User:Paparazzzi/I Love Me
{{Infobox song
| name = I Love Me
| cover =
| alt =
| type = Single
| artist = Demi Lovato
| album =
| released = {{Start date|2020|3|6}}
| format = {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| length = 3:23
| label = {{hlist|Island Records}}
| composer = {{hlist|Demi Lovato|Anne-Marie|Jennifer Decilveo|Alex Niceforo|Sean Douglas|Keith Sorrells|Warren Felder}}
| lyricist =
| producer = {{hlist|Alex Nice|Sorrells|Warren "Oak" Felder}}
| prev_title = Anyone
| prev_year = 2020
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
"I Love Me" is a song performed by American singer Demi Lovato, released on digital and streaming platforms on March 6, 2020, as the lead single from her upcoming seventh studio album. It was written by Lovato alongside Anne-Marie, Jennifer Decilveo, Sean Douglas, Alex Niceforo, Keith Sorrells and Warren "Oak" Felder and produced by the latter three. It is an upbeat pop and R&B song whose lyrics talk about loving oneself. It received positive reviews by critics, with many of them deeming it as a "self-love" anthem.
A music video for "I Love Me" was directed by Hannah Lux Davis and filmed in New York City. It premiered on March 6, 2020, and depicts the singer walking across a street with multiple references of moments in her career and personal life.
Background and release
"I Love Me" was written by Demi Lovato alongside Anne-Marie, Jennifer Decilveo, Sean Douglas, Alex Niceforo, Keith Sorrells and Warren "Oak" Felder and produced by the latter three.{{cite web | url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/133330098/credits | title=Credits | publisher=Tidal | accessdate=6 March 2020}}
According to Anne-Marie, she co-wrote the song with other songwriters in 2019 before Lovato heard it and recorded it.{{cite web | url=https://www.capitalfm.com/events/global-awards/anne-marie-demi-lovato-new-song-i-love-me/ | title=Anne-Marie Praises Demi Lovato For New Song 'I Love Me' – Which She Helped Write | publisher=Capital FM | accessdate=6 March 2020}} During an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Lovato described the track as "fun and lighthearted" that had a "positive, upbeat message".{{cite web | url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/03/9517135/demi-lovato-i-love-me-wilmer-valderrama-wedding | title=Did Demi Lovato Call Out Wilmer Valderrama In New Music Video? | work=Refinery29 | accessdate=6 March 2020}}
Demi Lovato was interviewed during the September 2019 Teen Vogue summit, where she said that she would be releasing new music "in due time".{{cite web | 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 | work=Teen Vogue | accessdate=6 March 2020}} In January 2020, she released "Anyone", her first single since suffering an overdose in July 2018, and performed it at the 62nd Grammy Awards. The following month, Lovato performed the national anthem of the United States at the Super Bowl LIV. On March 2, 2020, she announced through her Instagram that her upcoming new single "I Love Me" would be released four days later, attaching the cover art on the post.{{cite web | url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/demi-lovato-new-song-i-love-me | title=Demi Lovato Announces New Song "I Love Me" | work=Teen Vogue | accessdate=6 March 2020}} The artwork is a blurry picture of Lovato wearing a red jacket on a city street with the title of the single appearing on the left upper corner. Lovato had previously used the title of the single as a hashtag for another Instagram picture on 24 February.{{cite web | url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Music/2020/03/03/Demi-Lovato-to-release-new-song-I-Love-Me-on-Friday/5321583246938/ | title=Demi Lovato to release new song 'I Love Me' on Friday | publisher=UPI | accessdate=6 March 2020}}{{cite web | url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8551808/demi-lovato-nomakeupmonday-selfie | title=Demi Lovato Looks Fresh & Healthy in Stunning #NoMakeupMonday Selfie | work=Billboard | accessdate=6 March 2020}} "I Love Me" was finally released on March 6, 2020, on both digital and streaming platforms, as the lead single from her upcoming seventh studio album.{{cite web | url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9329659/demi-lovato-zane-lowe-interview-self-care | title=Demi Lovato Says Her Self-Care Routine Involves a Lot of 'Aromatherapy, Listening to Music and Crying' | work=Billboard | accessdate=6 March 2020}}
Composition
"I Love Me" is an upbeat pop and R&B song,{{cite web | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/3158952/demi-lovato-i-love-me-video/ | title=Demi Lovato Confronts Her Past And Kicks Some Ass In 'I Love Me' Video | publisher=MTV News | accessdate=March 6, 2020}}{{cite web | url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/03/watch-demi-lovato-i-love-me-new-music-video.html | title=Demi Lovato’s Brutally Honest, Ass-Kicking Music Video for ‘I Love Me’ Is Here | work=Vulture | accessdate=March 7, 2020}}{{cite web | url=https://jenesaispop.com/2020/03/06/385637/demi-lovato-se-rebela-contra-las-revistas-que-le-dicen-como-ser-en-i-love-me/ | title=Demi Lovato se rebela contra las revistas que le dicen cómo ser en ‘I Love Me’ | publisher=Jenesaispop | accessdate=March 7, 2020 | language=es}} with a length of three minutes and twenty-three seconds. The verses are composed of a minimalist neo-soul beat, while the chorus feature a drum instrumentation that stops while Lovato sings the line "I wonder when 'I love me' is enough".{{cite web | url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9329537/first-stream-megan-thee-stallion-lil-uzi-vert-demi-lovato | title=First Stream: New Music From Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Uzi Vert, Demi Lovato & More | work=Billboard | accessdate=6 March 2020}}
