Shawn Mendes ' performance of for MTV Unplugged served as the centerpiece for the series' 2017 revival. Recorded at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles, this version stripped the pop hit down to its emotional core, featuring Mendes at the piano—a rare sight for fans accustomed to his guitar-heavy sets. Key Performance Highlights
: The song explores the emotional aftermath of a brutal breakup, using medical metaphors like "needing stitches" to describe romantic pain.
: After completing his initial 11-song set, Mendes asked producers if he could redo "Stitches" barefoot at the piano. He humorously warned the audience, "If I mess up, it's because I took my shoes off".
: The live recording was featured on the MTV Unplugged live album, released worldwide on November 3, 2017 . MTV Unplugged Full Setlist
: Unlike the upbeat production of the original single from the album Handwritten , the Unplugged version is a soulful, 4-minute and 23-second ballad primarily featuring piano and vocal nuances.
: To maintain the "unplugged" vibe, cell phones were strictly prohibited in the venue, forcing the audience of millennial fans to engage fully with the music without digital distractions.