Revamped
Revamped (stylized as REVAMPED) is a remix album by American singer Demi Lovato, released on September 15, 2023, through Island Records, featuring rock versions of ten of her prior hit songs.[1][2] The project reworks pop and ballad tracks from albums spanning her career into heavier rock arrangements, incorporating electric guitars, driving drums, and amplified vocals to align with Lovato's recent pivot toward rock music after her 2022 release Holy Fvck.[3][4] Key tracks include "Heart Attack (Rock Version)" as the lead single, alongside reinterpretations of "Confident", "Cool for the Summer", "Sorry Not Sorry", and "Skyscraper", with guest appearances such as The Maine on "Neon Lights (Rock Version)".[5][6] Critics praised the album's raw energy and Lovato's powerful delivery in live-wire settings, though some found the transformations uneven in elevating original pop structures to authentic rock anthems.[7][8] The release underscores Lovato's artistic evolution, blending her established catalog with genre experimentation amid her history of personal and vocal challenges.[9]Background and Development
Conception in Lovato's Career Shift
Demi Lovato's conception of Revamped stemmed from her broader pivot toward rock music, initiated with the 2022 album Holy Fvck, which marked a departure from her earlier pop-dominated catalog toward harder rock and pop-punk influences rooted in her initial releases like Don't Forget (2008). This shift was driven by Lovato's desire to align her sound with personal evolution, including sobriety and a reconnection to edgier musical origins, prompting experimentation with heavier instrumentation during live performances. The Revamped project specifically arose during the Holy Fvck Tour in 2022, where Lovato found that her longstanding pop hits clashed sonically with the tour's rock-oriented setlist, leading her to improvise rock arrangements onstage to better integrate them.[10] These live adaptations proved resonant with audiences, inspiring Lovato to formalize the concept into a studio album reimagining ten of her major hits—such as "Cool for the Summer" and "Sorry Not Sorry"—in rock style, thereby bridging her past commercial successes with her emerging rock identity. In a July 2023 interview, Lovato described the process as a natural extension of her genre exploration, emphasizing how the reworkings allowed her to "reconnect" with the material through a lens of personal growth and musical authenticity.[11] The album's development thus encapsulated Lovato's career transition, transforming potential setlist liabilities into opportunities for artistic reinvention, with recording commencing post-tour to capture the energy of those impromptu performances.[10] This initiative reflected broader industry trends of artists revisiting catalogs amid stylistic evolutions, but for Lovato, it served as a pragmatic response to performative challenges, underscoring her adaptability amid a rock phase that contrasted sharply with the dance-pop eras yielding hits like those on Confident (2015) and Tell Me You Love Me (2017). Despite the enthusiasm, subsequent reflections in 2025 indicated the rock direction faced commercial hurdles, yet Revamped's origins remained tied to authentic live experimentation rather than retroactive narrative fitting.[12]Announcement and Pre-Release Context
Demi Lovato announced the remix album Revamped on July 14, 2023, through social media platforms, coinciding with the release of the lead promotional single "Sorry Not Sorry (Rock Version)" featuring guitarist Slash.[11][13] The project, scheduled for release on September 15, 2023, via Island Records, comprises rock-oriented re-recordings of nine tracks from Lovato's earlier pop-oriented discography, reflecting a continuation of her pivot toward rock aesthetics initiated with the 2022 album Holy Fvck.[14][15] Prior to the announcement, Lovato had teased the rock shift by issuing standalone rock versions of "Cool for the Summer" on July 1, 2022, and "Heart Attack" on November 4, 2022, both produced by Warren "Oak" Felder and aligned with performances during the Holy Fvck Tour.[14] These pre-release singles built anticipation, with the full tracklist—encompassing reimaginings of songs like "Confident," "La La Land," and "Father"—revealed shortly after the announcement to highlight the album's focus on heavier instrumentation and guitar-driven arrangements.[13] Pre-orders opened immediately, emphasizing digital and vinyl formats to engage fans amid Lovato's ongoing tour schedule.[15] In statements accompanying the reveal, Lovato described the effort as a deliberate reenvisioning: "I love revisiting these past moments in my career. We've done a great job of reenvisioning the songs and I can’t wait for everyone to hear the collection."[11] This pre-release phase underscored Lovato's intent to bridge her pop success with rock influences, drawing collaborations like Slash's to amplify authenticity in the genre transition, though some observers noted the covers' reliance on established hits rather than original material.[14][13] Production Process
