While you might think that Demi Lovato’s hit “Cool for the Summer” was meant to titillate, with its racy lyrics about being bi-curious, Demi knew that the song could serve a larger purpose: starting an honest conversations about sexuality. To her delight, she says it’s done exactly that for some of her fans.
“I’ve gotten criticism for maybe not having the most inspiring performance [of the song] on the VMAs,” Demi tells ABC Radio. That performance featured Demi striking sexy poses in a skimpy outfit, and twerking with Iggy Azalea. She adds, “I agree, it wasn’t necessarily inspiring, but my other songs like ‘Skyscraper’ and ‘Warrior’ and, you know, other songs are uplifting, and there’s a time and place for everything.”
According to Demi, fans quickly shut down the haters with tales of how the song personally helped them. “I actually had somebody online say, “Well, wait a minute, that’s not true because “Cool for the Summer” actually made me feel confident enough to come out to my parents.'” Demi recalls. “Or, ‘Cool for the Summer’ took away the shame that I always felt about fantasizing the same sex.’ Or, you know, the opposite sex, whatever it is.”
“So…actually…there’s a purpose to it,” she explains. “And that song was about me opening up and just showing the world, ‘You know what? I’m not holding back anymore, this is who I am.'” (AUDIO IS ABC 1-ON-1)
In fact, on Demi’s new album, Confident, she didn’t hold back about anything, singing about devastating heartbreak, sex, her late father, being bullied, and a variety of other topics. She’ll bring all those songs to her fans live starting next year, when she and pal Nick Jonas hit the road for their FutureNow tour.
