You Know How To Leave

Demi Lovato “Daddy Issues”

“Daddy Issues” sounds like Demi Lovato is straight up singing the subtext of another more artful or demure pop song. It’s like having the most literal interpretations from a Genius annotation replace the actual lyrics of a song, and the effect is vaguely jarring – like, wait, aren’t you supposed to be bullshitting us at least a little bit? At this stage in pop music we’re used to hearing pop stars be blunt and vulgar, but Lovato’s incredibly direct lyrics and forthright vocal style projects both a charming guilelessness and an impatient desire to be understood. The music is just as emphatic as the words, and I love the way the keyboard comes down in the chorus as if it’s underlining her lyrics a few times over.

Buy it from Amazon.