“I dive into the future / But I’m blinded by the sun / I’m reborn in every moment / So who knows what I’ll become?” At only twenty-three years old, Selena Gomez was already due for a rebirth on Revival, her 2015 album which many superfans consider her true musical debut. After several records backed by her band The Scene at the Disney Channel, Selena left her contract for a new deal with Interscope Records, rising from the ashes and transforming into the pop phoenix we know her as today.
Serving as executive producer for the first time, Selena completely rebranded herself on Revival from a family-friendly entertainer to a genuine songwriter unafraid to tackle more mature topics. The album covers topics close to the heart for a star like her who’d never known a life outside of fame, such as media scrutiny, growing into sexuality, partying, and the emotional struggles of personal relationships.
Revival’s iconic album cover depicts Selena naked in rebirth, shot in black and white with her arms and long hair hiding her from total exposure. This simple, effective art signifies a massive departure from her Disney days. It also bears a striking resemblance to Christina Aguilera’s 2002 album Stripped, which Selena noted as her greatest inspiration for Revival. Both albums share similarly eclectic sonic directions, speckled with Latin musical influence, often sparse instrumentals and consistently raw, real lyricism.
Recognising the unique, sultry tone of her voice, Revival is where Selena Gomez began to find her trademark sound of minimalistic indie pop. The album is relaxed and low tempo, playing to her strengths in purposefully delicate vocal deliveries. This sound would soon become distinctively Selena’s. It’s thanks in part to this early work with collaborators like Julia Michaels, who’d become a close friend making tracks like ‘Anxiety’, ‘Lose You To Love Me’ and ‘Bad Liar’, and Benny Blanco, who Selena released a full album with earlier this year and recently married in Santa Barbara!
Listening ten years on, Revival is a delightful throwback to the best of quintessential 2010s EDM. ‘Kill Em With Kindness’ is a paragon of the style, all about Selena’s core artistic message of prioritising love over hate. Its skittering vocal chops and bursting dance breaks are high energy and evocative of the summery sound of the times.
One of the album’s other most memorable moments is ‘Same Old Love’, partially written by Charli XCX, who’d go on to work with Selena again on this year’s ‘Bluest Flame’. ‘Same Old Love’ has a jazzy feel and subtle reggae fusion elements. Its jumpy pianos underscore a powerful belted chorus, all about simple yet incredibly catchy melodies and attitude.
Singles ‘Hands to Myself’ and ‘Good For You’ are still amongst Selena’s absolute best, mastering the art of selling sex without ever feeling too on the nose. The former delivers an unforgettable music video, where Selena appears to be a doting girlfriend waiting at home for her lover — before the eccentric twist reveals she’s actually a stalker who broke in. The A$AP Rocky collaboration ‘Good For You’ perfects a more sincere breathy seduction, with light, easy melodies making the song an ethereal soundtrack for the bedroom.
Such creative production often uplifts the more somber writing on Revival, which could feel overly melancholy in the wrong hands, but is organic and earnest in Selena’s. ‘Sober’ stands out amongst Selena’s discography, showing off a rare belted chorus as she tells the story of a relationship losing its spark when the pair are no longer under the influence. There are also more traditional ballads on offer, like ‘Camoflauge’, a stripped-back number where sweeping pianos sparsely underscore Selena’s plain, honest lyrics about losing someone you thought you knew deeply.
The glittering deluxe track ‘Perfect’ is another unforgettable moment. Here, Selena fantasises about the other woman her partner cheats with, becoming so obsessed she pictures herself kissing her, too. The distant, hazy production makes Selena’s strained vocals all the more heart-wrenching. Similarly, Selena pines after her absent lover on ‘Cologne’, picturing her running around the house “Wearing nothing but your cologne” in suitably dreamy fashion. There’s a resignation to her tone, aware of how sad it all sounds, but unable to escape the truth.
Some of the more thrilling, eclectic cuts heavily feature Latin music, like ‘Me & My Girls’ and ‘Outta My Hands (Loco)’. ‘Body Heat’ in particular thrives with its quirky brass instrumentals. It’s undeniably sexy and energetic, depicting Selena with a desperation that makes every beat hit. These percussive numbers explore worldly sounds that nod to her background in Mexican culture on her father’s side.
Promotional single ‘Me & The Rhythm’ also builds on the longstanding tradition of newly adult pop stars celebrating their growth with an innuendo-filled track about the dance floor. Think Xtina’s ‘Dirrrty’, or Britney Spears’ ‘Slave 4 U’. (Interestingly, Britney later named Revival as the main inspiration for her 2016 album Glory). ‘Me & The Rhythm’ gives us a wink-and-nudge chorus that features a sticky sweet hook climbing into the falsettos and bouncy, beachy synths.
It all comes to a cleansing conclusion on ‘Rise’, which blends smooth, slow verses with a bright feel-good chorus. The contrast commands the listener’s attention and hones back in on Selena’s goal to “Rise with your mind and make your higher power proud”. Bookending the title track’s spoken word introduction with another narrative bridge, it’s a crystalline ending to Revival.
Revival sharpened the exposure on who Selena Gomez was, behind the characters she’d once played and the music she’d been given to perform during childhood. It begins her journey into adulthood in a way that’s deeply personal, but still relatable and sympathetic, and even a decade on, it sounds fully realized and fresh. “It’s my time to butterfly”, Selena Gomez declared in 2015. She hasn’t come down since.
