"Treat You Better" by Shawn Mendes: A pop song review

Oh no I is not in credits D:

Sangie Nativus

The title made me think this was some kinda breakup song. "I can change baby, I'm a better person... " at about 5 minutes into the video, my jaw dropped pretty dang far.

RumRay

We also got it 16 years ago when Vertical Horizon released "Everything You Want".

Josh Spicer

:D

We already got the 'nice guy' song like 10 years ago when Mario released 'Let Me Love You', and even hearing that song would be better than hearing 'Treat You Better'.

me

This song reminds me a lot of "I'm The One" by the Descendents. Which has always bummed me out because that song is a great song, but the lyrics have always made me cringe a little bit.

Yeah, I've been thinking to myself that there is basically *no* memorable pop music from this year. "...Used to Know", "Rolling in the Deep", "California Gurls"... these are songs you might not like, but they're memorable. This year's charts are just [shrug], it seems, everything will have faded from memory 5 years from now.

Jonathan P

oh jesus christ did they REALLY put the abuse hotline at the end of that? the song isn't even about abuse

Andrew Lenahan

oh god I can't unhear that now

Andrew Lenahan

I knew Taylor Swift's song would be the comparison, but I actually went slightly further back and... do you remember Avril Lavigne's Girlfriend? Maybe it's because I'm Canadian. When I saw the song's title in my Patreon email notification, my first thought was, "Ooooh, Todd must have *hated* this one." Treat You Better's "your abuse is about me, the good guy who loves you" and the pretentious abuse hotline number at the end of the video should make me hate it, but the my liking of pop music is too shallow for that. I'm too old to be Mendes's target audience so it all does bother me some, but I think his actual target audience is eating this up. It's exactly the kind of angst a teen would get an emotional high from.

Alina

Can You Do a OHW On "Graduation (Friends Forever)" by Vitamin C?

Michael Jones Jr.

"Basic" and "boring" seem to be the recurring thing for you this year. While I don't agree with you on all of 'em, I do say this one is accurate.

Josh Spicer

I'm pretty sure his "lighting guy" is himself.

Josh Spicer

Knew you were sick for a while. Hope to get some more reviews from ya.

Josh Spicer

Had the same thought, but it's out of scope based on the "woman with acoustic guitar" direct comparison

Greg Walters

Stop this Nice Guy plague from making a comeback! PS - Careful the #mendesarmy doesn't dogpile on you like poor old Spectrum Pulse when this review hits YouTube.

Kylie

I hate that Taylor Swift song so much. I think it's because my co-worker blares a bad country music station all day at work and that one's on heavy rotation. Every time it comes on I have to have a mental little debate where I point out to young Taylor that the number one trait of the person who is "meant to be with you" is that they pick you and that she's perpetuating one of the most annoying romantic fallacies in history. Find the guy who wants to be with you and stop stalking the neighbor boy who clearly isn't into it. But I admit that song is still way catchier than this one.

De

Agree with most of your points, but I didn't have any trouble understanding the "better than he can" line. Even if it does sound awful.

Jason Stone

That episode has now become my new favorite episode of yours this year. I feel like out of the ones you've said are in the running for the worst (7 Years and Pillowtalk) this might be the worst one. I also hope to see Charlie Puth's One Call Away on that list as well. Jesus, when did pop music get polluted with the MRA type? And yes, my first thought when hearing this song was Taylor Swift. And I actually still think that's one of her worst songs but I would rather hear that song on a loop than Treat You Better. Overall, great job again.

Yvette

I automatically hear the first two lines as "I won't lie to you / I'm a total douche"

Jonathan P

That title card makes it look like Todd is despairing that Mendes is back.

Ryan Rowekamp

Surprised no mention at all of Avril Lavigne's Girlfriend during that comparison bit.

Crow

I'm really happy you decided to cover this one. Every time I've heard it on the radio I always think "goddamn I can't wait for Todd to rip this apart." Thanks for coming through.

I absolutely despise this song, hope to see it on your worst list