J.Says Online
  • Home
  • Entertainment
    • THE J. LIST
    • J.LIST BLOG
    • GENERAL HOSPITAL
  • Seriously Beyonce`, WTH?!?
  • Society/Culture
  • So This is Life?
    • J.Says Daily
    • J.Says & the "Quarter-Life Crisis"
  • Contact/ Info
  • Feedback

Demi Lovato: Tell Me You Love Me (Target Deluxe)

11/7/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
​Album Review.
Favorites: Sorry Not Sorry, Tell Me You Love Me, Daddy Issues, Games, Smoke & Mirrors
Dislikes: Lonely, Instruction
Overall: Lovato finally focuses on R&B; her first comprehensively great album in a while
 
I was having a conversation about Demi Lovato's discography when my friend said this: "With Demi albums, you have a couple of gems--which are usually singles--and then a ton of filler. Clearly, she's talented and has a voice, but the albums can't stand as a whole." I didn't totally agree, but I could definitely understand that criticism. The last time I enjoyed something of hers on a comprehensive level was 2009's Here We Go Again. Just when that started to bug me, Tell Me You Love Me arrived consistent and easy to play through. To top it off, Lovato stopped tantalizing me with her R&B nibbles and finally committed to having a project fueled by the genre. I almost felt spoiled.
 
Tell Me You Love Me snatches your attention from its spunky onset, "Sorry Not Sorry," and never lets go. Its fullness in sound and atmospheric quality secures its verve and its iron grip on your ear. Regardless of tempo, every track booms. It seems the production was devised to give you the essence of being right there in the studio with Lovato and a band (ex. the title song). This is an essence that can only be captured listening to the CD directly or in a lossless digital format, such as .WAV. Computerized effects are used alongside and independent of live instruments, but they don’t diminish the vibrancy. They’re made to blend in or mimic the real deal. How about that; applying effects how they should be, instead of intentionally making “music” perfect for a video game? Several numbers have a rousing display, orchestral emulations (ex. "You Don't Do It for Me Anymore") and/or old-school morsels (ex. "Ruin the Friendship"). "Sexy Dirty Love," for instance, is "70's/80's funk meets futuristic pop," à la Timberlake. The record's main producers could be divided into 2 teams. Warren "Oak" Felder shares most of his 5 credits with Zaire Koalo and Trevor Brown, while Mitch Allan splits 7 with Scott Robinson. The 1st team previously collaborated with R&B singer Kehlani. A good amount of Allan's work is with American Idol alums and the Disney Channel. His and Robinson's "Hitchhiker" is the lone case where it's apparent a producer did more than 1 song. It's so musically similar to the preceding "Concentrate," it can't be enjoyed on its own. It's otherwise lovely.
 
Vocally, Lovato continues her campaign to show what she's made of. She compliments her LP's staginess, as she blows down doors and enticingly coos at all the right times. Moments that are flaunty and more obviously about performance (ex. "You Don't Do It for Me Anymore") are just as enjoyable as those that are emotionally driven (ex. "Smoke & Mirrors"). However, the stridence in her voice make you prefer the points where she rounds her notes and goes for power versus height. Many of her "money notes" are pretty piercing, such as at the climax of "Sorry Not Sorry's" bridge. 


Read More
0 Comments

Demi Lovato: Sorry Not Sorry

7/12/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
​Single Review.
 
Teasing an upcoming single with snippets, cryptic social media posts and pseudo scavenger hunts used to be a sporadic thing in popular music. It was usually reserved for "comebacks," returns from hiatuses, or shifts in musical style. Now, it's a standard promotional tool for all new material, no matter how ordinary or ineffectual. The tactic has become a catfish of sorts. Even when the snippets sound appetizing, the main course ends up tasting bland or just plain awful. So, when Demi Lovato started to rib her new single "Sorry Not Sorry" on Instagram, I didn't get too invested. The few electronic notes I heard had a little bump to it. I concluded, "At least one part of this song will have some flavor." The seconds-long warped vocal warned "Payback is a bad b***h, baby, I'm the baddest." I rolled my eyes and thought, "Demetria is still in this childish, bravado mode," and left it at that.
 
In a rare moment, the teasers correctly represented the final product. "Sorry Not Sorry" is a zesty and contagious electro-R&B/hip-hop brew, produced by Warren "Oak" Felder (according to Tidal credits). Felder's resume includes extensive work with Nicki Minaj, Alessia Cara, Kehlani and Elle Varner. Lovato got her start and excelled in pop-rock, but the vocal stylings that serve as evidence of her upbringing with soul music make you crave and delight in her R&B deviations. The shrillness of her voice is still something for the ears to contend with, however. Lovato co-wrote the song with Felder, Zaire Koalo, Trevor Brown and Sean Douglas. Koalo and Brown collaborated with Felder on Kehlani's  debut LP, SweetSexySavage. "Sorry Not Sorry's" premise of making your enemies sick with how well you've recovered from their inflictions is what girl-pop is made of. While the lyrics are well-formed for the most part, the superfluous expletives in the pre-chorus follow the trend of being overly conversational and casual. I said to a friend, "Songwriters are lazy with lyrics these days. They read like text messages." The previously quoted "payback" line is trailed with "You're f**king with a savage." This leads me to Lovato's "Ford tough" kick.
 
