Notes

Black Plaque by Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato has matured and is no longer a young pop singer in her teens. She's developed a sense self-awareness that comes from years of managing show business and mental health issues. So it's no surprise that Black Plaque, Lovato's eighth album and first after her near-fatal overdose in the year 2018--is brimming with fresh confessions that contradict previous obfuscations. The ballad that swells with piano "Skyscraper" for instance, starts with Lovato addressing the drug dealer who handed her heroin that night, which nearly killed her. The mix of opioids laced with fentanyl triggered three strokes, a heart attack and permanent vision damage (she cannot drive and describes the blind spots as looking like sunspots).


The album also divulges the details of her life. The album also challenges the rigid standards that women and girls are subjected to, which can be difficult when you're as fluid as Lovato. ("Am I only one searching for substances?") Lovato asks a question on "Substance" and mourns lost friends who have fallen victim to addiction ("Dead Friends") It's a record that's hard to ignore, right from the striking cover art featuring Lovato reclined on a leather psychiatrist's couch -- to its tense title song, which likens her body to communion atop full-throttle drums and guitars straight off late '90s/early 2000s emo rock classics.



The tracks that follow, though, present Lovato's fragile step forward, albeit with a hard-earned optimism. The self-love anthem "4 Ever 4 Me," that is more Goo Goo Dolls than less Blink-182, is an ethereal track. While the heartbreaking song "Give Yourself A Break," provides a moment of reflection when she sings "I'm recovering/I'm not perfect but I'm doing my best."


demilovatomerch continues to redefine her music and life after her near-death incident. The trance-inducing, rap-infused "Met Them Last Night" she even mentions her PTSD. This can be felt through her singing, "I have to tell you something/I've been avoiding it too long." The finale of the song is a triumphant remark: "Now I know why they refer to me as an inspiration/I'm better than ever before/I'll never stop trying to fight for my happiness." The song is a anthem to survival and recovery and, as such, it's among the most strong pop songs of the year. Holy Fvck might not be as popular or radio-friendly as the earlier songs of Lovato However, the new ferocity is in line with the intensity of her commitment. It's obvious that, even if her struggles persist her music will be around for the long haul. Listen to Demi's Black Plaque via Spotify. The album was released on Friday.Demi Lovato, whose real name is Demetria Devonne, started her career in the children's television show Barney & Friends at the age of 7. She has also appeared in other shows on TV and films. She has released a range of music CDs and appeared in the Disney Channel comedy Sonny with a Chance.

Here's my website: https://www.demilovatomerch.store/