's Dancing With The Devil... The Art of Starting Over is here. The 19-track deep dive of honesty, raw vulnerability, and strength is 57 minutes of power and pop. And she earned every second of it.
The 28-year old's struggle with addiction and mental health are well documented at this point. We are lucky to have her here still, belting out big power notes and writing about her life in song. The alternatives are much darker and sadder.
But, I guess that's where The Art Of Starting Over comes from...
Demi Lovato - The Art Of Starting Over
Here's the thing about Demi's very personal, deep lyrics and songs and stories on this record - they're great. And good for her for going there. It can't have been easy. BUT, at the same time, if this is THE album that does this for the rest of her career and 18 months from now we get a Kylie Minogue-esque modern disco album, I'll be just as ready and just as happy for her if that makes her happy.
Hell, she could make a pure bubble gum pop album, a vintage Gaga-inspired experimental release, get all the way into a folklore/evermore vibe, or anything she wants, and I know her voice is going to carry it and it will sound great. And again, if she's happy, I'm happy for her.
And guess what, I have complete confidence that Demi Lovato could pull off any of those styles of albums. Bring it on.
When I listen to Demi Lovato sing it's impossible not to think of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston before her. And it's impossible not to think of Ariana Grande alongside her now (and they crush it together on Met Him Last Night!), and that's okay. Too often we're looking for something unlike anything we've ever seen or heard before, instead of accepting that a talent like this, that reminds us of other outrageous talents isn't less than, it's to be celebrated and enjoyed the same way. And boy howdy, can Demi Lovato belt out a big note and get in her feelings (and ours) when she's singing.
This woman is a star talent. A fighter. A survivor.
Note: Can we also for one second give some love for the end of The Kind Of Lover and the way she just drops in that she doesn't care who someone may be, what their parts are, that she just wants to find someone to share her life with at some point. That kind of freedom and honesty is just refreshing and makes me smile. There's a theme here.
Before we go, we have to make a quick stop at the video for Dancing With The Devil. It gives us the front end to the album title that we already finished with The Art Of Starting Over. But more powerfully, it takes Demi back to the night that could have been the end and ended up being part of her new beginning. I don't know what it took to make this video or create this song and share it with the world - but she did it.
Demi Lovato - Dancing With The Devil
Just a little earlier I mentioned that there was a theme here. And if you've read this far you've likely noticed it - this album makes me happy and happy for Demi Lovato. As a person, and artist and friend and family member to those who love her, she's come to this point in her life and I'm happy for that. There was a chance that it wasn't going to be like this, and that would have been heartbreaking. So yes, there are heavy, raw, emotional moments on this album that took me places and pulled me in - but I balanced that with the hope that these are all memories that will continue to move further and further into the past for Ms Lovato and that she'll keep making new ones that are for the best.
Check out the full tracklist for Demi Lovato's Dancing With The Devil... The Art of Starting Over and hit play to start your front-to-back listen now!
Demi Lovato, Dancing With The Devil... The Art of Starting Over Tracklist
