The Real Meaning Behind Demi Lovato's 'The Way You Don't Look At Me'
Demi Lovato released her seventh album, Dancing with the Devil...The Art of Starting Over, to resounding success in April 2021. The new album came on the heels of her YouTube docuseries, Dancing With the Devil, in which the star opened up about her past traumas, including her history of mental health issues and her near-deadly overdose in 2018.
Lovato referred to the album as an "unofficial" soundtrack to the soul-baring doc. The 19-song album is thematically split, with the first half detailing Lovato's past struggles with addiction and the second half focused on her recovery and optimism regarding the future. The album begins with a ballad, "Anyone" and ends with a more uplifting tune, "A Good Place," per Vulture. Lovato does more than just explore her addiction and subsequent recovery, though; she also expounds upon her issues surrounding self-esteem and body image.
This brings us to "The Way You Don't Look at Me," one of Lovato's most powerful songs. What's it all about? Let's break it down.
Demi Lovato gets vulnerable about her body
"I've lost 10 pounds in two weeks," Demi Lovato sings on "The Way You Don't Look at Me," "Cause I told me I shouldn't eat. Gained a new vice way more than twice." Here, Lovato is referencing her struggles with body image issues. The song continues with verses outlining Lovato's fear of showing off her body and facing criticism for her imperfections. "I'm not afraid of natural disastеrs, but I'm so scared if I undress that you won't love me after."
Fans were touched by the deeply personal song. "the way she deconstructed my understanding of self-esteem and physical appearance," wrote one fan on Twitter. "The way you don't look at me really hits home for me. This b–ch ALWAYS has one song that tugs at me heart strings," wrote another.
Lovato has spoken openly about her struggles with eating disorders in the past and her eventual recovery. "I used to genuinely believe recovery from an eating disorder wasn't real," Lovato wrote in a 2020 Instagram post that accompanied a picture of the singer in a bathing suit highlighting her stretch marks. "I'm so grateful that I can honestly say for the first time in my life – my dietitian looked at me and said, 'This is what eating disorder recovery looks like,'" she continued. "In honor of my gratitude for the place I'm in today, this was a lil shoot I did by myself in quarantine this summer when I wanted to celebrate my stretch marks instead of being ashamed of them."
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, please contact the National Eating Disorder Association's Helpline at 1-800-931-2237 or chat with one of their helpline volunteers on NEDA's website.