MC’s MUSIC LOUNGE: Demi Lovato's new single "Fast" is the first example of a reborn Demi and it’s a good time

After a couple of years away from music to focus on personal growth, Demi Lovato has made her return to pop and is ready to go full speed ahead – or “fast” if you will. Her new single “Fast” serves as the lead to her as-yet-untitled 9th studio album, and it’s expected to be her grandest pop record since 2015’s Confident. She may have had a funeral for her pop music back in 2022 but who doesn’t love a resurrection?

Along with the new music comes a sexier image – reminiscent of the styling she was leaning into during the 2017 promo run for the Tell Me You Love Me album era. Demi’s rocking the longer hair with sexy leather outfits that scream house diva in control of her sound and surroundings at all times. Whether it be strutting her stuff on social media, posing with fans in the club or her recent sighting at Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball, Demi has been serving c*nty pop singer through and through, and if we’ve learned anything about a pop era, it’s that the way a pop star carries themselves is almost always indicative of the type of music we will be receiving from them. Clearly Demi has realized she is in fact that bitch, THE Demi Lovato who can out-sing all her Disney Channel contemporaries. So far, the promotional tactics used for this era have been quite clever and show Demi both embracing and poking fun at herself for being one of the greatest internet memes of the last 10+ years. It’s easy to forget just how many memes miss Lovato is responsible for since we are bombarded with so many of them on an hour by hour basis – or however often you scroll through your Instagram feed. Let me refresh your memory: we have her favourite dish, the Disney knees, Poot Lovato, the Yogurt Shop, singing to a ghost and my personal favourite “get a job, stay away from her” – which seems to be her favourite as well since she is now selling official merchandise using that line. Demi even returned to the famous yogurt shop where that particular meme originated from and posed with fans who waited outside for an impromptu meet and greet, froyo in hand of course. Those who remember the ruckus that her yogurt shop comments made back in 2021 know just how iconic this is – we love a queen who can take her past embarrassing moments and turn them into profit. Work, bitch.

Keeping with the theme of Demi and her Disney Channel contemporaries, next week sees the release of the Jonas Brothers’ seventh studio album Greetings from Your Hometown. I’ve never been the biggest fan of the brothers musically; however, given their proximity to the music of my childhood I am always willing to give their releases a chance (even though they have a history of questionable performances). This week, along with Demi’s pop banger we also have goodies from YG & Leon Thomas, Lindsay Lohan, Tiwa Savage & Skepta and a new one from Chappell Roan. Plus, a viral pick straight out of the country-pop golden era that is 2003 courtesy of LeAnn Rimes.

Listen on…

MC’s PICKS OF THE WEEK

“Fast” by Demi Lovato

Obviously Demi has been missing the pop girlie sound because this new song has the melody of a 2015 Demi with a 90s house diva meets EDM twist. Demi recently talked about how she writes music based on where she’s at in her life – and given her recent nuptials, naturally she’s writing sexy love songs. “Fast” is the first example of the reborn Demi and it’s a good time. The song was co-written by Demi herself along with Chloe Angelides whom she worked with back in 2017 on the Tell Me You Love Me album. The instrumentals give serious video game background music with its whimsical undertones – some may find that a little corny but I love that type of sh*t. Remember how she keeps on using her past memes as promotional boosters? Well, the music video stays on theme, featuring her famous memes showcased on broken TV screens as she walks by in what seems like an apocalyptic situation. She’s serving though. At one point Demi finds herself on a dimly lit dancefloor walking through like Avril did in the “I’m With You” video – except Demi looks like she wants to be present at said party, lol. I don’t know if this is the sound that is going to take over radio stations in 2025, but it definitely has a life at gay clubs around the world just waiting for it to attach itself to. What’s most important is that Demi feels confident in her artistry and vocal delivery because say what you want about her, the girl can sing in a way that not many others can. She is a powerhouse through and through, and somewhere along the way people forgot that. This new song may not have the most range vocally, but there’s a time and place for everything. Certainly if she is going the house diva route this time around, there needs to be some shouting over a piano key or two. I’m counting on you, girl.

“LOVERS OR FRIENDS” by YG, Leon Thomas

Anytime I hear a musical nod to Michael Jackson, it’s an automatic play and save. Both the song and the accompanying video feature references to the King of Pop in some form. The video gives serious “Smooth Criminal” vibes with an actual Michael impersonator dancing some of the most recognizable MJ moves. Think “Black or White” video hair with “Dangerous World Tour” aesthetic. The entire thing being in black and white pushes the narrative even further, especially given Michael’s appreciation for black and white music videos throughout his career, especially in the ‘90s. The song itself has a bouncy feel with a very ‘90s R&B whistle on loop throughout – to me it sounds like the music that would play in the background when Moesha would write in her diary. A comforting sound that makes me feel nostalgic and groovy. YG’s new album The Gentlemen’s Club is set to hit streaming on October 3rd and with a title like that, you already know that he’s going to be dipping heavily into the grown and sophisticated aesthetic, suits and all. The lyrics ask a question about the line between love and friendship with a partner – the timing is interesting but we won’t go that deep right now. Just know that between the lyrical content and the Michael Jackson inspiration, this song has been on replay for the last 72 hours of my life. Leon Thomas shines on the hook with a velvety smooth vocal that is reminiscent of the heyday of ‘90s R&B and hip-hop collaborations. If this absolute hit of a song doesn’t crush it on both rhythmic and urban radio station formats, then we need to do some serious investigating.

