .
^ Kaufman, Gil (April 18, 2017). "Shawn Mendes Announces New Single, 'There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back' " . Billboard . Retrieved April 20, 2017 .
^ "Illuminate (Deluxe) by Shawn Mendes on Apple Music" . iTunes. 2016-09-23. Retrieved 2017-05-08 .
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^ "Shawn Mendes Shares 'Ruin' Music Video" . Radio.com . July 18, 2016. Archived from the original on October 8, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2016 .
^ "Amazon.com: Three Empty Words: Shawn Mendes: MP3 Downloads" . Amazon . July 28, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2016 .
^ Daw, Robbie (August 18, 2016). "Shawn Mendes Begs For 'Mercy' On Powerful New Song: Listen - Idolator" . Idolator . Archived from the original on June 21, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2016 .
^ a b Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "Illuminate- Shawn Mendes" . AllMusic . Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
^ a b Levy, Joe (September 23, 2016). "Shawn Mendes': Illuminate" . Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on May 3, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
^ a b Reyes, Jon (September 23, 2016). "Shawn Mendes' 'Illuminate': Album Review" . Idolator . Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ a b de Freitas, Sonia. "Album Review: Shawn Mendes-Illuminate" . Renowned for Sound . Retrieved October 6, 2016 .
^ "The 100 Best Deep Cuts by 21st Century Pop Stars: Critics' Picks" . Billboard . Retrieved December 13, 2017 .
^ Fekadu, Mesfin. "AP's top albums of 2016" . associated press . Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
^ "04 | 2017 Album of the Year | Shawn Mendes" . The JUNO Awards. Retrieved January 10, 2019 .
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^ "Illuminate (Deluxe) by Shawn Mendes on iTunes" . iTunes Store (US) . September 9, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2016 .
^ "Illuminate (Japanese Edition)" . Discogs . January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2018 .
^ "Illuminate (Japan Special Edition) [Japan Bonus Track]" . CDJapan. Retrieved May 22, 2018 .
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^ "Danish album certifications – Shawn Mendes – Illuminate" . IFPI Danmark . Retrieved August 7, 2024 .
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^ "Italian album certifications – Shawn Mendes – Illuminate" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved January 15, 2018 .
^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas . Type Shawn Mendes in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Illuminate in the box under the TÍTULO column heading .
^ "Dutch album certifications – Shawn Mendes – Illuminate" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers . Retrieved August 15, 2018 . Enter Illuminate in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2017 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen" .
^ "Norwegian album certifications – Shawn Mendes – Illuminate" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry . Retrieved April 19, 2023 . Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Illuminate in the search box.
^ "Portuguese album certifications – Shawn Mendes – Illuminate" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa . Retrieved August 7, 2024 .
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^ "Veckolista Album, vecka 12, 2018 | Sverigetopplistan" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan . Scroll to position 47 to view certification.
^ "British album certifications – Shawn Mendes – Illuminate" . British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved October 11, 2021 .
^ "American album certifications – Shawn Mendes – Illuminate" . Recording Industry Association of America .
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