“Treat You Better” by Shawn Mendes

“Treat You Better” is a song co-written and recorded by Canadian singer Shawn Mendes. The lyrics of this song see the singer (Mendes) attempting really hard to convince his love interest to leave her boyfriend and be with him because he can show her more love and care than the boyfriend she’s currently with.

From the lyrics of the song, it is apparent that the girl Mendes is addressing is in a loveless or abusive relationship. Mendes wants her out of that relationship and into his arms so he can give her the love he knows she’s missing and needing.

After all is said and done, this song is all about a guy who has fallen head over hills with another guy’s girlfriend.

That said, according to the song’s music video, the song goes beyond just someone falling in love with another person’s man. It shows that the girl being addressed is in an abusive relationship. At the end of the music video, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is shown to help people in abusive relationships.

Facts about “Treat You Better”

• “Treat You Better” was penned by Shawn Mendes and two popular American songwriters: Teddy Geiger and Scott Harris. Both Geiger and Harris have worked together with Mendes on a number of songs. For example, Geiger co-wrote the following Mendes’ hit singles: “In My Blood“, “Stitches” and “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back“.
• Renowned American music producer and composer Dan Romer co-produced “Treat You Better” along with Teddy Geiger and another relatively unknown music producer known as DJ “Daylight” Kyriakides.
• The trio wrote the song in Los Angeles.
• “Treat You Better” was officially released on June 3^rd, 2016 as the first single from Mendes’ second studio album titled Illuminate.
• The song was widely considered one of the best songs of 2016.
• As of 2018, the music video of “Treat You Better” had garnered more than 1.5 billion views on YouTube. It is therefore one of the most-watched YouTube videos of all time.
• Having made its debut at the number 34 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, the song went on to peak at number 6 on that chart. On the UK Singles Chart, it also peaked at number 6. Owing to this, the track is one of Mendes’ most successful singles.
• The total length of this track is 3 minutes and 7 seconds.
• On Mendes’ 18th birthday in 2016, American singer Taylor Swift sang this song for him on Snapchat.

Has “Treat You Better” won a Grammy Award?

No, it hasn’t. However, in 2017, it won a BMI Award and a Radio Disney Music Award in the category of Song of the Year.

What musical genre is “Treat You Better”?

It is a 100% pop song.

“Treat You Better” interpreted by Another Hand

In this song, Shawn boldly tells his love interest that he can treat her better than the man she is with. He feels that this person is being treated roughly by her current lover and promises to rescue her and give her a better relationship.

The singer plainly states that this lady is in a somewhat abusive or fruitless relationship which is not what she deserves. He’s so confident because it is obvious she is unhappy and wants to quit but finds it difficult to do so.

Shawn doesn’t seem to understand why she is still wasting her time and tears on someone who does not even treat her like a lady. He then promises to wait for her to give him a signal once she’s ready to leave so that he will step in and show her the love she merits. He offers to support and protect her as she breaks off her current relationship because the lady might be afraid or emotionally unstable at the time.

Rumor has it that the song is about Fifth Harmony member, Camila Cabello, who is said to have dated Shawn in 2016. The two have however insisted that they were just friends.