American actress and singer Selena Gomez released her fourth studio album, I Said I Love You First, on March 21, 2025, along with her fiancé, Benny Blanco. Gomez provides the main vocals on the album while Blanco produces and writes the songs. Together, they created an alternative indie/pop album that differs significantly from Gomez’s well-known pop songs.
Gomez has been singing since 2008, but acting since 2002. She is predominantly known for her roles in Wizards of Waverly Place and Only Murders in the Building. Her popular songs are “Same Old Love” and “Lose You to Love Me.” As well as being a successful actress and popstar, she is an entrepreneur, launching her makeup line, Rare Beauty, in 2020. She is also open about living life with lupus, a disease that causes her immune system to attack its tissues, inspiring many others living with Lupus. Even with her disease, Gomez is a very successful celebrity in film, music, and beauty.
Blanco has produced and written music since 2007. Some of his most popular songs include “Circus” by Britney Spears, “Hot n Cold” by Katy Perry, “Moves Like Jagger” by Maroon 5, “Same Old Love” by Selena Gomez, and “Nobody Gets Me” by SZA. He has also produced for many other artists, including Kanye West and Ed Sheeran.
Gomez includes a prelude to her album, for the first track is not a song but a message. She thanks her fans, friends, and family for always supporting her. She recognizes everyone has benefited her in various ways, even helping her grow up. She says she hopes to continue to make her friends, family, and fans proud, and this album could not have been a better way.
The first official song on the album is “Younger and Hotter Than Me,” which deals with the topic of self-doubt. Gomez is open about mental health journeys, and the topic is present in this track. Relationships are a complex idea, and to find one that is both loving and supportive is difficult because of doubt. However, if a fan turns to the relationship of Gomez and Blanco, one can see that it is possible to achieve that. Knowing that Gomez deals with doubt while in a relationship offers reassurance to fans who struggle with mental health, especially in relationships.
“Call Me When You Break Up” is arguably the most notable track on the album because of who it features: Gracie Abrams. This past year, Abrams took the world by storm; from opening for Taylor Swift at The Eras Tour to releasing her album The Secret of Us, she has been busy. Abrams and Gomez’s voices blend so well, creating arguably the best song on the album. The song is fast and fun, something both artists are known for. This is a big win for fans of both on the album.
“Ojos Tristes” also features another artist, this time a pop band named The Marias. The Marias are known for their performances in both English and Spanish. “Ojos Tristes” is performed solely in Spanish, making it a unique addition. Gomez has Mexican-American heritage, so the song fits perfectly with her ethnicity. As someone who loves to listen to music in other languages, this song is well-performed. From the music to the vocals, the song does not disappoint. I encourage you to broaden your horizons and listen to “Ojos Tristes.”
“Don’t Wanna Cry” is a pop song similar to other songs by Gomez. It is a fun, upbeat song that complements the other songs well. It sounds like old Gomez songs, which adds much nostalgia for me. “Sunset Blvd” is another classic Gomez pop song. However, the lyrics are slightly cringy, making it a weak link on the album. “Cowboy” is sung like most songs today, the whispery voice into the mic. The chorus is fairly catchy, but it is not the best. “Don’t Wanna Cry,” “Sunset Blvd,” and “Cowboy” do not stand out among the crowd of songs.
“Bluest Flame” sounds like a song you’d hear at a rave party. It has fast-paced lyrics with techno background music. It feels like a random addition to the indie/pop album, however, it is not a bad song. The repetition is nice, making it an easy song to dance to. I wouldn’t be surprised if this song came on during a school dance.
“How Does It Feel To Be Forgotten” is a nice refresher from the past few songs. It is a slow, heartfelt song. Gomez focuses on her vocals during the song, creating a soulful message. Any listener can relate to this song, with the message talking about the early stages of a relationship, however, it is not all that it seems. The message is clearly about surviving a toxic relationship, and it is a beautiful song.
“Do You Wanna Be Perfect” is an interlude. It starts as an ad asking if the listener wants to be perfect. The listener can make payments to create the perfect person. However, Gomez cuts off the ad by saying, “No more unrealistic standards of perfect, it’s so boring. Actually, just be yourself, theirs no one like you.” It is a nice reminder of the unrealistic beauty standards many face today. As someone who preaches to be themselves, it is a nice addition from Gomez.
“You Said You Were Sorry” is another whispery track; however, this time it does it correctly. It doesn’t feel forced like “Cowboy” did, but it feels natural. The meaning of the song is Gomez being enough for herself, a message everyone can relate to. In today’s world, many don’t feel enough for others, forgetting to be enough for themselves. Gomez highlights the importance of being true to yourself in this album.
“I Can’t Get Enough” includes two features, J Balvin and Tainy. J Balvin is a Colombian singer who is very popular, selling more than 35 million records worldwide. Tainy is a Puerto Rican record producer and songwriter. The song was originally released in 2019, and it incorporates Spanish lyrics within the English lyrics. Gomez is leaning into her Spanish heritage on this album, making it a new, fun twist to her albums.
“Don’t Take It Personally” is a message to an ex-lover of her boyfriend. You can hear her natural voice shining through, which I love. Artists’ singing voices normally sound so different from their natural talking voices. Singing voices sound nice, but hearing Gomez’s true voice is special. Her voice is so angelic when wishing the best for his ex-girlfriend. She recognizes the ex’s beauty and hopes she finds someone she deserves. It is a calm and mature message to the ex-girlfriend.
“Scared Of Loving You” reaches the hearts of many. Relationships are built on communication and trust, but many have the fear of showing their true selves around their significant other. Gomez recognizes this fear and produces a beautiful song. The song itself is hushed and slow with chimes in the background, making it almost seem like a lullaby. Being the last song in the album, it is a perfect ending, for it is so relatable. Any listener should be able to relate, and Gomez, in this album, makes her songs so personable, which shows how gifted she is.
I Said I Love You First is a relatively short album, with a runtime of 34 minutes. It is unique compared to other Gomez albums, which makes it special. I would rate this album a seven out of ten; not all songs are hits, but the gems on this album pull their weight. “Call Me When You Break Up” is my favorite song, and if you don’t want to listen to the album, at least listen to this track. Overall, I highly recommend this release to all Gomez fans and fans of music in general.
