"29"
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) 		"Heart Attack (Rock Version)"
(2023)
Lyric video
"29" on YouTube

"29" is a song by American singer Demi Lovato. It was released on August 17, 2022, by Island Records, as the third single from Lovato's eighth studio album, Holy Fvck (2022). The singer wrote the song with Oak Felder, Alex Niceforo, Keith Sorrells, Laura Veltz and Sean Douglas. Produced by Felder, Niceforo and Sorrells, "29" is a rock song with lyrics about age gaps in relationships.

The song debuted at number 96 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and 95 on the Canadian Hot 100. Also, reached top ten on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. Lovato performed "29" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and was included in the set list of the Holy Fvck Tour.

Background

On June 6, 2022, Demi Lovato announced her eighth studio album, Holy Fvck, set to release on August 19, along with its cover, months after confirming the "funeral" of her pop music and her return to her rock and pop punk roots.[1] A press release indicated that the album would include sixteen tracks. Weeks later, on July 14, the album's tracklist was revealed, with "29" being the sixth song.[2]

Composition and lyrics

According to MusicNotes, this song is in the key of E major, and moves a tempo of 92 beats per minute, with a vocal range of G#3 to E5.[3]

Upon posting a snippet of the song on TikTok, fans speculated that the lyrics are a reference to Lovato's ex-boyfriend Wilmer Valderrama, whom she dated for 6 years.[4] They met when she was 17 and he was 29, as the lyrics of the song say: "Finally 29, 17 would never cross my mind".[5] It quickly became a viral trend on the app, prompting people to share their stories about grooming and abusive relationships with an inappropriate age gap.[6][7][8]

Regarding the song's subject matter, Lovato stated to Zane Lowe in an interview with Apple Music that she "feel[s] like the song says it all" and that "I don't have to say too much, to be honest, but turning 29 was a huge eye-opener for me. I would be lying if I said I didn't have a ton of anxiety about putting out this song", further adding "I just said, 'I have to go for this. I have to own my truth.' Yeah. And I do still walk that line very finely. I've learned that sometimes saying less is more."[8]

I came out of treatment with understanding and growth and so it was like a reflective song for me. Even though there are undertones of anger, I really learned a lot about that experience. I decided to write about it. [...] If you're a young girl and you think that it's sexy or fun to date older men, it's not okay, unless you're of age. It's portrayed as, 'Oh you scored someone older! That's cool!' and actually, that's weird. [...] It's just like a reflective moment of if you're in that situation. Just listen to this song and think about it. I think sometimes the public needs the truth and that's why I decided to release it as a single because the message is so important.

— Lovato talking about "29", Call Her Daddy Podcast[9]

Release and promotion

"29" was first announced as the album's third single by Billboard. The song was officially confirmed as a single by Lovato and it was released on August 17, 2022.[10] Island Records released it to the US Contemporary hit radio days later.[11]

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 the album.[12] She also performed the song as part of the setlist of her Holy Fvck Tour.[13] In addition, the official Vevo Live performance of the song was released, along with performances of "Eat Me", "Freak" and "Happy Ending".[14]

Critical reception

"29" received positive reviews from music critics. The song was described by James Hall of The Daily Telegraph as "a soaring slab of radio-friendly rock".[15] Sputnikmusic said that songs like "29" immediately "raise the stakes lyrically".[16]

Samantha Olson of Seventeen named "29" as one of the best songs released in 2022.[17] Callie Ahlgrim of Insider ranked "29" as the best song on Holy Fvck. Ahlgrim 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".[18] Billboard journalist Stephen Daw ranked it as one of the best songs on the album, stating that "sounds like the kind of musing that comes after years of finding the right words to say about a traumatic event".[19] AllMusic critic Neil Yeung claimed the most attention-grabbing moment comes on "29", "a scathing takedown of a past relationship with mind-blowing lyrics".[20] Emily Swingle of Clash stated "nothing compares to the raw pain captured on the song". Also named "29" as "undeniably the stand-out track in every way", "harrowing and outstanding". Praised Lovato's powerful vocals and soaring drums and guitars, and said that "are goose-bump inducing, a bruising ache of emotion".[21]

The song was included by Los Angeles Times in the list of the 100 Best songs of 2022.[22]

Accolades

Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2023 Gold Derby Music Awards Best Rock/Alternative Song Won [23]

Commercial performance

"29" debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 96, her 36th entry on the chart;[24] and the only song from Holy Fvck to appear on the chart to date. It also charted at number 95 on the Canadian Hot 100. As well, it was her first top-ten on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, and her sixth song to chart on the Billboard Global 200.

