"Sober"
Single by Demi Lovato
ReleasedJune 21, 2018 (2018-06-21)
RecordedMay 2018
Length3:17
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Demi Lovato singles chronology
"Solo"
(2018) 		"Sober"
(2018) 		"Anyone"
(2020)
Lyric video
"Sober" on YouTube

"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.[1] Lovato revealed in the song that she had relapsed after six years of sobriety.[2] A month after the song's release, Lovato was hospitalized due to an overdose.[3]

Commercially, the song reached the top 40 in Ireland, Portugal and Hungary, and was certified gold in the United States and Portugal.

Recording

The track was written and recorded during the 2018 Bali Invitational songwriting camp. Lovato set up a house with songwriters Romans, Apte and Landon in three writing rooms. "I feel like we created such a safe place for that song to happen and she was so brutally honest about everything," revealed Apte in an interview.[4]

Release and promotion

"Sober" premiered on June 21, 2018, and was released commercially for digital download at the same time. The lyric video begins with various clips of Lovato, including one where she is holding a wine glass, followed by footage of an ambulance.[5] In an Instagram post, the singer teased the track with a clip of a lyric video and a short caption that read, "My truth." [6]

Live performances

Lovato first performed the song during her show at Rock in Rio in Lisbon, on June 24, 2018.[7] She subsequently performed the song during the Tell Me You Love Me World Tour after "Warrior" was performed, during the shows in London and Birmingham.[8][9] An orchestral version of the song was arranged and directed by the composer Alfredo Sirica.

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Qobuz.[10]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Sober"
Chart (2018) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[11] 50
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[12] 48
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[13] 74
France (SNEP)[14] 90
Greece Digital Singles (IFPI Greece)[15][failed verification] 52
Hungary (Single Top 40)[16] 20
Ireland (IRMA)[17] 34
Italy (Musica e dischi)[18] 33
New Zealand Heatseekers (RMNZ)[19] 1
Portugal (AFP)[20] 29
Scotland (OCC)[21] 24
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[22] 52
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[23] 83
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] 61
UK Singles (OCC)[25] 63
US Billboard Hot 100[26] 47

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Sober"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[27] Platinum 70,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[28] Gold 45,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[29] Gold 5,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[30] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[31] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Sober - Single by Demi Lovato". iTunes Store (US). June 21, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  2. ^ Pasquini, Maria (June 21, 2018). "Iggy Azalea Is 'Proud' of Friend Demi Lovato for 'Having the Guts' to Reveal Sobriety Relapse". People. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  3. ^ Respers France, Lisa; Melas, Chloe (August 1, 2018). "Everything we know about Demi Lovato's apparent overdose". CNN. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  4. ^ Reid, Poppy (November 16, 2018). "Revealed: The Australian songwriter behind the Zayn ft. Nicki Minaj track". The Industry Observer. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  5. ^ "Demi Lovato says she's 'not sober anymore' on new single". BBC (UK). June 21, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  6. ^ Gonzalez, Sandra (June 21, 2018). "Demi Lovato opens up about relapse in candid single 'Sober'". CNN (US). Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  7. ^ "Demi Lovato vai às lágrimas ao cantar 'Sober' no Rock in Rio Lisboa". Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  8. ^ "Demi Lovato review – candour and bloodletting, teen-pop style". Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  9. ^ "Demi Lovato at Birmingham Arena, UK - 29th June 2018". Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  10. ^ "Sober – Demi Lovato – Download and listen to the album". Qobuz. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  11. ^ "Demi Lovato – Sober". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  12. ^ "Demi Lovato Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  13. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201826 into search. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  14. ^ "Demi Lovato – Sober" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  15. ^ "Official IFPI Charts-Digital Singles Chart" (in Greek). Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  16. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  17. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Demi Lovato". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  18. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved May 30, 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Demi Lovato".
  19. ^ "NZ Heatseeker Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 2, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  20. ^ "Demi Lovato – Sober". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  21. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  22. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201826 into search. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  23. ^ "Demi Lovato – Sober". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  24. ^ "Demi Lovato – Sober". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  25. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  26. ^ "Demi Lovato Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  27. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  28. ^ "Danish single certifications – Demi Lovato – Sober". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  29. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Demi Lovato – Sober" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  30. ^ "British single certifications – Demi Lovato – Sober". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  31. ^ "American single certifications – Demi Lovato – Sober". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 23, 2019.

External links

Demi Lovato
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