If you've kept up with Lovato's career, you're aware she's known for her unfiltered, and sometimes impulsive, reactions (especially on social media). She proudly touts her brand of frankness as some type of weapon against dishonesty and "fakeness." This demonstrates that, despite being nearly 25 years old and overcoming obstacles that would age anyone, she still lacks the maturity and wisdom to understand that honesty and brashness aren't synonymous. While commenting on her 2015 album Confident, she said: "There's nobody in the pop industry that says 'Don't f**k with me...I'll kick your ass'...that's the thing; I'm totally that." When artists face adversity and barrages of naysayers, it's comprehensible that they'd want to assert themselves. The tough guy/tough girl shtick quickly gets old and becomes off-putting, though. Christina Aguilera was 13 years in the game, still talking about her haters on Lotus. Anyhow, lyrical and boasting annoyances notwithstanding, "Sorry Not Sorry" is a bop. I'll be purchasing the "clean" version. You can hear the song below. 


Read More
0 Comments

Demi Lovato: Confident (Deluxe)

11/12/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Album Review.
Likes: For You, Stone Cold, Wildfire, Father
Dislikes: Stars
Overall: Passionately done; don't care for the hip-hop and techno elements
 
For the last 3 album eras, I've had pre-release jitters that I will lose Demi Lovato to the pop idiocy and immature hyper-sexuality that, for whatever reason, comes with an artist hitting their early 20's. Either a single or an interview quote makes me think "Oh no, here it comes." During her press tour for the seductive panty-experiment bit "Cool for the Summer," she repeatedly described her forthcoming music as 'provocative' and expressed an artistic admiration for the often polemical Nicki Minaj and Rihanna. I feared tricks, tackiness and shock value were ahead with Confident, but as the last 2 times, Lovato teaches that "everything is not what it seems." The 23-year-old keeps cutting through the customary trappings to show development or sustainability in either a small or large way. When her writing credits were chopped to less than half on 2011's Unbroken and she had to compete with more than 25 other scribes on the follow-up, Demi (both LP's were littered with swanky songs that didn't sound like her), she fought for presence with vocal maturation and touches of Lovato-lyricism. Not to get lost in the waves again, she held on tight with both hands to the surface this round. From top to bottom, Confident is commensurate with its title.
 
Aggression is an active ingredient here, with tramping hooks, exerted singing and fervent lyrics. The smatterings of hip-hop and electronic-pop imply a chasing of trends (ex. they slap rap verses on everything these days; a feature by a caricature like Iggy Azalea is particularly unnecessary), but its synchronization with the record's attitude makes it seem like a conscious decision versus a ploy. Testing herself vocally, Lovato bellows and applies deliberate styling on tracks like "Stone Cold" (ex. mimicking a gospel/soul wail on the 'know that I am' chorus-line) and "Wildfire" (one of her first attempts at sultriness). In an age where big, beautiful and skilled voices are like four-leafed clovers, it's commendable that she'd push herself. However, it's audible that proper technique wasn't employed, distracting from her efforts and making it even clearer that she's a part of the "diva extinction" generation. The industry doesn't hone, protect and train talent like they used to. That's why you have singers stepping into shoes before they can fit them and experiencing cord injuries, like Adele, Ariana Grande and Meghan Trainor have, but that's a conversation for another day. On "Stone," for example, Demi's attempted belts and wails land as shouts and oddities (especially when it was performed on SNL). The song  itself is problematically structured. Instead of progressing, it power-plays from the 1st chorus.


Read More
0 Comments

Demi Lovato: Demi

5/14/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Album Review.
Likes: Nightingale, In Case, Shouldn’t Come Back, Warrior
Dislikes: Heart Attack, Neon Lights, Really Don’t Care, Something That We’re Not
Overall: Disappointing, conformist and doesn’t do Lovato’s ability justice.

A decent singer-songwriter who could play both guitar and piano, Demi Lovato seemed like a burgeoning talent to watch with her first 2 albums, “Don’t Forget” & “Here We Go Again.” On 2011’s “Unbroken” however, it appeared her record label, Hollywood Records, wanted to take a different direction by significantly reducing Lovato’s writing credits and giving the album a mainstream-friendly techno-dance ambiance versus her usual pop-rock. On the new “Demi,” Lovato’s writing credit has been restored, but not without the help of a lot more people (an average of 14 writers & 8 producers more than “Forget” & “Again”) and the album is practically doused in electronic-dance effects. Just like JSaysOnline contributor Eddie J. stated in “5 Artists Only as Good as Their Producers,” when you add too many people to the creative team, it can ruin a perfectly working formula. Lovato may make it onto the Hot 100 Billboard chart (especially with tracks like “Neon Lights” that sound like a sampling of current hits), but the budding artistry that could make her formidable and give her longevity is in jeopardy.

