29 (Demi Lovato song)

"29"
Cover art for the official live performance of "29", which shows Lovato in the center staring at the camera.
Vevo "Official Live Performance" cover
Single by Demi Lovato
from the album Holy Fvck
ReleasedAugust 17, 2022 (2022-08-17)
StudioSuCasa (Los Angeles)
GenreRock
Length2:43
LabelIsland
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Oak Felder
  • Alex Niceforo
  • Keith "Ten4" Sorrells
Demi Lovato singles chronology
"Substance"
(2022) 		"29"
(2022) 		"Still Alive"
(2023)
Lyric video
"29" on YouTube

"29" is a song by the American singer Demi Lovato from her eighth studio album, Holy Fvck (2022). She wrote it alongside Laura Veltz, Sean Douglas, and its producers, Oak Felder, Alex Niceforo, and Keith Sorrells. Island Records released it on August 17, 2022, as the album's third single. "29" is a rock song led by guitars and drums, with lyrics about a relationship Lovato had with an older man and how she was manipulated by him. It became a viral trend on the video-sharing app TikTok, prompting people to share their stories about grooming. The song was subject to several pieces of speculation for its lyrical content.

Upon its release, "29" received positive reviews from music critics, many of whom praised its lyrical theme. Some publications named it the best track on Holy Fvck, while others deemed it one of the best songs released in 2022. Commercially, it was the album's only track to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, while also reaching the Canadian Hot 100 and Billboard Global 200. The song received a platinum certification in Brazil. A Vevo-produced live performance video was uploaded on August 22, 2022. Lovato performed "29" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Good Morning America, and as part of the set list in the Holy Fvck Tour (2022).

Release

[edit]

Drawing inspiration from the American rock band Dead Sara, Demi Lovato staged a "funeral" for her former pop music in January 2022, prior to returning to the rock genre that she experimented with on her first two studio albums, Don't Forget (2008) and Here We Go Again (2009).[1][2] On June 6, 2022, Lovato announced her eighth studio album, Holy Fvck, set to release on August 19. A press release indicated that the album would include sixteen tracks.[3] In the following month, she revealed its track listing, which included "29" as the sixth song.[4] Prior to its release, Lovato shared various snippets of "29" on social media. She first teased the song on August 9, 2022, showcasing the chorus's lyrics.[5] The song was first announced as the album's third single by Billboard.[6] It was officially confirmed as a single by Lovato and was released to digital platforms on August 17, 2022, through Island Records.[7] A "stripped" remix of the track was released on September 20, 2022.[8]

Composition and lyrical interpretation

[edit]

"29" has a duration of two minutes and forty-three seconds.[9] Lovato provided the lead vocals and wrote the song with Sean Douglas, Laura Veltz, Alex Niceforo, Oak Felder, and Keith "Ten4" Sorrells, all of whom also provided background vocals. The latter three played instruments, produced, and programmed the track. Felder and Oscar Linnander recorded it at SuCasa in Los Angeles. Chris Gehringer and Manny Marroquin were in charge of its mastering and mixing, respectively; the latter was assisted by Zach Pereyra, Trey Station, and Anthony Vilchis.[10]

The lyrical content of "29" depicts a long-term relationship that Lovato had with an older man and her displeasure with how she was manipulated by him.[11] Upon posting a snippet of the song on the video-sharing app TikTok, fans speculated that the lyrics were a reference to Lovato's ex-partner Wilmer Valderrama, whom she dated for 6 years and met at 17 years old, although they publicly started dating when she was 18.[12][13][14] The song quickly became a viral trend on the app, prompting people to share their stories about grooming and abusive relationships with an inappropriate age gap.[15][16][12] Publications also believed that Lovato included a verse about Valderrama's relationship with Amanda Pacheco, who was 12 years younger: "I see you're quite the collector / Yeah you're twelve years her elder".[17][18]

In an interview with Apple Music 1's Zane Lowe, Lovato did not confirm the song's subject matter and believed that it "says it all". She also mentioned feeling anxious about releasing the song.[12] Speaking with Alexandra Cooper on Call Her Daddy, the singer discussed gaining "understanding and growth" after turning 29 and leaving treatment. Lovato also described the song as "reflective" and stated "I really learned a lot about that experience".[19]

Critical reception

[edit]

