Dancing with the Devil (song)

Last updated

"Dancing with the Devil"
Demi Lovato - Dancing with the Devil.png
Single by Demi Lovato
from the album Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over
ReleasedMarch 26, 2021 (2021-03-26) [1]
Length4:04
3:08 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Mitch Allan
Demi Lovato singles chronology
"What Other People Say"
(2021)
"Dancing with the Devil"
(2021)
"Met Him Last Night"
(2021)
Music video
"Dancing with the Devil" on YouTube

"Dancing with the Devil" is a song by American singer Demi Lovato. It was released on March 26, 2021 by Island Records as the third [2] single from Lovato's seventh studio album Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over . The singer co-wrote the song with Bianca Atterberry, John Ho, and its producer Mitch Allan. The song debuted and peaked at number 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top 50 in the UK and the Billboard Global 200 and number 7 in Hungary.

Contents

Background and composition

"Dancing with the Devil" was featured in the trailer for Lovato's 2021 documentary Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil and is the second track from the album Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over. [3] Set in the key of C minor, the vocal range spans nearly three octaves, from E♭3 to B♭5. [4]

The song begins with currently recovered Lovato chronicling a 2018 substance dependency relapse, which would lead to a near-fatal overdose later that same year. [5] The opening verses describe the relapse's initial phase, which was primarily with red wine: "It's just a little red wine, I'll be fine/ Not like I wanna do this every night/ I've been good, don't I deserve it? I think I've earned it/ Feels like it's worth it in my mind." [6] The second verse describes an introduction to heavier drugs: "A little white line" that eventually became "a little glass pipe." [7]

Ultimately, Lovato becomes addicted to smoking heroin, singing "Tinfoil remedy almost got the best of me," [5] and confessing in the pre-chorus that during this time, "I told you I was OK, but I was lying." [7] The track's chorus, "almost made it to heaven" by "playing with the enemy / gambling with my soul", refers to a past overdose. Lovato also sings about the grip that addiction had and the psychological difficulty it imposed, repeating throughout the song "It's so hard to say no / When you're dancing with the devil". [8]

Lyric video

A lyric video was released with various visually muddled graphics, including imagery of an ocean, flames of a fire, and butterflies.

Music video

The video for "Dancing with the Devil" is a detailed re-creation of the events involved in Lovato's 2018 drug overdose, sexual assault, and harrowing near-death experience, as well as the aftermath in the hospital the days after. [9] The music video is a re-enactment, and includes the green jacket worn that night with scenes of substance abuse at a party, followed by proceeding home and unzipping of the drug dealer's duffel bag in Lovato's bedroom, and later the drug dealer looming ominously over the singer's unconscious and unclothed body, presumably after a sexual assault. [9] The paramedics are then shown reviving and transporting Lovato to the hospital, where a neck tube is sewn in, in order to pump out blood, clean it, and pump it back in. [9] This is followed by scenes of family and friends shuddering at the hospital during the first post-overdose day, when survival was in doubt. [9] Finally Lovato wakes up, and is given a sponge bath by a nurse, which reveals a "survivor" tattoo near where the neck blood tube used to be. [9]

Critical reception

Prior to its release, "Dancing with the Devil" was described by Shana Naomi Krochmal of Entertainment Weekly as "evok[ing] Adele's "Skyfall" theme". [10] Billboard described the song as "powerful" and "confessional". [11] Rob Harvilla of The Ringer , describes the song as "an expert slow-burn barrage of Bond Movie Theme extravagant melodrama." [9]

Credits and personnel

Recording and management

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over. [12]

Accolades

YearOrganizationAwardResultRef.
2021 MTV Europe Music Awards Video for GoodNominated [13]
MTV Video Music Awards Video for Good Nominated [14]

Charts

Chart performance for "Dancing with the Devil"
Chart (2021)Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [15] 49
Global 200 ( Billboard ) [16] 50
Hungary (Single Top 40) [17] 7
Ireland (IRMA) [18] 46
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [19] 6
Portugal (AFP) [20] 82
UK Singles (OCC) [21] 50
US Billboard Hot 100 [22] 56
US Adult Pop Airplay ( Billboard ) [23] 39

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Dancing with the Devil"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [24] Platinum40,000
United States (RIAA) [25] Gold500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history for "Dancing with the Devil"
RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
VariousMarch 26, 2021 Island [26]
Italy Contemporary hit radio Universal [27]
United StatesMarch 29, 2021 Hot adult contemporary radio
[28]
March 30, 2021Contemporary hit radio [29]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demi Lovato</span> American singer (born 1992)

