Cannes Film Festival 2013

Listen: Selena Gomez' new single 'Bang Bang Bang'

Is there anything to this Disney star on this particular tune?

Listen: Selena Gomez' new single 'Bang Bang Bang'

I'm not trying to make it a habit of reporting on Disney singers, past and present, but I have been curious about Selena Gomez, considering her stock went up recently for dating the world most famous-est teenager evah.

The Toby Gad-produced "Bang Bang Bang" has the synths of the '80s but rings reminiscent of early-career Britney, starting with those very teasing, very mature "yeahs" at the beginning. I hear nothing particularly extraordinary about her voice, but the chorus sorta has me doing a dance. Let's get a Boyz Noize remix, stat.

Like Taylor Swift -- who also had her hands on a Jonas -- there comes with songs of this sort speculation on just who she's trying to court and burn. I'm not particularly interested in whom 18-year-old Gomez is dating and experiencing the normal brash of teenage fumblings, but the politics of starting that game this early into one's career is somewhat startling, as it always is. She boasts that her new "man" -- perhaps 17-year-old Justin Bieber -- knows how  to "flaunt this," her as a thing. But it's not like pop has ever pretended to turn the corner on teenagers objectifying themselves (nor in journalists reducing artists to calculated brands).

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Gomez and her band The Scene have "When the Sun Goes Down" coming out at the end of the month, and surely it will grab hold of the chart much higher than her previous No. 4 best from "A Year Without Rain." "Who Says," the new album's initial single, is much gummier, and nearly made our Top Summer Songs cut. I'm interested to see how much she'll push the electro-pop angle, and how many more tracks will be centered around boys and their swagger.

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    Nicole

    OMG! Bang Bang Bang is finally here! As one of Selena's biggest fans, I have to say that I absolutely ADORE this song. I have it memorized already, and I've heard it TWICE! It's THAT amazing! Great job! Can't wait to hear the rest of When The Sun Goes Down! Luv ya, Sel!

    June 7, 2011 at 7:04PM EST Reply to Comment
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    Rhonda

    I don't think the flaunt this lyric is an objectification, I think it refers to the Jonas' purity claims and desire to not be seen in any relationship that might be sexual.

    June 19, 2011 at 3:12AM EST Reply to Comment

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