4 out of 5 stars
After five years, Selena Gomez has made her anticipated comeback to music with the album “I said I Love You First,” a phenomenal and vulnerable dance pop album made in collaboration with her fiancé Benny Blanco.
The album was produced by hitmaker Blanco, who proposed to Gomez in December 2024. In a Spotify interview, Gomez and Blanco said that the album was made in the comfort of their Beverly Hills home. They shared that it was easy to be open with each other through song, which made the album feel so touching and confiding.
I have been counting down the days to “I Said I Love You First” as a longtime fan or Selenator. Gomez mentioned several times in interviews that she might be done with music and would just focus on acting, so it came as a great surprise.
I’m so happy that Blanco inspired Gomez to make music again. The album’s genre reminds me of Gomez’s 2013 album, “Stars Dance,” and I hope it will remind the media of her musical talent.
The album opens with Gomez’s speech during her last day on the set of the Disney show “Wizards of Waverly Place.” This acts as a transition to the first song, “Younger and Hotter Than Me,” where Gomez speaks on growing up in the industry and aging past society’s envisioned “prime.” She questions how the media sticks to a perception of her younger self. “We’re not getting any younger,” she sings. “Was I someone else?”
What shocked many fans was “Ojos Tristes,” with a surprise feature of María Zardoya from the band The Marías. Zardoya’s sweet voice and Gomez’s sultry tone paired well together as they sampled the iconic song “El Muchacho de los Ojos Tristes” by singer Jeanette.
I’m surprised track five, “Don’t Wanna Cry,” was not released as a single ahead of the album, as I think it would’ve done well on the charts. Selenators on TikTok speculate it’s a reply to The Weeknd’s (Gomez’s ex) song “Save Your Tears.” In Gomez’s off-album explanation, she says, “[It’s] that feeling when you felt tied up and you just wanna be free of something that may not be right.”
The pre-released “Sunset Blvd” trended on TikTok, and fans cheered that Gomez had finally found her way back to whisper-singing sultry songs. The song is campy while Gomez sings, “I can’t wait to hold it, to hold that big, big, hard heart.” The seventh track, “Cowboy,” is one of my favorites, and it continues the whispery, sexy theme.
One of the trending songs is “Bluest Flame,” which was produced by Charli XCX. The hyperpop production fits well with Gomez’s voice. The feel-good energy of the song will ensure it’s blasting on the radio this summer, especially after the love given to Charli XCX’s work on “brat.”
Many fans have been trying to dissect the meaning of “How Does It Feel To Be Forgotten.” Speculations have been made that the song is about Gomez’s exes. In this song, Gomez sings, “You walked in, big-a– grin talking like we’re friends. Honey, what were you thinking? He loves me, I love him. Look at you, just look at you now. You’re so embarrassing. Go cry when no one’s watching.” Gomez revealed this song is really about her past self.
Gomez slows the album down in “Don’t Take It Personally.” In this ballad-ish song, Gomez sings, “Don’t waste all your energy, we both know that he loves me,” something that someone told her.
The last song of the track, “Scared Of Loving You,” is a sweet song about the fragility of new love. She sings, “I’m not scared of loving you. I’m just scared of losing you.”
This album has no skips. Gomez revived her music career for years to come. With the diverse styles of music in the album, from heartache to indulgence, there’s sure to be something for everybody to enjoy.
Photo courtesy of Screen Rant.