Recording and Remixing Techniques
The production of Revamped centered on re-recording select tracks from Demi Lovato's catalog, rather than remixing existing masters, to adapt pop-oriented songs into rock arrangements. This process began during preparations for the 2022 Holy Fvck Tour, where Lovato identified mismatches between her original pop hits and the rock setlist, prompting full re-recordings to align with her evolving style. Lovato supplied producers with a preliminary list of songs, which was refined to ten tracks, including "Sorry Not Sorry," "Confident," and "Heart Attack," prioritizing those that could sustain a rock reinterpretation while preserving core melodic structures.[10][16] Vocal recording emphasized Lovato's range and power, with new takes designed to showcase belting techniques and extended high notes absent from the originals; Lovato noted that "we added an extra high note on every track" to heighten emotional intensity and suit the rock aesthetic. Instrumentation was rebuilt from scratch, incorporating electric guitars, heavier drums, and dynamic builds to evoke live energy, as seen in contributions like Slash's guitar solo on "Sorry Not Sorry (Rock Version)," which replaced synth-driven elements with amplified riffs. Warren "Oak" Felder handled primary production across the album, focusing on updated arrangements that retained lyrical familiarity but shifted tempos and textures for grit, with sessions conducted at Su Casa Recording in Los Angeles, where tracking and mixing occurred to ensure cohesive sonic punch.[17][13][18] Mixing techniques prioritized vocal forefronting amid denser rock layers, avoiding over-processing to maintain raw authenticity, though some critics observed inconsistencies in balance that suggested challenges in blending pop roots with harder edges. Lovato intentionally limited alterations during re-recording to "keep the same feel that we all know and love, but with a rock twist," ensuring recognizability while adapting causal elements like rhythm sections for propulsion suited to arena performances. This approach contrasted with mere stem remixing, as full band simulations and fresh performances were employed to recapture the tracks' commercial viability in a rock context.[19][16][20]Key Collaborators and Contributions
 Warren "Oak" Felder served as the primary producer for Revamped, overseeing production, programming, keyboards, bass, and engineering on multiple tracks, drawing from his prior collaborations with Lovato on hits like those from the Tell Me You Love Me era.[21] Alex Niceforo and Keith Sorrells (credited as Ten4) acted as co-producers, with Sorrells also handling mixing duties to adapt the original pop structures into rock arrangements.[22][2] Scooter Braun contributed as executive producer, guiding the project's alignment with Lovato's evolving rock direction.[2] Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash provided lead guitar work on the rock version of "Sorry Not Sorry," adding shredding riffs and solos that amplified the track's aggressive edge, released as the lead single on July 14, 2023.[14][23] Nita Strauss, known for her tenure with Alice Cooper and as a touring guitarist for Lovato, delivered precise, high-energy guitar licks on "La La Land," enhancing its rock reinvention with technical flair.[24] The Maine collaborated on "Neon Lights," infusing the remix with their pop-punk energy through additional vocals and instrumentation, transforming the club anthem into a live-wire rock staple.[24][6] John Feldmann contributed production on select tracks, leveraging his punk-rock expertise to refine the heavier sonic elements, while mastering was handled by Will Quinnell at Sterling Sound for polished output across formats.[6][22] These contributions collectively shifted Lovato's catalog toward hard rock territory, emphasizing electric guitars, driving rhythms, and raw vocal deliveries over the originals' electronic production.[25]Musical Composition and Style
Overall Structure and Rock Reimaginings
