THE RANT

voice at first since I’ve seen some of her live performances on awards shows where she opts for lower tones to avoid messing up. But this Selena is nothing like the one I’ve seen on television. She’s sure of herself. She tells her fans how much she loves them. She explains she’s had ups and downs. She has realized she owns the stage and commands attention. She’s singing live.

            Once “Revival” is over, Gomez transitions to “Same Old Love.” The crowd sings along with her and chants her name once the track is done. They clap and refuse to sit, asking for her to start the next song. The two standout performances are “Sober” and “Me and My Girls,” which she performs under large red roses backed by well-coordinated dancers. She even joins them and hits some marks herself as she belts and harmonizes. When she finishes her twenty-song set, cannons shoot confetti into the audience and the lights come on after she wishes her audience a safe night.

            I leave that night knowing I made a right decision in attending. I knew most of the songs and I’m not ashamed to admit I enjoy her music, especially her most recent work. She may not have the most outlandish voice but the dedication she has put into becoming the woman she is today is obvious. There is a sultriness about her that is fun to watch and anything but off-putting. Her speeches about loving oneself were uplifting and only serve to make her more a role model for young children who have grown up following her career. She, like many of her current and new fans, has matured and come a long way since her Disney days, proving to herself and those following her that “this is [her] revival.”