Demi Lovato ‘Revamped’ album review: Hits become rock anthems
Music critique Demi Lovato is an artist of many talents. She has experienced various phases in her career, starting as a child star and then transitioning into a beloved Disney figure, a prominent pop princess, an advocate for important causes, and a survivor. However, at the age of 31, she embarks on her most audacious chapter to date as a legitimate rock star on her latest album, “Revamped,” which is set to be released on Friday. On this album, Lovato takes 10 of her greatest hits and transforms them into bold and assertive anthems.
Lovato made the decision to re-record her previous music after famously bidding farewell to her pop career last year, leading up to the release of her first punk record, “Holy Fvck.” Unlike Taylor Swift, whose “Taylor’s Version” releases may not sound significantly different to casual listeners, Lovato completely reinvents her signature songs by incorporating grittier instrumentation, punchier melodies, and even updated lyrics. The singer successfully converts 10 of her greatest hits into rock anthems.
The re-imagined tracks include “Heart Attack,” “Sorry Not Sorry,” and “Neon Lights.” In the original version of 2015’s “Cool for the Summer,” the lyrics included the line “Don’t tell your mother,” but in the revamped version, Lovato now pleads, “Go tell your mother.” In the revised mix of 2017’s “Tell Me You Love Me,” she adds the words “They say” before “You ain’t nobody ’til you got somebody,” serving as a reminder to fans that it is acceptable to be alone. The 2015 hit “Confident” is somehow even more powerful in this rock adaptation, while the new rendition of 2013’s “Heart Attack” showcases Lovato’s versatility and pushes her powerful vocals to unimaginable heights.
Additionally, Lovato collaborates with a few special guests on this album. The rock remixes of 2011’s “Give Your Heart a Break,” 2013’s “Neon Lights,” and 2017’s “Sorry Not Sorry” feature Bert McCracken, the frontman of The Used, the emo band The Maine, and the legendary Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash, respectively. These collaborations elevate the tracks that Lovatics have grown to adore over the years.
Despite the significant changes to her classics, Lovato ensures that they still maintain a sense of familiarity. “Skyscraper” now possesses a newfound intensity while staying true to its pop origins from 2011. The song “La La Land,” co-written by the Jonas Brothers, retains its teenage angst just as it did in 2008. Therefore, while the old version of Taylor Swift may be unavailable at the moment, the old Demi is undoubtedly present, now adorned with a touch of black eyeliner and a remarkable new sound.
Demi Lovato is a chameleon.
She’s been a child star, a Disney darling, a pop princess, an activist and a survivor.
But the 31-year-old ushers in her boldest era yet as a bonafide rock star on her new album, “Revamped” (out Friday), on which she transforms 10 of her greatest hits into brash anthems.
Lovato decided to re-record her old music after famously holding a “funeral” for her pop career last year ahead of the release of her first punk record, “Holy Fvck.”
But unlike Taylor Swift, whose “Taylor’s Version” releases may not sound too different to casual listeners, Lovato completely reinvents her signature songs with grittier instrumentation, punchier melodies and even some updated lyrics.
The original version of 2015’s “Cool for the Summer” featured the line “Don’t tell your mother,” but now Lovato begs, “Go tell your mother.” And on the revised mix of 2017’s “Tell Me You Love Me,” she adds the words “They say” before “You ain’t nobody ’til you got somebody” to remind fans that it’s OK to be alone.
“Confident” is somehow, someway even louder here than in 2015, while the new edition of 2013’s “Heart Attack” showcases Lovato’s versatility and takes her powerhouse voice to unimaginable heights.
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Lovato also taps a few special guests this time around: The rock remixes of 2011’s “Give Your Heart a Break,” 2013’s “Neon Lights” and 2017’s “Sorry Not Sorry” feature The Used frontman Bert McCracken, emo band The Maine and legendary Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash, respectively, all of whom help elevate tracks that Lovatics have come to know and love over the years.
Lovato deserves her flowers, though, for ensuring that her classics still feel familiar even after breathing new life into them.
“Skyscraper” packs a punch like never before but stays true to its 2011 pop counterpart, and the Jonas Brothers-co-written “La La Land” has just as much teen angst as it did back in 2008.
So, while the Old Taylor may not be able to come to the phone right now, the Old Demi is very much still here — just with a smidgen more black eyeliner and a bitchin’ new sound.