Revamped is structured as a ten-track album featuring rock versions of selected hits from Demi Lovato's earlier discography, released on September 15, 2023.[13] The tracklist opens with "Heart Attack (Rock Version)" from her 2013 album Demi, followed by "Confident (Rock Version)" from the 2015 self-titled album, "Sorry Not Sorry (Rock Version)" from Tell Me You Love Me (2017), "Cool for the Summer (Rock Version)" from the 2015 album, "Body Say (Rock Version)" also from 2015, "La La Land (Rock Version)" from Don't Forget (2008), "Don't Forget (Rock Version)" from the same 2008 album, "Tell Me You Love Me (Rock Version)" from 2017, "Neon Lights (Rock Version)" featuring The Maine from Demi (2013), and closes with "Skyscraper (Rock Version)" from Here We Go Again (2009).[26] This selection draws from albums spanning 2008 to 2017, prioritizing commercially successful singles without adhering to a strict chronological order, resulting in a non-narrative compilation that highlights key phases of her pop career.[27] The rock reimaginings transform the originals' pop and electronic elements into heavier, guitar-driven arrangements, incorporating distorted electric guitars, prominent bass lines, and intensified percussion to evoke nu-metal and alternative rock influences.[14] For instance, "Sorry Not Sorry (Rock Version)" features a guest guitar solo by Slash, adding shredding leads and wah-wah effects that amplify the track's defiant tone beyond its hip-hop-infused original.[27] Similarly, "Neon Lights (Rock Version)" integrates The Maine's contributions for layered harmonies and punk-edged rhythms, shifting the synth-pop base to a more aggressive, live-band sound.[2] Lovato's vocals are delivered with raspy, belted intensities suited to rock dynamics, often layered with backing screams or ad-libs to enhance emotional rawness, as heard in the revamped "Skyscraper," where piano balladeering yields to power chord progressions and soaring choruses.[9] These adaptations reflect Lovato's post-2022 pivot toward rock aesthetics, following her Holy Fvck album, by retrofitting past material to align with harder-edged production without altering core lyrics or themes.[24]Instrumentation and Vocal Adaptations
The Revamped EP reimagines Demi Lovato's previous pop tracks with rock-oriented instrumentation, replacing synth-heavy and electronic elements with prominent electric guitars, robust bass lines, and intensified drum patterns to evoke a harder-edged sound.[14][1] Producers Warren "Oak" Felder, Keith "Ten4" Sorrells, and Alex Nice updated the arrangements, incorporating sharp guitar riffs that drive tracks like "Sorry Not Sorry (Rock Version)" and "Cool for the Summer (Rock Version)".[28] Slash's guest appearance on "Sorry Not Sorry" adds a distinctive guitar solo after the bridge, enhancing the track's rock authenticity with layered shredding and sustained notes.[29][27] Vocal adaptations feature entirely new recordings by Lovato, delivered with a grittier, more mature timbre that aligns with her shift toward rock aesthetics following vocal cord recovery and stylistic evolution.[30][29] These performances emphasize belted highs and raspy inflections, particularly evident in "Heart Attack (Rock Version)", where Lovato's enhanced vocal power sustains the intensified arrangement without strain.[14] The updated vocals convey greater emotional rawness, contrasting the smoother, pop-polished deliveries of the originals, and are layered with background harmonies to amplify the live-band feel.[28][29]Promotion and Release
Marketing Strategies and Singles
Revamped's promotion emphasized the release of three rock reimaginings as singles prior to the EP's launch on September 15, 2023, to highlight Lovato's transition to rock and leverage her established pop hits for crossover appeal.[14] The first single, "Heart Attack (Rock Version)," was issued on March 24, 2023, transforming the 2013 pop ballad into a heavier track with amplified guitars and drums, aiming to reintroduce the song to audiences through a genre shift.[13] Followed by "Cool for the Summer (Rock Version)" on May 25, 2023, which retained the original's energetic vibe but incorporated edgier instrumentation to signal the project's direction.[11] The third single, "Sorry Not Sorry (Rock Version)" featuring guitarist Slash, debuted on July 14, 2023, coinciding with the album announcement, and featured Slash's distinctive guitar solo to draw rock enthusiasts and expand reach beyond Lovato's core fanbase.[14] This collaboration was strategically highlighted in promotional materials, including social media posts and press releases, to underscore the EP's authentic rock production.