“Baby” by Lindsay Lohan, Julia Butters

One of the shining jewels of the Freaky Friday universe is the music featured in the film. The two main songs from the 2003 film performed by the movie band Pink Slip have become millennial classics while simultaneously helping to launch the career of the film’s lead actress, Lindsay Lohan. Fast forward 22 years and the movie’s sequel sees Lindsay teaming up with her movie daughter Julia Butters for a new song, passing down the musical torch that has now been formed between Lindsay’s character Anna and the generations to come. Lindsay’s recognizable raspy tone is present throughout the song and blends well with Julia’s softer vocal. The track is featured three times throughout the film with the other two versions being performed by Lindsay solo, continuing the tradition of Lindsay having music in the film. For those of us who grew up with Lindsay’s albums Speak and A Little More Personal (RAW) in the mid-2000s, hearing her sing is both nostalgic and celebratory since there was a time not too long ago where Lindsay’s fate in Hollywood seemed uncertain – but boy did she ever pull a Robert Downey Jr. on us all. But Lindsay’s focus during her comeback is films; when asked about whether she will be returning to music she points to her sister, claiming she is the musician of the family. I’m all for keeping it within the family, but why do we all have to be deprived of Lindsay’s magic?! Regardless, at least this new song from Freakier Friday is here to give us a glimpse of the Lindsay we used to know while embracing the queen she has now become.

“On The Low” by Tiwa Savage, Skepta

Tiwa Savage is a longtime queen in the world of Afrobeats, crafting hits before the genre had a mainstream breakthrough a few years ago. She is now gearing up for the release of her fourth album and this laid-back vibey track is both emotional and sexy without crossing a line. Lyrically, she sings about the journey you take in a relationship before getting to the elusive “hard launch”, when you’re being more low-key and what you do to get to that next step. The song itself has a very low-key energy, like the majority of her songs – always a sure thing when you want to light a candle and just feel a calm, sexy spirit take control over your body. Skepta has a very 50 Cent-like flow on the track, and given my personal preference for all things 50 (at least where music is concerned) I’m here for it. They may not be Ja Rule and Ashanti, but there certainly is a chemistry between both artists and it makes for a great joint effort between the two of them. Skepta has been working on his follow-up record to 2019’s Ignorance Is Bliss for a while, and he’s not the only artist on this list who continues to take his time in between records (see: Chappell Roan). You can’t rush greatness as they say!

“The Subway” by Chappell Roan

Chappell, Chappell, Chappell. I never know where I stand with her because on one hand, I like the majority of her songs; but there’s just something that has always rubbed me the wrong way. Whether it be her unapologetic no filter approach to her interviews or maybe I’m just the one suffering from a case of bitter millennial missing Britney Spears-like pop stars. I could be the problem, but hey – as long as the music is good then everything else doesn’t seem so bad. “The Subway” is a dope song and most of the USA seems to agree with the song sitting pretty at the #1 spot on the Spotify charts at the time of writing. Don’t get it twisted though, this new release is not the beginning of a new era, which she makes very clear in her new interview with VOGUE. She makes her own rules, and that’s likely why a lot of her songs work – they are authentically her and it comes across. “The Subway” is Chappell tapping into the more emotional side of her songwriting, with a similar vibe as her hit “Casual”. A song about healing after a heartbreak, she has been performing it live for some time but had been hesitant to put out a studio version until now. While a new album may “not exist yet”, generally the better public reception a song receives after release, the quicker the artist will churn out some new tunes.

MC’s VIRAL PICK

“Life Goes On” by LeAnn Rimes

LeAnn has always been a constant in my life from her days singing “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” and that entire classic that is the Coyote Ugly soundtrack. Her contributions to that body of work alone is enough to earn her spot as a legend in my book. However, it’s not any of those hits that have gone viral, it’s instead one of her then-popular but generally forgotten Adult Contemporary radio hits from the early 2000s that is picking up steam on TikTok for its positive lyrics and generally upbeat and encouraging tempo. “Life Goes On” is one of those songs that just screams romantic comedy – think How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days type of music. It’s playing when said character has a big realization towards the third act of the film. The wind is blowing, the leaves are flying everywhere, she is the woman she always thought she was. The trend that has now become associated with the song is thanks to creator @katie.hulmee who recorded herself jamming out to the song in her car after she “was about to cry”, and attributes the song to helping uplift her. Well, clearly there’s a whole community of people who are in need of being uplifted because Katie’s TikTok of herself singing along to LeAnn has been used as its own sound close to 90,000 times and the numbers are rising. So much so that LeAnn herself has noticed, and “Life Goes On” is now pulling in more streams than LeAnn’s major hits like “I Need You” and “Blue”.

@katie.hulmee
She’s not wrong #carpool #cartherapy #musictherapy #relatable #lifegoeson #leannrimes #goodmusic #caraoke #carsinging #foryou #fyp #fyfy
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