Here We Go Again (Demi Lovato song)

Background

Lovato released her debut studio album, Don't Forget, in September 2008. Shortly thereafter in January 2009, she had already begun writing material for her sophomore effort. The recording sessions for the album began in January 2009, right after filming from the first season of Sonny with a Chance. According to Lovato, the album's writing process was nearly finished in just two weeks. Unlike Don't Forget, Lovato did not collaborate with the Jonas Brothers for her second album as she wanted to see what her sound would be like without their input. "Here We Go Again" was written by Isaac Hasson, Lindy Robbins and Mher Filian, and produced by Hasson and Filian under the production name SuperSpy. The duo also co-wrote and produced the album track "U Got Nothin' on Me".

"Here We Go Again" was recorded at three different recording studios in California; SuperSpy Studios in Los Angeles, Resonate Studios in Burbank, and The Jungle Room in Glendale. Additional recording took place at Safe House Studios in Greensboro, North Carolina. Co-writer Robbins contributed backing vocals. Hasson provided programming, guitars and synths, and Filian handled programming and keys. The instruments were played by Dorian Crozier, who provided drums, and Kenny Johnson, who played the bass. The song was ultimately mixed by Chris Lord-Alge. "Here We Go Again" premiered during Planet Premiere on Radio Disney on June 17, 2009, and was released as the lead single for the album of the same name via digital download on June 23, through Hollywood Records. It was later released in Australia and New Zealand on July 17, 2009.

Composition

"Here We Go Again" is an uptempo power pop song, with guitar lines and pop hooks. Critics made comparisons with works by Kelly Clarkson, particularly the song "Since U Been Gone". According to sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Kobalt Music Publishing, "Here We Go Again" is written in the time signature of common time, with a moderately fast tempo of 144 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of F major and Lovato's vocal range spans from the low-note of C₃ to the high-note of F₅. It has a basic sequence of F–Dm–Dm–Gm/B♭–F as its chord progression. The song's lyrics chronicle the protagonist's on-off relationship with an indecisive boy as she sings that "Something about you is so addictive". Lovato explained: "So it's about, basically, being in a relationship where you break-up and you make-up, and you break-up and it's like 'Here we go again, we just keep doing this over and over'."

Critical reception

"Here We Go Again" received generally positive reviews from music critics. The Arizona Republic's Ed Masley referred it to as "an explosion of pop hooks delivered with a winning blend of heartache and bravado". Kerri Mason of Billboard called the song a potential hit single and noted that Lovato "almost sounds like Kelly Clarkson's kid sister". Margaret Wappler of Los Angeles Times compared it to Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone" and wrote that Lovato "tells a guy where to stick it over buff guitar lines". Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic called the album "not quite as much fun" as Don't Forget, "but still fun, particularly when Lovato tears into hooky power pop like 'Here We Go Again'." Erlewine also named it one of the best tracks on the album. Chicago Tribune's Althea Legaspi referred it to as "anthemic" and "catchy", while Houston Chronicle critic Joey Guerra described it was not as "immediate a grabber" as Lovato's previous singles.

Chart performance

In the United States, "Here We Go Again" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 51 on July 11, 2009. After two weeks on the chart, it fell to number 66, before rising to number 24 the next week, in addition to being named the "greatest digital gainer". Coinciding with the release of the parent album, the song peaked at number 15 on August 8, 2009. The song became Lovato's highest-peaking solo single on the chart until "Skyscraper", peaked at number 10 in July 2011. The song has sold 862,000 digital copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. In Canada, "Here We Go Again" debuted at number 86 on July 11, 2009 of the Canadian Hot 100. It fell off the following week, and re-entered on August 8, 2009 at number 61, which became its peak position. In New Zealand, the song entered and peaked at number 38, becoming Lovato's first entry on the chart.

Music video

"Here We Go Again" was directed by Brendan Malloy and Tim Wheeler, both who directed Lovato's previous video "La La Land". The music video was filmed on June 8, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The video premiered on June 26, 2009 on Disney Channel, following the premiere of Princess Protection Program (which stars Lovato). The video begins with Lovato in her dressing room to prepare for her concert. Lovato is talking to her boyfriend (portrayed by Christopher Mason) over the phone. After hanging up, she rips up a photograph of the two of them together, implying he ended their relationship. He tries to call her back, but she ignores the call and heads to the stage. The boyfriend is shown visiting the concert and after Lovato is finished the performance, she returns to her dressing room. He meets her with a rose and they begin their relationship again.

Live performances

Lovato has performed "Here We Go Again" on several occasions. To promote the album, she appeared on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien to perform the song on July 17, 2009. She performed it alongside the album cut "Catch Me" on Good Morning America on July 23, while performing "Here We Go Again" only on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and The View later the same day. The song was also performed during her first headlining tour, Summer Tour 2009, where it was the closing song. In September 2011, Lovato performed the song during the revue concert An Evening with Demi Lovato as part of a medley with "Get Back" and "La La Land". She later performed the same medley during the tour A Special Night with Demi Lovato.

Track listing

1. "Here We Go Again" – 3:46
2. "Here We Go Again (Jason Navis Remix) – 6:34

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the Here We Go Again liner notes.