Although music is used for entertainment, it is a powerful therapy in allowing people to express their past experiences and room for second chances that life has offered them

 Although music is used for entertainment, it is a powerful therapy in allowing people to express their past experiences and room for second chances that life has offered them

The term self-love is often used in daily conversations where people are encouraged to love themselves to live a fulfilling life. “Until you love yourself, you can’t love another person.” What then is self-love, and how do you realize that you love yourself? It is not just about the good feeling that comes with doing beautiful things for yourself e.g., shopping for new clothes. Although there is a feeling of gratification in this, it does not lead to the growth of self-love. It is vital that a person loves themselves because it impacts how they live and the choices they make. An individual with love for themselves has some discipline that influences them to pursue the right things and overcome temptations. Loving oneself results from actions that support our spiritual, physical, and psychological growth. Appreciating yourself for making decisions that contribute to such growth is a form of self-love. Loving oneself makes one accept their weaknesses, understand their strengths, and become compassionate with themselves as human beings who struggle to find their meaning in life. Demi Lovato is not exceptional as she sings “I Love Me,” which reflects her past struggles in the effort to rebuild her self-esteem.

Thesis Statement: Although music is used for entertainment, it is a powerful therapy in allowing people to express their past experiences and room for second chances that life has offered them.

The Analysis

The first verse of the song is introduced with words from a disappointed person. The main aim of the song is to empower herself but to get to that part, and she begins by highlighting her struggles. In the first two lines, “Flippin’ through all these magazines tellin’ me who I’m supposed to be,” it is clear that her decisions are influenced by external factors (Demi 1-2). The artist released the song after attending a show where she focused on letting people know that they are enough on their own and do not need approval from other individuals. The artist goes ahead to disclose about her disorders and eating habits.

“I’m guilty ’bout everything that I eat (every single day)” Upon some research about her past life, she seems to have had problems which led to her eating pattern getting controlled. On the Ellen Show, Demi Lovato clarified her substance abuse, which resulted from her lack of say on the foods she took in not to gain more weight.

Although Demi has learned to channel her strength in more meaningful and healthy works, she opens up about how harshly she criticizes herself on her bad decisions. She, therefore, does not need criticism from other people. “Cause I’m a black belt when I’m beating up on myself” (Demi, 9). Her intention in this pre-chorus is to allow people to relate to her situation. Almost everyone, at some point, feels disappointed with themselves, but learning to pick up and get bold is the lesson we learn from this artist. She feels she can be affectionate to the people that need love, but she never gives that love to herself. In her efforts to find a partner to spend her life with, she realizes that her heart is the only thing she needs, and she, therefore, must take care of it. “Why am I always looking for a ride-or-die? Cause mine’s the only heart I’m going to have for life” (Demi, 17-18).

Social media can mess with people’s esteem, and Lovato is not exceptional. She wonders in the second verse why she takes seriously the comments she receives from the internet. The internet is full of mean people who express their freedom of speech by stating their opinions and speaking their minds. Demi’s focus is distracted by the comments which disturb her mind and hence her productivity (Demi, 23-24). “I’m way too good at listening (Listening). All these comments fucking up my energy(energy)”. Being a celebrity, she uses social media to be in touch with her fans, but out of their meanness, they try to bring her down. Her relationship with the internet has, however, improved as she has developed ways to keep off the negativity and to continue showing love to herself.

To sum it all, the song has fulfilled its purpose in allowing people to relate and understand the need for self-love. She takes us through her struggles and encourages people that they are full and enough for themselves. People tend to look for happiness from drugs, other people, and earthly pleasure, but Demi has proved that all that is required is the feeling of adequacy. This hit music is, therefore, one that everyone should draw lessons from. It also essential to agree with the outlined thesis statement that apart from entertainment, music can express what people go through in their lives and is an effective way to teach. Thus, the song “I love me” makes an authoritative reference when people want to overcome their struggles and begin to appreciate being themselves.

 

 

Work Cited

“Demi Lovato – I Love Me.” Genius, 6 Mar. 2020, genius.com/Demi-lovato-i-love-me-lyrics.