Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over

Following the release of Lovato's previous studio album Tell Me You Love Me (2017), she took a hiatus from her career following her 2018 hospitalization and subsequent treatment for a drug overdose. In May 2019, Lovato revealed she had signed with a new manager, Scooter Braun,{{cite magazine |url=https://variety.com/2019/music/news/demi-lovato-signs-scooter-braun-manager-1203212073/ |title=Demi Lovato Signs With Scooter Braun for Management |first=Shirley |last=Halperin |date=May 12, 2019 |magazine=Variety|access-date=May 13, 2019|archive-date=May 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512194924/https://variety.com/2019/music/news/demi-lovato-signs-scooter-braun-manager-1203212073/|url-status=live}} and confirmed to Teen Vogue the following November that new music was coming, stating "I didn't say when — now I'm just teasing you. It's important to remember that I am so cautious this time around of jumping back into things. I've really decided to take my time with things. When the time is right, I will put it out there. I am dying to release new music ... but everything in due time."{{cite magazine |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/demi-lovato-new-music-2019-teen-vogue-summit |title=Demi Lovato on New Music, Body Acceptance, and Strength at the 2019 Teen Vogue Summit |first=Brittney |last=McNamara |magazine=Teen Vogue |date=November 2, 2019 |access-date=March 16, 2021|archive-date=February 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218200512/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/demi-lovato-new-music-2019-teen-vogue-summit|url-status=live}} Lovato made her first musical appearance since her hiatus with a performance of single "Anyone" at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards in January 2020.{{Cite magazine |last=Bruner |first=Raisa |date=January 27, 2020 |title=Demi Lovato Brought the Audience to Its Feet In Her Grammys Return |url=https://time.com/5772107/demi-lovato-grammys/|access-date=January 27, 2020 |magazine=Time|archive-date=January 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127064100/https://time.com/5772107/demi-lovato-grammys/|url-status=live}} Throughout 2020, Lovato released further stand-alone solo singles "I Love Me" and "Still Have Me" and collaborations "I'm Ready" with Sam Smith and "OK Not to Be OK" with Marshmello. Lovato also released "Commander in Chief" as a political ballad ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Planned for release in 2020, Lovato's seventh studio album was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9414513/demi-lovato-eating-disorder-new-interview |title=Demi Lovato Opens Up About Body Image and Addiction Issues in New Interview |first=Glenn |last=Rowley |magazine=Billboard |date=July 7, 2020 |access-date=March 16, 2021|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108011305/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9414513/demi-lovato-eating-disorder-new-interview|url-status=live}}

Lovato's first music release of 2021 was the single "What Other People Say" in collaboration with Australian singer Sam Fischer. The release and title of Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over was subsequently announced on March 16, 2021. Lovato explained that the original title was just The Art of Starting Over, but she then decided to give it a double title to reflect the importance of "the darker opening songs" on the album.{{Cite web |last=Shafer |first=Ellise |date=March 16, 2021 |title=Demi Lovato Announces New Album 'Dancing With the Devil… The Art of Starting Over,' Coming Next Month |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/demi-lovato-new-album-1234931583/|access-date=March 24, 2021 |website=Variety |language=en-US|archive-date=March 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316231924/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/demi-lovato-new-album-1234931583/|url-status=live}} During a livestream on the audio-chat app Clubhouse, Lovato explained about the album, "If you listen to it track by track, if you follow the track listing, it's kind of actually like the non-official soundtrack to the documentary. Because it really does follow my life over the past couple of years. When we went through the track listing and kind of mapped out how it kind of coincided with my life's story, it made sense to add the more emotional stuff in the beginning and then transition into 'The Art of Starting Over'".{{cite web |first=Ellise |last=Shafer |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/demi-lovato-new-album-1234931583/ |title=Demi Lovato Announces New Album 'Dancing With the Devil... The Art of Starting Over,' Coming Next Month |work=Variety |date=March 15, 2021|access-date=March 16, 2021|archive-date=March 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316231924/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/demi-lovato-new-album-1234931583/|url-status=live}} Lovato also revealed three collaborations with female artists on the album: Noah Cyrus, Ariana Grande and Saweetie.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9536455/ariana-grande-demi-lovato-tease-potential-collab/ |title=Are Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato Collaborating on a New Song? |date=March 8, 2021 |access-date=March 16, 2021 |first=Gil |last=Kaufman |magazine=Billboard|archive-date=March 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314032631/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9536455/ariana-grande-demi-lovato-tease-potential-collab/|url-status=live}}

A promotional website was launched for the album, where its artwork and pre-save link was released on March 16, 2021.{{cite web |url=http://www.artofstartingover.com/ |title=Demi Lovato |publisher=Art of Starting Over|access-date=March 16, 2021|archive-date=March 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314172911/http://www.artofstartingover.com/|url-status=live}} The album serves as a companion piece to Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil, a YouTube Originals docu series, which began release on March 23, 2021.{{cite magazine |first=Althea |last=Legaspi |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-trailer-1129633/ |title=Watch Demi Lovato's 'Dancing With the Devil' Docuseries Trailer |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=February 17, 2021 |access-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309183854/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-trailer-1129633/ |url-status=live}} Both projects focus on Lovato's near fatal 2018 overdose for the first time, while also exploring her life and path to healing in the time since.{{Cite magazine |date=March 16, 2021 |title=Demi Lovato Is 'Dancing With the Devil' on Her New Album |url=https://www.papermag.com/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-2651099748.html?rebelltitem=6#rebelltitem6?rebelltitem=6|access-date=March 24, 2021 |magazine=Paper|archive-date=March 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329170152/https://www.papermag.com/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-2651099748.html?rebelltitem=6#rebelltitem6?rebelltitem=6|url-status=live}}

