Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco | I Said I Love You First Review

by Bea Willis

When Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco announced their engagement in December 2024, fans were already primed for something tender and revelatory. But few anticipated the creative vulnerability of I Said I Love You First, a 14-track collaboration that fuses their personal journey with their artistic growth. The album charts the arc of love from spark to fear, from joy to emotional surrender.

The album is framed around the real-life relationship between Gomez and Blanco, but it resists the spectacle of celebrity romance in favor of intimate snapshots and emotional truths. Blanco, a veteran producer with a feel for radio sheen and sonic subtlety, provides the album’s backbone, while Gomez brings a voice textured by experience to convey earnest, restrained, and emotionally precise lyrics. This is an album about two people figuring out how to love one another honestly, and the creative process becomes part of the love story itself.

“I Said I Love You First” opens the album not with a song, but a statement. Gomez’s spoken-word reflection, originally delivered at the end of her Disney series, establishes a tone of gratitude, vulnerability, and renewal. There’s no music, but there is rhythm in her voice, and honesty in her words. It’s a reminder that love is built on years of growth, challenge, and quiet resilience. As an opener, it’s disarmingly personal and deeply effective, inviting the listener into a world that values authenticity over spectacle.

“Younger and Hotter Than Me” layers gentle Rhodes chords under Gomez’s lower-range vocals, setting a tone of reflective self-doubt. Delivered without vibrato or flourish, her matter-of-fact vocal approach sharpens the lyrical theme of romantic insecurity. As the song builds, so does her vocal range, moving into the upper register for the pre-chorus, and sustaining emotion-laden notes in the chorus. The arrangement introduces textures of strings, synths, and electronic effects, but the vulnerability is still at its core. The final vocal line, stripped of effects and delivered in a heavy tone, leaves the listener in quiet contemplation.

“Call Me When You Break Up” (feat. Gracie Abrams), despite being framed as a duet, Gomez and Abrams blend their voices in unison, offering a shared perspective rather than a dialogue. The’ 80s-inspired dance-pop groove contrasts with the emotional subtext: longing, unresolved boundaries, and quiet desperation. Their vocal delivery, layered and shimmering, creating a sense of blurred identity, as if they are two voices in the same emotional room. This contrast between sound and subject makes the track one of the album’s most compelling contradictions: catchy, but emotionally pulling.

“Ojos Tristes” is sung in Spanish and English, this track introduces a gentle Latin rhythm through its drum and bass work, while retaining the solid structure of a pop ballad. Reverb-heavy vocals and soft electronic textures give the song a floating quality, and the melodic phrasing leans toward Latin balladry without leaning too far into genre tropes. The Spanish lyrics lend rhythmic nuances and cultural authenticity, offering a deeper window into Gomez’s identity. A delay-covered guitar solo at the end brings warmth and grace to a song about quiet sadness and internal conflict.

“Sunset Blvd” is framed as a memory of their first date, this track glows with nostalgic romanticism. Pop-rock instrumentation with ’80s drum production lays the foundation, while layers of textured synths build an emotional skyline. Gomez’s voice, centered but awash in effects, drifts above the mix, with subtle glissandos in the chorus expressing a visceral sense of wonder. A spoken-word outro shifts the emotional register, turning the song from anthem to diary entry. It’s a beautifully produced moment that evokes place and feeling.

“Scared of Loving You” ends the album; the Valentine’s Day ballad strips everything back to essentials. A descending acoustic guitar figure opens the song, and Gomez sings with no effects at first, allowing the raw emotion to shine. The melody is simple but haunting, and the lyrics reveal the heart of the album: “I’m not scared of loving you, I’m scared of losing you.” Backing vocals add depth two-thirds in, echoing the central fear in harmony. The result is a fragile yet powerful ending note that concludes the album’s emotional arc with vulnerability rather than resolution.

Benny Blanco’s production approach is understated and intuitive. Rather than flooding the album with heavy-handed pop maximalism, he gives each track a tailored emotional frame, synth-pop for the moments of brightness, ambient layering for melancholy, and acoustic intimacy when things need to feel exposed. The sonic palette is cohesive without becoming repetitive, and it always serves the emotional heartbeat of the songs.

I Said I Love You First is a narrative told through shifting tones and textures. The progression from youthful gratitude to romantic fear is subtle but deliberate. Each track contributes to the arc of vulnerability, love, insecurity, and growth. The synergy between Gomez’s vocal sensitivity and Blanco’s architectural production allows their individual voices to shine, while also creating something neither could have built alone.

I Said I Love You First is a pop album that dares to whisper instead of shout. Built on a foundation of shared love, it finds strength in softness and resonance in restraint. It’s a quiet reminder that sometimes, the most powerful love songs aren’t declarations but confessions. Gomez and Blanco don’t just tell us they love each other, they let us hear how they learned to mean it.

Artist: Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco
Album: I Said I Love You First
Label: Interscope Records

Release Date: March 21, 2025

About the author

Bea Willis

Author

With an unwavering passion for music that began at the tender age of five, I embarked on a journey of self-expression through the piano, later expanding my repertoire to the guitar and the art of singing. As a seasoned performer in cozy coffee shops and harmonious choir ensembles, I've immersed myself in the diverse tapestry of musical genres, seeking to uncover the intricate qualities that strike a chord within our souls.

Beyond my personal experiences, my journalistic pursuits have led me to explore the stories and inspirations behind the melodies we hold dear. As a music journalist, I aim to delve into the heart of each composition, shedding light on the creative minds that have shaped the soundscape of our lives.

In my downtime, you can find me serenading my loyal canine companion with heartfelt tunes on the guitar or indulging in retail therapy to enhance my ever-growing wardrobe. Songwriting holds a special place in my heart, and I yearn for the day when I can share my creative talents with the world. Until then, my passion for uncovering the emotional power within music continues to drive my insightful reviews and analyses, as I journey through the rich landscape of melodies that move us.