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Heart of Gold (Shawn Mendes song)

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"Heart of Gold"
Dark silhouette of Shawn Mendes on an orange background with smoke above his head
Single by Shawn Mendes
from the album Shawn
B-side"The Mountain"
WrittenMarch 18, 2024
ReleasedNovember 1, 2024 (2024-11-01)
GenreSoft rock
Length2:51
LabelIsland
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Shawn Mendes
  • Mike Sabath
  • Eddie Benjamin
  • Scott Harris
Shawn Mendes singles chronology
"Nobody Knows"
(2024) 		"Heart of Gold"
(2024)
Music video
"Heart of Gold" on YouTube

"Heart of Gold" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes from his fifth studio album, Shawn (2024). He wrote and produced the song with Mike Sabath, Eddie Benjamin, and Scott Harris. It was released on November 1, 2024, as the album's fourth single. Written in memory of a childhood friend who died from a drug overdose, its lyrics are about losing a close person and the experience of grief.

Background and release

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On July 31, 2024, Shawn Mendes announced his fifth studio album, Shawn, along with its cover artwork and release date.[1] On the same date, the track listing of the album was revealed, with "Heart of Gold" appearing as the sixth track.[2] He released a string of singles to support the album and performed it on an intimate concert tour that started in August 8.[3] During a performance at Brooklyn Paramount Theater in New York City on October 18, 2024, Mendes dedicated the song to English singer Liam Payne, two days after his death.[4][5]

"Heart of Gold" was written on March 18, 2024, at Dark Horse Studios in Franklin, Tennessee, US, on the same day as Shawn tracks "Nobody Knows" and "That'll Be the Day".[6] It was released as a single on November 1, 2024, as a single from Shawn. Its release was accompanied by a music video directed by Connor Brashier and with creative direction by Anthony Wilson.[7] It sees Mendes singing the song in front of a coloured backdrop.[8]

Music and lyrics

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Mendes wrote and produced "Heart of Gold" along with Mike Sabath, Eddie Benjamin, and Scott Harris.[9] The song is about the experience of losing a close person, and was written about a childhood friend who died from a drug overdose.[10] On the opening lines of the song, Mendes expresses himself about the regrets of not being there when they needed: "I didn't know what you were going through / I'm sorry that I wasn't there".[11] Although captioning a post on Instagram with "This one's for you Dejomi",[8] Mendes dedicated the track to anyone who "has lost someone - some who has passed or someone who's alive - whichever way".[7] Mendes stated that it also means "celebrating them and who they were and what they left in this world".[12] Musically, it is a 1970s-inspired soft rock ballad,[13] led by acoustic guitar.[8][7]

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ Perkins, Njera (July 31, 2024). "Shawn Mendes Announces Reflective Self-Titled Album, Sets Fall Release Date: 'Feels Like Such a Gift'". People. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  2. ^ Rossignol, Derrick (July 31, 2024). "Shawn Mendes Is Finally Ready To Return To Music As He Announces A New Album And Singles Coming Soon". Uproxx. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  3. ^ Paul, Larisha (August 1, 2024). "Shawn Mendes Will Perform New Album From Top to Bottom on Intimate Tour". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  4. ^ Molloy, Laura (October 19, 2024). "Shawn Mendes dedicates 'Heart Of Gold' to Liam Payne". NME. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  5. ^ Madarang, Charisma (October 18, 2024). "Shawn Mendes Dedicates 'Heart of Gold' to Liam Payne: 'He Was a Beautiful Soul'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  6. ^ "Making of the Album". Island Records. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Stickler, Jon (November 1, 2024). "Shawn Mendes Releases New Single Heart Of Gold". Stereoboard. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Zemler, Emily (November 1, 2024). "Shawn Mendes Shares Emotional Single 'Heart of Gold'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  9. ^ Taylor, Sam (November 1, 2024). "Shawn Mendes has shared new single 'Heart of Gold' ahead of his self-titled album". Dork. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  10. ^ Prance, Sam (October 21, 2024). "Shawn Mendes pays tribute to Liam Payne on stage with heartbreaking 'Heart of Gold' speech". Capital. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  11. ^ Lynch, Jessica (November 1, 2024). "Shawn Mendes Honors Lost Loved Ones with 'Heart of Gold': Stream It Now". Billboard. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  12. ^ Eggertsen, Chris (October 18, 2024). "Shawn Mendes Pays Emotional Tribute to Liam Payne at Brooklyn Concert: 'The World Is Crying for You'". Billboard. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  13. ^ Davies, Jeffrey (November 18, 2024). "Shawn Mendes 'Shawn' Review: An Intimate Bid for Self-Discovery". Slant. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  14. ^ "Shawn Mendes Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  15. ^ "Top Radio Hits Estonia Weekly Chart: Dec 12, 2024". TopHit. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  16. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of November 20, 2024". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  17. ^ "Top Radio Hits Lithuania Weekly Chart: Nov 28, 2024". TopHit. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  18. ^ "Hot 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. November 8, 2024. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  19. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  20. ^ "Top Radio Hits Estonia Monthly Chart: November 2024". TopHit. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
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