Album- Don’t Forget
Artist- Demi Lovato
After suffering from addiction and various other issues,
Demi Lovato has become a world renowned artist who has gone from strength to
strength, securing a lucrative judging role on the US X Factor and producing
such hit songs as ‘Skyscraper’ and ‘Heart Attack’. Her profile and selling
power has definitely increased as the distance between herself and the Disney
brand increased, but the singer’s style has always been a bit different from
her peers. And so whilst she may be a bigger star now, just how good was
Lovato’s music when she was in the throes of her time at Disney? I take a look
at her debut album to find out.
Track 1- La La Land
Opening track La La Land is an upbeat pop rock song with a
guitar driven edge to it that immediately marks it out as bit more than your
average teen pop music. The singer exudes this lovely personality within the
song in which she addresses her feelings of being unsure of herself and her
place within Hollywood, with the lyrics highlighting this sense of staying true
to yourself whilst others may tell you to do other things. The song is
lyrically empowering in a certain respect and the attitude that Lovato gives
within the track is awesome, with the singer opening up her vocals very nicely
within the songs latter half. The more heavy rock sound features an awesome
guitar solo and clashing drums that shows a level of maturity intermixed with
the teen fun that makes the song that much more appealing.
3.5/5
Track 2- Get Back
Keeping the rock tones going, Get Back is more of a
relationship based tune from the singer that lyrically focuses on Lovato
telling this person that she wants to get back to the old days when they were
so good together. The message is pure and simple and is made catchier by the
fun vocal performance that the singer gives, with the verses being particularly
strong as she exudes this sense of being a little bit flirtatious, giving the
song some added zest and adding weight to the lyrics. The pop rock sound of the
track with the thumping drums and guitar is a little bit less polished and
accomplished than the first track and is bit more teen typical but it is still
a bit different and the harsh sound is complimented by the simplicity of the
songs core statement.
3.5/5
Track 3- Trainwreck
The only song on the record to be written by no one else but
Lovato, Trainwreck is another forceful pop rock offering but with slightly more
of a toe tapping groove and fun stop start rhythm to the production. The song
is a romantic track where Lovato sings of how this person thought they wouldn’t
make it, but although this person might not be the greatest she loves him
anyway. The song sharply addresses this dysfunctional relationship and feels
quite relatable, but the vocals could be a bit stronger as at times the singer
feels emotionally invested in the song but at other times she can sound a
little bored in her delivery. The upbeat guitar riffs of the track and the get
up and jump around groove nicely compliments the lyrical content and feels just
infectiously fun even if this sound is more radio friendly in its own way.
3.5/5
Track 4- Party
Party is a harsher pop rock offering with a feisty sound
that feels a bit juxtaposing with the tween driven lyrics that are all about
things being all right if you just party in your own way. The song is fun and
the hook is nice with Lovato building up her vocal in a good way, but at times
the song feels too frenzied, and the harsh rhythms of the song feel a bit like
producer John Fields was accidently producing the wrong sound for a teen album
and then just couldn’t be bothered to change things.
2.5/5
Track 5- On the Line
(featuring the Jonas Brothers)
Guest artists the Jonas Brothers feature prominently on the
record as co-producers and co-writers of many tracks, but here they take on a
vocal role to create a cool dynamic within On the Line. The song is a simple
break up song where both parties know that things are on the line. The song
features more of a bubble-gum pop sound with a catchy hook and simple guitar
and drum tone that gives a lighter, more accessible feel to the song. The two
artists vocally meld together well and the lightness of the Jonas Brothers
vocals compliments the depth and intensity of Lovato’s vocals, and the only
real issue within the song is the message is quite lyrically clichéd with some
of the imagery employed and statements used being things that teenage stars
have been singing for a number of years.