In an interview with Apple Music's Hanuman Welch, Lovato said "I Love Me" talked about "loving yourself", adding, "It's an anthem, and it talks about how hard we are on ourselves and this, the negative self-talk. You know, how easily we can listen to that. But when is loving yourself gonna be enough?". During the Ellen DeGeneres Show she explained the title of the song, saying, "We are good by ourselves. We don't need a partner, we don't need, like, substance. We're good."{{cite web | url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1128735/demi-lovato-taking-a-little-bit-more-time-working-on-her-new-album-amid-comeback | title=Demi Lovato "Taking a Little Bit More Time" Working on Her New Album Amid Comeback | publisher=E! Online | accessdate=6 March 2020}} During the first verse, Lovato sings about her past problems with eating disorders and body image, "Can't see what I am, I just see what I'm not / I'm guilty 'bout everything that I eat (every single day)".{{cite web | url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/music/a31260994/demi-lovato-i-love-me-lyrics-explained/ | title=Demi Lovato’s New Single “I Love Me” Is the Self-Love Anthem We Need but Don’t Deserve | work=Cosmopolitan | accessdate=March 7, 2020}}{{cite web | url=https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/music/a31260981/demi-lovato-new-song-i-love-me-lyrics/ | title=Demi Lovato Gets Extremely Personal About Her Past Struggles in the Lyrics to Her New Song 'I Love Me' | work=Seventeen | accessdate=March 7, 2020}}
Taylor Weatherby of Billboard said the song was about Lovato's "battle with her mental health", as exemplified in the chorus, "Oh, why do I compare myself to everyone?/ And I always got my finger on the self-destruct/ I wonder when I love me is enough".{{cite web | url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9329612/katy-perry-pregnancy-best-music-moments-march-6 | title=The 13 Best Things That Happened in Music This Week (March 6) | work=Billboard | accessdate=6 March 2020}}
Rania Aniftos of the same magazine described "I Love Me" as a "self-love" and "empowering" song.{{cite web | url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9329315/demi-lovato-i-love-me-single-video | title=Demi Lovato Drops Self-Love Single 'I Love Me' & Video: Watch | work=Billboard | accessdate=6 March 2020}} Marcus Jones of Entertainment Weekly said the track focused on "self-love" and noted it was more upbeat than Lovato's previous single, "Anyone".{{cite web | url=https://ew.com/music/demi-lovato-releases-i-love-me-song-music-video/ | title=Demi Lovato declares 'I Love Me' in empowering new anthem: Watch the video | accessdate=6 March 2020}} Kelly Wynne of Newsweek also deemed it as a "ode to self and the powers each person holds as an individual."
Critical reception
Chris Murphy of Vulture deemed "I Love Me" as a "rousing, introspective pop song about self-love and self-doubt".
Music video
A music video for "I Love Me" was directed by Hannah Lux Davis and filmed in New York City.{{cite web | url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/03/stream-demi-lovato-i-love-me-single-video/ | title=Demi Lovato is Victorious on New Single “I Love Me”: Stream | work=Consequence of Sound | accessdate=March 7, 2020}} On 5 March 2020, Lovato released on digital platforms a teaser of 30 seconds of the music video for "I Love Me".{{cite web | url=https://entretenimento.uol.com.br/noticias/redacao/2020/03/05/demi-lovato-divulga-teaser-do-clipe-de-i-love-me-e-web-reage.htm | title=Demi Lovato divulga teaser do clipe de "I Love Me" e web reage | publisher=UOL | accessdate=6 March 2020 | language=pt}} It was premiered on MTV Live on March 6, 2020, and was later uploaded to YouTube.{{cite web | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2020/03/06/demi-lovato-i-love-me-new-single-confronts-demons-past-struggles/4967113002/ | title='I'm my own worst critic': Demi Lovato confronts demons in new single 'I Love Me' Gary Dinges USA TODAY | work=USA Today | accessdate=March 7, 2020}}
= Synopsis and interpretation =
In the first scene, three versions of Lovato appear in a house, with two of them fighting each other. The other one, referred to as "Zen Demi" by both MTV News' Madeline Roth and Yahoo! Music's Suzy Byrne, is dressed in white and trying to meditate.{{cite web | url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/demi-lovato-reflects-on-overdose-sings-about-her-battle-with-her-body-image-in-i-love-me-video-162458587.html | title=Demi Lovato reflects on overdose, sings about her battle with her body image in 'I Love Me' video | publisher=Yahoo! Music | accessdate=March 7, 2020}} This scene parallels the line "I'm a black belt when I'm beating up on myself". Wran Graves of Consequence of Sound opined it was "dramatization of depression". Olivia Singh of Insider said the fight was a reference to the singer's "personal battles with her demons" as well as her skills in mixed martial arts.
