Since her last album "Revival" was released in 2015, Selena Gomez has been through many ups and downs in her personal life, which were intensified by being in the public eye. Her new LP titled "Rare," released Friday, Jan. 10, reflects on these experiences and shows how much the singer has grown as both an artist and an individual.
The 13-track project is all about Gomez’s journey to gaining self love and shows an older, wiser, and stronger version of herself.
Prior to the album’s launch, Gomez released two singles, including “Lose You to Love Me,” a piano ballad talking about the importance of sometimes having to let someone go in order to love yourself. Both tracks, as well as more of the album, are seemingly written about her past relationship with popstar Justin Bieber, who is now married to model Hailey Baldwin.
Left: Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber at the 2011 AMA's / Right: Justin Bieber and his now wife Hailey Baldwin in 2019
The second single is named “Look At Her Now” and compares Gomez’s old self during the relationship to her newer and improved single version.
She begins the album with the title track “Rare” which talks about someone who doesn’t realize your worth. “It feels like you don't care / Why don't you recognize I'm so rare? / Always there / You don't do the same for me, that's not fair,” Gomez sings.
This first song sets the tone for the empowerment and pop-centric sounds the entire album displays. While most of the songs are pretty catchy and fun, I do think Gomez could have used a wider variety of different beats and tones to show more uniqueness.
However, she did add some mixing of genres when collaborating with R&B/Hip-Hop artist 6LACK on the song “Crowded Room” and featuring rapper Kid Cudi on the final track “A Sweeter Place.”
Nonetheless, most songs on this project sound like radio pop-hits, which is what is often popular but not really my personal cup of tea.
One of my favorite songs on the album is “Ring." Gomez talks more about having power of her own in a relationship, discussing that the other person cares more than she does.
“Wrapped round my finger like a ring, ring, ring / They just like puppets on a string, string, string / I put it down, they call me up / They doing way too much / So I just let it ring, ring , ring.”
I like the fact that she doesn’t only talk about the times where she was heartbroken, but acknowledges the fact that she has been the “heartbreaker” at times as well. She continues the theme of making herself the top priority in the song “Let Me Get Me,” saying she won’t let her internal insecurities tear herself down.
“No self-sabotage, no letting my thoughts run / Me and the spiral are done / Burn this camoflauge I’ve been wearing for months / Tryna let a little happy in for once.”
All in all, I feel that her last album - "Revival" - had higher emotion and better sound and lyrics, it favored my liking more. However, everyone has different favorites and this album is definitely one many people will enjoy. If you are, or ever have been, a fan of Gomez, you should definitely check this album out to start your 2020 off with something fun and empowering.
I would give this album 3 out of 5 Swoops.
