As one of the many Disney princesses dominating the charts, Selena Gomez always took a Wrigley's approach to pop – cool and fresh. Stars Dance kicks off with a bubblegum explosion, and Gomez's tongue is firmly in her cheek on the brilliant Birthday. Never one to overdo coy sexuality, she holds her own on the teasing Slow Down and purrs and coos in all the right places on Undercover.
The Bollywood-influenced Come and Get It was created by certified hitmakers Ester Dean and Stargate. Even though it was originally penned for Rihanna, it marks a new era for the pint-sized starlet as this is her first outing without backing band The Scene, who were with her for the last three albums.
This past year has seen former child stars Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato and Gomez's BFF Taylor Swift return with music that marks their growth and maturity as artists. Cyrus has her midriff and southern-fried drawl, Lovato her powerhouse voice and Swift her string of famous men to sing about. Gomez is armed with the strong right hook of a killer song, thanks to producers Stargate, The Cataracs (Slow Down, Undercover) and Rock Mafia (Stars Dance, Love Will Remember).
As most of her peers earnestly try to prove that they are adults through tabloid activity, Gomez, at 21, has very little left to prove. In fact, the only song that could cause any commotion is the album's only ballad, Love Will Remember, which is probably about her on again/off again fella, Justin Bieber.
Stars Dance is riddled with hits, and Ke$ha probably would have murdered the last unicorn for a party anthem like B.E.A.T. So what if Like a Champion is an unashamed Rihanna knockoff? With tracks such as Write Your Name, Gomez is creeping towards Grade A pop sophistication. At this rate it won't be long before she releases a groundbreaking pop record akin to Britney Spears's Blackout and Justin Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveSounds. selenagomez.com
Download: Birthday, B.E.A.T., Write Your Name