The album was supported by four singles. The lead single from the album, "Anyone", was released on January 26, 2020.{{cite web |last=Enos |first=Morgan |url=https://www.grammy.com/news/demi-lovato-dancing-devil-art-starting-over-record |title=For The Record: How Demi Lovato Gazed Into The Mirror On {{'}}Dancing With The Devil...The Art Of Starting Over{{'}} |publisher=Grammy |date=August 18, 2021 |access-date=June 4, 2025}}{{cite magazine |last=Dailey |first=Hannah |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kelly-clarkson-covers-demi-lovato-anyone-video-1235104135/ |title=Kelly Clarkson Pleads for 'Anyone' to Listen in Stunning Demi Lovato Cover: Watch |magazine=Billboard |date=June 22, 2022 |access-date=June 4, 2025}} The second single, "What Other People Say" with Sam Fischer, was released on February 4, 2021,{{cite magazine |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/demi-lovato-sam-fischer-what-other-people-say-9521036/ |title=Demi Lovato Is Done Worrying What You Think on Sam Fischer's Moving 'What Other People Say': Watch Video |magazine=Billboard |date=February 16, 2021 |access-date=June 4, 2025}} and the third single, "Dancing with the Devil" was released on March 26, 2021.{{cite news |last1=Long |first1=Danielle |last2=Stone |first2=Megan |url=https://abcnews.go.com/amp/GMA/Culture/demi-lovato-releases-dancing-devilthe-art-starting-video/story?id=76833229 |title=Demi Lovato releases {{'}}Dancing With The Devil…The Art of Starting Over,' new video |publisher=ABC News |date=April 2, 2021 |access-date=June 4, 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/demi-lovato-ariana-grande-dancing-with-the-devil/ |title=Demi Lovato Teases Ariana Grande Collaboration On New Single |website=udiscovermusic |publisher=Universal Music |last=Paul |first=Larisha |date=March 18, 2021 |access-date=March 27, 2021 |archive-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320210803/https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/demi-lovato-ariana-grande-dancing-with-the-devil/ |url-status=live}} "Met Him Last Night" featuring Ariana Grande was serviced to US contemporary hit radio in the United States on April 13, 2021, as the album's fourth and last single.{{cite web |url=https://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases |title=Top 40/M Future Releases |publisher=All Access |date=April 7, 2021 |access-date=April 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407155737/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases |archive-date=April 7, 2021}}

Multiple versions of the album were issued with different album covers including three variations for DTC versions of the album via Lovato's website,Versions of the album available direct from Lovato's official store:

• Cover 1 – {{cite web |url=https://store.universalmusic.com/demilovato/*/*/DANCING-WITH-THE-DEVIL-THE-ART-OF-STARTING-OVER-EXCLUSIVE-CD-COVER-1-BONUS-TRACK/6WRH0000000 |title=Dancing with the Devil... The Art of Starting Over Exclusive CD Cover 1 & Bonus Track |publisher=Universal Music |access-date=March 16, 2021 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• Cover 2 – {{cite web |url=https://store.universalmusic.com/demilovato/*/*/DANCING-WITH-THE-DEVIL-THE-ART-OF-STARTING-OVER-EXCLUSIVE-CD-COVER-2-BONUS-TRACK/6WQX0000000 |title=Dancing with the Devil... The Art of Starting Over Exclusive CD Cover 2 & Bonus Track |publisher=Universal Music |access-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316232139/https://store.universalmusic.com/demilovato/%2A/%2A/DANCING-WITH-THE-DEVIL-THE-ART-OF-STARTING-OVER-EXCLUSIVE-CD-COVER-2-BONUS-TRACK/6WQX0000000 |url-status=live }}
• Cover 3 – {{cite web |url=https://store.universalmusic.com/demilovato/*/*/DANCING-WITH-THE-DEVIL-THE-ART-OF-STARTING-OVER-EXCLUSIVE-CD-COVER-3-BONUS-TRACK/6WR10000000 |title=Dancing with the Devil... The Art of Starting Over Exclusive CD Cover 3 & Bonus Track |publisher=Universal Music |access-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316232139/https://store.universalmusic.com/demilovato/%2A/%2A/DANCING-WITH-THE-DEVIL-THE-ART-OF-STARTING-OVER-EXCLUSIVE-CD-COVER-3-BONUS-TRACK/6WR10000000 |url-status=live }} as well as a UK exclusive cover{{cite web |url=https://store.universalmusic.com/demilovato/*/*/DANCING-WITH-THE-DEVIL-THE-ART-OF-STARTING-OVER-UK-EXCLUSIVE-CD-BONUS-TRACK/6WR70000000 |title=Dancing with the Devil... The Art of Starting Over UK Exclusive CD Cover & Bonus Track |publisher=Universal Music |access-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316232114/https://store.universalmusic.com/demilovato/%2A/%2A/DANCING-WITH-THE-DEVIL-THE-ART-OF-STARTING-OVER-UK-EXCLUSIVE-CD-BONUS-TRACK/6WR70000000 |url-status=live}} and another version for Target in the United States. The UK versions all feature an additional bonus track, while the Target version adds two bonus tracks in addition to the different album cover.{{cite web |url=https://www.target.com/p/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-8230-the-art-of-starting-over-target-exclusive-cd/-/A-82557787 |title=Demi Lovato – Dancing With The Devil… The Art Of Starting Over (Target Exclusive, CD) |publisher=Target |access-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316232120/https://www.target.com/p/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-8230-the-art-of-starting-over-target-exclusive-cd/-/A-82557787 |url-status=live}} Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over was also made available in a bundle featuring the three exclusive album covers along with either the UK-specific cover or the general standard edition cover.{{cite web |url=https://store.universalmusic.com/demilovato/*/*/DANCING-WITH-THE-DEVIL-THE-ART-OF-STARTING-OVER-UK-EXCLUSIVE-CD-BUNDLE/6WSR0000000 |title=Dancing with the Devil... The Art of Starting Over Exclusive CD bundle |publisher=Universal Music |access-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316232149/https://store.universalmusic.com/demilovato/%2A/%2A/DANCING-WITH-THE-DEVIL-THE-ART-OF-STARTING-OVER-UK-EXCLUSIVE-CD-BUNDLE/6WSR0000000 |url-status=live}} Multiple DTC cassette variations were made available for preorder via Lovato's website. All three alternate covers have their own cassette variations exclusive to the UK,{{Cite web |title=Demi Lovato – Official UK Store |url=https://store.universalmusic.com/demilovato/ |access-date=March 20, 2021 |website=store.universalmusic.com |archive-date=March 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318114228/https://store.universalmusic.com/demilovato/ |url-status=live}} while the American cassette release uses the standard edition cover art.{{Cite web |title=Dancing With The Devil... The Art Of Starting Over Standard Cassette – Demi Lovato Official Store |url=https://shop.demilovato.com/products/dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over-standard-cassette |access-date=March 20, 2021 |website=shop.demilovato.com |archive-date=March 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319120201/https://shop.demilovato.com/products/dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over-standard-cassette |url-status=live}} The album artwork was shot by American photographer Dana Trippe.{{cite web |url=https://consequence.net/2021/03/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over-new-album/ |title=Demi Lovato Announces New Album Dancing with the Devil… The Art of Starting Over |first=Eddie |last=Fu |date=March 16, 2021 |access-date=March 17, 2021 |work=Consequence of Sound |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316154913/https://consequence.net/2021/03/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over-new-album/ |url-status=live}}

