Demi Lovato’s new album Tell Me You Love Me is one of the albums that I have been waiting for
in a complete and full anticipation. The one reason is because this album is
released after Lovato’s relationship with Valderrama ended. I am not surprised
that Lovato will show the opposite emotions compared to Confident album. Mad, angry, feeling left, feeling used and wasted,
are emotions that I was expected to hear, even before Tell Me You Love Me single and music video are released.
In Confident, we found the “excited” feeling of a
lovely relationship Lovato had with Valderrama. We can listen to the excitement
in Cool For The Summer; a passionate
love in Wildfire; a strong bond in Lionheart (I think this one is inspired
the tattoo on the back of Lovato’s hand); “the world is ours” in Stars; and “I can see the future with
you” in Yes. In contrast to those
emotions, though the title is Tell Me You
Love Me, the album is not what exactly the words would mean. Instead, it
contains the bad emotions she felt before, during and after the relationship
with Valderrama.
The album itself is opened with Sorry Not Sorry
which has nothing to do with her relationship. Nevertheless, there are 9 out of
17 songs in it that express Lovato’s bad emotions towards her ex. Those are
like “in a bad circumstance, please” Tell
Me You Love Me, a dissapointment in You
Don’t Do It For Me Anymore, “don’t be surprised, you know me” in Daddy Issue, never ending waiting in Only Forever, the aftermath of breaking
up in Lonely (feat. Lil Wayne),
‘thank you for hurting me’ in Cry Baby,
love is a game in Games, wondering
blurred things in Smoke and Mirrors, and
about the time is not appropriate in
Ready For Ya. The last two songs are available in Target Exclusive album.
While she stated when asked whether the album is
about her relationship with Wilmer Valderrama before breaking up, “I’m a rather
private person”, in an interview with Alan Carr about a song Cool For The Summer back in 2017 she
explained, “All of my songs are based on my personal experiences”. In an interview with Glamour when she watched covers of her songs in youtube she also said, “Stone Cold is a song about a
relationship that I have”. Though Lovato convinces us that she is more private
than she was two years ago, I would never deny that this album is indeed about
her past relationship with Valderrama. For in fact, this is the first album she
released after her break up with him.
Although the songs mostly are about recalling back the memory and
comb back what happened, the album is less and far from sounding like a
childish album. Instead, the lyrics are mature enough to sing and these are
supported by Lovato’s mature and developed singing skill. The lyrics do not
sound like a teenage girl in a puppy’s love and relationship. For instance, in You Don’t Do It Anymore “I’m sorry for
honesty I’m well aware”. Those will not be expressed if experienced by two childish
lovers who think about their own ego and afraid to admit that they are sorry.
The maturity also lies in the melodies. Though considered as pop, unlike her
fellow such as Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift, Lovato’s music is
the only one that sounds different.
I would say that this album is totally about her
previous relationship with Valderrama because some lyrics that can be too
spesific describing him, cannot stop popping in my head, giving me the idea
that there is nobody else she is talking about but Valderrama in this album.
Yet, this album still can be listened to everyone who struggles the ups and
downs of a relationship. Who knows her personal experiences will fit to yours? So,
I would open the opinion for you. What do you think about this album? Do you
think this “mature” album is about Valderrama? Do you think Tell Me You Love Me is worth your
waiting and anticipation?
P.S: My favorite songs in this album are Ready For Ya, Cry Baby, Hitchhiker and Concentrate. What's yours?