“Demi” is so difficult to listen to. Musically, it’s over-produced and noisy; there’s so much going on. The sweet and simple melodies (sometimes with a gradual build-up) that made some Lovato tunes endearing (ex. Catch Me, Falling Over Me, Fix a Heart) are scarce. If we’re going to get noisy, let’s at least rock out (ex. Remember December).  Vocally, there’s a wearing over abundance of high-pitched emo-rock whines and squeals. The vocal richening and progress heard on “Unbroken” is best featured on “Nightingale.” Lyrically, Lovato tries to redeem herself and leave familiar traces of her writing style (ex. “Without the Love,” “Warrior”), but they get lost in the wash of songs that paint a picture of a high-school romance and all the adolescent reactions that come with it (ex. “Really Don’t Care). The fact that the same young woman who wrote “For the Love of a Daughter” (from “Unbroken”) is the same one who co-wrote “Heart Attack” throws me. I can’t figure out what was more of a reductive step; writing juvenile lyrics or the concept recycling (“Never Been Hurt” is identical to the “Unbroken” title track).

It’s so ironic how self-titled albums (particularly those released after a debut) are never worth the declaration and are no way indicative of who the artist is. Promoted as her “most personal album,” (even with a very symbolic cover) it’s twisted how there doesn’t seem to be much Demi on the record at all. “Demi” sounds like a compilation of demos for other or newly-signed pop acts. While in the early stages of recording, Lovato said in an interview that “fans can expect a less dancy, pop album. No dubstep for me; I'm good. I miss hearing real instruments on the radio...I want my lyrics to mature and my sound to mature just like I have." Hollywood Records clearly wasn’t feeling her on that. This whole thing reminds me of how RCA called themselves whipping Kelly Clarkson into pop shape on the “All I Ever Wanted” album after the rebellious “My December” didn’t move units. It’s also reminding of how Britney Spears’ “Circus” failed to tell the tale of her 2007 breakdown. Lovato sought treatment at a rehabilitation center for an eating disorder and self-harm, and was subsequently diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. Aside from the hit “Skyscraper,” which is honestly a love song written before Lovato’s treatment, the revelations of that time have yet to be heard musically. Hopefully, Lovato will find her true voice again.

0 Comments

Demi Lovato: Heart Attack

2/25/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Single Review.
Like most Lovatics (Demi Lovato’s fanbase), I was looking forward to the release of the 1st single from her upcoming album, “Heart Attack.” I was especially curious after I listened to an interview in which the X-Factor U.S. judge and former Disney darling said she was “done with EDM (electronic dance music)” after recording a somewhat conforming album, “Unbroken,” and missed “hearing real instruments on the radio...I want my lyrics to mature and my sound to mature just like I have." “Heart Attack” unfortunately fails to be reflection of Lovato’s new approach. One thing I’ve always said in praise of Lovato is that with each album, growth is seen and she’s a budding artist to watch. The single sounds like its taking a few steps back with EDM effects and shockingly childish writing: “You make me wanna act like a girl; paint my nails and wear perfume. For you make me so nervous that I just can't hold your hand.” The theme of the song is that she’s reluctant to fall in love for fear of a broken heart, so she internalizes her excitement, even though she’s breaking her personal rules. It seems like there would be a more thoughtful, mature way to illustrate this concept. I want to rewrite the song for her. You can listen to “Heart Attack” below.

0 Comments

Rock&Rant: Music Reality Shows, Judges & Record Sales

9/9/2012

3 Comments

 
Picture
U.S. "X-Factor's" new female swag: Spears & Lovato
Rock & Rant-when I need to quickly rant about music.

Fox’s “American Idol” has been the kingpin of talent-based programming since the “reality TV” boom in the early 2000’s, but the list of new talent shows with their own distinctive spin on the “Idol” blueprint is ever growing, and each program (including “Idol”) is desperately resorting to lots of blatant gimmicks to attract and/or retain viewers. Playing with the judge’s panel has been a popular (and annoying) trick. Shows like NBC’s “The Voice” and ABC’s summer series, “Duets,” employed all-star casts (including Grammy winner Christina Aguilera and “Idol” alum Kelly Clarkson) to garner ratings. When Simon Cowell didn’t get the attention he anticipated on his U.S. edition of “X-Factor” by rekindling his bantering “Idol” flame with Paula Abdul, Abdul and Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger were scrapped for Britney Spears and former Disney darling, Demi Lovato. With every few judge rotations, “Idol” ups the celebrity ante; from talk-show host Ellen Degeneres, entertainer Jennifer Lopez and rock legend Steven Tyler, to one of the biggest-selling divas of all-time, Mariah Carey. Word on the street is that “Idol” is looking to fill another empty judge chair with singer Nick Jonas or hip-hop starlet Nicki Minaj.

