Treat You Better

"Treat You Better" is a song recorded by Canadian singer and songwriter Shawn Mendes. It was co-written by Mendes with Teddy Geiger, and Scott Harris. It was released on June 3, 2016, through Island Records as the lead single from his second studio album, Illuminate (2016).[3] The music video was released on July 12, 2016, and features a storyline about an abusive relationship.[4]

This article is about the song by Shawn Mendes. For the song by Rüfüs Du Sol, see Treat You Better (Rüfüs Du Sol song).

"Treat You Better"
Single by Shawn Mendes
from the album Illuminate
B-side	"Ruin"
Released	June 3, 2016 (2016-06-03)
Recorded	2016
Genre	Pop[1][2]
Length	3:07
Label	Island Republic Universal
Songwriter(s)	Shawn Mendes Teddy Geiger Scott Harris
Producer(s)	Teddy Geiger Dan Romer DJ "Daylight" Kyriakides
Shawn Mendes singles chronology
"I Know What You Did Last Summer" (2015) "Treat You Better" (2016) "Mercy" (2016)
Music video
"Treat You Better" on YouTube

The song peaked at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it Mendes' second top 10 single. In Canada, the song has peaked at number seven on the Canadian Hot 100.

Composition

The song is written in the key of D♭ minor.[5] and has a tempo of 83 beats per minute.

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Result
2017	BMI Awards	Award Winning Songs	Won
	Canadian Radio Music Awards	SOCAN Song Of The Year	Nominated
	Juno Awards	Single Of The Year	Nominated
	MTV Video Music Awards	Best Pop Video	Nominated
	Radio Disney Music Awards	Song Of The Year	Won

Critical reception

Billboard ranked "Treat You Better" at number 42 on their "100 Best Pop Songs of 2016" list.[6] The New York Times's Jon Caramanica named it the eighth best song of the year. [7]

Music video

The music video was released on July 12, 2016.[8] It features a plot revolving around a situation of violence between couples. The video shows a girl being abused by her boyfriend in various situations, while Mendes hopes to be with her and struggles to understand why she prefers to be in that relationship. The video ends displaying the number for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.[9] The music video also stars Devon Aoki's half sister Ellie Stuart Hunter [10] played with a guitar, drums and tambourines.

The video has received over 1.9 billion YouTube views as of April 2020,[11] and is one of the site's 60 most-watched videos.[12]

Chart performance

The song debuted at number thirty four on the US Billboard Hot 100[13] and later peaked at number six, making it Mendes' second top 10 single. It also reached the top 10 on the Mainstream Top 40 and Adult Top 40 national airplay charts. In Canada, the song has peaked at number seven on the Canadian Hot 100, passing "Life of the Party" as his highest-peaking single in his home country. The song has additionally achieved a top 5 position on the national CHR and Hot AC airplay charts, and has been certified gold by Music Canada. "Treat You Better" has also reached the top 10 in multiple markets including Australia, Germany, and Sweden.

Track listing

Digital download[3]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Treat You Better"	Shawn Mendes Teddy Geiger Scott Harris	3:07

Digital download – Ashworth remix[14]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Treat You Better" (Ashworth remix)	Mendes Geiger Harris	3:52

CD single[15]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Treat You Better"	Mendes Geiger Harris	3:08
2.	"Ruin"	Mendes Harris Geoffrey Warburton Ido Zmishlany	4:00
Total length:			7:08

Live performances

Mendes' first televised performance of "Treat You Better" happened at the 2016 Much Music Video Awards on June 19.[16] On July 12, 2016, he performed the song on The Tonight Show,[17] and again on October 8, 2018 with Jimmy Fallon and his house band The Roots as backing using "classroom instruments".[18] On November 20, 2016, Mendes performed "Treat You Better" at the 2016 American Music Awards.

Advertising use

"Treat You Better" is being used in a series of commercials for Southwest Airlines.

In July 2017, Swedish melodic metal band Sonic Syndicate released a cover version of the song.

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2016–18) Peak position Argentina (Monitor Latino)[19] 12 Australia (ARIA)[20] 4 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[21] 4 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[22] 17 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[23] 15 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[24] 7 Canada AC (Billboard)[25] 5 Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[26] 4 Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[27] 1 Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[28] 33 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[29] 10 Denmark (Tracklisten)[30] 4 Ecuador (National-Report)[31] 39 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[32] 19 France (SNEP)[33] 39 Germany (Official German Charts)[34] 4 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[35] 4 Hungary (Single Top 40)[36] 13 Ireland (IRMA)[37] 8 Italy (FIMI)[38] 7 Japan (Japan Hot 100)[39] 22 Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20)[40] 2 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[41] 5 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[42] 8 Mexico Airplay (Billboard)[43] 2 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[44] 11 Norway (VG-lista)[45] 7 Philippines (Philippine Hot 100)[46] 11 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[47] 1 Portugal (AFP)[48] 7 Russia Airplay (Tophit)[49] 93 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[50] 4 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[51] 1 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[52] 8 Slovenia (SloTop50)[53] 1 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[54] 21 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[55] 4 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[56] 12 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[57] 6 US Billboard Hot 100[58] 6 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[59] 1 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[60] 1 US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[61] 17 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[62] 3

Year-end charts Chart (2016) Position Argentina (Monitor Latino)[63] 41 Australia (ARIA)[64] 29 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[65] 22 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[66] 56 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[67] 46 Brazil (Brasil Hot 100)[68] 42 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[69] 23 Denmark (Tracklisten)[70] 20 Germany (Official German Charts)[71] 24 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[72] 78 Hungary (Single Top 40)[73] 92 Italy (FIMI)[74] 30 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[75] 19 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[76] 29 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[77] 50 Poland (ZPAV)[78] 33 Slovenia (SloTop50)[79] 42 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[80] 20 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[81] 40 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[82] 27 US Billboard Hot 100[83] 28 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[84] 24 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[85] 14 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[86] 14 Chart (2017) Position Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[87] 71 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[88] 21 Paraguay (Monitor Latino)[89] 69 US Billboard Hot 100[90] 92 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[91] 5 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[92] 30 Chart (2019) Position Portugal (AFP)[93] 447

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[94]	3× Platinum	210,000
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[95]	3× Platinum	120,000
Canada (Music Canada)[96]	6× Platinum	480,000
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[97]	3× Platinum	270,000
France (SNEP)[98]	Platinum	133,333
Germany (BVMI)[99]	Platinum	400,000
Italy (FIMI)[100]	4× Platinum	200,000
Mexico (AMPROFON)[101]	2× Platinum	120,000^*
Netherlands (NVPI)[102]	2× Platinum	80,000^^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[103]	Gold	7,500^*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[104]	3× Platinum	120,000
Poland (ZPAV)[105]	4× Platinum	80,000^*
Portugal (AFP)[106]	Platinum	20,000^^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[107]	Platinum	40,000
Sweden (GLF)[108]	5× Platinum	200,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[109]	2× Platinum	1,200,000
United States (RIAA)[110]	4× Platinum	4,000,000
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
United States	June 3, 2016	Digital download	Island Universal	[3]
	June 7, 2016	Contemporary hit radio	Island Republic	[111]
Worldwide	August 16, 2016	Digital download – Ashworth remix	Island Universal	[112]
Germany	August 19, 2016	CD single	Island Universal	[15]

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