In a world where pop music often thrives on heartbreak and fleeting flings, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco have flipped the script with their collaborative album, I Said I Love You First, released today. This 14-track love letter, born from the couple’s real-life romance, isn’t just a collection of songs—it’s a sonic scrapbook of their journey from collaborators to fiancés. Announced on Valentine’s Day and crafted in the cozy confines of Blanco’s home studio, the album blends vulnerability, humor, and unapologetic devotion into a sound that feels both intimate and universal. It’s a bold departure from Gomez’s recent hints at stepping away from music, proving that love can pull even the most reluctant pop star back into the spotlight. I’ve always been a huge fan of Gomez both as a musician and a person, and this album cements that even more.
The album’s genesis is as organic as the relationship it celebrates. Gomez and Blanco, who first worked together on her 2015 hit “Same Old Love,” didn’t set out to make a joint project. As Blanco shared in a recent Spotify Countdown To interview, their creative process mirrored their morning chats—casual, unforced, and deeply personal. “We’d just talk, and suddenly a song would come out of it,” he said. Tracks like “Scared of Loving You,” the album’s first single co-written with FINNEAS, capture this raw honesty, with Gomez singing about the fear of losing what she’s found. It’s a testament to how their bond—publicly confirmed in 2023 and sealed with an engagement in December 2024—became the muse they couldn’t ignore.
What sets I Said I Love You First apart is its refusal to shy away from the messiness of love. The tracklist, unveiled by Gomez on Instagram with a handwritten note, reads like a diary: “Ojos Tristes” drips with Latin-infused melancholy, while “Younger and Hotter Than Me” pairs biting wit with ’80s synth vibes. “Call Me When You Break Up,” featuring Gracie Abrams, offers a playful yet poignant take on longing, its muted vocals showcasing Gomez’s signature storytelling strength. Blanco’s production ties it all together. Fans on X have already crowned it “album of the year,” with posts buzzing about favorites like “Cowboy” and “How Does It Feel to Be Forgotten.”
For Gomez, this album marks a triumphant return after a five-year gap since 2020’s Rare. Her flirtation with quitting music—hinted at in late 2024 as she leaned into acting—makes I Said I Love You First all the more surprising. Yet, as she told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, the project felt “meant to be,” a creative exhale after years of navigating personal and public storms. Blanco, a hitmaker for stars like Rihanna and Justin Bieber, steps into a new role here—not just producer, but co-star. His playful Instagram caption, “I can’t believe I get to spend the rest of my life with you,” echoes through the album’s title track, a tender admission of who broke the L-word barrier first.
As I Said I Love You First hits streaming platforms today, it’s clear this isn’t just another pop album—it’s a milestone. For Gomez and Blanco, it’s a celebration of a love that’s weathered the spotlight and emerged stronger. For listeners, it’s an invitation to feel the highs and lows of romance through a lens that’s equal parts playful and profound. Whether it’s the album of the year remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco have turned their “I love you” into a melody the world won’t soon forget.
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