[28] Marketing efforts included interviews where Lovato discussed the creative rationale, such as reimagining tracks to reflect her evolving musical identity post-Holy Fvck, fostering narrative continuity from her 2022 rock album.[17] The strategy relied on digital platforms for announcements, with the full tracklist and cover art revealed via Instagram on July 14, 2023, generating immediate fan engagement through shares and previews.[31] No large-scale television or print ad campaigns were prominently reported; instead, the focus was on organic buzz from single releases and live teases during tours, aligning with Lovato's direct-to-fan approach amid her management change from Scooter Braun earlier in 2023.[17] This phased rollout built anticipation, peaking with the EP's drop, though it did not yield significant chart breakthroughs for the singles on mainstream rock or pop lists.[32]Release Formats and Distribution
Revamped was released on September 15, 2023, by Island Records, a division of Universal Music Group (UMG) Recordings.[6][1] The album comprises 10 tracks featuring rock reimaginings of Lovato's prior hits, distributed in both digital and physical formats to global markets via standard music retail and streaming channels.[2][5] Digital distribution occurred through major platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music, offering downloads in formats such as FLAC at 24-bit/48 kHz resolution for high-quality audio alongside standard MP3 streaming.[2][5][1] Physical editions included a standard compact disc (CD) in a jewel case with the full 10-track listing and a black vinyl LP in a single-pocket jacket, both limited to four units per customer at official outlets to manage initial stock.[26][33] These physical releases were made available through retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, and Rough Trade, emphasizing accessibility for collectors amid the album's niche rock pivot.[34][35][36] No deluxe or expanded editions were issued at launch, with distribution focused on core formats to align with the project's promotional tie-in to Lovato's Holy Fvck Tour, where live rock renditions had debuted the material.[11] Pre-orders for signed CDs and vinyl were offered via Lovato's official store, but no exclusive platform deals or regional variations were reported.[37]Commercial Performance
Chart Positions and Metrics
Upon its release on September 15, 2023, Revamped debuted and peaked at number 7 on the Billboard 200 chart, marking Demi Lovato's eighth consecutive top-10 entry on the ranking.[38][39] The album also reached number 1 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart and number 4 on the Top Alternative Albums chart, reflecting its alignment with rock reimaginings.[38] It further entered the Top Album Sales chart at number 5, driven primarily by physical and digital sales in its debut week. Internationally, Revamped achieved modest chart placements. In Canada, it debuted at number 7 on the iTunes Albums chart.[40] The album peaked at number 20 on the Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders region) and entered several European territories, including number 60 on the French Albums Chart.[41][32] In the United Kingdom, it registered on the Official Albums Chart but did not reach the top 40, consistent with limited streaming and sales momentum outside North America.[42]| Chart (2023) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Billboard 200 (US) | 7 |
| Top Rock Albums (US) | 1 |
| Top Alternative Albums (US) | 4 |
| Top Album Sales (US) | 5 |
| Canadian iTunes Albums | 7 |
| Belgian Albums (Flanders) | 20 |
| French Albums | 60 |
Sales, Streaming, and Certifications
Revamped sold 11,000 pure copies in its first week of release in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan data reported by Billboard.[43] This figure reflects physical and digital album sales, excluding streaming equivalent units, and marked the album's second top-five entry on the Top Album Sales chart following Holy Fvck in 2022. Total equivalent album units or cumulative sales figures beyond the debut week have not been publicly detailed by industry trackers. On streaming platforms, the album reached over 70 million plays on Spotify by May 2024, driven primarily by rock reinterpretations of tracks like "Cool for the Summer" and "Sorry Not Sorry."[44] Specific streaming metrics from Apple Music or other services remain unreported in aggregate for the project. The album has not received any certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) or the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) as of October 2025, consistent with its modest physical sales performance relative to Lovato's prior full-length releases.[45] No international certifications from bodies such as Music Canada or IFPI affiliates have been announced.Reception and Analysis
