Vulnerable (Selena Gomez song) explained

Vulnerable
Type:song
Artist:Selena Gomez
Album:Rare
Studio:Interscope Studios (Santa Monica, California)
Genre:
Label:Interscope
Producer:

"Vulnerable" is a song by American singer Selena Gomez from her third studio album, Rare (2020), included as the sixth track on the standard version album, and on the deluxe version the eighth track. The track was written by Gomez, Amy Allen, Jordan Johnson, Stefan Johnson, and Jonathan Bellion, with the latter handling production alongside the Monsters & Strangerz.

The song received acclaim from music critics, who praised Gomez's vocals and the songwriting.

Composition

Musically, "Vulnerable" is a disco,[1] [2] electropop,[3] and synth-pop song[4] with elements of Italo disco and tropical house genres.[5] The song features a "moody synth groove",[6] a "chugging rhythm",[5] and vocoded vocals[5] with a "ghostly edge".[5] In terms of music notation, "Vulnerable" was composed using common time in the key of G minor, with a tempo of 100 beats per minute.[7] Gomez's vocal range spans from the low note of F3 to the high note of D5, giving the song one octave and four tones of range. Lyrically, it finds Gomez struggling to let someone in, through the chorus "if I show you all my demons/and we dive into the deep end/would we crash and burn like every time before?", wondering whether they could handle her, if she showed her vulnerabilities to them.[8] Gomez has also stated that the song is one of her favorites off the album.

Critical reception

"Vulnerable" received acclaim from music critics. Quinn Moreland of Pitchfork called the song Gomez's "best performance" stating that she "sounds firm and assured even when she dips into a whisper."[9] Idolator highlighted the song as a "delight" from Rare.[10] Mike Wass from the website wrote that "Vulnerable" ranks "as one of best synth-pop offerings of 2020", calling it as "frighteningly addictive" as "musical heroin".[11] Furthermore, the site ranked the song at number 6 on "The 100 Best Pop Songs of 2020" list.[12]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Rare.[13]

Recording locations

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. News: Selena Gomez has 165 million Instagram followers. Now she has her first great pop album. Wood. Mikael. January 9, 2020. Los Angeles Times. April 21, 2020. January 10, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200110072935/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-01-09/selena-gomez-rare-new-album-review. live.
  2. Greenblatt . Leah . Selena Gomez's Rare is a danceable lesson in self-love and acceptance . . April 21, 2020 . January 9, 2020 . February 15, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200215111732/https://ew.com/music/2020/01/09/selena-gomez-rare-ew-review/ . live .
  3. Web site: Wass . Mike . Album Review: Selena Gomez's 'Rare' Is A Pop Revelation . . April 21, 2020 . January 13, 2020.
  4. Web site: Selena Gomez Learns the Language of Self-Advocacy on "Rare". The Fordham Ram. Emma Maliborski. April 22, 2020. June 11, 2020. June 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200611152053/https://fordhamram.com/76084/culture/selena-gomez-learns-the-language-of-self-advocacy-on-rare/. live.
  5. Every Song Ranked on Selena Gomez's 'Rare' . January 10, 2020 . April 21, 2020 . Alim . Kheraj . . January 10, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200110182429/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8547736/selena-gomez-rare-songs-ranked . live .
  6. Web site: DeVille . Chris . Selena Gomez's Rare Was Worth The Wait . . April 21, 2020 . January 9, 2020 . January 11, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200111014705/https://www.stereogum.com/2068911/selena-gomez-rare-review/franchises/the-week-in-pop/ . live .
  7. Web site: Selena Gomez "Vulnerable" Sheet Music in G Minor. Musicnotes.com. April 21, 2020. May 15, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200515164943/https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0206578. live.
  8. Web site: Selena Gomez – Vulnerable Lyrics Genius Lyrics. January 10, 2020. May 3, 2021.
  9. Web site: Selena Gomez: Rare Album Review. Moreland. Quinn. Pitchfork. January 14, 2020. April 21, 2020. January 16, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200116134212/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/selena-gomez-rare/. live.
  10. Web site: Wass. Mike. July 2, 2020. The 20 Best Pop Albums Of 2020 (So Far). July 4, 2020. Idolator.
  11. Web site: Wass . Mike . Lost Hit: Selena Gomez's'Vulnerable' Should Have Been A Single . Idolator . July 17, 2020 . June 4, 2020 . April 28, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210428030226/https://www.idolator.com/7911201/lost-hit-selena-gomezs-vulnerable-should-have-been-a-single . live .
  12. Web site: Wass. Mike. December 26, 2020. The 100 Best Pop Songs of 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210428030220/https://www.idolator.com/7917021/the-100-best-pop-songs-of-2020?ios=1&safari=1. April 28, 2021. Idolator.
  13. Rare. Selena Gomez. 2020. CD booklet. Interscope Records.
  14. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. January 20, 2020. April 21, 2020. January 30, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200130215249/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/hotsingles?chart=4806. live.
  15. Web site: Rare (Deluxe) by Selena Gomez. Apple Music. April 21, 2020. April 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200426134301/https://music.apple.com/us/album/rare-deluxe/1506661706. live.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Vulnerable (Selena Gomez song)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.