# If I Can't Have You (Shawn Mendes song)

"If I Can't Have You" is a song by Canadian singer Shawn Mendes. It was released as the lead single (sixth overall) from the deluxe edition of Mendes' self-titled third studio album through Island Records on May 3, 2019. The music video was released the same day. "If I Can't Have You" has reached number one in Hungary and China, as well as the top five in Australia, Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Malaysia, New Zealand, Scotland, Slovakia, and the United States.

## Background

Mendes told Zane Lowe on the Beats 1 radio show that out of the 45 songs he has written in the last six months, which are stylistically "all over the place" and have "different vibes", "If I Can't Have You" was "the one consistently every time I played for myself and for friends and family was giving people that smile".

## Promotion

Mendes announced the release through his social media on May 1. He shared a link to the promotional website canthaveyou.com, which redirects to his webstore and offers the single as a 7-inch vinyl, cassette and CD single, with each format available in three versions containing a unique voice memo from Mendes. He performed the song for the first time during Saturday Night Live on May 4, 2019.

## Commercial performance

"If I Can't Have You" debuted at number two on both the Canadian Hot 100 and the US Billboard Hot 100, behind "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X. It was Mendes' highest-charting hit in both countries at the time surpassing 2015's "Stitches", which peaked at number 4 in the US. "Señorita" became his highest-charting single later in the year.

## Music video

The music video was released on May 3, 2019, via the singer's official Vevo channel on YouTube. A lyric video was also released on May 6, 2019.

## Track listing

Each version of the 7-inch, cassette and CD single contains one of three voice memos from Mendes.

## Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.
* Shawn Mendes – vocals, songwriter, producer, programmer, guitar
* Teddy Geiger – songwriter, producer, drums, guitar, keyboards, programmer
* Scott Harris – songwriter, additional producer, guitar
* Nate Mercereau – songwriter, additional producer, guitar, bass guitar, piano
* Ojivolta – songwriter, additional producer
* Ray 'August Grant' Jacobs – backing vocals
* Raul Cubina – drums, percussion, programmer
* Ryan Svendsen – trumpet, flugelhorn
* Mark Williams – guitar, keyboards, programmer
* Zubin Thakkar – engineer, studio personnel
* George Seara – mixer, recording engineer, studio personnel
* Mike Gnocato – assistant mixer, studio personnel

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | 5× Platinum | 350,000$^‡$ |
| Austria (IFPI Austria) | Platinum | 30,000$^‡$ |
| Belgium (BEA) | Gold | 20,000$^‡$ |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) | Diamond | 160,000$^‡$ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | 5× Platinum | 400,000$^‡$ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | Platinum | 90,000$^‡$ |
| Germany (BVMI) | Gold | 200,000$^‡$ |
| Italy (FIMI) | Gold | 25,000$^‡$ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | 3× Platinum | 90,000$^‡$ |
| Poland (ZPAV) | Platinum | 20,000$^‡$ |
| Portugal (AFP) | Platinum | 10,000$^‡$ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | Gold | 30,000$^‡$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Platinum | 600,000$^‡$ |
| United States (RIAA) | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000$^‡$ |
| Streaming |||
| Japan (RIAJ) | Platinum | 100,000,000$^†$ |
| $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. $^†$ Streaming-only figures based on certification alone. |||

## Release history

| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
| Various | May 3, 2019 | Digital downloadstreaming | Island | |
| United States | May 7, 2019 | Contemporary hit radio | Island | |