Selena Gomez is channeling her playful and sexy side in her new song “Sunset Blvd,” released on March 14 and from the lyrics alone, it sounds like she’s taking a page from Sabrina Carpenter’s playbook. The single marks the third release ahead of Gomez’s upcoming project I Said I Love You First, a joint album collaboration with fiancé Benny Blanco, set to drop on March 21. The album came as a surprise to fans, with Gomez announcing it on her Instagram account after previously stating she was stepping away from music to focus on acting and producing.
“Sunset Blvd” stands out for its flirtatious undertone, a unique shift from her previous releases. The first single, “Scared of Losing You,” dives into Gomez’s vulnerable side, reflecting on past relationships that led her to find true love with Blanco. Meanwhile, “Call Me When You Break Up,” featuring Gracie Abrams, offers a lighthearted nod to Gomez’s best friend. Curious about the deeper meaning behind “Sunset Blvd”? You’re not alone — and I think I know exactly what Gomez is trying to say.
“Sunset Blvd” explores Gomez’s physical and emotional love for Blanco, which is clear from the first verse. The song starts out with Gomez singing, “You’re my cherry pie / I don’t care who knows it / Love me ’til I die / Bury me with roses.” The lyrics emphasize Blanco’s sweetness to her and her unwavering commitment to their relationship. The line “I don’t care who knows it” also implies that Gomez is unbothered about those who criticize their relationship. She has previously spoken up about the hate she and Blanco have faced for their relationship.
In a May 2024 interview with Time Gomez briefly addressed the public’s opinions about their romance, saying, “I know what people can do to people I love. My own fans, who I adore and feel like have shaped who I am, will say the most hurtful things to me about how I live my life. But he has the strength in him that none of that noise fazes him.”
Towards the end of the second half of the first verse, Gomez highlights Blanco’s sensitivity while playfully expressing her excitement about holding his… heart. She sings, “I know you’re awfully shy / But I can’t wait to hold it, to hold that.” The pre-chorus continues the teasing tone, with Gomez singing, “Big, big / Hard heart.” The lyrics offer a cheeky, yet sweet nod to Blanco’s kindness — and something a little more suggestive.
The chorus, like the MV, references Blanco and Gomez’s first date on Sunset Boulevard. The couple dated for a little more than a year before announcing their engagement in December 2024, but their first date was at Jitlada Thai Restaurant on Sunset Boulevard. On March 10, the pair returned to the place where it all began and posted about it on their socials.
Gomez sings in the chorus, “With open arms / Holding you naked, middle of Sunset Boulevard / Making you famous, everyone’s watching / Bare skin, concrete / They’re calling the police / Open arms / Holding you naked, middle of Sunset.” The lyrics underline how vulnerable their relationship is to public scrutiny, with Gomez using phrases like “naked” and “bare” to express feeling exposed. However, she emphasizes that even with this feeling, she would continue to love Blanco even if she were exposed in the middle of Sunset Boulevard.
Gomez speaks of the emotional and physical intimacy Blanco gives as she becomes consumed by their love, singing, “Feel so good, it hurts / But you fill up what’s broken (La-la-la-la).”
Gomez notes how she’s more reserved in nature, but with Blanco, she feels as if she can express herself more authentically. She sings, “Woman of few words, but for you / I keep my mouth wide open.” She goes on to end the verse by reinforcing her yearning for emotional and physical intimacy, “I’m praying and hoping that you’ll quench my thirst / Not just dip your toes in, I want that.”
Gomez ends “Sunset Blvd” with a bridge that functions as a double entendre, combining emotional depth with playful flirtation. While stressing the intense love she shares with Blanco, she also teases her desires and physical need for him by singing, “I just wanna touch it, touch it / Try your hardest not to bust it / Give me, give me, love it, love it / Hey, hey, hey / I just wanna touch it, touch it / Try your hardest not to bust it / Give me, give me, how I love your big / Big heart.”
If that’s not true love, then I don’t know what is.