While I’m happy to see that in most cases, qualified industry personalities are involved in judges’ picks, the moments where that’s not the case agitates me because it’s SO OBVIOUS that it’s all about ratings and not about providing aspiring singers with proper mentoring. I understand that these programs are in the business of TV and music is going to be an afterthought, but making music a 2nd-in-line priority could positively affect viewership. “X-Factor” sent the clear message they were only concerned with statistics when they paid millions to contract Spears, who has been criticized her whole career for lacking substantial talent. Granted, the pop queen is familiar with touring, promoting and the dark side of fame, but the idea that she will be evaluating, coaching and choosing songs for contestants seems to be a bit ironic and inappropriate. Lovato is a singer-songwriter with a solid voice who plays piano and guitar, but she’s been a major artist for only 4 short years. Jonas is the same age as Lovato with 2 more years on her career. Minaj, whose abilities and consistency is often debated, is equally unseasoned with just 3 years in the public eye. These celebrity names might be beneficial for ratings, but it may not be for the contestants who have to improve weekly to receive votes and hit the ground running once they win and sign a recording contract.

Picture
NBC's "The Voice"
Why should TV execs care if contestants are properly nurtured? Well, if they aren’t nurtured, the contestants may give lackluster performances that no one will want to watch and release albums that no one will want to buy. If their talent level is mediocre or the sales aren’t there, the record label will either drop or put little energy into them. With that result, viewers who voted will feel disillusioned about their perceived input and stop watching. There’s a whole trickle-down effect. I strongly believe I’m onto something, considering “Idol’s” ratings have slowly, but surely decreased with each season, voter numbers for other music programs aren’t as high and most winning contestants don’t go on to have flourishing careers. For example, out of 11 “Idols,” only 2 (Kelly Clarkson & Carrie Underwood) have had massive record sales. “Voice” has yet to produce a top-billing act and we haven’t heard much from “X-Factor’s” inaugural winner, Melanie Amaro.

Since we’re on the subject sales, there are many possible reasons that most winning contestants don’t do well. Sometimes the winner is an indifferent talent who flew under the radar all season or was liked for a superficial reason (ex. looks or personality). A big chunk of it is how the record label handles things after the competition. There have been many cases of poor promotion and marketing; sometimes the label doesn’t even try (like with “Idol” 9 winner, Lee DeWyze, for example). A great illustration of marketing missteps would be the management of Idols Ruben Studdard and Fantasia Barrino’s careers. Both were pigeon-holed into core R&B/soul. This was a mistake, considering the demographic that watches “American Idol” consists mostly of Caucasian women ages 18-49 with a cluster of southerners and female teens who do most of the (repeat) voting. Let’s face it: this population doesn’t listen to R&B. If anything, they listen to pop/R&B (the key being pop comes 1st). Couple this with the fact that most young people illegally download music and primarily purchase singles versus albums, and you have poor record sales. Additionally, the “Idol” audience wants to see an artist do whatever they saw on the show; which is a versatile mix of popular contemporary music through the years. The less mainstream, pop or country your album is, the less likely the viewers who voted for you will buy your stuff. Guess the record executives didn’t anticipate TV politics affecting their business. Maybe TV and music shouldn’t blend together if they aren’t going to consider each other’s modes of operation.

3 Comments

Demi Lovato: Concert Review

12/9/2011

0 Comments

 
Picture
Demi Lovato Performing "Dynamite" in NYC
Live in Atlanta: Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

Show Date: December 1, 2011
Opening Act: We Are The Kings

With comfortable and accessible energy, Demi Lovato is in touch with her fan-base and performs like a seasoned veteran, showing she should not be underestimated because of her age or affiliation with Disney. Her stage set is still very basic and her performance time was a short 1 hour and 15 minutes (which is unusual compared to the last time I saw Lovato live), but these specs failed to make the show dissatisfactory. Lovato came out swinging with the pumped-up “All Night Long,” followed by the smokin’ “Got Dynamite” & “Hold Up.”  The set-list was well-ordered and seamless from start to finish, including all of her hits, fan favorites and all but 4 tracks from her new album “Unbroken” (some of the omitted songs were performed at a meet & greet). A few older singles were not performed in their entirety, but they were finely interpolated to where the audience wouldn’t feel slighted and it didn’t come off like a cheap medley. Lovato’s most obvious weakness is choreography (it’s seems a bit unnatural for her), but the usual pop-rock singer performed her new techno-dance material with ease and the songs weren’t as awkward on her as they sounded on the record (see my “Unbroken” review: http://bit.ly/ue7sxl )

