Celebrity News
Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s New Album “I Said Love I You First”
Love is in the air, and it’s got a soundtrack! The love birds Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco have come together to release their collaborative album, ”I Said I Love You First, a sweet journey through their romance that is sure to charm your heart and ears. Let’s take a ride into this harmonious blend of love and music that is setting the charts, and our emotions, on fire.

I Said I Love You First
A Love Story Set to Music
They made an announcement of the album on Valentine’s Day, and “I Said I Love You First” dropped on March 21, 2025, giving fans an intimate closure into the couple’s relationship. The album talks about their journey from initial attraction to deep commitment, discussing the highs and lows of love in a way that’s both personal and universally relatable.
Following the release from press, they claimed the project “came together organically as a direct result of the comfort that they both felt when working together creatively, allowing them to produce art that authentically reflects their experiences.”

Selena et Blanco
Tracklist: A Musical Diary
The 14-track album is a testament to their collaborative chemistry, featuring songs that range from heartfelt ballads to upbeat music :
1.I Said I Love You First
2.Younger and Hotter Than Me
3.Call Me When You Break Up
4.Ojos Tristes
5.Don’t Wanna Cry
6.Sunset Blvd
7.Cowboy
8.Bluest Flame
9.How Does It Feel to Be Forgotten
10.Do You Wanna Be Perfect
11.You Said You Were Sorry
12.I Can’t Get Enough (feat. Tainy)
13.Don’t Take It Personally
14.Scared of Loving You
Each track dives into different sides of their relationship, offering listeners a perfect view of their love story.

I said I love you first
Notable Collaborations and Themes
The album has collaborations with various musicians, such as Gracie Abrams on “Call Me When You Break Up”, which offer depth and diversity to the record in addition to showcasing Gomez and Blanco’s skills. Fans are curious about the reflective lyrics of “You Said You Were Sorry”, one of the songs that stands out, which portrays Gomez’s dream in which an ex gives her closure by expressing regret for past suffering.
Another outstanding track is “Cowboy”, which features GloRilla and showcases Gomez’s more sensuous side while also giving the album’s plot a light-hearted twist. The album’s blending of various genres and styles shows how open the duo is to trying new things and pushing the boundaries of music.

Love birds
Critical Reception: A Mixed Bag
The album has garnered a range of reactions from critics. While some praise its authenticity and the couple’s chemistry, others feel it lacks a distinct identity. Georgia Evans of NME and Alexis Petridis of The Guardian both criticised the album’s saying it lacked a distinct character, with Evans stating that the tracks’ nature was unmemorable.
I Said I Love You First garnered “generally favourable reviews” according to review aggregator Metacritic, which calculated a weighted average score of 63 out of 100 from five reviewer scores. The album “I Said I Love You First” received praise from Associated Press’s Martina Rebecca Inchingolo for experimenting with various genres and featuring guest musicians.
Conversely, fans have embraced the album’s heartfelt lyrics and the genuine portrayal of Gomez and Blanco’s relationship, making it a commercial success despite mixed critical reviews.

Love and music
A Trend in Pop Music: Love Takes Center Stage
Gomez and Blanco’s collaboration matches with the wide trend in pop music where musicians openly celebrate their romantic relationships through their work. This move from themes of heartache to expressions of love and happiness is visible in projects like Lady Gaga’s Mayhem, which highlights her relationship with fiancé Michael Polansky. This “rom-com economy” reflects a cultural movement towards embracing joy and partnership in both art and life.
Taylor Swift’s Stamp of Approval
Adding to the album’s gossip, Taylor Swift broke her 100-day social media hiatus to praise I Said I Love You First. Swift’s enthusiastic endorsement underscores the album’s impact and highlights the supportive friendship between artists in the industry. Selena in return also shared Swift’s post, showing their lasting friendship and mutual respect.

The love birds
Behind the Music: An Intimate Creation Process
In an interview for Spotify’s Countdown To series, Gomez and Blanco revealed that the album’s creation was deeply personal and unplanned. They described mornings spent in conversation, with Blanco noting, “I felt like your personal journal,” to which Gomez replied, “Well, you are!” This organic approach allowed them to craft songs that genuinely reflect their experiences and emotions.

Selena Gomez
Conclusion
“I Said I Love You First” is a testament to Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s love story, The album offers listeners an intimate glimpse of their journey together. While opinions may vary, the album’s heartfelt narratives and melodic compositions resonate with fans, making it a significant addition to both artists’ musical legacies. Even though you are a hopeless romantic or a music enthusiast, this album invites you to experience the magic that unfolds when love and creativity intertwine.
read also : Tiwa Savage Shared Some Pictures Of Her Latest Music Video “Forgiveness”
Celebrity News
Ayra Starr Is the Cover Girl for Schön Magazine
Ayra Starr secured another major feature, this time for Schön! 50. The Mavin Records star fronts the magazine’s latest digital issue, shot by Cody Lidtke with styling from Dominick Barcelona. Her hair was done courtesy of Dijah Slayy and Opus Beauty using GHD, while Uhh Jean and Opus Beauty handled makeup with Pat McGrath products.