3.5/5
Track 6- Don’t Forget
Title track Don’t Forget is a mid tempo pop rock ballad that
focuses on Lovato lyrically tapping into the idea of being in love, and then
the other person just walks away, and you have to try and forget about that
time. The song’s lyrics are sharp and there is a pure quality to the message
that is much more resonating and welcoming. Lovato vocally works really well in
this track as she utilises her falsetto and imbues the song with this palpable
essence of vulnerability, making the song feel more like an honest revealing of
Lovato’s feelings. With the production of the track things are kept simple with
the guitar riff before the final minute of the song kicks in and we are treated
to heavy drums and emotive string notes, creating a nice glam rock texture to
the song. This is definitely the most mature offering from the record at this
point and to me seems to act as a blueprint for the artist that Lovato could
grow to be (and maybe has).
3.5/5
Track 7- Gonna Get
Caught
Taking things back to more of a pop rock style, Gonna Get
Caught still keeps the theme of moving on from a relationship going. But here
we find Lovato telling this guy to stop messing around with other girls because
he is just going to get caught eventually, and he is really just wasting his
time trying to fool Lovato and tell her sweet things. The song is a fun kiss
off to a cheating ex that sees the singer giving us a fun, lively and snappy
vocal performance that perfectly embodies the feeling of a girl who is fully in
control and just doesn’t care anymore. The pop rock production is smart and
sophisticated with some nice melodies, and the addition of the more prominent background
vocals towards the songs end is nice touch.
3.5/5
Track 8- Two Worlds
Collide
Two Worlds Collide is sweet mid tempo track that has an
inspirational tone and could also easily be identified as a love song. The song’s
lyrics focus on Lovato describing this situation in which these two people find
strength because they share the same dreams. Although the song has the
potential to go into dumb cliché territory Lovato manages to keep things
feeling sincere and nice, with the song definitely benefiting from the singers
vibrant and emotive vocal tone. The mix of strings and drums creates a steady
but equally emotive sound that just makes this a sweet tune that shows off the singer’s
softer side to nice effect.
3.5/5
Track 9- The Middle
From the sweetness of the previous track we head into
slightly darker territory it would seem with The Middle, which has this dark
guitar based rhythm with subtle electro notes. However, as the lyrics progress
and the forceful pop rock chorus kicks in you realise that this is just an up
tempo pop number about Lovato wanting to go for a thrill ride with this guy,
with the song having a love based metaphorical edge. The blend of the subdued
verses with the hard hitting chorus does work well, and once again this is a
track that benefits from Lovato’s vocals, particularly in terms of the way that
she goes higher into her range with the final chorus, making for an even
catchier end to the track.
3.5/5
Track 10- Until
You’re Mine
Until You’re Mine is a sombre musical offering from Lovato
that finds the singer wishing to fill this emotional vacancy with this boys
love. The song simply focuses on that clichéd notion of teenage obsession, and
whilst the initial soft, acoustic guitar led sound is really interesting, the
song quickly dissolves into a typical teen pop rock offering when the drums
start. The only thing that really is good about the song are Lovato’s vocals as
she brings this sense of strength within her vocal performance and embodies the
role that is created within the track very well, although the layered style
towards the end is slightly annoying.
2.5/5
Track 11- Believe In
Me
Final track Believe in Me is an acoustic guitar led down tempo
piece which also acts as an empowerment anthem for the singer. Here we find
Lovato in a vulnerable state as she is unsure of herself, but she realises that
she needs to change and she just wants to believe in herself. The lyrics are
slightly clichéd but the singer’s message is overall nice. Also in looking back
on this song after the singers speaking out about her addiction and image
issues, the track actually has more of an emotional resonance. The vocal is
soft and situated nicely within the realms of vulnerable and strong, whilst the
light pop instrumentation is typical but suits the message well. Another song
where it seems like this is a blueprint for the artist to be, as this song
almost foreshadows the smash hit that was Skyscraper.
3.5/5
Final Review
Don’t Forget is just a fun pop rock album from a singer that
back in the days of her teen stardom was well worth the attention. This is
because even with this album the singer’s voice shines, and although at times
the style is annoying, overall the vocals are emotive and passionate. The album
is definitely a teen album with the lyrical concepts and some of the records clichéd
style, and so you can definitely see that Lovato was a Disney star with this
record. But the pop rock sound sometimes adds more interesting flavours to the
teen style, and so this is a strong debut that shows that there is the ability
for artistic growth.
6.5/10
Best Track- Don’t
Forget
Worst Track- Party
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