The Estonian Songwriter Behind Demi Lovato’s “Skyscraper”

Co-written by Kerli, “Skyscraper” not only showcases Lovato’s vocal prowess and personal triumph, but also highlights the unique artistic vision and heartfelt input of an artist from Estonia. In celebrating this unlikely collaboration, we also celebrate Kerli’s impact on global pop music and Estonia’s cultural export through songwriting.

From a Small Baltic Town to the Big Stage

Kerli Kõiv’s journey is a real-life fairytale of a Baltic artist making it big abroad. Born in Elva, Estonia (population ~5,000) in 1987, Kerli demonstrated determination and talent from an early age. As a teenager she competed in singing contests and set her sights on an international music career. She left Estonia at just 17 – first moving to Sweden, and then landing in Los Angeles on her 20th birthday, chasing a dream with two suitcases in hand. It wasn’t easy; Kerli later admitted to many lonely, challenging moments as she sacrificed home comforts to “become the best that I could be,” fueled by a self-professed mission to “make beautiful things and inspire people”.

That leap of faith soon paid off. Music mogul L.A. Reid signed Kerli to Island Records in 2006, impressed by her vocal talent. By 2008, her debut album Love Is Dead was released, even charting on the U.S. Billboard 200 – a remarkable feat for an Estonian newcomer. The album’s lead single “Walking on Air” gained international attention and was featured as an iTunes Single of the Week, racking up over 500,000 downloads. Kerli began carving out a niche with her eclectic style and sound, which she famously dubbed “bubblegoth” – a blend of ethereal fantasy and edgy pop. Embracing electronic and dance-pop elements, she scored club hits like “Army of Love,” whose infectious beats took it to No. 1 on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart in 2011. Back home, she amassed five Estonian Music Awards, solidifying her status as a national pop icon. By the time Kerli co-wrote “Skyscraper,” she was a rising star with one foot in Estonia’s vibrant music scene and the other in Hollywood’s big leagues – uniquely positioned to bridge those worlds.

Writing “Skyscraper”: An Empowered Vision

In late 2010, Kerli joined a songwriting session in Los Angeles with producer Toby Gad and lyricist Lindy Robbins – a team-up that would yield “Skyscraper.” The spark of inspiration came from an image that captured Kerli’s imagination: a post-apocalyptic landscape with a lone skyscraper standing amid the ruins. “The world had ended and there was this one skyscraper still standing,” Kerli recalled, describing the eerie image of dark clouds, rain, and the first rays of sun breaking through. The trio lit candles in the studio and wrote the song based on that picture, channeling its atmosphere of devastation and hope. For Kerli, the writing process felt “really empowered”, not despairing – the skyscraper symbolized resilience, the ability to withstand anything.

That symbolism was deeply personal for Kerli. Coming from a tiny North-Eastern European country, she had long felt like that lone skyscraper herself – “my whole life has kind of been one big fight to live my dream against all odds,” she said. The lyrics that flowed from this vision carry a universal message: no matter how much you’re broken down, you can rise and stand tall again. “You can hit the lowest low and face the darkest dark, but you can always get back up and get in the light,” Kerli affirmed, encapsulating the song’s message of hope. It’s a theme that resonated with her own journey and would soon resonate with millions of listeners.

Originally, “Skyscraper” was intended for Kerli’s own repertoire – she even recorded a demo of the haunting ballad. However, fate had other plans. Toby Gad played the song for Disney-star-turned-pop-singer Demi Lovato, who had been seeking material for a comeback. Lovato immediately felt a “huge emotional attachment” to “Skyscraper” and wanted to record it. Kerli, with characteristic humility, agreed to let Demi Lovato’s voice carry the song’s message. In fact, Kerli felt Lovato was the perfect fit: “Aside from the fact that she has an incredible voice, she really conveys the emotion… At this point in time there is no better messenger for this song than Demi,” Kerli told Seventeen. Given what Lovato was going through in her personal life, the song became a vessel for both artists’ pain and perseverance. “Honestly, she sings it so much better and her story is so powerful and so inspiring to so many young kids out there,” Kerli said, noting that Lovato’s courage to share her struggles gave “Skyscraper” an extra layer of authenticity. Thus, an uplifting anthem was born – forged by an Estonian songwriter’s imagination and delivered through an American superstar’s voice.

