Posted by 29 is the song released by Demi Lovato on August 17, from her album Holy Fvck, out on August 19, 2022. The track triggered a worldwide buzz because its lyrics refer to a public relationship she had in her past. People wanted to understand more about the song’s meaning and the actual references, which are indispensable to catching the song’s poetry. This article will explain the facts behind the single, and at the end, you will find the complete lyrics.
You can watch the lyrics video of the song below:
29: inside the meaning of the lyrics
29 refers to the relationship that Demi Lovato had when she was 17 and dating the actor Wilmer Valderrama, who was 29 then. The track reflects on the meaning of a relationship where one part is so young that we cannot really talk about aware consent. Demi Lovato is 29 now that she released this track, the same age Wilmer had when he started dating her, so it was the perfect moment for a profound analysis of what happened.
Petal on the vine, too young to drink wine
Just five years a bleeder, student and a teacher
Far from innocent, what the f**k’s consent?
Numbers told you not to, but that didn’t stop you
In the song’s beginning, on one side, Demi admits that she wasn’t exactly innocent as an average 17-year-old girl, but also that she couldn’t be considered aware enough to understand what a serious relationship means. The question “What the f**k’s consent?” claims that she didn’t really understand all aspects of that situation. On the other side, there was a mature man who wasn’t supposed to date such a young girl. But he did. And she tries to address this responsibility to him: according to my official age (the “number” in the lyrics), you were not supposed to date me. But you did.
That brings us to the chorus, where Demi feels it was all a dream. And asks herself who actually lived the real dream, him or her: is it a bigger fantasy for a teenager to date a famous, mature man, or the other way around, for a man to attract a young, innocent girl?
Finally twenty-nine
Funny, just like you were at the time
Thought it was a teenage dream, just a fantasy
But was it yours or was it mine?
Seventeen, twenty-nine
In the song’s second part, a little frustration emerges: Demi justifies what happened with some of her teenage issues that were present in those days. She also recognizes that it’s not exceptional for him to date very young girls: the line “you’re quite the collector” reflects that Wilmer dated other young girls in the past, like Lindsey Lohan when she was 18. And Demi now realizes that his aspect matters to her. Now that she’s 29, she’s more aware of how delicate a relationship with such a young girl is.
Had me in your grip, went beautifully with
All my daddy issues and this s**t continues
I see you’re quite the collector
Yeah, you’re twelve years her elder
Maybe now it doesn’t matter
But I know f**ing better
Now I know f**ing better ’cause I’m
Finally twenty-nine
That’s, therefore, the real meaning behind the lyrics of 29: I’m a mature woman now, and I understand how inappropriate it is for a 29-year-old man to date a very young girl. Years have passed, and now it all feels like a dream, but I finally understood all aspects of that situation.
How old is now Wilmer Valderrama? And his fiancee Amanda Pacheco?
When Demi Lovato’s 29 was released in 2022, Wilmer Valderrama is 42. He’s engaged with the American model and director Amanda Pacheco, who is close to 31. The age difference is therefore very similar to the one between Demi and Wilmer, years ago.
Wilmer Valderrama and Amanda Pacheco had a daughter, Nakano, in February 2021.
Read other popular song lyrics and their meaning on Auralcrave
The complete lyrics
Petal on the vine, too young to drink wine
Just five years a bleeder, student and a teacher
Far from innocent, what the f**k’s consent?
Numbers told you not to, but that didn’t stop you
Finally twenty-nine
Funny, just like you were at the time
Thought it was a teenage dream, just a fantasy
But was it yours or was it mine?
Seventeen, twenty-nine
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Seventeen, twenty-nine
Had me in your grip, went beautifully with
All my daddy issues and this s**t continues
I see you’re quite the collector
Yeah, you’re twelve years her elder
Maybe now it doesn’t matter
But I know f**ing better
Now I know f**ing better ’cause I’m
Finally twenty-nine
Funny, just like you were at the time
Thought it was a teenage dream just a fantasy
But was it yours or was it mine?
Seventeen, twenty-nine
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Seventeen, twenty-nine
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Seventeen, twenty-nine
Finally twenty-nine
Seventeen would never cross my mind
Thought it was a teenage dream, a fantasy
But it was yours, it wasn’t mine
Seventeen, twenty-nine
