Remember December (Demi Lovato song)
Encyclopedia
"Remember December" is a song performed by American singer–songwriter Demi Lovato
. It was written by Lovato, John Fields and Anne Preven
, and produced by Fields, for Lovato's second studio album, Here We Go Again (2009). Lovato has stated that she relates to the song personally more than her other songs and that her goal was to be able to dance to it. It was released as the album's second and final single on January 18, 2010 through Hollywood Records
. Musically, the song diverges from Lovato's usual pop rock
sound into more prominent power pop
and synthpop
, and the lyrics speak of a winter romance.
The song was met with generally positive reviews from critics, with the majority of them praising its pop hook
and chorus. "Remember December" achieved minor commercial success, peaking at number eighty on the UK Singles Chart
, while failing to chart elsewhere. The accompanying music video was directed by Tim Wheeler. Instead of having a love interest in the clip, Lovato chose to give it a girl empowerment theme. It features appearances by her Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam
co-stars.
, with production handled by Fields. It was recorded by Fields in Studio Wishbone in Los Angeles, California
. The song features Owsley
on guitar
s, synths
and backing vocals
, and Dorian Crozier
on drums. Tommy Barbarella
contributed synths, while Ken Chastain
handled percussion
. In an interview with MTV News
, Lovato elaborated, "I love this song for many reasons. It had a different sound than a lot of my songs. I related to it personally more than other songs, and I have so much fun with it. I thought if it could be a single that it would be incredible to perform it all the time." She said that the song is meant for "all her girls out there who need to remind guys that they messed up [the relationship]."
song, with 1980s pop influences. Patrick Varine of Nebraska City News-Press noted "a bit of techno" in the song. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Walt Disney Music Publishing
, the song is set in common time
with a metronome of 112 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of F minor
with Lovato's vocal range spanning from the note of E4 to the note of F5. Fraser McAlpine of BBC Music
referred the song's verses to as "moody synthpop
". The song begins with Lovato singing "I feel a separation coming on, Cos I know, you want to be moving on." Lyrically, the song is about a winter romance, with lines such as, "I remember us together / We promised that forever." While noting that the song is diverging from her usual pop rock
sound, Lovato stated, "What stands out about the song [is that] I can dance to it and rock out to it, which is ultimately my goal. I was just so excited when I heard this one, 'cause it's the epitome of where I want to go with the future."
, "but still fun, particularly when Lovato tears into hooky power pop like [...] “Remember December”." Erlewine also named the song one of the best tracks on the album. Cody Miller of PopMatters
was positive on the song, writing "When a real hook pops up, as on “Remember December”, Lovato really bites into it, belting and howling with enough melodrama and bravado to actually make one believe [the] lines." Fraser McAlpine of BBC Music
rated it four out of five stars, and wrote, "I'm sure there's a punkrock reason why we should all get together and hate it, but for the life of me I just can't. Even with the weird pronunciation and silly lyrics, this is a corker." McAlpine praised the chorus, calling it "grand", writing, "Someone in Team Lovato has been cocking an ear to the musical stylings of Paramore
, and maybe suggested that the next logical step after Camp Rock's wholesome Disneyfication
of popular song might be something a little more confessional."
Tamar Anitai of MTV Buzzworthy
named the track the fifth best song of 2009, calling it "the strongest and best" on Here We Go Again. Anitai wrote, "“Remember December” is a serious standout that quickly makes it point with Demi behind the wheel -- seriously speeding -- the whole time. It's the perfect showcase for Demi's way-beyond-her-years vocals and ability to sell a song without sugar-coating it." Nick Levine of Digital Spy
awarded it three out of five stars and said that it lacked "original ideas". He wrote, "as Veronicas
-lite pop-rock stompers go, this one does at least have a decent chorus. And, for that matter, a singer with better chops than our handy introduction would probably suggest." The song entered the UK Singles Chart
on the issue dated February 27, 2010 at number eighty, before dropping out the next week.
" (2008) and "Here We Go Again" (2009). The video premiered on November 12, 2009. It was later made available for download on the iTunes Store
on December 1, 2009. Lovato was interviewed by MTV News on the set of the music video, where she stated,
The video features appearances by Lovato's Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam
co-stars Meaghan Jette Martin
, Chloe Bridges and Anna Maria Perez de Taglé
. It begins with Lovato performing with her band. In cutscenes, she is seen sitting in a car with three friends, all four sporting beehive
hairstyles. Other cutscenes include Lovato wearing a glitter hooded sweatshirt while standing in front of bright lights. Later in the video, Lovato and her friends are walking down a street. The video ends with Lovato finishing the song on stage.