Picture
"My Love is Like a Star" in ATL.
Never lip-synching, Demi’s vocals were stalwart & fantastic. Her background singers had equally great vocals & her band kicked butt (her bass guitarist was very cute on an unrelated note). To elaborate further on Lovato’s stage presence, she’s appears very in-tune with and focused on her music, unpretentious & professional. She also shows her chops as a musician, playing both piano and acoustic guitar before the show is over (although she played both instruments more often on her last tour). One of the best things you notice during her set is how connected she is to her fans. Addressing the audience frequently & sharing how fan support has helped her through her struggles with eating disorders, self-injury & bi-polar disorder, she easily builds a poignant rapport. During “Skyscraper,” her 1st song post-rehab, fans voluntarily held up small paper hearts available at merchandise tables in which you could write a message for the singer. Demi grabbed one up front that read “You Keep Me Strong” (see the clip below). It’s good to see that there is a young artist who has such a great connection with & positive influence on her fan-base. My only beef was that she left the stage in between almost every song, which is especially unnecessary if there aren’t many costume changes. Well worth the $60, a Demi Lovato concert is fun, entertaining & artistically valuable. 

0 Comments

Demi Lovato: Unbroken

9/20/2011

2 Comments

 
Picture
Album Review.
Likes: All Night Long, For the Love of a Daughter, My Love is Like a Star, Together, Skyscraper
Dislikes: Who’s That Boy, You’re My Only Shorty
Overall: Vocally strong. Not a superior record, but acceptable. Not as emotive as expected.

Considering Demi Lovato’s past work and her now known struggles with self-mutilation and eating disorders, her latest release “Unbroken” was anticipated to be a deeply emotional pop-rock album, expounding on the inspirational “Skyscraper.” Instead it’s a dance-sprinkled, pop-R&B tinged record mostly about love. If the album is a disappointment, it’s because it doesn’t live up to its expectations. Perhaps the scarcity in weighty, personal odes is due to the fact that, for whatever reason, Lovato only wrote 5 tracks as opposed to majority of the album (like she usually does). The change in writing contribution definitely shows in some parts of the album (hear the album sampler below).

Experimenting with another genre can run smoothly if it’s done carefully and your personality always shines through the material. With Lovato’s fairly soulful voice and styling, her first effort at pop-R&B would’ve been seamless if some of the songs were better fitted around her. The designed-to-be-commercial, inartistic pop-slush that is “Who’s That Boy” and “You’re My Only Shorty”, for example, are beneath Lovato’s ability and are more well suited for Kesha or a Disney newcomer who isn’t musically inclined. The harder edged “All Night Long” “In Real Life” and “Give Your Heart a Break” are much better attempts and the teen gets her “Best Thing I Never Had” (Beyonce`) on with “Mistake.”  Lovato feeds into what was expected for “Unbroken” with the well-written “Fix a Heart,” “Lightweight” and “For the Love a Daughter.” The strongest tracks (“Skyscraper” and “My Love is Like a Star”) were co-written and produced by Toby Gad. I think he should definitely be called for the next album.
Quality lyrics and production are what usually make for a great record, but the shining star of “Unbroken” is Demi’s vocals, passionate and audibly stronger than ever. Her vocals are so improved and impressive, that they save some of the tracks from being dismissed. Independent of what was projected, “Unbroken” it’s an artist’s gutsy endeavor with a different genre and a showcasing of vocal growth. The piece may not be flawless, but it’s acceptable.

2 Comments

Demi Lovato: SkyScraper

7/22/2011

0 Comments

 
Picture
Single Review.
Demi Lovato’s new single, “SkyScraper,” is a moving, poignant ballad about continuing to survive and grow beautifully, despite having someone or external forces trying to break your spirit. Describing herself as a skyscraper, Lovato affirms that she will always stand tall. Produced by Toby Gad with lyrics by Gad, Lindy Robbins and recording artist Kerli, “SkyScraper” is wonderfully composed and written. The only thing this song needs is a dramatic climax; the music is melodically the same before and after the bridge, and considering the emotion of the song, a climax is expected. Check out the song and its equally emotional music video below. Note: In a radio interview with Ryan Seacrest, Lovato made it clear that she had NOTHING to do with the composition of the song and it was not written in correlation to her struggles with self-mutilation, bulimia or recent diagnosis with bi-polar disorder. Here at J.Says, I try to stay away from the sensational details and focus on the music alone, but I found that note important to mention. Also, as fan of Lovato’s music, it’s good to see her back on the scene and I wish her the best of health and luck in the future. What do you guys think of "SkyScraper"? If you have your own "skyscraper" story of inspiration to share, click the "Specials & Links" tab and find "We Are Skyscrapers."

