Selena Gomez sparked excitement when she announced the release of her fourth studio album, “I Said I Love You First,” which is scheduled for Mar. 21. In this album, she collaborates with her fiancé, Benny Blanco, to create fourteen tracks containing the artists’ usual catchy vocals and vibrant pop.
The album was announced with the release of the couple's first song “Scared of Loving You,” on Feb. 13. The track has already garnered much attention from both fan bases as they admire the slow pace and resonant lyrics; the stream count growing to 7.4 million on Spotify alone as of Mar. 1.
This single differs from the artists’ usual work, emphasizing the candid and unseen side of Gomez and Blanco’s life. Through relatable and vulnerable lyrics, the song unpacks the couple's love life and their recently announced engagement on Dec. 11, 2024, on Instagram
The song details the trials of love. Gomez sings, “When I was young, I / would love too fast / Hope I don’t repeat / my past / ‘Cause I’m not / scared of lovin’ you / I’m just scared of / losin’ you.”
Gomez has been in the limelight since she was ten years old and has experienced the challenging and often frightening prospects of love while facing frequent public scrutiny. This song and album is a rebuttal towards the critics of her past, demonstrating her growth as a person, artist and love for her future husband.
Shortly after the announcement of the album and the release of “Scared of Loving You,” Gomez and Blanco released another single titled “Call Me When You Break Up,” featuring Gracie Abrams.
Abrams, a young artist primarily based in the indie-pop genre, rose in popularity in 2024 with the release of her second studio album, “The Secret of Us.” The fourth track in the album, “I Love You, I’m Sorry,” played a large role in this rise to fame, along with her collaboration with Taylor Swift on the song “us.”
Opening with a voicemail from Gomez and Abrams, “Call Me When You Break Up” opposes “Scared of Loving You” with its fast-tempo and upbeat sound. The song does not focus on being in love as it does on the desire for a relationship. “Look, I’m emotionally bankrupt / We’re so meant for each other, I mean, God, when will you wake up, wake up?”
Abrams is no stranger to writing songs about love and desire. Some of her past song titles are “Tough Love,” “Close to You” and “I know it won’t work.” Her feature on “I Said I Love You First” has only brought increased attention to the album, as her loyal fanbase flocks to see the collaboration between two well-established artists and a rising star.
The album has already blended heartfelt sentiments with the trials of intimacy, emphasizing the complex nature of love, and building a connection to resonating audiences.
As enthusiasm for “I Said I Love You First” increases, fans anticipate more tracks to be dropped before the official release in March, leading to an undoubtedly successful release for Gomez and Blanco.
