OK Not to Be OK

For the South Korean television series, see It's Okay to Not Be Okay.

"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.^[2] The song was later included on the expanded edition of Lovato's seventh studio album Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over.

"OK Not to Be OK"
Single by Marshmello and Demi Lovato
Released	September 10, 2020 (2020-09-10)
Genre	Dance-pop[1]
Length	2:39
Label	Island Joytime Collective
Songwriter(s)	Demi Lovato Gregory Hein James Gutch James Nicholas Bailey Marshmello
Producer(s)	Marshmello
Marshmello singles chronology
"Baggin'" (2020) "OK Not to Be OK" (2020) "Too Much" (2020)
Demi Lovato singles chronology
"I'm Ready" (2020) "OK Not to Be OK" (2020) "Still Have Me" (2020)
Music video
"OK Not to Be OK" on YouTube

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'".^[3][4][5][6]

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.^[7][8] 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.^[9]

Music videos

In August 2020, Marshmello and Lovato were seen on the set of a music video.^[5] 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 their 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.^[10]

A music video for the Duke & Jones remix of the song was released on October 2, 2020.^[11]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from YouTube.^[12]

• 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.^[13]

• 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)[14] 47 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[15] 1 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[16] 41 CIS Airplay (TopHit)[17] 264 Croatia (HRT)[18] 23 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[19] 23 El Salvador (Monitor Latino)[20] 13 Global 200 (Billboard)[21] 32 Greece (IFPI)[22] 91 Hungary (Single Top 40)[23] 20 Ireland (IRMA)[24] 43 Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard)[25] 17 Lithuania (AGATA)[26] 56 New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[27] 4 Portugal (AFP)[28] 109 San Marino (SMRRTV Top 50)[29] 44 Scotland (OCC)[30] 27 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[31] 48 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[32] 72 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[33] 51 UK Singles (OCC)[34] 42 US Billboard Hot 100[35] 36 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[36] 26 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[37] 20 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[38] 2 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[39] 22 US Rolling Stone Top 100[40] 22

Year-end charts Chart (2020) Position US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[41] 14 Chart (2021) Position US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[42] 23

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[43]	2× Platinum	80,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[44]	Gold	15,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Version(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Various	September 10, 2020	Digital download streaming	Original	Island Joytime Collective	[45]
Australia	September 11, 2020	Contemporary hit radio		Universal	[46]
Italy	September 14, 2020				[47]
United States	September 15, 2020			Island Republic	[48]
Various	October 2, 2020	Digital download streaming	Duke & Jones Remix	Island Joytime Collective	[49]
	October 22, 2020		Lost Stories Remix		[50]