Source
Demi Lovato
"She’s got the range, the full emotional spectrum, incredible control… Vocally, she’s the best thing Disney’s had since Christina Aguilera."—Producer Toby Gad on Demi Lovato's vocals...
. It was written by Lovato, John Fields and Anne Preven
Anne Preven
Anne Preven is an American songwriter and musician, originally from New York. She has co-written songs for Beyoncé , Katy Perry, Madonna, Natalie Imbruglia, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Sinéad O'Connor, Charice, The Hush Sound, Jordin Sparks, Miranda Cosgrove, Black Veil Brides, Pnau, Pixie Lott,...
, and produced by Fields, for Lovato's second studio album, Here We Go Again (2009). Lovato has stated that she relates to the song personally more than her other songs and that her goal was to be able to dance to it. It was released as the album's second and final single on January 18, 2010 through Hollywood Records
Hollywood Records
Hollywood Records is an American record label owned by Disney Music Group, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company.-History:Hollywood Records was founded in 1989 by then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner with the idea of expanding the music operations of the company and to develop and promote...
. Musically, the song diverges from Lovato's usual pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
sound into more prominent power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
and synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
, and the lyrics speak of a winter romance.
The song was met with generally positive reviews from critics, with the majority of them praising its pop hook
Hook (music)
A hook is a musical idea, often a short riff, passage, or phrase, that is used in popular music to make a song appealing and to "catch the ear of the listener". The term generally applies to popular music, especially rock music, hip hop, dance music, and pop. In these genres, the hook is often...
and chorus. "Remember December" achieved minor commercial success, peaking at number eighty on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, while failing to chart elsewhere. The accompanying music video was directed by Tim Wheeler. Instead of having a love interest in the clip, Lovato chose to give it a girl empowerment theme. It features appearances by her Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam
Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam
Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam is a 2010 Disney Channel Original Movie and sequel to the 2008 film Camp Rock. Production commenced in August 2009 in Toronto, Ontario and at area summer camps. The movie premiered on on Disney Channel in the USA, along with a live simulcast on Radio Disney...
co-stars.
Background
"Remember December" was written by John Fields, Demi Lovato and Anne PrevenAnne Preven
Anne Preven is an American songwriter and musician, originally from New York. She has co-written songs for Beyoncé , Katy Perry, Madonna, Natalie Imbruglia, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Sinéad O'Connor, Charice, The Hush Sound, Jordin Sparks, Miranda Cosgrove, Black Veil Brides, Pnau, Pixie Lott,...
, with production handled by Fields. It was recorded by Fields in Studio Wishbone in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. The song features Owsley
Owsley (musician)
William Reese "Will" Owsley III , known professionally as Owsley, was an American singer-songwriter, best known as for his work as guitarist in Amy Grant's touring band. His solo albums won critical acclaim and one Grammy Award nomination...
on guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, synths
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
and backing vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
, and Dorian Crozier
Dorian Crozier
- Drummer :A session drummer whose credits include Pink, Miley Cyrus, The Jonas Brothers, the film Rent, Celine Dion, Backstreet Boys, and David Cook...
on drums. Tommy Barbarella
Tommy Barbarella
Tommy Barbarella is an American keyboardist. He was a member of The New Power Generation, Prince's recording and stage band, from 1991–1996.In 2010, Barbarella became a member of Nick Jonas and the Administration along with other former members of The New Power Generation, drummer Michael Bland...
contributed synths, while Ken Chastain
Ken Chastain
Kenneth Lee Chastain , is a musician, engineer, and producer currently living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is featured on percussion on Ziggy Marley's Love Is My Religion album and many other well-known artists' works...
handled percussion
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
. In an interview with MTV News
MTV News
MTV News is the news division of MTV, one of the first and most popular music television network in the U.S., as well as some of MTV's related channels around the world. MTV News began in the late 1980s with the program The Week In Rock, hosted by Kurt Loder, the first official MTV News correspondent...
, Lovato elaborated, "I love this song for many reasons. It had a different sound than a lot of my songs. I related to it personally more than other songs, and I have so much fun with it. I thought if it could be a single that it would be incredible to perform it all the time." She said that the song is meant for "all her girls out there who need to remind guys that they messed up [the relationship]."