Photo: Cody Lidtke
In a social media post promoting the cover, the magazine described Ayra as someone redefining what it means to be a global star, picking up awards, breaking barriers, and pushing Afropop into higher spaces. Billions of streams, sold-out shows, yet she stays exactly who she is. That, the magazine says, is the whole point.
In the interview, Ayra talked about the way people try to box Afrobeats artists into one sound. “People genuinely try to put Afrobeat artists in a box,” she said. “Music is free. Music is for everybody.” She also got real about who she’s actually making music for, explaining that she makes music for confident women, people who have always known they were different, and that people listen to her music to feel good.

Photo: Cody Lidtke
It’s difficult to argue with the numbers either. “Rush,” her 2021 breakout, has crossed hundreds of millions of streams, and her overall catalogue now sits above 7 billion streams worldwide. She’s worked with the likes of Wizkid and Tyla, and her name keeps showing up wherever Afropop is being talked about on the global stage. From Cotonou to international charts, her rise has coincided with growing global attention for Afropop artists.
The timing of this cover isn’t random either. Ayra just dropped her new single “Tornado” on June 12, the lead single off her coming album “Starr Girl,” due August 14. Produced by Skillies, Shizzi, and RiotUSA, the track carries the now-quoted line, “Inflation, I’m the price they wanna beat.”

Photo: Cody Lidtke
Before it officially dropped, it was previewed during her NPR Tiny Desk performance, and at a listening party for the single, she stepped out in an outfit topped with a Sego gele.
Celebrity News
Sharon Ooja and Husband Ugo Nwoke Welcome Baby Boy
Nollywood actress Sharon Ooja and her husband, Ugo Nwoke have welcomed their first child, a baby boy. She announced it on Instagram on Wednesday and the comment section was flooded with reactions.

Photo: Wutlife
Sharon broke the news with a series of maternity pictures featuring husband which she captioned. “I just gave birth to the most handsome baby boy I have ever seen. I’m still so overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. 2025/2026… God truly ushered me into the most beautiful years of my life and wrote a story that only He can take the glory for. Pregnancy made me understand God’s love in such a deeper way, unconditional, intentional, and impossible to fully explain. Our lives have changed forever. W.I.N, that’s his initials. I’ve always dreamed of being a mummy, and now I finally am.”

Photo: Wutlife
For the shoot, Sharon wore a black strappy bralette paired with loose grey trousers, with a matching jacket draped around her waist, revealing her baby bump. Her hair was styled in voluminous curls, while Ugo complemented the neutral shades in an oversized black T-shirt and grey trousers. The images were set against a minimalist studio backdrop featuring clothing racks, white folding chairs and visible lighting equipment, while another frame captured the couple by a large window filled with natural light. Several of the photographs showed the pair posing closely together, with Sharon also photographed seated while cradling her bump.
What surprised fans about the news was that her pregnancy had been kept private throughout. The couple chose to keep the journey away from social media intentionally, with Sharon thanking close family and friends for respecting their decision to maintain that privacy. She described the experience as deeply personal and fulfilling, noting that her first trimester came with challenges, which she plans to speak about at a later time.

Photo: Wutlife
She thanked her husband in a message, writing: “Thank you for loving me so fiercely and beautifully through every stage of our pregnancy. The prayers, reassurance, back rubs, trips, baths, endless gifts, food runs and the way you carried me emotionally and spiritually these past 9 months. Baby, you are truly everything. Me, Win and Zoey are so blessed to have you.”
Sharon, who rose to prominence through Skinny Girl in Transit and later appeared in King of Boys, Glamour Girls, and Oloture, remains one of Nollywood’s most recognisable contemporary stars. She married Ugo Nwoke in 2024, with both traditional and white wedding ceremonies held in Abuja. Now, less than two years later, the family has a new baby.
She concluded with a celebratory note, embracing her new role as a mother, adding that fans can now officially call her “mama Win,” while also noting, “we officially back.”
Celebrity News
Veekee James Welcomes Baby Girl with Femi Atere
On May 13, 2026, award-winning fashion designer Veekee James and her husband, Femi Atere, announced the arrival of their first child, a baby girl named Eliana Adeife Atere. The couple shared the news on Instagram with a heartfelt video that had fans emotional from the very first frame.
Captioned; “She’s Here. 02-May-26. Eliana Adeife Atere. EL (God) and ANA (He has answered), signifying ‘My God has answered.’ 1 Samuel 1:27, For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him.”

Photo: Instagram
In the clip, Baby Eliana appeared in a soft pink knitted outfit with her name embroidered on the front. She was born on May 2nd at 19:12, weighing 3.83 kg and measuring at 53.5 cm.
Veekee publicly confirmed her pregnancy on February 3, 2026. Days later, she and Femi flew to Dubai for a gender reveal held between February 7 to 8, where they announced they were expecting a girl. From that moment, the countdown began. They had also shared that they tried to conceive for a year before receiving the news.

Photo: Instagram
Congratulations poured in following the announcement. Mo Abudu wrote, “Congratulations, my darling, we give God all glory. She is beautiful.” Osas Ighodaro said, “God is so good! Congratulations, my darling!! AND SHE IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.”And Kie Kie added, “What the Lord has done for you is marvellous, and His joy will never depart from you.” The comment sections has remained active since then.
Veekee and Femi got married in February 2024, and Eliana Adeife Atere is their first child together.
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