Demetria Devonne "Demi" Lovato is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. After appearing on the children's television series Barney & Friends (2002–2004), she starred in the Disney Channel short series As the Bell Rings (2007–2008). Lovato rose to prominence for playing Mitchie Torres in the musical television film Camp Rock (2008) and its sequel Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam (2010). The former film's soundtrack contained "This Is Me", her debut single and duet, which peaked at number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demi Lovato discography</span>

American singer Demi Lovato has released eight studio albums, two video albums, two soundtrack albums, one remix album, five extended plays (EPs), 53 singles, and 16 promotional singles. According to Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Lovato has achieved 51 million certified units. As of August 2023, she has sold 9.7 million albums and 23.9 million song downloads and her songs have registered 7.7 billion on-demand streams in the United States. Each of Lovato's studio albums debuted in the top-ten on the US Billboard 200, and four of which have received platinum or higher certifications and two gold certifications in the U.S. She has a total of 36 chart entries on the US Billboard Hot 100, including four top-ten songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Give Your Heart a Break</span> 2012 single by Demi Lovato

"Give Your Heart a Break" is a song recorded by American singer Demi Lovato for her third studio album Unbroken (2011). It was released on January 23, 2012, by Hollywood Records, as the second and final single from the album. The song was written and produced by Josh Alexander and Billy Steinberg. "Give Your Heart a Break" incorporates drums, violin and strings. The latter two, according to music critics, are reminiscent of those used in Coldplay's "Viva la Vida". Lyrically, the song chronicles the protagonist's attempt to win over her lover who has been hurt in a previous relationship and is fearful of committing again. In 2023, the song was re-recorded for her rock-compilation Revamped with Bert McCracken from the rock band The Used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heart Attack (Demi Lovato song)</span> 2013 single by Demi Lovato

"Heart Attack" is a song recorded by American singer Demi Lovato. It was released on February 25, 2013, as the lead single from her fourth studio album, Demi (2013). The song was produced by Mitch Allan and Jason Evigan of The Suspex, who co-wrote the song along with Lovato, Sean Douglas, Nikki Williams, and Aaron Phillips. "Heart Attack" is an electropop song that employs cardiac motifs to represent the fear of falling in love. It received acclaim from music critics, many of whom complimented its lyrics and Lovato's vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Really Don't Care</span> 2014 single by Demi Lovato

"Really Don't Care" is a song by American singer Demi Lovato, featuring English singer Cher Lloyd. The song was released on May 20, 2014, as the fourth and final single from the former's fourth studio album Demi (2013). Both of them co-wrote the track with Savan Kotecha and its producers Carl Falk and Rami Yacoub. "Really Don't Care" has been certified 2× platinum by Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It is Lovato's third number one on the US Dance chart. The track reached the top 10 in Israel as well as the top 30 in Canada, Slovakia, and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neon Lights (Demi Lovato song)</span> 2013 single by Demi Lovato

"Neon Lights" is a song by American singer Demi Lovato from her fourth studio album, Demi (2013). The song was released as the album's third single on November 19, 2013 by Hollywood Records. Ryan Tedder and Noel Zancanella produced and co-wrote the song along with Lovato, Mario Marchetti and Tiffany Vartanyan. On September 29, 2013, Lovato announced the name of her concert tour, the Neon Lights Tour, and soon after that "Neon Lights" would become the third single from the album. The song, with its prominent EDM and four-on-the-floor influences, covered new ground for Lovato, who had been previously known for her pop rock and ballad singles. Its accompanying music video was released on November 21, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cool for the Summer</span> 2015 single by Demi Lovato

"Cool for the Summer" is a song by American singer Demi Lovato. It was released as the lead single from her fifth studio album Confident (2015) on July 1, 2015, by Hollywood Records and Island Records, and premiered on radio on the same date via Republic Records. Lovato co-wrote "Cool for the Summer" with Alexander Erik Kronlund, Savan Kotecha, and its producers Max Martin and Ali Payami. It is a pop and pop rock song with an electronic instrumental arrangement, a synthesized beat and an electric-guitar riff during the chorus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Confident (Demi Lovato song)</span> 2015 single by Demi Lovato

