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For the Love of a Daughter

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"For the Love of a Daughter"
Song

"For the Love of a Daughter" is a song by American recording artist Demi Lovato, from her third studio album Unbroken (2011). It was written by Lovato and The Academy Is... lead singer William Beckett, while production was helmed by Toby Gad. It was originally composed and selected for inclusion for Lovato’s second studio album Here We Go Again (2009), but was deemed too intense for her fanbase at the time. "For the Love of a Daughter" received positive reviews from music critics, who complimented its lyrical content and Lovato’s sincerity and vulnerability in her vocals. They also likened it to the lead single of the album, "Skyscraper". The song was also notable in the fact that it brought attention to Lovato’s strained relationship with her father.

Background

“For the Love of a Daughter” was composed by Demi Lovato and William Beckett, the lead singer for the American recording group, The Academy Is.... [1] The song was recorded at Kite Studios in Los Angeles, California. It was produced, mixed and programmed by Toby Gad (The Veronicas, Selena Gomez & the Scene), who also provided the song’s instrumentation. [1] It was originally recorded and selected to be included in Lovato’s second album, Here We Go Again, released in 2009. Although not planning to write a personal song, a "really long talk" with Beckett resulted in the song being written. [2] The song was set to appear on the album, but Lovato and her management felt that the song's subject would be too much for her young audience. [3][4] In an interview with Women's Wear Daily, she explained: "When I took a step back, I realized I wouldn't like those subjects being talked about in somebody else's home, with a seven-year-old and their mom."[4] Several other "emotional" songs were also put on hold.[4] The song was selected for inclusion in Lovato’s third studio album, Unbroken, which was released on September 20, 2011, just months after Lovato announced her departure from the Disney Channel series Sonny with a Chance.

Composition

The song chronicles Lovato's relationship with her estranged birth father, who left the family when she was two years old. [5] In the song, she pleads with her father to "put the bottle down" and questions him: "How could you put your hands on the ones that you swore you loved?" [6] Indicative in the lyrics “It’s been five years since we’ve spoken last / And you can’t take back what we never had”[7] is distance that has added to the strained relationship with her father. An author from Sputnikmusic interpreted it as a song about her relationship with her alcoholic father who didn't seem to see her as a good enough reason to stop drinking and be there for her when she needed him.[8] Cristin Maher wrote that the lyrics are about a broken family, suffering through the pains brought on by addiction.[9]

Critical reception

The song received positive reviews from music critics. Embrace You Magazine commented that song as “definitely pulsating; it holds me tighter than “Skyscraper” and enlightens me further about the girl behind the music.”[10] Chris Williams for Reuters praised “For The Love Of A Daughter” as “a moving, vulnerable, angry screed taking aim at the dad from whom she's been long estranged.”[11] Joe DeAndrea of AbsolutePunk noted it as the best track on the album and commented on Lovato’s vocals and the songs lyrics, noting that the two make “for the most enrapturing song of hers to date, and displays the true endeavors of what Unbroken is all about -- to overcome any obstacle and escape a better person.”[12] Megan Rozell of Blogcritics compared it to “Skyscraper” and described it as “a wonderful ballad with a beautiful and poignant meaning and absolutely exceptional vocals.”[13] An author from Sputnikmusic noted it as one of the album’s highlights, commenting that Lovato “sings with so much sincerity and passion that she really gives the song life and meaning. This is her best song yet and a great closer to this heartfelt album.”[8] Jason Scott of seattlepi.com praised the song, commenting that it closes out the album losing out the album “in stunning, tear-inducing style.”[14] Shaun Kitchener of Trash Lounge complimented the song, along with “Skyscraper” and “Fix a Heart”, as “beautifully performed”.[15] Baby A. Gil of Philippine Star complimented the song as a “superb production”.[16] Rick Florino of Artist Direct named “For the Love of a Daughter” as the album’s “true standout”, commented that it is “revealing and raw”.[17]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Unbroken liner notes. [1]

References

  1. ^ a b c (Media notes). {{cite AV media notes}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |Format= ignored (|format= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Type= ignored (|type= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Year= ignored (|year= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Vena, Jocelyn (July 21, 2009). "Demi Lovato Gets Personal On Here We Go Again". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved October 9, 2011. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  3. ^ Caramanica, Jon (July 15, 2009). "Tween Princess, Tweaked". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c Axelrod, Nick (July 1, 2009). "Tween Queen: The Rise of Demi Lovato". Women's Wear Daily. Fairchild Fashion Group. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  5. ^ Farber, Jim (June 20, 2009). "Demi Lovato mellows out with 'Here We Go Again'". New York Daily News. Mortimer Zuckerman. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  6. ^ Kaufman, Amy (September 23, 2011). "Demi Lovato's rebirth". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
  7. ^ Schiller, Mike. "Demi Lovato: Unbroken". PopMatters. PopMatters.com. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  8. ^ a b "Demi Lovato – Unbroken (album review)". Sputnikmusic. Sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  9. ^ Maher, Cristin. "Demi Lovato, 'Unbroken' – Album Review". PopCrush. popcrush. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  10. ^ "Demi Lovato's "Unbroken"". Embrace You Magazine. Wordpress. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  11. ^ Williams, Chris. "Demi Lovato: split musical personality in "Unbroken"". Reuters. Thompson Reuters. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  12. ^ DeAndrea, Joe. "Demi Lovato – Unbroken – Album Review". AbsolutePunk. AbsolutePunk, LLC. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  13. ^ Rozell, Megan. "Music Review: Demi Lovato – Unbroken". Blogcritics. Technorati, Inc. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  14. ^ Scott, Jason (25 September 2011). "Music Review: Demi Lovato – Unbroken". seattlepi. Hearst Communications Inc. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  15. ^ Kitchener, Shaun. "Album Review: Demi Lovato – Unbroken". Trash Lounge. Wordpress. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  16. ^ Gil, Baby A. "A great harvest of girl sounds – SOUNDS FAMILIAR By Baby A.Gil". Philippine Star. PhilStar. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  17. ^ Florino, Rick. "Demi Lovato – "Unbroken" Review 4.5 out of 5 stars". Artist Direct. Rogue Digital, LLC. Retrieved 24 December 2011.


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