Composition
"Remember December" is a power popPower pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
song, with 1980s pop influences. Patrick Varine of Nebraska City News-Press noted "a bit of techno" in the song. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Walt Disney Music Publishing
Walt Disney Music Company
Walt Disney Music Company is a U.S. music publisher. Part of The Walt Disney Company's Disney Music Group, the firm was founded in October 1949. It is based in Burbank, California, and is affiliated with the performance rights organisation ASCAP....
, the song is set in common time
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
with a metronome of 112 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of F minor
F minor
F minor is a minor scale based on F, consisting of the pitches F, G, A, B, C, D, and E. The harmonic minor raises the E to E. Its key signature has four flats ....
with Lovato's vocal range spanning from the note of E4 to the note of F5. Fraser McAlpine of BBC Music
BBC Music
BBC Music is a team working in the department of Audio and Music Interactive at the BBC. Responsible for the BBC Music website - the portal site to music content across the BBC website....
referred the song's verses to as "moody synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
". The song begins with Lovato singing "I feel a separation coming on, Cos I know, you want to be moving on." Lyrically, the song is about a winter romance, with lines such as, "I remember us together / We promised that forever." While noting that the song is diverging from her usual pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
sound, Lovato stated, "What stands out about the song [is that] I can dance to it and rock out to it, which is ultimately my goal. I was just so excited when I heard this one, 'cause it's the epitome of where I want to go with the future."
Reception
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic considered Here We Go Again "not quite as much fun", as Lovato's debut album Don't ForgetDon't Forget
Don't Forget is the debut studio album by American singer–songwriter Demi Lovato. The album was released on September 23, 2008 by Hollywood Records. Lovato co-wrote most of the songs with American boy band Jonas Brothers, who also co-produced several songs with John Fields...
, "but still fun, particularly when Lovato tears into hooky power pop like [...] “Remember December”." Erlewine also named the song one of the best tracks on the album. Cody Miller of PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
was positive on the song, writing "When a real hook pops up, as on “Remember December”, Lovato really bites into it, belting and howling with enough melodrama and bravado to actually make one believe [the] lines." Fraser McAlpine of BBC Music
BBC Music
BBC Music is a team working in the department of Audio and Music Interactive at the BBC. Responsible for the BBC Music website - the portal site to music content across the BBC website....
rated it four out of five stars, and wrote, "I'm sure there's a punkrock reason why we should all get together and hate it, but for the life of me I just can't. Even with the weird pronunciation and silly lyrics, this is a corker." McAlpine praised the chorus, calling it "grand", writing, "Someone in Team Lovato has been cocking an ear to the musical stylings of Paramore
Paramore
Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis, and guitarist Taylor York...
, and maybe suggested that the next logical step after Camp Rock's wholesome Disneyfication
Disneyfication
Disneyfication is a term which describes the transformation of something, usually society at large, to resemble The Walt Disney Company's theme parks. The latter term appears in Sharon Zukin's book, The Cultures of Cities , and was popularized by Alan Bryman in a 2004 book, The Disneyization of...
of popular song might be something a little more confessional."
Tamar Anitai of MTV Buzzworthy
MTV News
MTV News is the news division of MTV, one of the first and most popular music television network in the U.S., as well as some of MTV's related channels around the world. MTV News began in the late 1980s with the program The Week In Rock, hosted by Kurt Loder, the first official MTV News correspondent...
named the track the fifth best song of 2009, calling it "the strongest and best" on Here We Go Again. Anitai wrote, "“Remember December” is a serious standout that quickly makes it point with Demi behind the wheel -- seriously speeding -- the whole time. It's the perfect showcase for Demi's way-beyond-her-years vocals and ability to sell a song without sugar-coating it." Nick Levine of Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
awarded it three out of five stars and said that it lacked "original ideas". He wrote, "as Veronicas
The Veronicas
The Veronicas are an Australian electrorock, pop-punk and rock band. Twin sisters Jessica and Lisa Origliasso formed the band in 1999 in Brisbane. They have their own line of clothing which was released in 2007....
-lite pop-rock stompers go, this one does at least have a decent chorus. And, for that matter, a singer with better chops than our handy introduction would probably suggest." The song entered the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
on the issue dated February 27, 2010 at number eighty, before dropping out the next week.