Later, the singer gets out of the house wearing a red jacket and walking across the fictional "I Love Me St." in New York City, where multiple references to her past appear are shown. While in the street, a blonde woman appears with two daughters dressed in 1990s clothing and taking them to an acting audition.{{cite web | url=https://www.eonline.com/co/news/1128689/el-poderoso-videoclip-i-love-me-de-demi-lovato-muestra-su-viaje-a-la-sobriedad | title=El poderoso videoclip I Love Me de Demi Lovato muestra su viaje a la sobriedad | work=E! News | accessdate=6 March 2020|language=es}} This represents Lovato herself at a young age with her mother Dianna De La Garza and sister Dallas Lovato, with the former tweeting, "I feel like I was looking for an audition address [...] my doppelgänger is beautiful!".{{cite web | url=https://www.insider.com/demi-lovato-i-love-me-music-video-details-easter-eggs-2020-3 | title=Demi Lovato's new music video is packed with hidden references. Here's every detail you may have missed. | publisher=Insider | accessdate=March 7, 2020}} Later, a woman wearing a black bodysuit, sunglasses and short hair accompanied by bodyguards is depicted walking in the street. The woman references Lovato herself while promoting her 2015 studio album Confident on the Future Now Tour.{{cite web | url=https://www.etonline.com/demi-lovatos-i-love-me-music-video-references-overdose-jonas-brothers-and-wilmer-valderrama-142683 | title=Demi Lovato's 'I Love Me' Music Video References Overdose, Jonas Brothers and Wilmer Valderrama | work=Entertainment Tonight | accessdate=March 7, 2020}}
In the next scene, Lovato passes by and smiles to a young girl holding a microphone and surrounded by three boys, whose looks and outfits resemble the characters the singer and the Jonas Brothers played on the 2008 Disney Channel movie Camp Rock.
As she keeps on walking, Lovato passes by three men in golden jackets, to whom she smiles and cuts her eyes to. Desiree Murphy of Entertainment Tonight opined the three men were a reference to the Jonas Brothers, with whom Lovato has worked in different acting and musical projects together. On the other hand, Singh wrote the scene represented Lovato "being happy about the good times they shared, but also accepting that they've gone on separate paths". The singer later walks past an ambulance which is assisting a woman on a stretcher, putting her hand on the woman's forehead. This referenced the overdose that she suffered in July 2018. Near the end of the music video, a bride and a groom run across the street, which referenced her former boyfriend Wilmer Valderrama's engagement.{{cite web | url=https://www.newsweek.com/demi-lovatos-i-love-me-video-shows-star-walking-past-overdose-her-exs-new-wife-1490929 | title=Demi Lovato's 'I Love Me' Video Shows Star Walking Past Overdose and Her Ex's New Wife | work=Newsweek | accessdate=6 March 2020|quote=Editor [https://www.newsweek.com/authors/kelly-wynne Kelly Wynne] is an experienced journalist of music and has worked in Rolling Stone previously.}} The video finishes with Lovato reuniting with two of her real-life friends, rapper Sirah and actor Matthew Scott Montgomery.
It received 5.5 million views on YouTube on its first 24 hours available on the platform.{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/self-love-wellness-songs-demi-lovato-1203526756/ | title=All You Need Is Self-Love: The Wave of Wellness Songs Explained | work=Variety | accessdate=March 7, 2020}}
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.
- Lead vocals – Demi Lovato
- Background vocals – Demi Lovato, Jennifer Decilveo, Sean Douglas, Alex Niceforo, Keith Sorrells
- Songwriting – Demi Lovato, Anne-Marie, Jennifer Decilveo, Sean Douglas, Alex Niceforo, Keith Sorrells, Warren "Oak" Felder
- Production – Alex Nice, Keith Sorrells, Warren "Oak" Felder
- Programming – Alex Niceforo, Keith Sorrells, Oak Felder
- Mastering – Michelle Mancini
- Engineering – Keith Sorrells
- Bass guitar – Oak Felder
- Drums – Alex Niceforo, Keith Sorrells, Oak Felder
- Keyboards – Keith Sorrells, Oak Felder
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format !scope="col"|Label !scope="col"|{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row" |United States
|rowspan="2"|March 6, 2020 |rowspan="2"|{{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} |rowspan="2"|Island |{{cite web | url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-love-me-single/1501727015 | title=I Love Me single by Demi Lovato | publisher=Apple Music | accessdate=March 6, 2020 | archive-url=http://archive.is/PzH9I| archive-date=March 6, 2020}} |
|---|
| scope="row" |Mexico
|{{cite web | url=https://music.apple.com/mx/album/i-love-me-single/1501001885 | title=I Love Me single by Demi Lovato | publisher=Apple Music | accessdate=March 6, 2020 | archive-url=http://archive.is/l4sLW| archive-date=March 6, 2020}} |
| scope="row" rowspan="2" |United States
|March 9, 2020 |rowspan="2"|{{hlist|Island|Republic}} |
| rowspan="2"|March 10, 2020 |
References
{{reflist|2}}