Critical Evaluations
Critical reception to Revamped, Demi Lovato's 2023 EP of rock reinterpretations of her earlier pop hits, has been generally favorable but mixed, with an aggregate Metacritic score of 74 out of 100 based on six reviews.[46] Critics praised the project's amplification of Lovato's vocal power through heavier instrumentation, including electric guitars and drums, which transformed tracks like "Cool for the Summer" and "Confident" into arena-ready anthems featuring guest artists such as Slash on the former.[9] AllMusic awarded it 3.5 out of 5 stars (equivalent to 70/100), noting the EP's success in delivering "raw energy" and suiting Lovato's belting style to rock arrangements, though it critiqued the brevity of the six-track format as limiting deeper exploration. Several reviewers highlighted the EP's role in Lovato's evolving artistic identity, post her 2022 rock album Holy Fvck, viewing the re-recordings as a bold reclamation of past material to align with her current harder-edged persona.[47] Page Six described it as ushering in Lovato's "boldest era yet," emphasizing how the rock versions infuse brashness and live-wire intensity into originals, enhancing themes of empowerment in songs like "Skyscraper."[7] Riff Magazine commended the reworkings for digging "deeper into the rock and roll world," with production by Warren Huart providing polished yet aggressive sonics that elevate Lovato's hits without straying far from their melodic cores.[24] However, detractors argued that the EP adds limited artistic merit beyond superficial genre shifts, questioning its authenticity as genuine rock evolution. The Line of Best Fit rated it 4 out of 10, faulting the transformations for lacking the "cathartic" depth of Lovato's prior rock pivot and resembling more a marketing exercise than organic reinvention, as the originals' pop structures remain dominant despite added distortion.[25] Music Matters Media observed that while the sharpening of past hits via rock elements showcases Lovato's versatility, the absence of new compositions undermines claims of a full stylistic commitment, rendering it a nostalgic remix rather than innovative.[48] Overall, evaluations underscore the EP's commercial appeal in bridging Lovato's fanbase to her rock phase but debate its depth, with some outlets like PopMatters affirming its reflective purpose in mirroring her personal growth through updated self-presentation.[9]Public and Fan Responses
Fans responded positively to the rock reinterpretations on Revamped, with many citing the EP's origins in live performances during the Holy Fvck Tour, where audiences cheered the heavier arrangements of pop hits like "Cool for the Summer" and "Confident."[11][49] This enthusiasm prompted Lovato to record and release the versions, as they noted fans' strong approval contrasted with the challenges of blending rock elements into original pop sets.[11] User-generated reviews reflected a generally favorable reception among listeners, with an average score of 61 out of 100 on Album of the Year based on 479 ratings, where commenters highlighted the modernized sound and Lovato's vocal power fitting the genre shift.[50] Fans on platforms like YouTube and music blogs described the tracks as "overwhelming but in the best possible way," praising the emotional energy and instrumental satisfaction, though some noted mixed results in fully transforming lighter originals into rock anthems.[29][8] Public discourse emphasized the EP's appeal to crossover audiences, with streaming data showing 1.63 million global Spotify streams on debut day and accumulation exceeding 70 million by May 2024, indicating sustained fan engagement despite not matching Lovato's peak pop-era metrics.[51][44] Overall, responses underscored appreciation for the bold evolution, aligning with Lovato's post-recovery artistic pivot toward rock authenticity.[9]Controversies and Critiques
Authenticity and Genre Purity Debates