"29" received positive reviews from music critics. Sonically, the song was described by James Hall of The Daily Telegraph as "a soaring slab of radio-friendly rock".[20] The song's lyrics received praise. The staff of Sputnikmusic wrote that it "immediately raise[d] the stakes lyrically".[21] AllMusic's Neil Yeung claimed that "29" marked the "most attention-grabbing moment" on the album and described it as "a scathing takedown of a past relationship with eye-popping lyrics".[22] Emily Swingle of Clash stated that "nothing compares to the raw pain captured on the song". She highlighted it as a standout and praised Lovato's powerful vocals and soaring drums and guitars.[23]

Reviewers included "29" in rankings of the best songs from Holy Fvck. Callie Ahlgrim of Business Insider named it the best song on the album; she praised the way that Lovato "manages to sing from a place of wisdom and maturity without shying away from the details", and the inclusion of "frank references to menstruation and daddy issues".[24] Billboard journalist Stephen Daw ranked it as the fourth-best song on the album and stated that it "sounds like the kind of musing that comes after years of finding the right words to say about a traumatic event".[25] The Los Angeles Times and Samantha Olson of Seventeen named "29" one of the best songs released in 2022.[26][27] In 2023, Jeffrey Davies of PopMatters ranked "29" at number seven in a ranking of the best Lovato songs released up to that year.[11]

Commercial performance

[edit]

"29" debuted and peaked at number 96 on the US Billboard Hot 100, her 36th entry[28] and the only song from Holy Fvck to appear on the chart to date.[29] It also became her first top-ten single on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart.[30] Outside the United States, it charted at number 95 on the Canadian Hot 100 for one week,[31] and at number 167 on the Billboard Global 200.[32] Additionally, "29" peaked at number 14 on the secondary New Zealand Hot Singles chart published by Recorded Music NZ.[33] In 2024, the song received a platinum certification from Pro-Música Brasil after selling 40,000 units in the country.[34]

Live performances

[edit]

Lovato performed "29" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on August 18, 2022, as part of her three-night takeover of the show to promote Holy Fvck.[35] On the following day, she sang it on Good Morning America along with "Substance" (2022) and "Cool for the Summer" (2015).[36] She included the song in the set list of her seventh concert tour, the Holy Fvck Tour (2022). Some critics praised the performances and Lovato's speeches beforehand as the most powerful moment of the shows.[37][38] The official Vevo live performance of the song was uploaded to YouTube on August 22, 2022; Rania Aniftos of Billboard praised Lovato's vocals, which "amplifies the scathing lyrics".[39]

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Obtained from Lovato's official website.[10]

  • Demi Lovato - vocals, songwriting
  • Warren "Oak" Felder - production, songwriting, recording, programming, background vocals, drums, keyboards
  • Alex Niceforo - songwriting, co-production, programming, background vocals, guitar
  • Keith "Ten4" Sorrells - songwriting, co-production, programming, background vocals, guitar, bass, drums
  • Sean Douglas - songwriting, background vocals
  • Laura Veltz - songwriting, background vocals
  • Oscar Linnander - production assistance
  • Manny Marroquin - mixing
  • Zach Pereyra - mixing assistance
  • Anthony Vilchis - mixing assistance
  • Trey Station - mixing assistance
  • Chris Gehringer - mastering

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "29"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[31] 95
Global 200 (Billboard)[32] 167
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[33] 14
US Billboard Hot 100[29] 96
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[30] 10