Primarily a pop record, Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over also includes pop rock, country pop, folk-pop and R&B elements.{{Cite web |last=Jenkins |first=Craig |date=April 2, 2021 |title=Demi Lovato's Redemption Arc Begins |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over-album-review.html |access-date=April 6, 2021 |website=Vulture |language=en-us |quote=“Lonely People” and “Melon Cake” dabble in the anthemic ’80s pop-rock [...] On “The Way You Don’t Look at Me” and “What Other People Say,” Lovato shows that she can do pop-country and folk-pop [...] “My Girlfriends Are My Boyfriend” and the Ariana Grande duet “Met Him Last Night” show a flair for contemporary R&B |archive-date=July 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724110413/https://www.vulture.com/article/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over-album-review.html |url-status=live }} At the premiere event for the documentary, Lovato described the album as her "most cohesive project" ever made.{{Cite magazine |last=Shaffer |first=Claire |date=March 23, 2021 |title=Demi Lovato Performs 'Anyone' at 'Dancing With the Devil' Doc Premiere |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/demi-lovato-anyone-dancing-with-the-devil-performance-1145548/|access-date=March 24, 2021 |magazine=Rolling Stone|archive-date=March 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323202801/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/demi-lovato-anyone-dancing-with-the-devil-performance-1145548/|url-status=live|url-access=limited}} Lovato described the songs as a mashup of genres, including R&B, country, and pop.{{Cite news |last=Barretto |first=Jennifer |title=Demi Lovato to bare her soul in first album since 2017 |newspaper=Gulf News |url=https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/music/demi-lovato-to-bare-her-soul-in-first-album-since-2017-1.77869239|url-status=live|access-date=March 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323221337/https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/music/demi-lovato-to-bare-her-soul-in-first-album-since-2017-1.77869239|archive-date=March 23, 2021}} Vulture references rock songs on the album, describing "Lonely People" and "Melon Cake" as "anthemic '80s pop-rock", while "The Art of Starting Over" and "The Kind of Lover I Am" are described as "yacht rock". "My Girlfriends Are My Boyfriend" and "Met Him Last Night" are described as having a contemporary R&B flair. Lastly, some songs on the album, such as "15 Minutes", "The Way You Don't Look At Me", and "What Other People Say" are described as "pop-country" and "folk-pop" with guitar-driven instrumentals and earnest oversharing. The first three tracks of Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over are listed as "Prelude", and consist of "power ballads chronicling Lovato's darkest days" before moving into her recovery. {{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

The opening track and lead single "Anyone" was compared by Olivia Truffaut-Wong of Bustle with Lovato's 2011 single "Skyscraper", which was also deemed as her musical comeback following her stint at a treatment center in 2010 for issues with bulimia and self-harm.{{cite web |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/demi-lovatos-tearful-grammys-performance-of-anyone-marked-a-new-beginning-21746335 |title=Demi Lovato's Tearful Grammys Performance Of 'Anyone' Marked A New Beginning |last=Truffaut-Wong |first=Olivia |date=January 27, 2020 |website=Bustle |publisher=|access-date=January 27, 2020|archive-date=January 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127085500/https://www.bustle.com/p/demi-lovatos-tearful-grammys-performance-of-anyone-marked-a-new-beginning-21746335|url-status=live}} Bryan Rolli of Forbes opined the lyrics talk about the singer's "feelings of isolation and anguish", as exemplified in the chorus, "Anyone, please send me anyone / Lord, is there anyone? / I need someone".{{cite magazine |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrolli/2020/01/26/demi-lovato-captivates-at-the-2020-grammys-with-powerful-new-song-anyone/#37bc020527d1 |title=Demi Lovato Captivates At The 2020 Grammys With Powerful New Song 'Anyone' |last=Rolli |first=Bryan |date=January 26, 2020 |magazine=Forbes|access-date=January 27, 2020|archive-date=January 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127055757/https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrolli/2020/01/26/demi-lovato-captivates-at-the-2020-grammys-with-powerful-new-song-anyone/#37bc020527d1|url-status=live}} The second track and third single "Dancing with the Devil" was described by Billboard as "powerful" and "confessional".{{Cite magazine |title=Demi Lovato Shares Confessional Song 'Dancing with the Devil': Stream It Now |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9545883/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-song-listen/ |date=March 26, 2021|access-date=March 26, 2021 |magazine=Billboard|archive-date=March 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210327132141/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9545883/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-song-listen/|url-status=live}} Entertainment Weekly opined that it "evokes Adele's "Skyfall" theme.{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/music/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over-songs/ |first=Shana Naomi |last=Krochmal |title=Demi Lovato breaks down 11 songs from Dancing With the Devil... The Art of Starting Over |date=March 25, 2021|access-date=March 26, 2021 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly|archive-date=March 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326135049/https://ew.com/music/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over-songs/|url-status=live}} The third track, "I.C.U." (Madison's Lullabye), is a "stark piano ballad"{{cite news |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-review-an-album-about-death-that-is-full-of-life-938583 |first=Kate |last=Solomon |title=Demi Lovato, Dancing with the Devil…, review: An album about death that is full of life |newspaper=i |date=April 1, 2021|access-date=April 1, 2021|archive-date=April 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210402101043/https://inews.co.uk/culture/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-review-an-album-about-death-that-is-full-of-life-938583|url-status=live}} which "echoes a key scene in her documentary in which Lovato wakes up post-overdose, temporarily blind, and can't recognize her sister sitting at her bedside". Playing the song privately for her younger sister was "a really emotional and personal experience" for Lovato.

Following the spoken-word interlude "Intro", the fifth track "The Art of Starting Over" was compared by Entertainment Weekly to "early Stevie Nicks", with Lovato describing it as "the perfect driving song", while adding, "There's been so many times in my life where I've had to start over once again, whether I felt like I've hit rock bottom, or after a breakup. We can pull ourselves back up and keep fighting the good fight." The "guitar driven" Oak Felder-produced sixth track "Lonely People" was inspired by "a text from [Lovato] about how even if [she was] happier single, it could still be lonely", while the seventh track "The Way You Don't Look at Me" was described by Entertainment Weekly as a "standout track with a swirling, melodic hook" with Lovato singing, "I've lost 10 pounds in two weeks, 'cause I told me I shouldn't eat" and "I'm so scared if I undress that you won't love me after". Co-writer Justin Tranter stated that "it's this very intimate, raw, heartbreaking song, but there's this beauty to it, because of how it sounds and it feels, and Demi's vocal performance on that really destroys me". The eighth track "Melon Cake" contains lyrics referring to Lovato's struggles with eating disorders; described as "punchy" and a "plinky-plunky bop about the bad old days when Lovato struggled with pressure 'to make me Barbie-sized'". The Ariana Grande collaboration "Met Him Last Night" was referred to by NME as a "dark and atmospheric electro bop".{{cite web |last1=Levine |first1=Nick |title=Dancing With the Devil ... The Art of Starting Over review – pop's proud survivor |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over-review-2912455 |website=NME|date=April 2, 2021 |access-date=April 2, 2021|archive-date=April 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210402101045/https://www.nme.com/reviews/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over-review-2912455|url-status=live}}

