The Set-Up:
We all love a good comeback! Demi Lovato is a terrific example of someone who came out on the other side better and more mature than ever!
The Play-by-Play:
Demi gets the party started right from the beginning with “All Night Long”. Who would’ve thought that a Disney pop star could bring back the wonderful chemistry of Timbaland and Missy Elliott! And Demi fits right in there. For an opening song, it’s incredible to hear the big change from her last two albums filled with rock pop music to this more grown up hip-hop vibe going on. And that theme continues with “Who’s That Boy”. With spectacular production from Ryan Tedder (finally a song that doesn’t sound like another song he’s produced before) and a stellar guest spot from the creative Dev, it’s a standout from the whole album. A cute mix of bubblegum pop and modern Hip-Hop, it’s a sweet highlight showcasing this semi-ghettoliciousness she’s changing up with. “You’re My Only Shorty” with Iyaz comes next. It’s one of the more forgettable tracks, not offering anything interesting. It feels like a Sean Kingston leftover and the album would be just fine without it. Then we get back into the right direction with the next Timbaland track “Together” featuring Jason Derülo. It’s a love song with a positive message underneath it all, offering a sweet tale of peace, love, and harmony. “Lightweight” sneaks up with a gentle introduction. Demi’s powerful whispers (yes, an oxymoron) open the track with this sense of beautiful honesty that is rare to hear in someone as young as Ms. Lovato. It builds up to a powerhouse moment at the end of the bridge into the final chorus with pitch perfect harmonies. Without a doubt, this first part of the album is the best by far! Then we start getting into the title track “Unbroken”, going into an electronic sound ready for the clubs. Following that is the second highlight “Fix a Heart”. What Demi does best is transitioning from quiet moments of beauty to powerful pieces of a booming voice. “Fix a Heart” reminds me of “Don’t Forget” and “Catch Me”, songs that highlight her ease of hitting high notes and getting back down to those low notes so fast. It’s a powerful song without having to be so over-the-top. “Hold Up” is another so-so song, reminiscent of “Unbroken”. Now we get back into the adult hip-hop groove with “Mistake” that sounds a little like Keri Hilson’s “Knocks You Down” mixed in with a little J-Hud’s “Gone”. Then comes “Give Your Heart A Break” that sounds like Ryan Tedder’s name should be on it too (a la Beyoncé’s “Halo” and Leona Lewis). Then comes the most first vulnerable, emotional moment the album has to offer, “Skyscraper”. Sure, the song was written by someone else and way before her stint in rehab and her personal struggles, but it fits her so well! It’s a bittersweet moment that truly showcases the vulnerability in her voice. It’s a heartfelt and brutally honest moment. “In Real Life” follows and seems a bit out of place, but it’s a playful melody with some real attitude behind it. Then comes a soulful moment with “My Love Is Like A Star”. And to close out the album, we have the second most emotional moment of the album, “For the Love of a Daughter”, an honest look into her lack of relationship with her biological father. It’s very similar to the same vulnerability and brutal honesty in “Skyscraper”, but it’s a different theme and tone completely.
The Point:
With a sound more fitting and a tone that is way beyond her years, Demi Lovato came back from her personal struggles better than ever! She’s a terrific example of a young mature woman that little girls should aspire to be, coming out from the other side stronger than ever.
The Essentials
From the pop perfection behind “Who’s That Boy”
To the simplicity of “Fix a Heart”
And the heartfelt vulnerability and honesty in “Skyscraper”
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