It was rare. I was there. I remember it all too well. Jelena, that is. Some of you kids today think Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Bassett are the ultimate teen pop love and heartbreak story, and I’m here to tell you you’re mistaken (although I was obviously very invested in that saga too). Before these Gen Zers came along with their “Driver’s License” drama, their elders, Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber, were the talk of the 2010s town. Selena and Justin famously dated on and off from 2010 to 2018 before he swiftly moved on with Hailey Bieber. They both talked about their relationship in countless interviews — Selena telling David Letterman she made Justin cry will always be iconic — and they also documented their romance and various splits in their discographies. As a pop stan and Selenator for life, I’m frankly overqualified to discuss this topic: Here are all of Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez’s songs about each other.
Justin Bieber And Selena Gomez’s Songs About Each Other
Justin Bieber’s Songs About Selena Gomez
“All That Matters”
Can men start writing music like this again?? Benson Boone could never, I’m sorry. During a 2013 radio interview, Justin shared that “All That Matters” was “written when I was in a great place in my relationship.” The singer added, “Ya know, she was all that mattered.” When the interviewer asked if he was talking about “SG,” Justin confirmed that he was.
“What Do U Mean”
This was confirmed by the Biebs himself — in 2015, Ellen DeGeneres straight up asked him if “What Do U Mean” is about Selena, and he nodded. Crazy times. In the hit single, Justin expresses his frustration about getting mixed signals from his GF, crooning: “Wanna argue all day, makin’ love all night / First you’re up, then you’re down, and then between / Oh, I really wanna know / What do you mean?” So profound.
“Sorry”
During the same chat with Ellen, Justin said himself that this track was inspired by Selena. The lore here is wild… Julia Michaels, Selena’s bestie and frequent co-writer, actually helped pen the “Sorry” lyrics. In the iconic song, Justin begs Selena for “one more shot at forgiveness” ’cause he’s “missin’ more than just (her) body.”
“Mark My Words”
And “Mark My Words” is the other song he confirmed is about Selena during that epic Ellen interview. In the opening track of Purpose, Justin addresses Selena directly, promising that he “won’t let us just fade away after all that we’ve been through.”
Selena Gomez’s Songs About Justin Bieber
“Forget Forever”
In this 2013 sad dance bop, I have to assume Selena’s talking about Justin when she sings, “Our love was made to rule the world / You came and broke the perfect girl.” (“Forget Forever” came out in January 2013, shortly after Justin and Selena’s 2012 temporary split.)
“The Heart Wants What It Wants”
This is one of the rawest songs in Selena’s discography. There’s a brutal, emotional voicemail at the beginning where she says (presumably to Justin): “You make me feel crazy, you make feel like it’s my fault.” In the chorus, she sings about ignoring red flags and others’ advice because “the heart wants what it wants.”
Selena pretty much confirmed that the track is about Justin during an interview with Ryan Seacrest. She revealed that she showed Justin the music video and he was “a little jealous of the video guy at first.” At the time, she also said that she “supports” her ex-BF and doesn’t want “anything bad” to happen to him.
“Lose You To Love Me”
My favorite Selena song of all time! “Lose You To Love Me” feels like Selena’s definitive Justin closure track. “In two months, you replaced us / Like it was easy / Made me think I deserved it / In the thick of healing,” she sings in the second verse. These lines are most likely referring to Justin proposing to Hailey Bieber just two months after ending his relationship with Selena for the last time. I love men.
“Rare”
Although Selena never explicitly confirmed this track is about Justin, I feel pretty confident it was inspired by him, considering it’s the same album and timeline as “Lose You To Love Me.” She croons, “Saw us getting older / Burning toast in the toaster / My ambitions were too high.” Selena promises that she’ll find somebody else who makes her feel “rare,” and spoiler alert, she did! His name is Benny Blanco.
