Selena Gomez & benny blanco Release First Collaborative Album “I Said I Love You First”
American singer-songwriter Selena Gomez and American record producer benny blanco released their first collaborative album “I Said I Love You First” on March 21, 2025.
This isn't the first time Selena Gomez and benny blanco have worked together. benny blanco produced Selena Gomez's 2015 album “Revival”, and the 2023 single “Single Soon”. And Selena Gomez joined in benny blanco's 2019 song “I Can't Get Enough” with J Balvin and Tainy.
The album comprises 14 songs, featuring collaborations with Gracie Abrams, The Marías, Tainy and J Balvin.
In addition to Selena Gomez and benny blanco, co-writers include FINNEAS, Charli xcx, Julia Michaels, Gracie Abrams, Justin Trante, Cashmere Cat and more.
Produced by benny blanco, Blake Slatkin, Cashmere Cat, Chrome Sparks, Dylan Brady, FINNEAS, Jackson Shanks, Josh Conway, María Zardoya, SebastiAn and Tainy.
The album is about the love story of Selena Gomez and benny blanco, and chronicles their entire story-before they met, falling in love and looking to what the future holds.
benny blanco told Zane Lowe of Apple Music about the album, “This was just an idea that started in our bedroom-like, 'Let's just make something fun. Everything felt right. It almost felt too good.”
Selena Gomez said, “Through the creation of I Said I Love You First, benny and I got to explore so many sides of ourselves as individual people and as a couple. I love the Sunset Blvd side which is fun, carefree and boldly in love, and I equally love the softer, quieter, more introspective parts of us.”
She continued, “benny, thank you for being my own personal journal throughout this process. These songs represent our past, present and future... something I can't wait to experience with you from now until forever. Thank you for pouring your unconditional love into creating this project with me. To every collaborator on the album: Gracie Abrams, The Marías, FINNEAS, Charli XCX and so many more, thank you for helping me communicate my deepest, truest self into art. I am forever grateful for your trust in creating something so special together.”
benny blanco added, “I still can't believe today is actually real. Our secret little album we made in our bedroom is out for the rest of the world to hear. I may not b able to remember when we first met over 15 years ago but I do remember our first kiss and how it changed our lives forever. I feel like today is different than all of the other times I've put albums out because I'm not doing it alone I get to do all the scary parts of being an artist with my best friend by my side. This album wouldn't exist without you. Saying you are my rock is an understatement. I couldn't picture life without you. You may have said I love you first but I'll make sure I never stop saying it. I LOVE YOU !!!”
Selena Gomez explained track-by-track for the album. She said, “benny and I made so many amazing memories throughout the process of creating our new album. I wanted to let you guys in on some of those stories and the making of these songs.”
“I Said I Love You First” “The intro to the album is actually in my last day on Wizards of Waverly Place that I, for some reason seemed to not to be able to let go of. It was the best time of my life and that was a promise I had made to my cast and crew that I'd dream and hope that I would make them proud one day, so, that's what that one's about.”
“Younger And Hotter Than Me” “'Younger And Hotter' actually is intentionally after my intro because it kind of reflects the, the pressure that women have, um, I guess child stars, does that make sense? It feels like there's always something shinier and brand new. You don't, you don't feel as great and there's always insecurities that happen and it feels really wonderful to express it and, and the way that I do. Um, babe? If you think the song maybe about a relationship and you relate to it that way, hopе that you finna enjoy it. But for me, this song is actually meant to bе more about how women have this journey that they go through no matter what age they are, or, you know, I'm thirty-two and so I have insecurities and, you know, things like that come up all the time. So, it's definitely more of an interpretation of my journey and not necessarily about a relationship.”
“Call Me When You Break Up” with Gracie Abrams “'Call Me When You Break Up,' uh, it was a song that instantly stuck out. I, um, again, this song was something of, um, the nature of playing, and it's actually not about, um, relationships, about a friendship. And it's about how, you know, someone can be in a relationship and you lose that friendship sometimes so you want that back. So, that's actually kind of a twist I don't think anybody really knew, but if it feels like it is about a, uh, boyfriend or girlfriend or someone, I think that's wonderful.”
