Music fans remember where they were when the tracklist for Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over finally leaked. One title stood out. People had been begging for a powerhouse vocal moment between two of the industry's biggest sopranos for years, and when met him last night finally dropped in 2021, it wasn’t exactly what everyone expected. It was better. It was darker.
It's a weirdly haunting song. Honestly, most pop collaborations feel like they were recorded in separate time zones and glued together by a bored intern. This one felt different. Produced by XSDO and Tommy Brown, the track dives into a metaphorical encounter with the devil, or more accurately, the self-destructive tendencies that look a lot like him.
The Story Behind the Vocals
Demi Lovato and Ariana Grande aren't just industry peers; they are friends who have navigated the meat grinder of child stardom together. That shared history is the "secret sauce" here. Ariana actually co-wrote the song specifically with Demi in mind, which is why the lyrics feel so tailored to Demi’s public journey with recovery and relapse.
Think about the structure. It starts sparse. The beat is a slow-burn, trap-inflected rhythm that lets the voices breathe. When Ariana comes in on the second verse, she doesn't try to out-belt Demi. Instead, she plays the shadow. It’s a masterclass in vocal production where the harmonies are so tight they almost feel claustrophobic. That’s intentional. It mirrors the theme of being trapped by a "bad boy" archetype—which, let’s be real, is just a stand-in for addiction or toxic cycles.
Why "Met Him Last Night" Broke the Pop Mold
Most radio hits are built on a 120 BPM "everything is fine" vibe. This song sits at a moody 74 BPM. It’s thick. It’s heavy.
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Critics at the time, including those at Rolling Stone and Pitchfork, noted that the track avoided the usual "diva-off" tropes. There’s no unnecessary vocal gymnastics just for the sake of showing off. Instead, we got a narrative. You’ve got these two women who have both dealt with immense public tragedy—Ariana with the Manchester bombing and the loss of Mac Miller, and Demi with her well-documented 2018 overdose.
When they sing about meeting "him" at 2:00 AM, you believe them. It’s not just a clever hook. It’s a confession.
Breaking Down the Lyrics and Symbolism
The song uses the devil as a personified "bad influence." It’s a classic literary trope, but in the context of 2020s pop, it felt refreshing.
- The First Encounter: Demi sets the stage. She’s at a party. She’s vulnerable.
- The Negotiation: The chorus highlights the bargain. "He’s a liar, but I’m a believer." That is the core of the human condition, isn't it? We know something is bad for us, but we want to believe the lie because the lie feels better than the cold, sober truth.
- The Warning: Ariana’s verse adds a layer of "I’ve been there too." It turns a solo lament into a shared experience.
Some fans argued that the song was actually about a specific person. Internet sleuths spent weeks trying to pin the "him" on various exes. But that misses the point entirely. The "him" is a placeholder for whatever keeps you up at night. It’s a universal theme wrapped in a very specific, high-fidelity pop package.
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The Production Nuances
Tommy Brown (often known as TBHits) is the architect behind Ariana’s thank u, next era. You can hear his fingerprints all over met him last night. He uses a lot of space. There are moments where the instrumental almost drops out entirely, leaving only a distorted synth or a faint vocal layer.
This creates a sense of intimacy. It’s like you’re eavesdropping on a conversation in a dimly lit hallway. If the production had been too "shiny" or "polished," the gravity of the lyrics would have been lost. It needed that grit.
Impact on the Charts vs. Cultural Longevity
Did it top the Billboard Hot 100 for twenty weeks? No. It debuted at number 61. In the world of fast-food pop, some might call that a "flop," but that’s a shallow take.
The song has sustained millions of streams long after the initial hype died down because it resonates with people who aren't looking for a dance track. It’s a "3:00 AM with headphones on" kind of song. It solidified Demi's comeback album as a serious piece of work rather than just a collection of singles. It also proved that Ariana could step back and be a supportive collaborator, focusing on the song's needs rather than her own brand.
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Common Misconceptions
A lot of people think this was a last-minute addition to the album. It wasn't. The track had been in the works for a while, stemming from a deep mutual respect between the two artists.
Another misconception is that the song is strictly about religion. While it uses "the devil" as a central figure, the lyrics are much more aligned with psychological struggles. It’s about the "demon" on your shoulder, not necessarily a theological entity. If you listen closely to the bridge, the desperation in Demi’s voice is about the loss of self-control, which is a much scarier "devil" than anything in a storybook.
How to Appreciate the Track Today
If you haven't listened to it in a while, go back and play it on a decent pair of speakers. Ignore the music video (which was actually a lyric video with some cool visuals but didn't feature the artists together).
Focus on the bridge. The way their voices intertwine towards the end is genuinely some of the best vocal arrangement work of that year. It’s a reminder that when two masters of their craft get together, they don’t need to shout to be heard.
Actionable Takeaways for Music Nerds
- Study the Vocal Stacks: If you’re a producer, listen to the way Ariana’s whistle notes are used as atmospheric textures rather than lead melodies. It’s a brilliant way to use a signature "gimmick" as a legitimate instrument.
- Analyze the Lyrics as Metaphor: Read the lyrics without the music. It plays like a poem about the cycle of addiction.
- Compare the Eras: Listen to this track alongside Demi’s "Skyscraper" and Ariana’s "Ghostin." You’ll see a clear evolution of how these artists handle pain in their music.
- Check the Credits: Look up the other writers on the track, like Courtenay Pringle. Understanding who else was in the room helps explain the song’s specific emotional texture.
The track remains a high point for both artists. It wasn't just a PR stunt; it was a legitimate moment of artistic vulnerability that still feels raw years later.