| Nobody Knows | |
| Artist: | Shawn Mendes |
| Type: | single |
| Album: | Shawn |
| Genre: | Folk rock |
| Length: | 2:32 |
| Label: | Island |
| Producer: |
|
| Prev Title: | Why Why Why |
| Prev Title2: | Isn't That Enough |
| Prev Year: | 2024 |
| Next Title: | Heart of Gold |
| Next Year: | 2024 |
"Nobody Knows" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes from his fifth studio album, Shawn (2024). He wrote and produced it along with Eddie Benjamin and Mike Sabath, while Scott Harris was also part of the composition. They debuted the song at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards. Island Records released the song on September 12, 2024, as the third single from the album. A Connor Brashier-directed music video premiered on the same date.
After taking a two-year break from music, Shawn Mendes announced his fifth studio album, Shawn, on July 31, 2024, along with its cover artwork and release date.[1] On the same date, the track listing of the album was revealed, with "Nobody Knows" serving as the fourth track.[2] Two singles were released in August 8: the lead "Why Why Why" and "Isn't That Enough".[3] "Nobody Knows" was released by Island Records on September 12, and a music video premiered on the following day at 12 p.m. Eastern Time Zone.[4]
"Nobody Knows" is a folk rock song,[5] with country and soul influences.[6] According to Mendes, it was written and recorded in a "tough night", in one take.[7] He explained: "I was dealing with some feelings, and we were having some whiskey, and we were in the studio [...] We did it once, we did it together, and we did it live. And it was just kind of this beautiful captured moment in time".
Mendes embarked on a intimate concert tour in the United States to promote Shawn, in which he performed the album's songs "from top to bottom", including "Nobody Knows".[8] [9] On August 27, 2024, the singer was confirmed as a performer at the 2024 edition of the MTV Video Music Awards.[10] A day before the performance, Mendes revealed that he would be performing the then-unreleased "Nobody Knows", and shared a snippet of the song.[11] Mendes performed the song on September 11, alonside its co-writers and co-producers Eddie Benjamin and Mike Sabath. In contrast to the other performances of the ceremony, it was pared down, with Mendes and his accompanying "closest friends" playing guitar and drums.[12] They performed surrounded by fog and between a collection of candles, with an electric climax.[13]
| Peak position | ||
| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[14] | 22 | |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea (Circle)[15] | 136 |