Credits and personnel

Obtained from Lovato's official website.[25]

Charts

Chart performance for "29"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[26] 95
Global 200 (Billboard)[27] 167
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[28] 14
US Billboard Hot 100[29] 96
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[30] 10

Release history

Release history for "29"
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various August 17, 2022
Original Island
United States August 19, 2022 Contemporary hit radio
[11]
Various September 20, 2022
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 Stripped Island [31]

References

  1. ^ Strauss, Matthew (June 6, 2022). "Demi Lovato Announces New Album Holy Fvck, Shares Video for New Song "Skin of My Teeth": Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  2. ^ Dailey, Hannah (July 14, 2022). "Demi Lovato Says 'Holy Fvck' 'Takes Me Back To My Roots' & Unveils Tracklist". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  3. ^ "Demi Lovato "29" Sheet Music in E Major (transposable)". MusicNotes. August 19, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  4. ^ "Demi Lovato Teases Intense 'Holy FVCK' Single '29': Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  5. ^ Keogh, Joey (September 26, 2022). "The Truth About Demi Lovato And Wilmer Valderrama's Relationship". The List. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  6. ^ 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. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  7. ^ Latifi, Fortesa (August 19, 2022). "Demi Lovato's "29" Is Prompting TikTok Users to Open Up About Age-Inappropriate Relationships". Teen Vogue. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Demi Lovato's '29' has become a TikTok anthem exposing older men dating teenage girls". Los Angeles Times. August 17, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  9. ^ "Demi Lovato warns young girls that dating older men is not "sexy or fun"". PopBuzz. August 25, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ a b Cantor, Brian (September 26, 2022). "Lewis Capaldi's "Forget Me" Makes Top 40 At Pop Radio; Demi Lovato's "29" Enters Top 50". Headline Planet. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  12. ^ "Demi Lovato Belts Out '29' As She Continues 'Tonight Show' Takeover". ET Canada. August 19, 2022. Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  13. ^ Stossel, Jared (September 23, 2022). "Demi Lovato Rages at "HOLY FVCK" Tour Stop in Sacramento: Review, Photos and Setlist". Consequence. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  14. ^ Aniftos, Rania (August 22, 2022). "Demi Lovato Delivers Impressive Live Performance of '29'". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ "Demi Lovato Holy Fvck". Sputnikmusic. August 19, 2022. Archived from the original on August 27, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  17. ^ Olson, Samantha (September 23, 2022). "These Are the 50 Best Songs of 2022 (So Far, Anyway)". Seventeen. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  18. ^ Ahlgrim, Callie (August 19, 2022). "Every song on Demi Lovato's new album 'Holy Fvck,' ranked from worst to best". Insider. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  19. ^ Daw, Stephen (August 19, 2022). "Every Song Ranked on Demi Lovato's 'Holy Fvck': Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  20. ^ Yeung, Neil (August 19, 2022). "Holy Fvck – Demi Lovato". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  21. ^ Swingle, Emily (August 19, 2022). "Demi Lovato – HOLY FVCK". Clash. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  22. ^ Brown, August; Draughorne, Kenan; Exposito, Suzy; Wood, Mikael (December 6, 2022). "The 100 best songs of 2022 (complete with playlist!)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  23. ^ Montgomery, Daniel; Rosen, Christopher; Davidson, Denton; Richmond, Ray; Eng, Joyce; Dixon, Marcus James (February 2, 2023). "2023 Gold Derby Music Awards winners: Taylor Swift leads with 8, Beyonce takes Album of the Year". Gold Derby. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  24. ^ "Demi Lovato & Five Finger Death Punch Crown Billboard's Rock Album Charts". Billboard. August 29, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  25. ^ "Holy Fvck Credits". Demi Lovato. Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  26. ^ "Demi Lovato Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  27. ^ "Demi Lovato Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  28. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 29, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  29. ^ "Demi Lovato Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  30. ^ "Demi Lovato Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  31. ^ "29 (Stripped) - Single by Demi Lovato". Apple Music. September 20, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
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