0 Comments

Demi Lovato: "Here We Go Again"

10/20/2009

0 Comments

 
Album Review.
Favorite songs: “Every Time You Lie”, “Got Dynamite”, “Falling Over Me”, “World of Chances”
Least Favorites: “Everything You’re Not”, “Gift of  Friend”, “Here We Go Again”
Overall synopsis: Nice upgrade from 1st album, every song is likable, Lovato shows strong long-term potential

Just 10 MONTHS after releasing her debut album, “Don’t Forget”, Demi Lovato is back with “Here We Go Again.” Considering the short time frame, one might anticipate that the two albums would not be that different, or that the sophomore album would be lacking or underdeveloped. That’s not the case here. If anything, “HWGA” is just as good, if not BETTER than “Don’t Forget”, as Demi stands strongly on her own without the writing help of the Jonas Brothers and presents an edgier sound. Although Demi is still under the pop-rock umbrella, “HWGA” seems more mature, edgy and less formulaic than “Don’t Forget” (when I say formulaic, I mean that the material on “HWGA” sounds more personal, as supposed to it being crafted by the record label to follow a certain pattern and sell). The aura maturity and edginess may be a result of the much gloomier, angry lyrics. Demi was apparently feeling in love and lovelorn while recording this album, as it is filled with romance and breakup tunes. The major pro to this record is that none of the songs are terrible; all of the songs are likable in one way or another. The major con is that the album material is SLIGHTLY redundant because of there are SO MANY break up songs. Aside from that, I loved this album and had to keep myself from listening to it so I wouldn’t get tired of it. Out of all the Disney darlings, I think Demi has the most potential as an artist OUTSIDE of Disney. Unlike most of the Disney brats, Demi is not an actress TRYING to sing. She’s more so a singer, who just so happens to be an actress. Her solid vocals and writing skills are budding and she will no doubt expound on them with time. Lovato avoids the sophomore jinx cleanly.

Song Notes
1. “Here We Go Again”- I hate it when the title track is bland. The most “formulaic” out of all the tracks, “Here We Go Again” does what it’s supposed to do: it’s catchy and it sold like hot cake. It’s pretty forgettable for me; it fails to move me. The title track should be the strongest track on the album. This wasn’t. Moving on….
2. “Solo”-a cleverly written song about getting’ played by a player after he’s turned a 180. Demi has fun with word play and uses descriptive lyrics that make you wonder if she is talking about a real life ex. Lyrics like “if you’re life is such a mystery, why don’t you stick to actin’…without a script, your game is lacking…” Demi’s snubby attitude and sarcasm is delightful and makes the song (not to mention the awesome high note towards the end).
3. “U Got Nothin’ on Me”- after going “solo”, Demi’s taking the blinders off and letting the guy know he’s got “nothing on her”. She’s figured his game out. “U Got Nothin’ on Me” has hints of 80’s rock, decent guitar action, and a chorus and bridge full of attitude that will stick in your brain.
4. “Falling Over Me”- the musical arrangement is soft and deeply romantic with supporting vocal vulnerability. Although the song was co-written by John McLaughlin, the lyrics are a little bit weak and get outshined by the vocal and musical arrangement. There was an opportunity to have some illustrative and meaningful lyrics, and considering Demi’s potential, it should have happened. The chorus and bridge work, but the verses are weak.

5. “Quiet”- A song about a brewing romantic chemistry that neither party acts on. The song frequently changes tempo, which is fun, but this song didn’t quite grab me either.
6. “Catch Me”- a sweet, melodic, mostly acoustic song about trying to push away love for fear of being hurt in the end. The lyrics are simple, yet very functional. The additional strings on the song are beautiful. My only beef with this song is the random, unnecessary tempo change. She randomly starts rockin’ out, which interrupts the flow. When you have so many other songs that are up-tempo, it’s nice to have more than one completely relaxed song.
7.“ Every Time You Lie”- my favorite song on the album, Demi channels Maroon 5 and shows her potential to sing R&B-Pop well. The lyrics are sassy and cute, making for a great, infectious, “I honestly don’t care we’re breaking up” song.
8.“Got Dynamite”- Demi encourages a guy to step up his game, stop being timid with his attraction to her, and “light her fuse”. That might sound naughty, but the song is age appropriate, and she doesn’t go past flirting on this rockin’, aggressive, catchy, sassy track.
9. “ Stop The World”- the only song co-written by a Jonas (Nick), “Stop the World” is a romantic, well-written song about taking love slowly and allowing it to grow. Considering that teens typically like to step on the gas in relationships, the concept is pretty mature. This song lingers in your head.

