"Skin of My Teeth"
Single by Demi Lovato
from the album Holy Fvck
ReleasedJune 10, 2022 (2022-06-10)
RecordedJanuary 2022[1]
Genre
Length2:42
LabelIsland
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Oak
  • Niceforo
  • Keith "Ten4" Sorrells
Demi Lovato singles chronology
"Met Him Last Night"
(2021)		 "Skin of My Teeth"
(2022)		 "Substance"
(2022)
Music video
"Skin of My Teeth" on YouTube

"Skin of My Teeth" (stylized in all uppercase) is a song by American singer Demi Lovato. It was released on June 10, 2022, by Island Records, as the lead single from Lovato's eighth studio album Holy Fvck (2022). The singer co-wrote the song with Oak Felder, Alex Niceforo, Keith Sorrells, Laura Veltz and Lil Aaron. Felder, Niceforo and Sorrells were the producers. "Skin of My Teeth" is a rock and pop punk song, with lyrics about people's criticisms or opinions about addictions and rehab.

Background

In early 2022, Lovato announced on her social media the "funeral" of her pop music.[3] During the first months of the year, the singer shared previews of what her new music would be, including "Skin of My Teeth".[4] In May, after various rumors, Lovato stated that the album's lead single would be called "Skin of My Teeth".[5] Days later, the cover and release date, June 10, were revealed.[6] That day was finally released for digital download and streaming.[7] It marks her return to the genres of pop punk and rock, after having experimented with them on Lovato's first two studio albums, Don't Forget (2008) and Here We Go Again (2009).[4] The song references Lovato's struggles with substance abuse, with references to "rehab" and wanting to be free but failing due to the "disease" Lovato is enduring.[8][9]

Lovato in the song's annotations on Genius says of the opening line that references yet another rehab visit, "it was a headline that I saw multiple times and I just felt like it was no one’s business!"[10] Lovato then goes on to say that she does "not need anyone to keep track of my own journey" and that people should have "compassion for the struggle that I have along with many other people".[10] Lovato has an emotive lyric in the song that says "I'm your son and I'm your daughter, I'm your mother, I'm your father" which is meant to "humanize" addiction as a struggle that many individuals face.[11]

Music video

The official music video for "Skin of My Teeth" premiered on June 10, 2022. It was directed by Nick Harwood and Nick Vernet, and produced by Shayna Giannelli.[12] The music video begins with Lovato singing from a bathtub as an ominous figure reads headlines about Lovato's recent visit to rehab and stalks her with a camera. Eventually the pair come face to face in a dramatic confrontation that Lovato wins, while she ends the song with a rain sequence that features her electric guitar shooting out sparks.[9]

Promotion

Lovato performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon hours before release, wearing all black, accompanied by a matching guitar, and surrounded by fog.[13][14]

Critical reception

NPR described "Skin of My Teeth" as a fun listening experience and compared the song to the pop rock sound of "Celebrity Skin" by Hole with the vocal affectations of "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga.[15] They also praised Lovato as having a "level of camp" in her art with genuineness and commitment to her music, unlike "other pop-punk revivalists".[15] Loudwire praised the track for tackling addiction, and described it as having "an immediate sense of urgency, opening with two snare hits and some chord strumming" after which Lovato begins to sing in a sardonic vocal tone.[9] The guitar tones in the song have "weight to them" with a "bouncing energy" that is reminiscent of "artists such as Pat Benatar and Joan Jett."[9] The magazine also ranked the single as the 68th best rock song of the year.[16]

Credits and personnel

Song credits

Credits obtained from Lovato's official website.[17]

  • Demi Lovato – vocals, songwriting
  • Oak Felder – production, songwriting, recording, programming, background vocals, keyboards, engineering
  • Keith "Ten4" Sorrells – songwriting, programming, co-production, background vocals, guitar, bass, drums
  • Laura Veltz – songwriting, background vocals
  • Lil Aaron – songwriting, background vocals
  • Alex Niceforo – songwriting, co-production, background vocals, guitar
  • Oscar Linnander – recording, production assistance
  • Manny Marroquin – mixing
  • Zach Pereyra – mixing assistance
  • Anthony Vilchis – mixing assistance
  • Trey Station – mixing assistance
  • Chris Gehringer – mastering

Music video

Credits adapted from YouTube.[18]

  • Justin Benoliel – EP
  • Shayna Gianelli – producer, for Object & Animal Production
  • Nick Harwood – director
  • Nick Vernet – creative director

Charts

Chart performance for "Skin of My Teeth"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[19] 19
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[20] 56
UK Singles Sales (OCC)[21] 58
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[22] 47
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[23] 13

Release history

Release history for "Skin of My Teeth"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various June 10, 2022
Island [24]

References

  1. ↑ "Demi Lovato Returns to Their Roots: 'This is My Story, and I'm Going to Tell It'". Billboard.
  2. ↑ "Demi Lovato enters the realm of alternative rock with new song "Skin Of My Teeth", and it sounds great!". The New Fury. June 15, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Demi Lovato Holds a Funeral for Their Pop Music". Paper Mag. January 22, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  4. 1 2 Henderson, Taylor (May 26, 2022). "Demi Lovato Teases Pop-Punk Song 'Skin of My Teeth'". Pride. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  5. ↑ Aniftos, Rania (May 23, 2022). "Demi Lovato Reveals Lead Single of Upcoming Album". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  6. ↑ Carter, Emily (May 27, 2022). "Demi Lovato confirms release of new rock single, Skin Of My Teeth". Kerrang. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  7. ↑ Dailey, Hannah (June 10, 2022). "Demi Lovato Drops 'Holy Fvck' Lead Single 'Skin of My Teeth': Stream It Now". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  8. ↑ Lisa Respers France (June 10, 2022). "Demi Lovato's 'Skin of My Teeth' addresses struggle with addiction". CNN. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 4 DiVita, Joe. "Demi Lovato Confronts Addiction on New Rock Song 'Skin of My Teeth'". Loudwire. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  10. 1 2 "Askin' why doesn't make it easier / Go easier on me". Genius. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  11. ↑ "I'm just tryin' to keep my head above water". Genius. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  12. ↑ Barbosa, Jucilene (June 10, 2022). "Demi Lovato lança a cinematográfica 'Skin of My Teeth'; confira". Pop Now (in Portuguese). Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Demi Lovato Performs Of 'Skin Of My Teeth' On 'The Tonight Show'". UPROXX. June 10, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  14. ↑ Longmire, Becca (June 10, 2022). "Demi Lovato Performs Their New Punk-Rock Track 'Skin Of My Teeth' For The First Time On 'Jimmy Fallon'". Entertainment Tonight Canada. Archived from the original on June 10, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  15. 1 2 Cruz, Reanna (June 10, 2022). "Demi Lovato, 'Skin of My Teeth'". NPR. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  16. ↑ "The 50 Best Rock + Metal Songs Of 2022". Loudwire. November 23, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Holy Fvck Credits". Demi Lovato. Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Demi Lovato – Skin of My Teeth (Official Video)". Island Records (UMG Recordings). June 10, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022 – via YouTube.
  19. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. June 20, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. June 17, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Demi Lovato Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Demi Lovato Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  24. ↑ Lovato, Demi. "SKIN OF MY TEETH – Single". Spotify. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
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