"OK Not to Be OK" is an EDM and dance pop song by American music producer Marshmello and singer Demi Lovato. It was released on September 10, 2020, via Island Records and Joytime Collective, in partnership with the Hope For The Day suicide prevention movement. The song was later included on the expanded edition of Lovato's seventh studio album Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over.
Background and promotion The song was teased various times by Marshmello through his social media accounts; shortly prior to its release, in July 2020, he liked fan tweets confirming the track and also captioned an Instagram photo "hello? demi?", before later removing Lovato's name from the caption. The image showed Marshmello on the phone in a dark room with an overturned lamp, bottles of alcohol and a mystery woman in the background – critics attributed this as a possible reference to the theme of the song; however, the aesthetic was later confirmed to be for Marshmello's previous single, "Baggin".
A few weeks later, on September 4, both artists announced the collaboration, with Marshmello posting a video of him scrolling through his Twitter timeline, reading tweets of fans jokingly threatening to toast him unless he releases the song. Lovato reposted the tweet, with a link to a 90s-inspired website, which included the release date and an interactive mood quiz, a Minesweeper game and a music playlist. The song is not the only recording between the two; in 2017, a track titled "Love Don't Let Me Go" was registered to ASCAP, crediting Marshmello and Lovato, but is yet to be released.
Music videos In August 2020, Marshmello and Lovato were seen on the set of a music video. The video was directed by Hannah Lux Davis, who has directed many of Lovato and Marshmello's past music videos.
The video takes place in a suburban neighborhood where Lovato and Marshmello both wake up in bedrooms that belong to the younger versions of themselves. Lovato and her younger version both trash the bedroom, cutting between scenes of older Lovato singing in the center. Everyone eventually strolls around their neighborhood while singing and dancing to the song, and while Marshmello rolls around the front yard and rides his bike. The video ends with information about "Hope for the Day" and resources for suicide prevention.
A music video for the Duke & Jones remix of the song was released on October 2, 2020.
Credits and personnel Credits adapted from YouTube.
Hannah Lux Davis director and editor Aaron Johnson producer Brandon Bonfiglio producer Carlos Veron director of photography Erin Wysocki editor London Alley production company
Credits and personnel Credits adapted from Tidal. Marshmello – production, keyboards, programming Demi Lovato – songwriting, vocals Gregory Hein – songwriting James Gutch – songwriting James Nicholas Bailey – songwriting Mitch Allan – engineering, vocal production Emerson Mancini – mastering Manny Marroquin – mixing
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (2020) Peak position Australia (ARIA) 47 Croatia (HRT) 23 El Salvador (Monitor Latino) 13 Greece (IFPI) 91Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard) 17 Lithuania (AGATA) 56 New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) 4 San Marino (SMRRTV Top 50) 44 US Rolling Stone Top 100 22
Year-end charts Chart (2020) Position US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard) 14 Chart (2021) Position US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard) 23
Certifications
Release history Region Date Format(s) Version(s) Label(s) Various September 10, 2020 Original Australia September 11, 2020 Contemporary hit radio Universal Italy September 14, 2020 United States September 15, 2020 Various October 2, 2020 Duke & Jones Remix October 22, 2020 Lost Stories Remix
References
External links Official website