Lovato’s appearance came about two hours after the show started with American “X-Factor” favorite, the girl group Fifth Harmony, and British “X-Factor” winners (from 2011) Little Mix. She might not be the most perfect girl in the room, but she’s probably one of the most genuine. Though Lovato’s version, which appears on the “Frozen” soundtrack, was given a heavier pulse, the song still swelled and soared like all good Disney ballads do, and gave Lovato a chance to sing lyrics such as, “The fears that once controlled me can’t get to me at all.”
Of course, you can take the girl out of Disney, but…a highlight of the set was Lovato’s version of “Let it Go,” the Oscar-nominated song from the animated film, “Frozen.” Lovato dutifully praised Idina Menzel, who sings the song in the movie and will perform it at the Oscars March 2. You could say that Lovato, with her pink-tinted hair and spandex pants, is a bit of a mixture of Kelly Clarkson and Pat Benatar (shout out to all of the moms there with their daughters), a singer who can play guitar and rein in her vocals on a ballad such as “Catch Me” as easily as she can rattle the rafters with her booming rock voice on “Really Don’t Care.” Lovato dances like an average person with rhythm rather than a finely-tuned pop princess, and while her pop-rock hits such as “Heart Attack” and “Give Your Heart a Break” aren’t revolutionary, she does have an ear for pleasantly old-fashioned melodies, such as those in “Here We Go Again” and the achingly vulnerable “Nightingale.” With so many stars of Lovato’s generation concerned more with costume changes and choreography, it’s refreshing to see a young woman who has found a way to balance the necessities of pop stardom (the stage, while comparatively small, still boasted lasers and, of course, neon, during “Neon Lights”) with slightly deeper musicianship than found with most of her peers.
Lovato used the moment as an introduction to “Warrior,” a song that might be clichéd with its message of strength and survival, but nonetheless sends an effective message. “(I want to) take the stigma out of talking about these things.” “It’s important for me to use my voice not just to sing,” she said, seated behind a piano. Though Lovato didn’t talk too much during her 90-minute show, instead efficiently trotting through an 18-song set list, when she did speak, it mattered. Her ability to overcome her demons is admirable, and a worthy lesson for her impressionable fan base. Lovato has publicly endured personal issues – drug and alcohol addiction, bulimia, depression – and seems genuine in her attempts to share the story behind her struggles. That’s probably one reason Simon Cowell tapped her as a judge on “The X-Factor” for a couple of seasons. She’s a tough chick who isn’t afraid to let fans see behind the wall.
Lovato’s Friday night stop at Philips Arena – set up for about 10-11,000 and all of it filled – showcased a young artist with an old soul. But then, wryly noting she’s now the 21-year-old Demi, her four-piece band segued into “Got Dynamite.” Maybe it didn’t quite make sense that she was pointing out her maturity while ripping through a sultry rocker from her 2009 album, “Here We Go Again,” but the point was made – it’s been a long, strange trip for Lovato.