The authenticity of Demi Lovato's rock-oriented re-recordings on Revamped, released on September 15, 2023, has fueled discussions among critics regarding whether the album represents a genuine genre evolution or a superficial stylistic overlay. Supporters cite Lovato's collaborations with established rock musicians, including Slash's guitar work on "Sorry Not Sorry (Rock Version)" and Nita Strauss's contributions both on the album and in her touring band, as bolstering the project's credibility within rock circles.[52][53][10] These elements, alongside Lovato's history of incorporating rock influences from her early career, are seen by some as affirming a consistent artistic trajectory rather than a abrupt pivot.[24] Critics, however, have argued that the rock adaptations lack depth, describing them as transforming "generic pop music" into "formulaic rock music" with merely a "vague electronic-rock sheen," devoid of the "substance and authenticity" evident in her preceding rock album Holy Fvck.[25] Reviews pointed to specific tracks like "Confident" and "Sorry Not Sorry" as "underwhelming and overproduced," suggesting missed opportunities for bolder instrumentation and rawer vocal delivery that could elevate the material beyond pop-rock hybridity.[25] Such assessments imply a dilution of rock's genre purity, where structural pop foundations undermine the edgier, cathartic qualities expected in authentic hard rock expressions. Further contention arises from perceptions that certain reimaginings feel "alien" or mismatched in their rock framing, potentially alienating listeners accustomed to the originals and questioning the artistic merit of revisiting past hits without substantial innovation.[54][55] Despite guest appearances from rock notables, detractors maintain that these do not fully compensate for an overall artificiality in the genre shift, rating the effort lowly at 4/10 and lamenting its failure to push boundaries aggressively.[25] In contrast, affirming voices emphasize the album's role in concretizing Lovato's rock persona, dismissing authenticity concerns as overlooking her personal growth and vocal prowess adapted to heavier arrangements.[24]Production and Vocal Execution Issues
Critics and audio professionals have pointed to several technical shortcomings in the production of Revamped, released on September 15, 2023, primarily related to mixing and mastering choices that prioritize loudness over clarity and dynamics. Discussions among audio engineers highlighted the album's sound as boxy, muddy, and muffled, with excessive compression leading to a lack of punch and audible artifacts such as pumping during drum hits. Measurements indicated an integrated loudness of -5.2 LUFS, reflecting aggressive brickwall limiting that flattens the dynamic range, a practice reminiscent of the "loudness wars" but resulting in diminished musicality. Instruments, including drums and guitars, were described as sounding synthetic or weak, undermining the intended rock aesthetic despite contributions from producers like Warren "Oak" Felder.[56] Vocal execution faced scrutiny for perceived inconsistencies in control and processing. Some reviewers noted excessive distortion effects on Lovato's vocals, which occasionally overshadowed the raw power of her delivery and contributed to a cluttered mix on tracks like those reworking pop hits into rock formats. User feedback on music forums suggested potential lapses in vocal control, exacerbated by production decisions such as ducking—where vocals dip unnaturally during instrumental peaks—leading to reduced intelligibility. While Lovato aimed to improve vocal performances over originals, as stated in pre-release interviews, these elements were seen by some as failing to fully realize the album's genre pivot, with comb filtering and quantization artifacts further compromising clarity.[55][57]Track Listing and Credits
Standard Track Listing
The standard edition of Revamped, released on September 15, 2023, features ten tracks comprising rock versions of selected singles from Demi Lovato's earlier albums.[6] These re-recordings incorporate heavier instrumentation, including electric guitars and guest appearances by rock musicians.[2] The track listing is as follows:| No. | Title | Featured artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Heart Attack (Rock Version)" | None | 3:58 |
| 2 | "Confident (Rock Version)" | None | 3:25 |
| 3 | "Sorry Not Sorry (Rock Version)" | Slash | 3:34 |
| 4 | "Cool for the Summer (Rock Version)" | None | 3:32 |
| 5 | "Tell Me You Love Me (Rock Version)" | None | 3:47 |
| 6 | "Neon Lights (Rock Version)" | The Maine | 3:52 |
| 7 | "Skyscraper (Rock Version)" | None | 3:33 |
| 8 | "La La Land (Rock Version)" | Nita Strauss | 3:14 |
| 9 | "Give Your Heart a Break (Rock Version)" | Bert McCracken | 3:20 |
| 10 | "Don't Forget (Rock Version)" | None | 3:34 |