Disney Channel was my favorite procrastination technique before there was the Internet and Netflix. Undeniably, "Wizards of Waverly Place" was my favorite show. That also might have partly been because Selena Gomez was the main character and Selena Gomez was is one of my favorite celebrities.
Since "Wizards" ended, Selena has released a solo album, conducted a world tour, starred in three movies (they didn’t do so well but we’ll forget that), wrote an entire new album and went under chemotherapy for lupus.
While the media was convinced Selena was in therapy for a drug addiction, she was actually in chemotherapy for treatment. An autoimmune disease, which can easily be hidden from the limelight she is constantly in, a lot of people never knew about this. Her Billboard cover story highlights all she went through before her latest album that dropped on Friday, "Revival."
A fan of Selena for the longest time (I went to her Stars Dance tour in 2013 – love her), I was pumped to hear the new album. Her single “Good For You” had me so excited for this new chapter in her life, including a more adult and sophisticated sound. She even says, “it feels like a metamorphosis – I have come into my own,” in the Billboard article. "Revival" shows this metamorphosis.
"Revival" really encompasses the pop sound I think Selena has been looking for through her past few albums. And not only is the sound incredible, but her lyrics give the empowerment that all her fans need to hear. The bridge in “Rise” is a spoken-word speech where Selena gives her fans a feeling of hope when things might not be going the right way.
From genius.com
Selena repeatedly said that this album was for the fans, but it was also for her. Songs such as “Hands To Myself”, “Good For You,” and “Body Heat” show that she isn’t the same Disney pop star that she used to be. Not only that, it gives a sense of female empowerment. On social media there was some backlash to a girl wanting to look good for someone else. Which, honestly? Do we still believe that women are just precious flowers that don’t have sex? Apparently so. Selena doesn’t care for this either. After her video for the song came out (which people also had a problem with because she was laying on a couch), she said, “It’s how a woman feels when they wake up in the morning,” Gomez added. “When their hair is wet and when they’re in a white t-shirt. Things that make women feel sexy and feel beautiful.” And honestly…what’s wrong with that? Shouldn’t everyone want to feel sexy?
"Revival" is worth the $11.99 on iTunes or the 50-minute stream on Spotify or illegally downloading from wherever you get your music. Selena Gomez has shown the world who she is, and she’s done it in the most sophisticated and beautiful way possible. Have your revival alongside her, it’s worth it – I promise.