Selena Gomez says she’s not the greatest singer— and it’s actually super empowering
Recently, we’ve been playing Selena Gomez’s new single, “Good For You,” on repeat. It’s a smoky, beautifully-soulful collab with A$AP Rocky that we totally love. But it’s not just her talent that we admire — it’s her down-to-earth personality and commitment to living a happy life. “It’s about being strong, which means being comfortable with who I am,” she told Elle last week. “I think women, especially my age, can relate. You’re figuring out who you are and there are so many different levels of emotions that you go through. The best is when you feel confident, beautiful, and comfortable with yourself.”
Now, she has echoed that sentiment once again in a super-real interview with Elvis Duran earlier this week. The singer talked about the new single, what it was like to work with A$AP Rocky, the media, and family. But what got us the most was her wisdom about learning as you go. Selena is only 22 — she will be turning 23 next month — but she’s got some seriously awesome views on life, making mistakes, and learning from them. And her humility and wisdom is perfect.
“I know my strengths now — I know that I can translate emotion and heart, and I’ve written more than I’ve ever written on any album for this record,” she explained in the interview. “I have a lot to prove, but I think, for instance, this song [“Good For You”] is totally in my register. It’s smoky and fun and sexy.”
Selena has embraced the fact that she can never be “the very best” — and that being the best isn’t the point. What’s important is not comparing yourself to others, but focusing on your own talents. “For this record I wanted to find my sweet spot, if you will,” she explained. “I know that maybe vocally I wouldn’t be the greatest singer in the world.”
SO refreshing. After all, we all have flaws, and we all have strengths. But the biggest flaw is to hold yourself back from achieving everything you want — or to obsess over the little imperfections that make us all human and unique. Nobody has it all figured out, and that’s OK!
“Oh gosh, every year I think I have something figured out,” Selena explained during the interview. “It’s like looking at an outfit that you wore last year. Sometimes you look at things and think, ‘What on Earth was I thinking?’ ” Seriously. . . we can ALL relate to that.
But life isn’t about focusing on your mistakes, says Selena. “It’s about growing. It’s about learning. I’ve never had a perfect life; I don’t think anybody does. I’m honored to have lived my life as well as I possibly can.”
A lot of famous celebs in the media may seem like they’ve got it all together, or they may come across as being on top of the world — and it makes it so difficult to remember that they, too, have the capacity to doubt themselves. But all you can really do is focus on your own personal growth. Comparison is the thief of joy, as they say — and that’s why we can’t let it bring us down. Thanks, Selena, for this awesome dose of refreshing truth — and you’re a fab singer in our book. Check out her newest single below, and be prepared to jam out.
Check out her newest single here, and be prepared to jam out.
(Image via)