"Confident" is a song by American singer Demi Lovato. It was released on September 18, 2015, by Hollywood and Island Records as the second single from her fifth studio album of the same name (2015). Lovato co-wrote the song with Savan Kotecha and its producers Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh. Commercially, it reached number one in Israel and the top 30 in Canada, the Czech Republic, New Zealand, Scotland, and the United States. The song has been certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sorry Not Sorry (Demi Lovato song)</span> 2017 single by Demi Lovato

"Sorry Not Sorry" is a song by American singer Demi Lovato and the lead single from her sixth studio album, Tell Me You Love Me (2017). Island, Republic, Hollywood, and Safehouse Records releeased the song on July 11, 2017. Written by Lovato alonside Sean Douglas, Trevor Brown, William Zaire Simmons and its producer Oak Felder, it is a pop and R&B track. An acoustic version of the song was present on the deluxe edition of the album. Years later, a re-recorded version featuring British-American guitarist Slash was released as a promotional single and included on Lovato's first remix album, Revamped (2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sober (Demi Lovato song)</span> 2018 single by Demi Lovato

"Sober" is a song by American singer Demi Lovato. It was initially released exclusively to music streaming services through Island, Hollywood and Safehouse Records on June 21, 2018, and was made available to iTunes on the same day. Lovato revealed in the song that she had relapsed after six years of sobriety. A month after the song's release, Lovato was hospitalized due to an overdose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anyone (Demi Lovato song)</span> 2020 single by Demi Lovato

"Anyone" is a song by American singer Demi Lovato and the lead single from her seventh studio album Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over. She performed it at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards on January 26, 2020, her first performance since suffering a near-fatal drug overdose in July 2018. That same day, it was made available for purchase and streaming. "Anyone" was recorded four days before Lovato's overdose. She wrote the song with Bibi Bourelly, Eyelar Mirzazadeh, Jay Mooncie, Sam Roman, and its producer Dayyon Alexander.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Love Me (song)</span> 2020 single by Demi Lovato

"I Love Me" is a song by American singer Demi Lovato. It was released on March 6, 2020. The track was written by Lovato alongside Anne-Marie, Jennifer Decilveo, Sean Douglas, Alex Niceforo, Keith Sorrells and Warren "Oak" Felder, with production being handled by the latter three. It is an midtempo pop and R&B song, with lyrics about struggles with self-image. The song was originally intended to be the lead single off of Lovato's seventh studio album Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over, but was ultimately scrapped from the final tracklist. The song was later included on the digital expanded edition of the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Ready (Sam Smith and Demi Lovato song)</span> 2020 single by Sam Smith and Demi Lovato

"I'm Ready" is a song by British singer Sam Smith and American singer Demi Lovato, released through Capitol Records on 16 April 2020. Smith and Lovato cowrote "I'm Ready" with Savan Kotecha, Peter Svensson, and the song's producer, Ilya Salmanzadeh. It reached the top 10 in Lebanon and the top 40 in the United States, United Kingdom, and 14 additional countries. The song appears on Smith's third studio album Love Goes (2020) and on the expanded edition of Lovato's seventh studio album Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OK Not to Be OK</span> 2020 single by Marshmello and Demi Lovato

"OK Not to Be OK" is a song by American music producer Marshmello and singer Demi Lovato. It was released on September 10, 2020, via Island Records and Joytime Collective, in partnership with the Hope For The Day suicide prevention movement. The song was later included on the expanded edition of Lovato's seventh studio album Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over.

<i>Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil</i> 2021 documentary series

Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil is a 2021 documentary series about the life and career of American singer, songwriter, and actor Demi Lovato. Released in four parts on YouTube from March 23 to April 6, 2021, the series covers a range of topics including Lovato's near-fatal overdose in 2018. It serves as a companion piece to Lovato's seventh studio album Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over. The documentary is titled after Lovato's song "Dancing with the Devil", which serves as the album's third single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What Other People Say</span> 2021 single by Sam Fischer and Demi Lovato

"What Other People Say" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Sam Fischer and American singer Demi Lovato. It was released on 4 February 2021 by RCA and Island Records on digital download and streaming formats as the second single from Lovato's seventh studio album Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over and Fischer's debut studio album I Love You, Please Don't Hate Me. The song was written by both Lovato and Fischer alongside Geoff Warburton and Ryan Williamson.