The tenth track and second single "What Other People Say" is a collaboration with Australian singer-songwriter Sam Fischer, and is about the "feeling of being alone and not wanting to let people down". Lovato said, "This song is a reflection on what it's like to lose who you truly are in an effort to please other people and society. It's why I wanted to make this song with Sam – ultimately it's about two humans coming together to connect and find solutions to their problems". Fischer described that the song as "about the pressures of society and how getting caught up with the wrong things can change you".{{cite web |url=https://www.list.co.uk/article/123390-sam-fischer-demi-lovato-is-one-of-the-bravest-people-i-know/ |title=Sam Fischer: Demi Lovato is one of the bravest people I know |date=February 4, 2021|access-date=February 4, 2021 |work=The List|archive-date=February 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218172140/https://www.list.co.uk/article/123390-sam-fischer-demi-lovato-is-one-of-the-bravest-people-i-know/|url-status=live}} Eleventh track "Carefully" "combines acoustic guitar and a Nineties electro-pulse" with the lyrics "approach with caution/ I can get overwhelming... Cause I'm strong in a way that I'm able to show my fragile".{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Helen |title=Pop artist embraces independence on confessional new album |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/demi-lovato-review-dancing-with-the-devil-b1824992.html |website=The Independent|date=April 2, 2021 |access-date=April 2, 2021|archive-date=April 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210402101059/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/demi-lovato-review-dancing-with-the-devil-b1824992.html|url-status=live}} The twelfth track "The Kind of Lover I Am", a "lightly funky number", was compared with Harry Styles' 2019 single "Watermelon Sugar" and features the lyrics "Doesn't matter if you're a woman or a man, that's the kind of lover I am", with Lovato elaborating that "I'm a very fluid person when it comes to sexuality, so I wanted to write a song about that. That's something that I hadn't written about since 'Cool for the Summer'. But this isn't about bi-curiosity anymore. It's a part of who I am and I feel very secure in that". The "savagely upbeat" track "15 Minutes", features Lovato "neatly turn[ing] claims from her ex-fiancé that [she was] trading on her breakup for clout right back around" with the lyric "Good riddance — you got your 15 minutes".

"My Girlfriends Are My Boyfriend", featuring Saweetie, includes "Billie Eilish-esque close-mic'd vocals and staccato electronics".{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/apr/01/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over-review |first=Alexis |last=Petridis |author-link=Alexis Petridis |title=Demi Lovato: Dancing With the Devil ... The Art of Starting Over review – pop's proud survivor |newspaper=The Guardian |date=April 1, 2021 |access-date=April 1, 2021 |archive-date=April 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401110228/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/apr/01/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over-review |url-status=live }} "California Sober" is a "strummy mid-tempo" which "explains where Lovato is at with her recovery today". "Butterfly" discusses "the complicated relationship" she had with her biological father, who died in 2013. "Good Place", the last track of the standard edition of the album, "makes further use of acoustic guitar balladry to celebrate her recovery".{{cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/195b6c9c-4c4b-4a47-8570-e15a03ae92c5 |title=Demi Lovato tells all in Dancing with the Devil ... The Art of Starting Over |website=Financial Times |date=April 2, 2021 |access-date=April 2, 2021 |archive-date=June 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609115453/https://www.ft.com/content/195b6c9c-4c4b-4a47-8570-e15a03ae92c5 |url-status=live }}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 73/100{{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over/demi-lovato |title='Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over' by Demi Lovato |publisher=Metacritic|access-date=April 15, 2021|archive-date=April 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210402101045/https://www.metacritic.com/music/dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over/demi-lovato|url-status=live}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/dancing-with-the-devilthe-art-of-starting-over-mw0003499826|title=Dancing With the Devil... The Art of Starting Over – Demi Lovato|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|publisher=AllMusic|date=April 2, 2021|access-date=April 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419003827/https://www.allmusic.com/album/dancing-with-the-devilthe-art-of-starting-over-mw0003499826|archive-date=April 19, 2021|url-status=live}}

| rev2 = Consequence of Sound

| rev2score = B{{Cite web |url=https://consequence.net/2021/04/album-review-demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil/?new=true |title=Demi Lovato Rises Again on Dancing with the Devil…The Art of Starting Over: Review |last=Siroky |first=Mary |date=April 3, 2021 |website=Consequence of Sound|access-date=April 3, 2021|archive-date=April 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210403195849/https://consequence.net/2021/04/album-review-demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil/?new=true|url-status=live}}

| rev3 = The Daily Telegraph

| rev3score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite news |last1=McCormick |first1=Neil |title=Demi Levato's shocking struggles become a witty, redemptive pop classic |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/demi-levatos-shocking-struggles-become-witty-redemptive-pop/ |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=April 2, 2021|archive-date=April 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210402101057/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/demi-levatos-shocking-struggles-become-witty-redemptive-pop/|url-status=live}}

| rev4 = Evening Standard

| rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/demi-lovato-album-review-dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over-b927196.html |date=April 2, 2021|access-date=April 2, 2021 |title=Demi Lovato – Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over review: polished pop inhibits her power |website=Evening Standard |last=Smyth |first=David|archive-date=April 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210402101052/https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/demi-lovato-album-review-dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over-b927196.html|url-status=live}}

| rev5 = The Guardian

| rev5score = {{Rating|3|5}}

| rev6 = The Independent

| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev7 = The Line of Best Fit

| rev7score = 7/10{{cite web |last1=Saywitz |first1=Rachel |title=Demi Lovato strips back the pop sheen exposing her barest bones on Dancing With The Devil |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-album-review |website=The Line of Best Fit |access-date=April 2, 2021 |archive-date=February 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220212173411/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-album-review |url-status=live }}

| rev8 = NME

| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev9 = Pitchfork

| rev9score = 6.5/10{{cite web |last=Moreland |first=Quinn |title=Demi Lovato — Dancing With The Devil... The Art of Starting Over |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devilthe-art-of-starting-over/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=May 7, 2021 |archive-date=February 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220212173410/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devilthe-art-of-starting-over/ |url-status=live }}

| rev10 = Rolling Stone

| rev10score = {{Rating|3|5}}

}}

Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from publications, the album received a weighted average score of 73, based on 13 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