Music video
The music video for "Remember December" was directed by Tim Wheeler, who co-directed the clips for Lovato's previous singles, "La La LandLa La Land (song)
"La La Land" is a song performed by American recording artist Demi Lovato. It was written by Lovato, Joe Jonas, Kevin Jonas II and Nick Jonas, and produced by the Jonas Brothers alongside John Fields, for Lovato's debut studio album, Don't Forget...
" (2008) and "Here We Go Again" (2009). The video premiered on November 12, 2009. It was later made available for download on the iTunes Store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
on December 1, 2009. Lovato was interviewed by MTV News on the set of the music video, where she stated,
The video features appearances by Lovato's Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam
Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam
Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam is a 2010 Disney Channel Original Movie and sequel to the 2008 film Camp Rock. Production commenced in August 2009 in Toronto, Ontario and at area summer camps. The movie premiered on on Disney Channel in the USA, along with a live simulcast on Radio Disney...
co-stars Meaghan Jette Martin
Meaghan Jette Martin
Meaghan Jette Martin is an American actress and singer, who is known for her role as Tess Tyler in the Disney Channel original movies Camp Rock and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam...
, Chloe Bridges and Anna Maria Perez de Taglé
Anna Maria Perez de Tagle
Anna Manria Francesca Enriquez Perez de Taglé is an American actress and singer. She is known for her roles as Ashley Dewitt on Hannah Montana and Ella Pador on Camp Rock and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam...
. It begins with Lovato performing with her band. In cutscenes, she is seen sitting in a car with three friends, all four sporting beehive
Beehive (hairstyle)
The Beehive is a woman's hairstyle that resembles a beehive; it is elegant and it is also known as the B-52, for its similarity to the bulbous nose of the B-52 Stratofortress bomber. It originated as one of a variety of elaborately teased and lacquered versions of "big hair" that developed from...
hairstyles. Other cutscenes include Lovato wearing a glitter hooded sweatshirt while standing in front of bright lights. Later in the video, Lovato and her friends are walking down a street. The video ends with Lovato finishing the song on stage.
Track listings
- CD single
- "Remember December" – 3:11
- "Remember December" (Sharp Boys Club Mix) – 6:18
- Digital download
- "Remember December" – 3:12
- Digital EP
- "Remember December" – 3:12
- "Remember December" (Sharp Boys Club Mix) – 6:19
- "Remember December" (Sharp Boys Radio Edit) – 3:48
Credits and personnel
- Demi LovatoDemi Lovato"She’s got the range, the full emotional spectrum, incredible control… Vocally, she’s the best thing Disney’s had since Christina Aguilera."—Producer Toby Gad on Demi Lovato's vocals...
– songwriting, vocals - John Fields – songwriting, production, bass, guitars, keyboards, programming
- Will OwsleyOwsley (musician)William Reese "Will" Owsley III , known professionally as Owsley, was an American singer-songwriter, best known as for his work as guitarist in Amy Grant's touring band. His solo albums won critical acclaim and one Grammy Award nomination...
– guitars, synthesizers, vocals - Dorian CrozierDorian Crozier- Drummer :A session drummer whose credits include Pink, Miley Cyrus, The Jonas Brothers, the film Rent, Celine Dion, Backstreet Boys, and David Cook...
– drums - Michael BlandMichael BlandMichael Bland is best known as a drummer for Prince starting in 1989. He was with Prince during The New Power Generation era and played with him live and on albums for 7 years....
– programming - Tommy BarbarellaTommy BarbarellaTommy Barbarella is an American keyboardist. He was a member of The New Power Generation, Prince's recording and stage band, from 1991–1996.In 2010, Barbarella became a member of Nick Jonas and the Administration along with other former members of The New Power Generation, drummer Michael Bland...
– synthesizer - Ken ChastainKen ChastainKenneth Lee Chastain , is a musician, engineer, and producer currently living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is featured on percussion on Ziggy Marley's Love Is My Religion album and many other well-known artists' works...
– percussion, programming
Source
Charts
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (The Official Charts Company) | 80 |
Release history
| Country | Release date | Format(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Denmark | January 18, 2010 | Digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
| Finland | ||
| Sweden | ||
| United Kingdom | February 11, 2010 | |
| Norway | February 15, 2010 | |
| United Kingdom | CD single |