<i>Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over</i> 2021 studio album by Demi Lovato

Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over is the seventh studio album by American singer Demi Lovato. It was released on April 2, 2021, by Island Records, and was recorded alongside a docu-series by YouTube Originals, titled Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil, which documents her recovery and self-discovery. It follows a reformative period in the singer's life and career, after being hospitalized for a drug overdose in 2018. The lyrics of the album emphasize on Lovato's journey through her hurdles and self-empowerment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Met Him Last Night</span> 2021 single by Demi Lovato

"Met Him Last Night" is a song by American singer Demi Lovato featuring American singer Ariana Grande. The song was originally released on April 2, 2021, as the ninth track on Lovato's seventh studio album Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over. It was later serviced to US contemporary hit radio by Island Records on April 13, 2021, as the album's fourth and final single. "Met Him Last Night" was written by Grande alongside Albert Stanaj, Tommy Brown, and Courageous Xavier "Xavi" Herrera, and was produced by Brown and Xavi, with vocal production by Mitch Allan. At the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, the Dave Audé remix of the song was nominated for Best Remixed Recording.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bianca Atterberry</span> American songwriter and producer

Bianca Deiandra "Blush" Atterberry is an American songwriter and producer. Atterberry has co-written for Demi Lovato, Blackpink, K. Michelle, Mary J. Blige, Macy Gray, and Meghan Trainor, among others. In 2021, Atterberry co-wrote Demi Lovato single "Dancing With The Devil", which charted on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as three additional album cuts from album Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over.

References

  1. Minsker, Evan (March 26, 2021). "Demi Lovato Releases New Song "Dancing With the Devil": Listen". Pitchfork.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  2. Paul, Larisha (March 18, 2021). "Demi Lovato Teases Ariana Grande Collaboration On New Single". uDiscover Music. Retrieved April 2, 2021. ...The third Dancing With The Devil...The Art Of Starting Over single "Dancing With The Devil" will be released on March 26.
  3. Chan, Anna (February 17, 2021). "Demi Lovato Reveals in 'Dancing With the Devil' She Suffered Three Strokes, Heart Attack After OD: Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  4. Bianca, Atterberry; Demi, Lovato; Mitch, Allan; John, Ho; Demi, Lovato (March 26, 2021). "Dancing with the Devil". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Perez, Lexy (March 25, 2021). "Demi Lovato Chronicles Relapse, Overdose in New Single, "Dancing With the Devil"". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 26, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  6. O'Connor, Roisin (March 26, 2021). "Demi Lovato sings about 2018 overdose in new song 'Dancing with the Devil'". The Independent . Archived from the original on March 27, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  7. 1 2 Costantino, George (March 26, 2021). "Demi Lovato drops new song, 'Dancing with the Devil,' about struggles with addiction". Good Morning America. Archived from the original on March 27, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  8. Mier, Tomás (March 26, 2021). "Demi Lovato Sings About Relapse, Nearly Fatal Overdose in Powerful Song 'Dancing with the Devil'". People. Archived from the original on March 27, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Harvilla, Rob (April 5, 2021). "There's No Escapism in Demi Lovato's 'Dancing With the Devil'". The Ringer. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  10. Krochmal, Shana Naomi (March 25, 2021). "Demi Lovato breaks down 11 songs from Dancing With the Devil... The Art of Starting Over". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on March 26, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  11. "Demi Lovato Shares Confessional Song 'Dancing with the Devil': Stream It Now". Billboard. March 26, 2021. Archived from the original on March 27, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  12. Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over (Media notes). Demi Lovato. Island Records. 2021.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. "MTV EMA 2021 VOTING". www.mtvema.com. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  14. "Justin Bieber & Megan Thee Stallion Lead 2021 MTV VMA Nominations". Billboard. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  15. "Demi Lovato Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  16. "Demi Lovato Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  17. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  18. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  19. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 5, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  20. "Demi Lovato – Dancing with the Devil". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  21. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  22. "Demi Lovato Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  23. "Demi Lovato Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  24. "Brazilian single certifications – Demi Lovato – Dancing with the Devil" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  25. "American single certifications – Demi Lovato – Dancing with the Devil". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  26. Lovato, Demi. "Dancing With The Devil – Single". Spotify. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  27. Mancabelli, Alice. "Demi Lovato 'Dancing with the Devil'". Universal Music Group. Archived from the original on March 29, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021 via Radio Airplay SRL.
  28. "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  29. "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on October 15, 2020. Retrieved March 28, 2021.