On March 21, singer Selena Gomez and music producer Benny Blanco released a collaborative album titled “I Said I Love You First.” The two artists got engaged this past December, and many of the songs on the album provide insight on their relationship. This is Gomez’s first album since 2020, and it reflects on the personal growth she has undergone over the last five years. Beyond the romantic songs about their relationship, the album dives into emotions surrounding breakups, complicated friendships and struggles with self-love.
The pair announced their album via social media on Feb. 13 and immediately dropped the first single, “Scared of Losing You.” This gentle, slow-paced love song reflects on the fear of losing someone you love immensely. This single was the first glimpse fans got of the powerful love between the couple that radiates throughout this entire album.
The second single of the album was released a week later, a pop song titled “Call Me When You Break Up,” featuring Gracie Abrams. While the title implies that the singer is waiting to date someone who is currently in a relationship, that is actually not the case. The lyrics instead describe the distance created between friends when one person’s time is completely occupied by their new relationship. In the outro of the song, Gomez sings, “Call me when you break up / Unless you found the person that you want a new name from.” While the singer seems to be rooting for a breakup through most of the song, this lyric is a reminder that she does want her friend to be in a happy relationship. The extended album also includes a slowed-down, acoustic version of the song that allows you to fully take in the emotional lyrics, made available for streaming a week after the initial project’s release.
One week before the full album was available, the artists put out a third single. “Sunset Blvd” is a true love song, reflecting on Gomez and Blanco’s first date when they drove down Los Angeles’ Sunset Boulevard. The song begins with: “You’re my cherry pie / I don’t care who knows it / Love me ‘til I die.” In these lyrics, Gomez expresses her pride in loving Blanco. It is a fun, upbeat track that expresses the deep affection they feel for one another.
Two of the tracks on the album bounce between English and Spanish lyrics and include some exciting featured artists. “I Can’t Get Enough”—originally released as a single in 2019—is a collaboration between Gomez, Blanco, J Balvin and Tainy. The song begins with Gomez singing in English, then Balvin joins in singing in Spanish. Another bilingual track, “Ojos Tristes,” features a collaboration with more Hispanic musicians, the indie pop band The Marías. Similarly to “I Can’t Get Enough,” the song begins in English before shifting to Spanish. It is a beautiful, solemn song about a past romantic relationship. The inclusion of these bilingual songs reflects Gomez’s appreciation for her Hispanic roots and Spanish music.
The tenth track on the album, “Do You Wanna Be Perfect,” steps away from the music for a moment. It begins with what sounds like a radio advertisement, capturing your attention with the starting lines, “Hi. Do you wanna be perfect? Do you wanna be sexy? Do you wanna live up to completely unrealistic standards set by the current landscape of social media? Oh, wow! Do we have the product for you!” While the announcer tries to continue with the ad, we hear Gomez come in and take the microphone away. Then she says, “No more of the unrealistic standards of perfect. It’s so boring.” The beauty standards of today’s social media can be a struggle for everyone, and Gomez is no exception. In this track, she attempts to push away these feelings of inadequacy, both for herself and her listeners. “Younger and Hotter Than Me” is another song that reflects on feeling insecure in comparison to others. Gomez sings about a former lover
moving on and dating girls who are “younger and hotter” than her. These tracks are open and vulnerable in a way that is comforting for listeners who look up to Gomez.
After the initial album release, Gomez added a bonus song that she had originally written eight years ago. “Stained” calls out an ex-lover who left her broken and hurt. This album allows us to understand Gomez throughout different times in her life—from her sadness in past relationships to the bliss she now feels with Blanco. Her emotional growth that took place between the time this song was written and the production of the full album is clear.
“I Said I Love You First” is an album that represents Gomez and Blanco’s experiences throughout various stages of their lives. The artists showcase their skill sets through tracks that are produced in a variety of styles, including catchy pop songs, bilingual lyrics, acoustic versions and spoken-word tracks. This is a collaborative work that relies not only on the chemistry between the main artists, but on the talent of the other featured artists as well. This album reflects deep adoration and understanding between partners, both on a lyrical and musical level.