10. “World of Chances” – this song is kind of sad. Demi expresses the emotional wear of being hurt constantly in a relationship and the wear of giving chance after chance, never being fed up enough to leave. Decent lyrics and appropriate music pull you into the mood and essence of the song. Don’t listen to this song if you’re happy; you’ll quickly feel depressed. Co-written by John Mayer, this one is a winner.
11.“Remember December”- a rockin’, 80’s-esque tune that is fairly dark in sound for a Disney brat. The lyrics are, again, pretty darn decent. Demi begs her lover to not give into external pressures on their relationship and remember what makes love golden. The song is catchy and I can appreciate the mild grit. Just think of it as a sadder, pop rock version of EWF’s “September”. Lol Also, Lovato hits sv
12.“Everything You’re Not”- One of my two least favorite songs on this album. It wasn’t awful, but it didn’t get my attention. What DID get my attention were the remnants of symbolism (I can always appreciate symbolism and metaphors) in the lyrics. Everything else about the song I got pretty bored with. Yet another “you’re a sucky boyfriend and I’m leaving” song.
13. “Gift of a Friend”-as with every Disney artist’s album, there must be a song about the beauty of true friendship. With a Celtic sound and inspirational Diane Warren-esque lyrics, the song is ok, but I was ready to go on to the next track.
14. “So Far, So Great”- if you love Demi’s TV series, “Sonny with a Chance”, you’ll love this song. Bouncy, fun and adorably optimistic, the song is about enjoying the top when you’ve finally made it.

 
0 Comments
    Picture

    Entertainment

    Rants and raves about all things entertainment industry. Includes my own movie, music and concert reviews. You can find topics under "Tags and Categories" below.

    Note: Occasionally, articles will be posted by other writers and they will be marked as such. Want to be a contributor for this part of the site? Click the "Contact/info" tab and fill out the form to apply.

    Picture

    Archives

    February 2022
    August 2021
    July 2021
    March 2021
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    June 2009
    January 2009
    November 2008

