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Youth (Shawn Mendes song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Youth
| cover = Shawn Mendes Youth.png
| alt = The cover consists of a floral design in the lower left corner with the title spelled out vertically in the centre and the featured artist appearing in a smaller font below
| type = single
| artist = Shawn Mendes featuring Khalid
| album = Shawn Mendes
| released =
| genre =
* Pop
* R&B
| length =
| label = Island
| writer =
* Shawn Mendes
* Khalid Robinson
* Nolan Lambroza
* Teddy Geiger
* Geoff Warburton
* Scott Harris
| producer =
* Joel Little
* Shawn Mendes
| chronology = Shawn Mendes
| prev_title = Lost in Japan
| prev_year = 2018
| next_title = Where Were You in the Morning?
| next_year = 2018
| misc =
}}
"'Youth'" is a song by Canadian singer Shawn Mendes, featuring American singer Khalid. It was written by Mendes, Khalid, Teddy Geiger, Geoff Warburton and Scott Harris, with production handled by Joel Little and Mendes. The song was released by Island Records on May 3, 2018, as the third single from Mendes' self-titled third studio album.
Background and release
The song was first revealed when Mendes unveiled the album's track listing. On May 1, 2018, Mendes announced the single release on Twitter with a graphic of the lyric "you can't take my youth away". Khalid retweeted Mendes and added a corresponding lyric with hearts: "Pain, but I won't let it turn into hate". The lyrics were also posted on billboards across New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Washington, D.C., Toronto, London, Berlin, Stockholm, Rio, and Melbourne.
The song premiered on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 radio show, where Mendes talked about collaborating with Khalid. Mendes said that the song was inspired by the Manchester Arena bombing in May 2017. He texted Khalid: "When we get together, we have to make a statement, we have to move, we have to write about what's going on in life and how the youth is feeling", saying that they "have the voice to do that".
They got into the studio in the aftermath of the attacks. Mendes shared that, "You're always terrified going into a session knowing like, 'Okay, this is going to be a big session. I have one day. Is it gonna be a great song or not?' I remember I woke up in the morning and the whole thought of my youth trying to be taken away from me [was overwhelming]. Not youth as in my ageyouth as in my love, my happiness, my joy, my purity. It's not even about age; you could be 50 and your youth is there, it's in you. And all of these horrible things happening in the world, all of the headlines, it felt like everyday it would just be pulled more and more out of us, and I was like, 'This is what I have to write about.'"
An acoustic version of the duet was released on May 24, 2018.
On December 21, 2018, a remix of the duet was released featuring Jessie Reyez.
Composition
"Youth" is a midtempo pop and R&B vocal duet about retaining youth in the wake of adversity. It opens with a slow beat, before a bassline kicks in and it escalates into a singalong chorus, which features "a steady beat and Latin-tinged acoustic guitar riffs". The song contains references to the current social and political climate.
Critical reception
Sam Prance of MTV News regarded the song as "one of the most uplifting and life-affirming songs of the year so far", writing that "Shawn and Khalid each other on it perfectly". Patrick Hosken of the same publication opined that Khalid's "gravelly voice pairs nicely with Mendes's own patented rasp", stating that "the message of the song is simple but effective". Mike Nied of Idolator deemed it "one of the 19-year-old's most ambitious tracks yet".
Music video
The song's official music video premiered on Apple Music and VEVO on 5 November 2018, and it was directed by Anthony Mandler.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/sJUGAIf1Px0 Ghostarchive] and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20181106121806/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJUGAIf1Px0&feature=youtu.be Wayback Machine]:
Live performances
Mendes and Khalid performed "Youth" at the 2018 'Billboard' Music Awards on May 20, 2018, as a tribute to the victims of gun violence. The performance featured the show choir from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Mendes performed the song with John Legend at the Global Citizen Fesitval in New York City on September 29, 2018.
Track listing
*'Digital download'
# "Youth" 3:09
*'Digital download acoustic'
# "Youth" 3:09
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.
*Shawn Mendes vocals, songwriting, production
*Khalid vocals, songwriting
*Sir Nolan songwriting
*Scott Harris songwriting
*Teddy Geiger songwriting
*Geoff Warburton songwriting
*Joel Little production, engineering, keyboard, acoustic guitar, percussion, programming
* Harry Burr mixing assistance
* Andrew Maury mixing
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Release history
References
External music
*
Category:2010s ballads
Category:2018 songs
Category:2018 singles
Category:Canadian contemporary R&B songs
Category:Shawn Mendes songs
Category:Khalid (singer) songs
Category:Island Records singles
Category:Pop ballads
Category:Songs written by Khalid (singer)
Category:Songs written by Scott Harris (songwriter)
Category:Songs written by Shawn Mendes
Category:Songs written by Teddy Geiger
Category:Malemale vocal duets
Category:Songs written by Geoff Warburton
Category:Music videos directed by Anthony Mandler
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