Revival: Selena Gomez
UNIVERSAL MUSIC, Rs 395
Selena’s second studio album comes in two packages; a 14-track deluxe version and the 11-track album which we will review.
Selena has accomplished a lot by 23; her latest work has good moments lyrically and musically. On Revival her lyrics, co-written with others, are more polished, directed to the heart and clear.
On the album opener Revival the demure songstress brings her pop material back to the table. The track opens with Selena speaking a few words and then moves onto her own real-life revival in song mode. There’s also the Max Martin penned Hands To Myself with snappy beats, slow whispers and neat vocals. Same Old Love has the right mix of beat and a chorus, a song you can sing at the top of your lungs with your friends on a great night out.
You might be confused as to whom Selena is referring to when she croons, “We fell for each other at the wrong time, only for a moment but I don’t mind…” on Sober, a mid-tempo dance piece that reeks of heartbreak. Her vocals reach a crescendo and show off her vocal prowess. Good For You featuring ASAP ROCKY, is a sexy ballad on which Selena reveals her desire to make one lucky person very, very happy in a number of ways. “Gonna wear that dress you like skin tight, Do up my hair real real nice, Syncopate my skin to your heart beating, Cause I just wanna look good for you…” surely puts you in a romantic mood instantly. Camouflage is beautiful, raw, and reveals Selena’s heartbroken side. If you’ve ever been in a troubled relationship, the lyrics in this song will pierce you, reflecting Selena’s relationship with Justin Bieber and the trouble she had saying her final goodbyes to him.
Want a bit of swing and dance? Me & The Rhythm is a 70’s inspired dance track that reveals another side of Selena we don’t often get to see. She sways while singing, “Everybody wants to be touched, everybody wants to get some.” Survivors is a pitch happy track with a slight dose of EDM thrown in. It talks about her life after a relationship and surviving the ordeal of a lost love. Body Heat is a fun track with a Latino touch, while Rise opens with an interesting drum beat.
This is a fairly good album with lyrics directed at the teen population. And though you might need a second listen to the playlist to really feel what Selena is saying, you’ll surely love her voice at the first listen. Lyrics included.
Verus Ferreira is a music journalist for over three decades. He is the author of The Great Music Quiz Book and The Great Rock Music Quiz Book and the founder of Musicunplugged.in
