20 Best Summer Songs of 2016, Ranked

17 – Three Empty Words – Shawn Mendes

I like Shawn Mendes. I do not like “Treat You Better,” which is currently topping the charts for some reason. That song puts the focus on a horrible case of relationship abuse on the selfish guy standing outside of it who wants it to end just so he can have the girl. “Three Empty Words” is much better. And almost brand new! I hope that it and “Ruin” get as much attention as “Treat You Better” has, but somehow I doubt they will.

Shawn Mendes fills that gap in my regular listening reserved for tragic love songs I don’t really relate to anymore, but still like in spite of myself because music has included tragic love songs since people thought about banging rocks together, probably. Mendes has such a sweet voice and is so darn sincere in everything he writes. I look forward to hearing more of his work as he grows as a singer and writer, especially once he moves out of the puppy love pieces he’s writing now. For a summer song in the year 2016, this does just fine.

Next: 16 - Carry On - Norah Jones