In positive reviews, Robin Murray of Clash hailed Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over "an ambitious and hugely revealing journey into pop redemption", and praised the combination of darkness with lightness. He noted that the album, after the first three tracks, progresses into a more uplifting direction.{{Cite web |title=Demi Lovato – Dancing With The Devil... The Art Of Starting Over |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over |access-date=April 8, 2021 |website=Clash Magazine |date=April 8, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=June 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609121006/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over |url-status=live }} Jeffrey Davies of PopMatters described the album as "Demi Lovato like we have never heard before". He added that the singer is "sassy and carefree" yet "serious about her identity and personhood" and praised the creative freedom on display.{{Cite web|last=Davies|first=Jeffrey|date=April 8, 2021|title=Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil {{!}} Music Review|url=https://www.popmatters.com/demi-lovato-dancing-with-devil|access-date=April 9, 2021|website=PopMatters|language=en-US|archive-date=June 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609115503/https://www.popmatters.com/demi-lovato-dancing-with-devil|url-status=live}} Awarding the album a perfect score, Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph lauded Dancing with the Devil... The Art of Starting Over, calling it "the perfect contemporary pop artefact" that mixes intimate ballads with upbeat club tracks, and admired the progression of its tracks. Nick Levine of NME wrote that the album is Lovato's "definitive artistic statement to date", further describing the record as "musically varied and lyrically unvarnished: an album of 'take me as I am' jams that to an extent", recalling Pink's 2001 album Missundaztood.

Dubbing it an album about "death that is full of life", Kate Solomon from i declared that Lovato had achieved a cohesiveness to the album not present on previous efforts, "by echoing the peaks and troughs of recovery, the moments of pure relief and joy at being alive elevating even the minor swings and misses".{{cite web |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-review-an-album-about-death-that-is-full-of-life-938583?ito=social_itw_theipaper |title=Demi Lovato, Dancing with the Devil…, review: An album about death that is full of life |date=April 2021 |access-date=May 8, 2022 |archive-date=April 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401170603/https://inews.co.uk/culture/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-review-an-album-about-death-that-is-full-of-life-938583?ito=social_itw_theipaper |url-status=live }} Helen Brown, writing for The Independent, stated that Lovato "embraces independence" on the album, through confessional themes, emotional authenticity and powerful delivery. Mark Richardson of The Wall Street Journal wrote that, while Lovato's previous album Tell Me You Love Me (2017) "found her embracing R&B and club-ready electronic pop", Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over "is much more subdued" and that it is "certainly a recovery narrative, but the details of her story, many of which make it into these songs, are almost unbearably harrowing."{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over-by-demi-lovato-review-recovering-a-powerful-voice-11617225170 |first=Mark |last=Richardson |title='Dancing With the Devil... the Art of Starting Over' by Demi Lovato Review: Recovering a Powerful Voice |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=March 31, 2021 |access-date=March 31, 2021|archive-date=March 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210331235609/https://www.wsj.com/articles/dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over-by-demi-lovato-review-recovering-a-powerful-voice-11617225170|url-status=live}} Reviewing for The Line of Best Fit, Rachel Saywitz remarked that there are more "gems than duds" on the album, in which Lovato experimented more than her previous releases, both musically and vocally.

A few reviews expressed mixed feelings. Alexis Petridis of The Guardian commented that the album is "simultaneously shocking, laudable" but thought it was "a little underwhelming".{{cite news |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |author-link=Alexis Petridis |date=April 1, 2021 |title=Demi Lovato: Dancing With the Devil ... The Art of Starting Over review – pop's proud survivor |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/apr/01/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over-review |access-date=April 1, 2021 |archive-date=April 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401110228/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/apr/01/demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over-review |url-status=live }} Evening Standard{{'s}} David Smyth felt that Lovato "reaches too easily for cliches" in the album, as the "polished pop inhibits her power". Consequence of Sound critic Mary Siroky appreciated Lovato's vocals, but found the latter half of the record "forgettable". Questioning whether the album "is a work of art, an exhale, and a reclamation, rather than an opportunity to profit", Siroky asserted that it is powerful to see Lovato continue making music inspired by her bravery, however, "it would be nice to see a day when [she doesn't] have to be so brave anymore and can instead create joyfully and freely". Rolling Stone{{'s}} Keith Harris concluded that Dancing with the Devil… The Art of Starting Over "delivers" what it suggests in the first half of its title, while skimping on the second half. He explained that Lovato's hurdles are efficiently portrayed in the album, but is unclear "how [she wants] to begin again."{{Cite magazine |last=Harris |first=Keith |date=April 6, 2021 |title=Demi Lovato Surveys the Wreckage of the Past on 'Dancing With the Devil ... The Art of Starting Over' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/demi-levato-dancing-with-devil-art-of-starting-over-1151829/ |access-date=April 6, 2021 |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-date=April 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406183058/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/demi-levato-dancing-with-devil-art-of-starting-over-1151829/ |url-status=live }} Chris Willman of Variety complimented Lovato's vocals, though was concerned over the "overtly autobiographical" numbers, some of which are "pretty good" while few others are "not-so-hot", resulting in an "unevenness". He picked "The Way You Don't Look at Me", "Melon Cake" and "California Sober" as the highlights and dismissed the Ariana Grande and Saweetie collaborations as letdowns.{{Cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=April 2, 2021 |title=Demi Lovato Turns a Recovery Narrative Into Musical Theater in 'Dancing With the Devil… The Art of Starting Over': Album Review |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/demi-lovato-dancing-with-devil-art-starting-over-album-review-1234943326/ |access-date=April 5, 2021 |magazine=Variety |archive-date=June 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607074624/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/demi-lovato-dancing-with-devil-art-starting-over-album-review-1234943326/ |url-status=live }}

In June 2021, during Pride Month, Billboard included the album among the 15 best albums by LGBTQ artists of 2021 so far, remarking that Lovato "finds [her breath] again in the album that showcases [her] most confessional songwriting to date".{{cite magazine |title=15 Best Albums By LGBTQ Artists of 2021 (So Far): Staff Picks |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/9592609/best-lgbtq-albums-2021-so-far/ |access-date=27 June 2021 |magazine=Billboard |date=25 June 2021 |archive-date=September 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917053354/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/9592609/best-lgbtq-albums-2021-so-far/ |url-status=live }}

