If there’s one thing we know, it’s that Demi Lovato has always had the talent of being able to bring you to your knees with her gut wrenching, heartbreaking lyrics while still simultaneously leaving your mouth open with her amazing vocals…At least that’s how it’s been with her recent projects. So, her announcement of a new song with Australian singer-songwriter Sam Fischer came with a little bit of excitement and anticipation.
The single, “What Other People Say” was released on the 4th of February and it had the usual Demi Lovato characteristics littered all over it. “What Other People Say” is a confessional song, a relatable one at that, which talks about the things we don’t do, the things we used to do or loved to do and stopped doing because of the fear of what people would say.
The song is very obviously pop, generically so, it comes with the usual verse, prechorus, chorus bridge structure. It has a catchy chorus and is one that’s cathartic to sing out and the entire song leaves the listener with an experience that makes them want to press the replay button immediately the song is done playing.
Both verses in the song are strong, well done and reflective. The pain and regret hanging off the lyrics are audible. Demi’s verse is strong and swift, packing a swift emotional punch to the guts with the lines “Thought when I grew up / I would be the same as the ones who gave me my last name / I would not give in / I would not partake of the same old drugs everyone else takes”, referencing her battles with her drug addiction. Fischer’s verse is a little less stronger than Demi’s but equally as powerful. If Demi’s verse was edgy and powerful, Fischer’s is short and sweet and provides a slightly delicate contrast to Demi’s but fits in quite well into the energy of the song.
The production of the song is stellar and frames the song well. The climax of the song is just after the bridge, where Demi with her mind-blowing vocals does some ad-libs for the final chorus, which was delivered in a duet with Fischer, their voices weaving in and out of harmony with each other, ending the song powerfully.
Even with the generic composition of the song, it leaves a different taste on the tongue in that it leaves the listener behind with a compelling experience, one the listener wouldn’t mind listening to again and again, especially with the cathartic and relatable lyrics.
The song features on Demi’s album “Dancing With The Devil…The Art of Starting Over” which was released on the April 2nd, 2021.
Watch the music video here
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