“Ojos Tristes” with The Marías “This song, 'Ojos Tristes' is actually one of my favorite. Sometimes it's my favorite which is really random, but Benny and I went on a date to go see The Marías and it was outside, it was beautiful and I was just mesmerized and, you know, he introduced me to a whole new, you know, whole new artist and what she does is just beautiful. Um, I would say that was a no-brainer. I love, and you know me, I was trying to do a song in Spanish for each of my albums and I just thought she'd have the perfect tone for this and as you can tell her here hopefully, she kills it, and I'm so honored to have her on the track.”
“Don't Wanna Cry” “'Don't Wanna Cry' is a song that's about when you're feeling like you're done, if that makes sense. When so much has happened, we've learned so much, but, you know, people always joke, or not joke, they actually say this about me, but I love, I love songs that are about, are about the heart, are about love or something, and I know that feeling when you felt tied up and you just wanna be free of something that may not be right, but I'm really, really happy because this song is like a therapeutic, uh, way of letting that go because, well, I do cry still, but, hey, don't cry as much as I used to.”
“Sunset Blvd” “'Sunset Blvd' is, is, um, a lot of different things. It's of the place that, of, actually, sorry. "Sunset Blvd" is where we had our first date. We drove in this beautiful car and he drove and I drove, we like, switches spots because I thought he was a terrible driver, but turns out, I'm not any better. We went to this place called, 'Jitlada' and, um, I don't know, it's just one of those nights that changed my life and, and I'll always be grateful for it. Plus, it kind of just is self-explanatory, I guess.”
“Cowboy” “'Cowboy' is a song that kind of reflects the sensual side of, of who I am, I guess, as a woman. And I love that feeling of releasing your inner, you know, sensual beast and I, I had a song called 'Good for You' that was one of my favorite songs that I've ever done. And this was my "Good for You" if you will. Obviously, it's, um, it's sexy, it's fun, it makes me feel really good about myself.”
“Bluest Flame” “'Bluest Flame,' Charli xcx, she is the coolest, I mean, I don't even need to say that, but you guys know she's the coolest ever. Benny has worked with her and I got to do 'Same Old Love' with Benny and Charli. So I'm just so excited we were able to get together and just make a banger. You know, there's not much thought, it's more just like, let's, let's, let's have a good time, let's, I'm in love, or, or I feel excitеd, or I love this moment. It's one of thosе, just, "Put it on and dance" kind of songs.”
“How Does It Feel To Be Forgotten” “'How Does It Feel To Be Forgotten.' Now, the thing about this is that Benny and I created this album from experiences that we had together and in the past and present. A lot of people like to dissect my music and I can tell you that this specific song much more about what we've experienced. It's not my past, it's more just, it's just an honest song and I think that's all I wanted it to be.”
“Do You Wanna Be Perfect” “'Do You Wanna Be Perfect' is just a cute little shakeup in the middle and it is me being cheesy, explaining how much, you know, the society expects us to be perfect all the time, but that's all.”
“You Said You Were Sorry” “Okay, maybe I lied—this might be my favorite off the album. Um, this song was actually from a dream that I had. I woke up from this wild dream, and I dream vividly, so I see colors, I see faces, I see everything. Benny and I woke up one morning, and I told him about my dream. It was just more about a conflicted issue that I felt needed to be resolved, and then, in reality, I realized sometimes you don't need it to be. Sometimes being who you are and moving forward is the best option for you. But I love the fact that we were able to take it to a dream world.”
“I Can't Get Enough” featuring Tainy and with J Balvin “'I Can't Get Enough,' of course, I have this song on the album, I understand people have heard it, but this is kind of, to me, a reflection of when Benny and I were just becoming friends really, and then, uh, it was so much fun. So, of course, I wanted to put it on the album that I, you know, made with the love of my life.”
“Don't Take It Personally” “So this song is another song that actually, we kind of put together in a way where it was actually told to me. So this is actually me in an experience of, um, of someone maybe in my past that, you know, had, you know, had, had gone through whatever they needed to go through to get through life. And um, this felt, this is odd to say but, yes, I'm the person that it happened to.”
“Scared Of Loving You” “'Scared Of Loving You' is the sweetest little charm that we put towards the end of the record. Funny enough, it wasn't going to be the first single of—well, we just fell in love with the song and we thought it would be a great way to introduce people into our world and, you know, how much we love each other, and it is scary when you fall in love 'cause you don't ever wanna lose them.”
