Selena Gomez subtly criticizes Justin Bieber in her heartfelt new album

Selena Gomez is officially leaving her “good girl” days behind and she’s doing it hand-in-hand (and lips locked) with fiancé Benny Blanco.

Selena Gomez, a former Disney star, has joined forces with the Grammy-nominated producer for their debut collaborative album, titled “I Said I Love You First,” set to be released this Friday.

The album delves into the intense emotions and experiences of Selena Gomez’s nearly two-year-long romantic relationship with Benny Blanco, offering a captivating musical story.

Gomez wastes no time setting the tone.

It kicks off with a heartfelt spoken-word prelude where she expresses gratitude for her support system, leading into the haunting track “Young and Hotter Than Me,” a soulful piano ballad reminiscent of Lana Del Rey’s style, which appears to be aimed at a past lover, possibly Justin Bieber, according to fans’ theories.

The emotional whirlwind continues on “Ojos Tristes,” a hypnotic, mostly Spanish-language track where Gomez admits to falling back into an old lover’s arms “one last time.”

“Now I found another hand to hold,” she triumphantly proclaims on the bubbly “Don’t Wanna Cry,” a glittering breakup anthem with all the makings of a summer smash.

On the playful “Sunset Blvd,” Gomez recounts their first date with tongue-in-cheek sensuality: “I can’t wait to hold it, to hold that / Big, big / Hard …” wait for it … “Heart!” The cheeky delivery and breathy vocals confirm what fans already know: this isn’t the same Gomez.

The passion only deepens on “Cowboy,” where she breathes through verses about “riding him like a…” (well, it’s not subtle), and “Bluest Flame,” an experimental track that veers into Charli XCX territory, heavy on AutoTune and after-hours vibes.

It’s not just physical, though.

On “How Does It Feel to Be Forgotten,” Gomez coolly shrugs off the heartbreaks of the past, dismissing old flames, and the memory of them, as nothing but embarrassing history.

By the time the couple reaches “I Can’t Get Enough,” their chemistry is electric, even if the track’s chorus feels borderline maddening. Still, their shared intoxication is palpable.

For Gomez, “I Said I Love You First” marks her return to the pop forefront after a musical hiatus since 2020’s “Rare.” Ahead of its release, she credited her fiancé, not just with capturing her heart, but also with helping her rediscover her passion for music.

“I was very frustrated and kind of confused on where I wanted to go next musically,” she shared in an interview with Rolling Stone. “And we had been together for a while, and obviously I would confide in him. I couldn’t figure out my sound.”

But then Blanco came into the picture, who not only offered emotional support but also became her closest collaborator. “It helps that he knows a little bit about music,” Gomez joked. She added that the process of making the album was unlike anything she’d experienced before. “This process was unlike any other process I’d ever been through.”

According to Blanco, the project came together in the most organic way possible, with the couple keeping it “really close to the chest,” only involving a tight circle of friends. Much of the songwriting, he explained, happened on the fly, inspired by quiet moments at home.

“Every time she would wake up, I’d take out a pen so she could write what was on her mind,” Blanco recalled. “Then we’d go into the other room and create it, and it became a song. It was such a cathartic and therapeutic experience.”

Blanco largely steps out of the spotlight vocally, choosing instead to shape the album’s production, sometimes beautifully polished, other times a little too chaotic for its own good.

But the final track, “Scared of Loving You,” leaves listeners with a voicemail-style gut punch. Gomez confesses to Blanco that a breakup would be devastating: “Breaking up would destroy her.”

Thankfully, these two seem built to last, and now, they’ve made it official with a love letter fans can play on repeat.