    Tags/Categories

    All
    1a. Album Reviews
    1b.Concert Reviews
    1c.Stuck In My Head
    1d.The State Of The Music
    1e.The Curious Case Of...
    1g.You Should Hear This
    1h. Song/Video Reviews
    1I. Rock&Rant
    1j. Artist Spotlight
    1k. Contributing Writers
    1 Music
    2a.movie Reviews
    2 Television/movies
    3 Books
    4:44
    50 Shades Of Grey
    98 Degrees
    Aaliyah
    Adele
    Aj Dugger
    Aladdin
    Alexis Jordan
    Alicia Keys
    Allen Stone
    Alt-pop
    American Idol
    Amy Winehouse
    Angela Bassett
    Anhayla
    Annie
    Ariana Grande
    Art
    Ashanti
    Ashford & Simpson
    Ashlee Simpson
    Ashley Tisdale
    Aston
    Aubrey O
    Babyface
    Banks
    Beauty And The Beast
    Being Mary Jane
    Bellamy Young
    Ben Savage
    Best Man Holiday
    Bet
    Bette Midler
    Beyonce`
    Biopic
    Black Community
    Black-ish
    Black Media
    Blink 182
    Blogging
    Blonde
    Bluebird Of Happiness
    B.O.B.
    Bobby Brown
    Bow Wow
    Boy Meets World
    Brandy
    Britney Spears
    Calling All Lovers
    Capra
    Carly Rae Jepsen
    Carrie Underwood
    Catfish
    Caution
    Celeb Journalism
    Changes
    Charity Music
    Charles Esten
    Chike Evans
    Chris Brown
    Chrisette Michele
    Christina Aguilera
    Ciara
    City & Colour
    Clarence Clemons
    Cletus
    Clipped
    Clive Davis
    Coldplay
    Connie Britton
    Conrad Murray
    Cookie Lyon
    Daley
    D'Angelo
    Danity Kane
    Daughter
    Dawn Richard
    Deacon Claybourne
    Dee Pimpin
    Deliver Us From Eva
    Delta Goodrem
    Demi Lovato
    Derek Yates
    Descendants
    Descendants 2
    Destinys Child
    Diddy Dirty Money
    Disney
    Disney Channel
    Divas
    Django Unchained
    Dove Cameron
    Drake
    Dreamgirls
    Eddie J.
    Empire
    Esperanza Spalding
    Eternally In Awe
    Etta James
    Evanescence
    Fantasia
    Feeling Myself
    Feminism
    Feminism In Music
    Fifth Harmony
    Fiona Apple
    Formation
    Franco
    Frankmusik
    Frank Ocean
    Fuller House
    Full House
    Gabrielle Union
    General Hospital
    Gil Scott-Heron
    Girl Meets World
    Girls Generation
    Gladiators
    Glory
    Gone But Not Forgotten
    Good To Know
    Grammys
    Grease
    Halloween
    Hayden Panettiere
    Hayley Reinhart
    Hip Hop & Rap
    Hocus Pocus
    Hugh Jackman
    Illegal Downloading
    Independent Artists
    Interviews
    It's Dio
    Jamaal D. Pittman
    James Lewis
    James Morrison
    Jamie Foxx
    Janelle Monae`
    Janet Jackson
    Jason Derulo
    Jay Z
    J.Cole
    Jennifer Hudson
    Jennifer Lopez
    Jessica Sanchez
    Jessie J
    Joe Jonas
    John Legend
    John Mayer
    JoJo
    Jonas Brothers
    Jordin Sparks
    Joss Stone
    Julianne Hough
    Juliette Barnes
    Jungle Book
    Junior Martinez
    Jurassic World
    Justin Bieber
    Justin Timberlake
    Kanye West
    Karmin
    Kate Winslet
    Katharine Mcphee
    Katy Perry
    Kelly Clarkson
    Kelly Rowland
    Kendrick Lamar
    Kenny Ortega
    Keri Hilson
    Kerry Washington
    Kevin Costner
    Keyshia Cole
    Kickstarter
    Kimbra
    Kings Of Leon
    K-pop
    Kris Allen
    Lady Antebellum
    Lady Gaga
    Lana Del Rey
    Lauren Alaina
    Lauryn Hill
    Leah Labelle
    Lea Michele
    Lee Crain
    Lemonade
    Lennon Stella
    Leonardo Dicaprio
    Lianne La Havas
    Liberation
    Lifetime
    Lip Synching
    Little Mix
    Luke James
    Madetobenow
    Madonna
    Man Of The Woods
    Mariah Carey
    Marie` Digby
    Maroon 5
    Match.com
    Mathew Knowles
    Meaning Of Life
    Media
    Megan Thee Stallion
    Meghan Trainor
    Mgmt
    Michael Jackson
    Michelle Williams
    Mick Jagger
    Miguel
    Miley Cyrus
    Misogyny
    Mj Johnson
    Morris Chestnut
    Mtv
    Musicals
    Music Business
    Music Consumers
    Music Nerd
    Music On Facebook
    Music Quotes
    Music Videos
    Nashville
    Nashville CMT
    Nelly Furtado
    N.E.R.D.
    Netflix
    Network Tv
    Nev Schulman
    Ne-Yo
    Nick Ashford
    Nicki Minaj
    Nick Jonas
    Nick Lachey
    Nick Nittoli
    Nikki & Rich
    No Doubt
    Now You See Me
    Octavia Spencer
    Olivia Rodrigo
    One Direction
    One Life To Live
    Pharrell
    Phylicia Rashad
    Pink
    Playlists
    Positions
    Power Rangers
    Prince
    Princess Jasmine
    Producers
    Proud Mary
    Queen Of Pop
    Quvenzhane Wallis
    Rare
    Raven's Home
    Raven Symone
    Rayna James
    R&B
    Reality Tv
    Reputation
    Rihanna
    Robin Thicke
    Robin Williams
    Roger Howarth
    Rolling Stone
    Ronald Matters
    Ron Carlivati
    Rowan Blanchard
    Roxie Bardo
    Ryan Tedder
    Sales
    Sam Smith
    Sam Sparro
    Sanaa Lathan
    Scandal
    Selena Gomez
    Seth Macfarlane
    Sex
    Sex And Cigarettes
    Shannon Bex
    Shannon Sanders
    Shonda Rhimes
    Simon Cowell
    Sister Act 2
    SNSD
    Soap Operas
    Social Media
    Solange
    Song Writing
    Sorry Not Sorry
    Sour
    Spell My Name
    Spotify
    Streaming
    Suga
    Superheavy
    Sweetener
    Sza
    Tamar Braxton
    Taraji P. Henson
    Taye Diggs
    Taylor Swift
    Tell Me You Love Me
    The Band Perry
    The Cosby Show
    The Day That Music Dies
    The Dealers
    The Dream
    The Exciters
    The Greatest Showman
    The Lion King
    The PinkPrint
    The Roots
    The Script
    The Seatbelts
    The Voice
    Three. Two. One.
    T.I.
    TIDAL
    Titanic
    Tlc
    Tlc Movie
    Tlc Story
    Toni Braxton
    Tori Kelly
    Trey Songz
    Tribute
    Tricky Stewart
    Tyler Perry
    Unbreakable
    Unbreakable Tour
    Unbreak My Heart
    Usher
    Vanessa Carlton
    Vanessa Hudgens
    Videoblogs
    Video Uploads
    Vontae`
    Wale
    Whitney
    Whitney Houston
    Whoopi Goldberg
    Will.i.am
    Women In Music
    Xfactor
    You Cant Win
    Younger Now
    Youtube Talent
    Zac Efron
    Zayn Malik
    Zendaya

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.