Camila Cabello – “Romance” Album Review

Story posted December 12, 2019 in CommRadio, Arts & Entertainment by Emily Mugno

The day has come where Camila Cabello has released her second studio album “Romance,” and fans have been anxious to get their hands on it. She has been teasing the album with the release of her few singles including “Liar,” “Shameless,” “Cry for Me,” “Easy,” and “Living Proof.”

The former Fifth Harmony singer has been a solo artist since December of 2016 and she has seen nothing but success since. Her unique sound, incredible vocals, and ability to be creative has helped her to become one of the most talked about pop artists.

There are 14 tracks on the album and two features. The first is with her boyfriend, Shawn Mendes, and the second is with trending rapper, DaBaby. “Señorita” is one of the biggest hits out right now and has already won “Collaboration of the Year” at this year’s American Music Awards.

The album is a balanced mix of songs people can dance to, ballads people can sing to, and sounds people don’t usually hear from Cabello. It is refreshing to see her step outside of her comfort zone and try new techniques.

“Living Proof” was recently performed on the AMA’s and seems to be one of the most popular hits off the album. It is a cross between an upbeat song, while also having a sultry sound to it. Cabello seems to have the sultry sounds in many other songs on the album as well, showing her passion and emotion to her listeners. This is one of the reasons why Cabello is such an addictive artist to listen to.

“First Man,” one of her ballads on the album, was definitely an emotional one. It is about a daughter getting married, but the sad realness of how a father feels when their daughter moves on to the next chapter of life. A powerful lyric in the song says “But you were the first man that really loved me.” This was an unexpected song from Cabello, but it speaks volumes.

“My Oh My,” Cabello’s song featuring DaBaby, was also an unexpected song on the album. It has a hip hop sound to it and is about her liking a guy that she probably shouldn’t. DaBaby is also an excellent choice for the feature, as he is able to add a fun energy to the song.

The reason why this album contrasts all of the other work that she has done in the past is because of her ability to cater to every type of sound on this album. On her debut album as a solo artist, titled “Camila,” she had a few popular songs, but they all sounded quite similar. This album is a remarkable progression from her past project and she shows her growth through each song.

The overall theme of the album is love, whether it’s forbidden love, being in love, or missing someone, Cabello covers it all. “This Love” is a cross between a ballad, but has a little bit of a country sound mixed with a rock sound.

Cabello talks about how there is so much back-and-forth in a relationship, saying “Maybe you should set me free, maybe I don’t really want you to.” Cabello knows how to be relatable in her songs, to be able to make connections with her listeners. It is undeniable that Cabello’s career will just go up from here and how she is able to hold her own in the music industry, as a solo artist.

Rating: 9/10

Reviewer’s Favorite Song: “Liar”

Reviewer’s Least Favorite Song: “Should’ve Said It”

 

 

Emily Mugno is a senior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email esm6@psu.edu.