{{Clear}}

In the United States, Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over opened at number two on the Billboard 200 with 74,000 album-equivalent units, of which 38,000 were pure album sales making it the highest-selling album of that week and her seventh in a row to reach the country's top five.{{Cite news|last=Sisario|first=Ben|date=2021-04-12|title=Justin Bieber Reclaims No. 1, With Demi Lovato Close Behind|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/12/arts/music/justin-bieber-demi-lovato-billboard-chart.html|access-date=2021-11-15|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=November 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125121929/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/12/arts/music/justin-bieber-demi-lovato-billboard-chart.html|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9554825/justin-bieber-justice-returns-to-number-one-billboard-200/|first=Keith|last=Caulfield|title=Justin Bieber's 'Justice' Returns to No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 11, 2021|archive-date=April 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411192221/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9554825/justin-bieber-justice-returns-to-number-one-billboard-200/|url-status=live}} The album also debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart with sales of 20,183 album-equivalent units (of which 2,849 were streaming sales), becoming Lovato's highest-charting album in the country.{{cite web|url=https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/scottish-music-industry-association-hails-the-snuts-no-1-album/083010|title=Scottish Music Industry Association hails The Snuts' No.1 album|website=Music Week|date=9 April 2021|access-date=9 April 2021|archive-date=May 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510191944/https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/scottish-music-industry-association-hails-the-snuts-no-1-album/083010|url-status=live}} In Australia, it entered at number 8 on the ARIA Albums Chart{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/albums-chart/2021-04-12|title=ARIA Top 50 Albums for week of 12 April 2021|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=April 9, 2021|date=April 12, 2021|archive-date=June 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616015333/https://www.aria.com.au/charts/albums-chart/2021-04-12|url-status=live}} and is her third album to reach the nation's top 10 after Confident and Tell Me You Love Me.{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/news/justice-returns-justin-bieber-to-aria-albums-chart-1|date=April 9, 2021|access-date=April 9, 2021|title=Justice returns Justin Bieber to ARIA Albums Chart #1|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|archive-date=May 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512175110/https://www.aria.com.au/charts/news/justice-returns-justin-bieber-to-aria-albums-chart-1|url-status=live}} Overall the album has peaked in the top 10 in 13 countries.

{{Track listing

| headline = Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 57:11

| title_width = 25%

| writing_width = 50%

| extra_width = 25%

| title1 = Anyone

| writer1 = {{hlist|Demi Lovato|Badriia "Bibi" Bourelly|Eyelar Mirzazadeh|Jay Mooncie|Sam Roman|Dayyon Alexander}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Romans|Jay Mooncie|Dayyon Alexander{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length1 = 3:47

| title2 = Dancing with the Devil

| writer2 = {{hlist|Lovato|Bianca Atterberry|Mitch Allan|John Ho}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Allan{{ref|a|[a]}}|Ho{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length2 = 4:03

| title3 = ICU (Madison's Lullabye)

| writer3 = {{hlist|Lovato|Atterberry|Philip Cornish}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Phil the Keys|Allan{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length3 = 3:16

| title4 = Intro

| writer4 = Lovato

| extra4 =

| length4 = 0:26

| title5 = The Art of Starting Over

| writer5 = {{hlist|Lovato|Caroline Pennell|Warren "Oak" Felder|Trevor David Brown|William Zaire Simmons}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Oak{{ref|a|[a]}}|"Downtown" Trevor Brown{{ref|c|[c]}}|Zaire Koalo{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length5 = 2:47

| title6 = Lonely People

| writer6 = {{hlist|Lovato|Felder|Pennell|Justin Tranter|Brown|Simmons|Billy Walsh}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Oak{{ref|a|[a]}}|"Downtown" Trevor Brown{{ref|c|[c]}}|Zaire Koalo{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length6 = 2:40

| title7 = The Way You Don't Look at Me

| writer7 = {{hlist|Lovato|Tranter|Eren Cannata|Julia Michaels|Jussi Karvinen|Pennell}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|Jussifer|Eren Cannata|Allan{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length7 = 2:28

| title8 = Melon Cake

| writer8 = {{hlist|Lovato|Michaels|Tranter|Cannata}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Cannata|Oak{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length8 = 3:32

| title9 = Met Him Last Night

| note9 = featuring Ariana Grande

| writer9 = {{hlist|Grande|Albert Stanaj|Tommy Brown|Courageous Xavier Herrera}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|Tommy Brown|Xavi|Allan{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length9 = 3:24

| title10 = What Other People Say

| note10 = with Sam Fischer

| writer10 = {{hlist|Lovato|Ryan Williamson|Fischer|Geoff Warburton}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|Rykeyz{{ref|a|[a]}}|Allan{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length10 = 3:14

| title11 = Carefully

| writer11 = {{hlist|Marcus Andersson|Pennell|Lauren Aquilina}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|Aquilina|Andersson|Allan{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length11 = 3:11

| title12 = The Kind of Lover I Am

| writer12 = {{hlist|Lovato|Michaels|Pennell|Tranter|Felder|Brown|Simmons}}

| extra12 = {{hlist|Oak{{ref|a|[a]}}|"Downtown" Trevor Brown{{ref|c|[c]}}|Zaire Koalo{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length12 = 3:09

| title13 = Easy

| note13 = with Noah Cyrus

| writer13 = {{hlist|Matthew Koma|Taylor Goldsmith|Madison Love|Simon Wilcox}}

| extra13 = {{hlist|Matthew Koma{{ref|a|[a]}}|Bart Schoudel{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length13 = 3:28

| title14 = 15 Minutes

| writer14 = {{hlist|Lovato|Tranter|Atterberry|Felder|Brown|Gregory Aldea Hein}}

| extra14 = {{hlist|Oak{{ref|a|[a]}}|"Downtown" Trevor Brown{{ref|c|[c]}}|Zaire Koalo{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length14 = 2:51

| title15 = My Girlfriends Are My Boyfriend

| note15 = featuring Saweetie

| writer15 = {{hlist|Lovato|Felder|Andrew Wansel|Diamonté Harper|Love|Michael Pollack}}

| extra15 = {{hlist|Pop & Oak|Oak{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length15 = 3:07

| title16 = California Sober

| writer16 = {{hlist|Lovato|Felder|Alex Niceforo|Keith Sorrells|Andersson|Sam Homaee|Pennell|Aquilina}}

| extra16 = {{hlist|Oak{{ref|a|[a]}}|Alex Nice{{ref|c|[c]}}|The Roommates{{ref|c|[c]}}|Sorrells{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length16 = 3:05

| title17 = Mad World

| writer17 = Roland Orzabal

| extra17 = Allan{{ref|a|[a]}}

| length17 = 3:02

| title18 = Butterfly

| writer18 = {{hlist|Andersson|Pennell|Aquilina}}

| extra18 = {{hlist|Aquilina|Andersson|Allan{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length18 = 2:37

| title19 = Good Place

| writer19 = {{hlist|Lovato|Cannata|Michaels|Tranter}}

| extra19 = {{hlist|Cannata|Oak{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length19 = 3:04

