| "Remember December" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Demi Lovato | ||||
| from the album Here We Go Again | ||||
| Released | January 18, 2010 | |||
| Format | CD single, digital download | |||
| Recorded | 2009; Studio Wishbone (Los Angeles, California) |
|||
| Genre | Power pop, synthpop | |||
| Length | 3:12 | |||
| Label | Hollywood | |||
| Writer(s) | Demi Lovato, Anne Preven, John Fields | |||
| Producer | John Fields | |||
| Demi Lovato singles chronology | ||||
|
||||
"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. It was not released in the US. 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.
Contents |
"Remember December" was written by John Fields, Demi Lovato and Anne Preven, with production handled by Fields.[1] It was recorded by Fields in Studio Wishbone in Los Angeles, California.[1] The song features Owsley on guitars, synths and backing vocals, and Dorian Crozier on drums.[1] Tommy Barbarella contributed synths, while Ken Chastain handled percussion.[1] 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."[2] She said that the song is meant for "all her girls out there who need to remind guys that they messed up [the relationship]."[2]
"Remember December" is a power pop song,[3] with 1980s pop influences.[4] Patrick Varine of Nebraska City News-Press noted "a bit of techno" in the song.[5] 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 E♭4 to the note of F5.[6] Fraser McAlpine of BBC Music referred the song's verses to as "moody synthpop".[7] The song begins with Lovato singing "I feel a separation coming on, Cos [sic] I know, you want to be moving on."[7] Lyrically, the song is about a winter romance, with lines such as, "I remember us together / We promised that forever."[5][8] 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."[2]
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic considered Here We Go Again "not quite as much fun", as Lovato's debut album Don't Forget, "but still fun, particularly when Lovato tears into hooky power pop like [...] “Remember December”."[3] Erlewine also named the song one of the best tracks on the album.[3] Cody Miller of PopMatters was positive regarding 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."[8] 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."[7] 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."[7]
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.[9] 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."[9] 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."[10] The song entered the UK Singles Chart on the issue dated February 27, 2010 at number eighty, before dropping out the next week.[11]
The music video for "Remember December" was directed by Tim Wheeler, who co-directed the clips for Lovato's previous singles, "La La Land" (2008) and "Here We Go Again" (2009).[12] The video premiered on November 12, 2009.[2] It was later made available for download on the iTunes Store on December 1, 2009.[13] Lovato was interviewed by MTV News on the set of the music video, where she stated,
| “ | The music video relates to the song in a way that a girl has so much to say to the guy, and it feels like he's not listening, and she wants him to remember everything that they had. And so instead of having a love interest in this video, it's all about being fierce and kind of, like, taking control as a girl. It's like girl empowerment. Yeah, divas![2] | ” |
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[1]
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[11] | 80 |
| Country | Release date | Format(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Denmark[16] | January 18, 2010 | Digital download |
| Finland[17] | ||
| Sweden[15] | ||
| United Kingdom[16] | February 11, 2010 | |
| Norway[18] | February 15, 2010 | |
| United Kingdom[14] | CD single |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||