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for "29"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[34] Platinum 40,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Allaire, Christian (August 19, 2022). ""I Wanted To Take My Power Back": Demi Lovato Is Ready To Rock Again". British Vogue. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  2. ^ Starr, Bowenbank (January 21, 2022). "Demi Lovato Hosts 'Funeral' Mourning Their Pop Music, Teases New Rock Song". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  3. ^ Strauss, Matthew (June 6, 2022). "Demi Lovato Announces New Album Holy Fvck, Shares Video for New Song "Skin of My Teeth": Watch". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  4. ^ Dailey, Hannah (July 14, 2022). "Demi Lovato Says 'Holy Fvck' 'Takes Me Back To My Roots' & Unveils Tracklist". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  5. ^ Theil, Michele (August 18, 2022). "Demi Lovato's song '29' inspired women on TikTok to come forward about the 'predatory' relationships they were in as teens". Business Insider. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  6. ^ Rowley, Glenn (August 9, 2022). "Demi Lovato Teases Intense 'Holy Fvck' Single '29': Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  7. ^ Mier, Tomás (August 17, 2022). "Demi Lovato Alludes to 12-Year Age Gap with Ex Wilmer Valderrama on Scathing New Track '29'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2022. On Wednesday, Lovato released her intense single, "29," in which she sings about a 12-year age gap with an ex.
  8. ^ Lovato, Demi (September 20, 2022). "29 (Stripped) - Single". Apple Music (US). Archived from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  9. ^ Lovato, Demi (August 19, 2022). "Holy Fvck". Apple Music (US). Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Holy Fvck Credits". Demi Lovato. August 22, 2022. Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  11. ^ a b Davies, Jeffrey (March 29, 2023). "The 25 Best Demi Lovato Songs". PopMatters. Archived from the original on January 20, 2025. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
  12. ^ a b c De Loera, Carlos (August 17, 2022). "Demi Lovato's '29' has become a TikTok anthem exposing older men dating teenage girls". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  13. ^ Graves, Wren (August 4, 2022). "Demi Lovato Blasts Ex Wilmer Valderrama in New Song "29": "What the Fuck's Consent?"". Consequence. Archived from the original on August 7, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
  14. ^ Irvin, Jack (August 17, 2022). "Demi Lovato's Song '29' Seems to Call Out Age Gap with Ex Wilmer Valderrama: 'Had Me In Your Grip'". People. Archived from the original on December 30, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
  15. ^ Lopez, Veronica (August 31, 2022). "People on TikTok Are Using Demi Lovato's Song "29" to Reflect on Their Own Large-Age-Gap Relationships". Cosmopolitan. Archived from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  16. ^ Latifi, Fortesa (August 19, 2022). "Demi Lovato's "29" Is Prompting TikTok Users to Open Up About Age-Inappropriate Relationships". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  17. ^ Gallagher, Ali (August 12, 2022). "Demi Lovato's new song '29' appears to take aim at ex Wilmer Valderrama and their age gap". NME. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
  18. ^ Aniftos, Rania (August 17, 2022). "Demi Lovato Shares How New Song '29' Put 'Everything Into Perspective'". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  19. ^ Prance, Sam (August 25, 2022). "Demi Lovato warns young girls that dating older men is not "sexy or fun"". Capital. Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  20. ^ McCormick, Neil (August 19, 2022). "Loudon Wainwright III drinks and moans, Demi Lovato flees her demons – the week's best albums". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  21. ^ "Demi Lovato Holy Fvck". Sputnikmusic. August 19, 2022. Archived from the original on August 27, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  22. ^ Yeung, Neil (August 19, 2022). "Holy Fvck – Demi Lovato". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  23. ^ Swingle, Emily (August 19, 2022). "Demi Lovato – HOLY FVCK". Clash. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  24. ^ Ahlgrim, Callie (August 19, 2022). "Every song on Demi Lovato's new album 'Holy Fvck,' ranked from worst to best". Business Insider. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
  25. ^ Daw, Stephen (August 19, 2022). "Every Song Ranked on Demi Lovato's 'Holy Fvck': Critic's Picks". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  26. ^ Brown, August; Draughorne, Kenan; Exposito, Suzy; Wood, Mikael (December 6, 2022). "The 100 best songs of 2022 (complete with playlist!)". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  27. ^ Olson, Samantha (September 23, 2022). "These Are the 50 Best Songs of 2022 (So Far, Anyway)". Seventeen. Archived from the original on December 18, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  28. ^ Rutherford, Kevin (August 29, 2022). "Demi Lovato & Five Finger Death Punch Crown Billboard's Rock Album Charts". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  29. ^ a b "Demi Lovato Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  30. ^ a b "Demi Lovato Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  31. ^ a b "Demi Lovato Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  32. ^ a b "Demi Lovato Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  33. ^ a b "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 29, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  34. ^ a b "Brazilian single certifications – Demi Lovato – 29" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  35. ^ Longmire, Becca (August 19, 2022). "Demi Lovato Belts Out '29' As She Continues 'Tonight Show' Takeover". ET Canada. Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  36. ^ Kaufman, Gil (August 19, 2022). "Demi Lovato Talks Rocking Into Her Third Decade on 'GMA': 'It's a Milestone'". Billboard. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
  37. ^ Stossel, Jared (September 23, 2022). "Demi Lovato Rages at "Holy Fvck" Tour Stop in Sacramento: Review, Photos and Setlist". Consequence. Archived from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  38. ^ June, Sophia (October 20, 2022). "Demi Lovato's Holy Fvck Tour Is A Well-Deserved Triumph". Nylon. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  39. ^ Aniftos, Rania (August 22, 2022). "Demi Lovato Delivers Impressive Live Performance of '29'". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
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