DEMI LOVATO’s ‘Tell Me You Love Me World Tour’ Los Angeles Stop!

From the very first gorgeous notes that soared out of Demi Lovato’s voice last Friday night (March 2) at LA’s The Forum, it’s clear that she has truly one of the best voices out there today. As part of her Tell Me You Love Me World Tour, Lovato was joined by openers Kehlani and DJ Khaled. This is her sixth headlining tour and also supports her sixth studio album also titled “Tell Me You Love Me” (Island Records). The tour recently began on February 26th and will end on June 27th.   ​

DJ Khaled really got the night started with his dance-fueled and guest starred filled set. In between performing his well-known songs party

anthems including “All The Way Up,” “I’m The One,” “Wild Thoughts,” he welcomed Tinashe, Fergie, Diddy, Chris Brown and Jayden Smith to share the stage with him. They all sang snippets of a few of their biggest hits to thunderous applause and thousands of cell phone camera flashes.

This all provided the perfect appetizer to the main event, Ms. Demi Lovato. At just 25 years-old, the pop star has released six full-length albums; “Don’t Forget” (2008), “Here We Go Again” (2009), “Unbroken” (2011), “Demi” (2013), “Confident” (2015) and “Tell Me You Love Me” (2017). Lovato has received a number of awards, including an MTV Video Music Award, 13 Teen Choice Awards, five People’s Choice Awards, an ALMA Award, and a Latin American Music Award. 

Earlier in the year, Lovato told Billboard that this tour, “will have a lot more production and that it will represent who I am as an artist and I can’t wait for this country to see it. I’m going to utilize the arenas and really make sure that from every seat, you get to see my performance up close and personal, as much as we possibly can.”

Indeed this writer saw that first-hand as Demi was at first on the main stage quite far away and then suddenly, she was much closer at the opposite end of the venue. This provided the people in that particular area the perfect view for several numbers.

But before all that, the performer began the show front and center stage with long Cher-like black hair and wearing a sexy black skin tight body suit. Lovato opened the show with her slow ballad, “You Don’t Do It For Me Anymore.” For much of the concert, Demi sang songs off her sixth collection, “Tell Me You Love Me,” including “Sorry Not Sorry,” “Sexy Dirty Love,” “Daddy Issues,” “Lonely,” “Games,” “Concentrate,” “Cry Baby” and others. She also performed a few of her most beloved hits like “Heart Attack,” “Give Your Heart A Break,” “Cool For The Summer,” “Warrior” and the emotional piano-balled “Father.” Through each and every song, Demi’s voice was raw and real. She didn’t mess around with elaborate choreography and instead let her dancers do that while she belted out her hits.

A highlight of the show and quite a touching one at that was when Lovato allowed her friend Shane Bitney Crone, a writer and LGBTQ activist, to propose to his boyfriend and American Idol album, Rayvon Owen on stage. Owen of course said yes! The men kissed as the audience loudly cheered and several tears were shed as well. It was incredibly sweet and really brought an air of love to the entire show. After his boyfriend said yes, the two sat on stage while Demi serenaded them while photos of the couple played on the center screen.

“What some of you don’t know is that these are two of my really close friends and I’ve gotten to watch Shane go through so much and come out on the other side…such a strong person who’s now found the love of his life,” the singer said, tearing up. “I’m so happy guys,” she said. “I’m so f–king happy.” 

Throughout the show, it was refreshing to see an artist not mess around with too fancy lighting, smoke and flames (there was some of that) or over elaborate set designs and truly focus on the music and the singing more specifically. While Demi spent little time talking, when she did talk, it was about self-love and self-acceptance. She mentioned the struggles that she has gone through in her life and how her family, friends and her fans got her through it all. Towards the end of the show, she talked about the mental health program CAST that she co-owns. They were actually at the show in trucks outside the venue providing free therapy sessions and wellness workshops.

​Demi ended the show with one final last thought, “it’s important to love others but more more important is to love yourself.”​​Indeed, an important message for one and all to hear.  ​