}}

{{track listing

| headline = DTC edition and United Kingdom bonus track{{Cite web |title=Dancing With The Devil... The Art of Starting Over Exclusive CD Cover |url=https://shop.demilovato.com/products/dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over-exclusive-cd-cover-2-bonus-track|access-date=March 26, 2021 |publisher=Demi Lovato Official Store|archive-date=March 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316030625/https://shop.demilovato.com/products/dancing-with-the-devil-the-art-of-starting-over-exclusive-cd-cover-2-bonus-track|url-status=live}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 60:22

| title20 = Gray

| writer20 = {{hlist|Lovato|Caroline Ailin|Tranter|Simmons|Felder|Brown}}

| extra20 = {{hlist|Oak|Downtown{{ref|c|[c]}}|Koalo{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length20 = 3:11

| writing_width = 50%

| title_width = 25%

| extra_width = 25%

}}

{{track listing

| headline = United States Target and international deluxe edition{{cite web|url=https://www.mediamarkt.de/de/product/_demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil%E2%80%A6-the-art-of-starting-over-exklusive-deluxe-edition-mit-2-bonustracks-sonstige-cd-2725299.html|title=Demi Lovato – Dancing With The Devil… The Art Of Starting Over (Exklusive Deluxe Edition mit 2 Bonustracks) – (CD)|access-date=March 28, 2021|archive-date=March 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329170217/https://www.mediamarkt.de/de/product/_demi-lovato-dancing-with-the-devil%E2%80%A6-the-art-of-starting-over-exklusive-deluxe-edition-mit-2-bonustracks-sonstige-cd-2725299.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url= https://www.fnac.es/a8154799/Demi-Lovato-Dancing-With-The-Devil-The-Art-Of-Starting-Over-E-Deluxe-Disco#omnsearchpos=1|title= Dancing With The Devil…The Art Of Starting Over E Deluxe|access-date= March 28, 2021|archive-date= March 28, 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210328153826/https://www.fnac.es/a8154799/Demi-Lovato-Dancing-With-The-Devil-The-Art-Of-Starting-Over-E-Deluxe-Disco#omnsearchpos=1|url-status= live}}{{cite web|url= https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B08ZDFPL4D/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_i_APGX69AVBHN4YJ76PM4P|title= Dancing With The Devil…The Art of Starting Over [Edition Deluxe]|access-date= March 28, 2021|archive-date= March 28, 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210328164952/https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B08ZDFPL4D/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_i_APGX69AVBHN4YJ76PM4P|url-status= live}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 63:57

| title_width = 25%

| writing_width = 50%

| extra_width = 25%

| title20 = I'm Sorry

| writer20 = {{hlist|Lovato|Chloe Angelides|Ryan Vojtesak|Love}}

| extra20 = {{hlist|Charlie Handsome|Allan{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length20 = 3:37

| title21 = Change You

| writer21 = {{hlist|Lovato|Trey Campbell|Angelides|Michael Woods|Kevin White}}

| extra21 = {{hlist|Rice N' Peas|Allan{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length21 = 3:09

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Digital expanded edition bonus tracks{{Cite web |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/3XsdVkuj3zMVHPRvodOgeE?si=ZhTLA5WQQimkFyVq6DFr6g |title=Dancing with the Devil…The Art of Starting over (Expanded Edition) - Album by Demi Lovato | Spotify |website=Spotify |access-date=April 2, 2021 |archive-date=April 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210402101046/https://open.spotify.com/album/3XsdVkuj3zMVHPRvodOgeE?si=ZhTLA5WQQimkFyVq6DFr6g&nd=1 |url-status=live}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 66:34

| title_width = 25%

| writing_width = 50%

| extra_width = 25%

| title20 = I Love Me

| writer20 = {{hlist|Lovato|Anne-Marie Nicholson|Jennifer Decilveo|Niceforo|Sean Douglas|Sorrells|Felder}}

| extra20= {{hlist|Alex Nice|Sorrells|Felder}}

| length20= 3:24

| title21 = I'm Ready

| note21 = with Sam Smith

| writer21 = {{hlist|Smith|Lovato|Ilya Salmanzadeh|Savan Kotecha|Peter Svensson}}

| extra21 = Ilya

| length21 = 3:20

| title22 = OK Not to Be OK

| note22 = with Marshmello

| writer22 = {{hlist|Lovato|Gregory Hein|James Gutch|James Nicholas Bailey|Christopher Comstock}}

| extra22 = Marshmello

| length22 = 2:39

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Digital deluxe edition track listing{{Cite web |url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/179284520/credits |title=Credits / Dancing With The Devil…The Art of Starting Over (Deluxe Edition) / Demi Lovato – TIDAL|date=April 2, 2021 |access-date=April 5, 2021|archive-date=April 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210405044037/https://listen.tidal.com/album/179284520/credits|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/dancing-devil-art-starting-over-deluxe-edition/1561500885 |title=Dancing With The Devil…The Art of Starting Over (Deluxe Edition) by Demi Lovato on Apple Music |access-date=April 5, 2021 |archive-date=April 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210405040706/https://music.apple.com/us/album/dancing-devil-art-starting-over-deluxe-edition/1561500885 |url-status=dead }}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 72:00

| title_width = 25%

| writing_width = 50%

| extra_width = 25%

| title20 = Sunset

| writer20 = {{hlist|Lovato|Atterberry|Pollack|Brown|Simmons}}

| extra20 = {{hlist|"Downtown" Trevor Brown|Kaolo|Pollack}}

| length20 = 4:04

| title21 = Anyone

| note21 = live acoustic

| writer21 = {{hlist|Lovato|Bourelly|Mirzazadeh|Mooncie|Roman|Alexander}}

| extra21 = {{hlist|Roman|Mooncie|Alexander|D'Elia{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length21 = 3:42

| title22 = Dancing with the Devil

| note22 = live acoustic

| writer22 = {{hlist|Lovato|Atterberry|Allan|Ho}}

| extra22 = {{hlist|Allan{{ref|a|[a]}}|Ho{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length22 = 4:10

| title23 = ICU (Madison's Lullabye)

| note23 = live acoustic

| writer23 = {{hlist|Lovato|Atterberry|Cornish}}

| extra23 = {{hlist|Phil the Keys|Allan{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length23 = 3:29

}}

• On CD editions of the album, tracks 1–3 are listed under a subtitle of Prelude, whereas tracks 4–19 are listed under the subtitle The Art of Starting Over.
• "Mad World" is a cover of the song of the same name, as written by Roland Orzabal and originally performed by Tears for Fears.
• {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} denotes producer and vocal producer.
• {{sup|{{note|b|[b]}}}} denotes vocal producer only.
• {{sup|{{note|c|[c]}}}} denotes a co-producer.

Credits adapted from the liner notes of the alternate cover and UK release edition of Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over.