An Anthem of Resilience Hits the Charts

When “Skyscraper” premiered in July 2011, it quickly soared up the charts, proving that its message of resilience struck a chord far beyond the recording studio. The single debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 – Lovato’s highest-charting solo single at the time. It sold 176,000 downloads in its first week, setting a personal record for Lovato’s career. Critics and fans alike were moved by the raw vulnerability in the song. In an era dominated by dance-pop, Lovato’s choice of a slow, emotional ballad as a lead single was bold. “Nobody puts out a ballad [as a first single],” Kerli observed, praising Lovato’s brave departure from the norm. The risk paid off: “Skyscraper” turned into a pop culture moment, often cited as an anthem for anyone overcoming adversity. Its lyrics about staying strong and believing in oneself resonated deeply with listeners, especially as Lovato had very publicly overcome personal struggles with mental health. The music video – a minimalist visual of Lovato singing through tears in a barren desert – amplified the song’s emotional impact and earned an MTV Video Music Award for “Best Video With a Message,” highlighting how “Skyscraper” inspired millions.

Around the world, the song found similar success. “Skyscraper” cracked the Top 10 in over ten countries, including the UK and New Zealand, and hit the Top 20 in markets like Canada, Denmark, and Ireland. A Spanish-language version (“Rascacielo”) further broadened its reach. The single went on to sell over 1.6 million copies in the U.S., eventually achieving Triple Platinum certification. More importantly, it became a touchstone for young people looking for hope. Fans would later share that Lovato’s resilient performance of “Skyscraper” helped them through their own challenges – exactly the kind of impact Kerli intended when she penned those empowering lines. “I see a lot of kids getting a lot of help from her story, so I’m super, super happy to be part of this,” Kerli said, reflecting on the song’s effect on Lovato’s fanbase.

“Skyscraper” even achieved a rare second life two years later. In 2013, British singer Sam Bailey, a contestant on The X Factor, chose “Skyscraper” as her winner’s song – propelling the track to the coveted Christmas No. 1 spot on the UK Singles Chart. For an Estonian songwriter to indirectly top the UK charts during Christmas (a fiercely competitive honor in British pop) was extraordinary. Bailey’s rendition sold 149,000 copies in its first week and introduced the ballad’s message to a new wave of listeners. By then, “Skyscraper” was firmly enshrined as a modern classic of empowerment pop – a song with humble Baltic beginnings that had conquered hearts worldwide.

Estonia’s Cultural Export: Kerli’s Triumph in Global Pop

For Kerli Kõiv, the success of “Skyscraper” marked a personal and professional milestone. The song’s triumph brought her global recognition as a songwriter. “Now that ‘Skyscraper’ is kind of kicking a--, I’ve actually gotten some offers to write for other people, which is super exciting for me,” Kerli revealed shortly after the song blew up. Indeed, industry leaders took note of her talent. By 2012, Kerli signed a major publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music as a “chart-topping songwriter” and Los Angeles-based artist. Greg Sowders, an A&R executive at Warner/Chappell, lauded her as “a flourishing talent… an influential songwriter, whose musical abilities are making her a valued, long-term collaborator to a wide array of hit makers”. In other words, Kerli had proven that she could stand tall in the pop songwriting world, right alongside writers from music capitals like Los Angeles, London, or Stockholm.

Back home in Estonia, Kerli’s achievement with “Skyscraper” became a point of national pride. It’s not every day that a songwriter from a country of 1.3 million people helps create a Billboard Top 10 hit. Estonian media enthusiastically covered the story – “‘Skyscraper’, a song originally written by Estonian artist Kerli Kõiv… becomes the UK’s Christmas number one single,” one headline proclaimed, highlighting the historic moment for Estonia’s music exports. For Estonians and the wider Nordic/Baltic expat community, Kerli’s success is a beacon of inspiration. It underscores that talent from a small country can impact global culture; that an Estonian voice can write words which millions sing back in solidarity.

Today, Kerli continues to create music on her own terms, but the legacy of “Skyscraper” remains a towering highlight of her career. The song stands as a beautiful convergence of Nordic artistry and American pop sensibility. It’s a reminder that behind some of the biggest hits, you might find a surprising international collaboration – in this case, an imaginative young woman from Estonia pouring her heart into a song that became an anthem of resilience for the world. As Kerli’s lyrics suggest, no matter how improbable the dream, one can rise against all odds. “Skyscraper” is not just Demi Lovato’s triumphant ballad – it’s also Kerli Kõiv’s triumph, a soaring testament to her creative vision and to Estonia’s gift to global pop music. And like that lone skyscraper in the song, Kerli’s contribution stands tall, shining a light for others to follow.

‍