“I tried to talk to my piano / I tried to talk to my guitar / Talked to my imagination / Confided into alcohol.” For Grammy-nominated pop star Demi Lovato, she was literally looking for anyone to talk to and ultimately, save her. Lovato premiered the emotional, piano ballad “Anyone” at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. Essentially, the record, recorded days prior to her overdose, was a cry for help. “Anyone” seeks to atone for loneliness and being totally lost.
The aforementioned excerpts from the first verse paint a vivid portrait of a cry for help that seems to fall on deaf ears. “Tired of empty conversation,” she sings at the end of the verse, adding, “‘Cause no one hears me anymore.” On the briefer second verse, she notably sings, “I used to crave the world’s attention… I just need more affection.” Attention-seeking is common, whether it comes from the celebrity or everyday person perspective. The lyric in particular suggests a potentially catalyst for her downward spiral, as well as any downward spiral in general.
Still, perhaps the pre-chorus and chorus sections truly capture Lovato’s emptiness perfectly. “I feel stupid when I pray,” she sings towards the end of the pre-chorus, adding extra emphasis, “Why the fuck am I praying anyway? / If nobody’s listening.” Her faith seems to be dwindling. That’s when the cry for help becomes it’s most dynamic, on the centerpiece, the chorus:
“Anyone, please send me anyone
Lord, is there anyone?
I need someone.”
So much can be said about “Anyone.” It’s a record that shows the state of someone who was suffering not only mentally, but also physically by the effects of substances. Furthermore, it also speaks those of us who aren’t explicitly suffering to provide as much support as we can to help someone in need. Demi Lovato clearly needed help at the time – she’d went ‘bridge too far.’ That said, this particular song could be about any of us, in any number of devastating, life altering situations.
You can learn more about Demi Lovato here:
About The Curator - Brent Faulkner
Slightly eccentric with interests that seem to know no ends, restless ‘Renaissance Man’ is the best way to characterize Brent Faulkner, a native of Kentucky. A certified music educator, multi-instrumentalist, and composer known for his incredibly sharp ear, he lives and breathes music of a variety of styles. In addition to passion for educating, performing, and writing music, he’s equally passionate blogging and writing about it, managing his own site, The Musical Hype (https://themusicalhype.com). When he’s not intensely analyzing music, you can find him reading or watching a movie, reality television or some sporting event.