{{div col}}

• Demi Lovato – lead vocals, spoken word (3-4, 12), background vocals (6)
• Ariana Grande – featured artist (9)
• Sam Fischer – featured artist (10), background vocals (10)
• Noah Cyrus – featured artist (13)
• Saweetie – featured artist (15)
• Dayyon Alexander – keys (1), programming (1)
• Mitch Allan – programming (2, 17), bass (2, 17), keyboards (2), guitar (2, 17), percussion (2, 17)
• Marcus Andersson – guitars (11, 18), bass (11), drum programming (11, 18), synth programming (11, 18), background vocals (11)
• David Angell – violins (10)
• Monisa Angell – viola (10)
• Bianca "Blush" Atterberry – background vocals (2)
• Lauren Aquilina – string programming (11), horn programming (11), synth programming (11, 18), background vocals (11)
• "Downtown" Trevor Brown – guitar (5-6, 12, 14, 20), bass (5, 12, 14, 20), keys (6, 14, 20), background vocals (6, 12), vocal samples (14, 20)
• Alex Brumel – pedal steel guitar (7)
• Erin Cafferky – background vocals (10)
• Eren Cannata – guitar (7-8, 19), keyboards (7-8, 19), drum programming (7-8), bass (8), programming (19)
• Philip "Phil the Keys" Cornish – piano (3)
• Peter Lee Johnson – strings (9)
• Jane Darnall – violins (10)
• David Davidson – violins (10)
• Madison De La Garza – spoken word (3)
• Ayanna Elese – background vocals (10)
• Conni Ellisor – violins (10)
• Steve Epting – background vocals (10)
• Warren "Oak" Felder – keys (5-6, 8, 12, 14-16, 20), bass (6, 14-16, 20), drum programming (6, 15-16), background vocals (6, 12, 20), drums (8)
• Kaye Fox – background vocals (10)
• Griffin Goldsmith – bass (13), drums (13)
• Caleb Hulin – programming (2), guitar (2)
• Alexis James – background vocals (10)
• Midi Jones – programming (2), keyboards (2), piano (2)
• Jussifer – bass (7), guitar (7), keyboards (7)
• Elizabeth Lamb – viola (10)
• Madison Love – background vocals (15)
• Matthew Koma – piano (13), synths (13)
• Pat McManus – guitar (10)
• Craig Nelson – bass (10)
• Alex Nice – keys (8, 16), guitars (16), strings (16)
• Caroline Pennell – background vocals (5-6, 11-12)
• Pop & Oak – instrumentation (15), programming (15)
• Carol Rabinowitz – cello (10)
• Sari Reist – cello (10)
• Rykeyz – programming (10), drums (10), bass (10), keyboards (10), percussion (10), string orchestration (10), background vocals (10)
• Louis Schoorl – piano (17)
• Keith Sorrells – guitar (8, 16), drum programming (8, 16), bass (16)
• Vegaz Taelor – background vocals (10)
• Cynthia Tolson – violin (13), viola (13), cello (13)
• Justin Tranter – background vocals (6, 12)
• Andrew "Pop" Wansel – drum programming (15)
• Desiree "DeSz" Washington – background vocals (10)
• Chelsea "Peaches" West – background vocals (10)
• Karen Winkelmann – violins (10)
• Zaire Koalo – drum programming (5-6), background vocals (6, 12), drums (12, 14, 20)

{{div col end}}

{{div col}}

• Demi Lovato – executive production
• Dayyon Alexander – production (1)
• Mitch Allan – production (2, 17), vocal production (2-3, 7, 9-11, 17-18), mixing (3, 17), recording (4)
• Marcus Andersson – production (11, 18)
• Lauren Aquilina – production (11, 18)
• Scooter Braun – executive production
• Aaron Brohman – assistant mix engineering (3, 17)
• Tommy Brown – production (9)
• "Downtown" Trevor Brown – co-production (5-6, 12, 14, 20)
• Eren Cannata – production (7-8, 19), recording (7, 19)
• Brian Cruz – engineering (3)
• Lauren D'Elia – vocal production (1), engineering (1), mixing (1)
• DJ Riggins – mixing assistant (15)
• Ryan Dulude – recording (10)
• Chris Gehringer – mastering (2-3, 5-16, 18-20)
• Serban Ghenea – mixing (2, 7, 9, 11)
• Josh Gudwin – mixing (10)
• Andy Guerrero – engineering (2)
• John Hanes – engineering for mix (2, 7, 9, 11)
• Courageous Xavier "Xavi" Herrera – production (9)
• Billy Hickey – recording (9)
• Caleb Hulin – engineering (2, 7, 11, 17-18)
• John Ho – co-production (2)
• Ryan Hommel – string arrangement (13)
• Eric J – mixing (8, 12, 20)
• Jaycen Joshua – mixing (15)
• Jussifer – production (7)
• Kevin Kadish – piano engineering (2)
• Dave Kutch – mastering (1)
• Manny Marroquin – mixing (5-6)
• Matthew Koma – production (13), vocal production (13), string arrangement (13)
• Brodie Means – engineering (3)
• Alex Nice – co-production (16)
• Oak – production (5-6, 12, 14, 16, 20), vocal production (5-6, 8, 12, 14-16, 19-20), recording (5-6, 8, 12, 14-15, 20)
• Phil the Keys – production (3)
• Pop & Oak – production (15)
• Jacob Richards – mixing assistant (15)
• Scott Robinson – recording (10)
• Rykeyz – production (10)
• Mike Seaberg – mixing assistant (15)
• Bart Schoudel – Noah Cyrus vocal production (13), engineering (13)
• Keith "Ten4" Sorrells – co-production (16)
• Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing (13-14, 16, 18-19)
• Cynthia Tolson – string arrangement (13)
• Heidi Wang – mixing assistant (10)
• Zaire Koalo – co-production (5-6, 12, 14, 20)

{{div col end}}

{{div col}}

• Paul Lane – package production
• Ashley Pawlak – art direction, design
• Dana Trippe – photography, artwork

{{div col end}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|relyear=2021|certyear=2023|title=Dancing With The Devil - The Art Of|artist=Demi Lovato|type=album|award=Gold|access-date=December 22, 2024|source=radioscope}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|relyear=2021|certyear=2024|title=Dancing With The Devil - The Art Of|artist=Demi Lovato|type=album|award=Silver|id=20219-2589-2|access-date=August 2, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom | noshipments=true|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

{{reflist}}

{{Demi Lovato}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2021 albums

Category:Albums postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Category:Albums produced by Oak Felder

Category:Albums produced by Tommy Brown (record producer)

Category:Albums recorded at Henson Recording Studios

Category:Demi Lovato albums

Category:Island Records albums