Sorry the 2nd post is later this week, I didn't manage to get it finished yesterday. :)
Jennifer Lopez (who is one of my favourite singers) recently released a new album. It's called This Is Me...Now ... and came out on 16th February. It's her 9th studio album and first in 10 years! Her last album was AKA which was released in June 2014.
TIM...N is a follow-up to This Is Me... Then (one of my fave J.Lo albums) which was released in November 2002. Back in 2022 I wrote a post about the 20th anniversary of the album, which you can see here: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2022/11/20th-anniversary-of-jlos-this-is-me.html
This Is Me...Then was inspired by Jennifer's then relationship with American actor Ben Affleck. The couple were together from November 2002 to January 2004 and became engaged. They attracted a lot of media attention at the time and were nicknamed "Bennifer".
After calling off their engagement in 2004, both Jennifer and Ben went on to marry and have families with other people. However, they got back together in 2021, got engaged for the second time and married in July 2022! For more on their relationship, visit the 20th Anniversary of J.Lo's This Is Me... Then post.
In addition to the album, there is a musical film called This Is Me...Now: A Love Story, available on Amazon Prime Video. Jennifer describes both the album and film as a musical experience. Plus, she made a documentary called The Greatest Love Story Never Told (also available on Prime), in which she opens up about self-love and her relationship with Ben.
There will also be a tour called This Is Now...The Tour, which starts this summer. It will just be in the US currenty, I think. Visit Jennifer's site On The JLo for more details and to buy tickets: https://onthejlo.com/
TIM...N consists of 13 tracks and the digital deluxe edition has 16. Two singles have been released so far, Can't Get Enough and Rebound (remix). The deluxe version contains 3 extra songs- the remix of Rebound featuring Puerto Rican rapper and singer Anuel AA (there is also a solo version of Rebound on the album), a remix of Can't Get Enough with American rapper Latto and a Bruno Martini remix of Can't Get Enough.
The album is pop and R'n'B, with a bit of a "retro" style. J.Lo also tries her hand at rapping on a few of the tracks!
I just got this for my birthday on Friday (1st March). I like it. My favourite songs are not.going.anywhere, Dear Ben, Pt II, Hummingbird and Hearts and Flowers.
Here are the singles so far, plus my faves. The non-singles are audios. :)
Update 10/5/24: I've added some of the newer lyric videos.
This Is Me...Now
This Is the title track from the album. While not one of my favourites, I do like it. I'm sharing it here because it's the album opener.
J.Lo sings about her life now that she's back with Ben. The song samples Justin Timberlake's' 2002 hit single Cry Me A River.
This is the official audio.
And here is the official lyric video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZCJUiAF1mk
Can't Get Enough
Can't Get Enough was the first single to be released, coming out on 12th January. It samples the song I'm Still in Love by Alton Ellis. I featured the music video in my New Music for 2024 post: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2024/01/new-music-for-2024.html
There's also a remix featuring rapper Latto and I shared the music video in my More Music for 2024 post: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2024/02/more-new-music-for-2024.html
Update 5/3/24: There is now an official lyric video for Can't Get Enough.
Rebound
The second single from the album is Rebound. The original album version features just Jennifer's vocals and there is also a remix with rapper Anuel AA. As mentioned above, the remix only appears on the digital deluxe version.
The remix has been released as a single.
There's also a brand-new lyric video for Rebound (uploaded today): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hzcS6YhUNc
not.going.anywhere
not.going.anywhere is my favourite song. I like the general vibe (gentle R'n'B). As others have commented, it's reminiscent of Jennifer's early 00s music. So it reflects This Is Me...Then.
Ben Affleck does backing vocals on the track!
Watch the lyric video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDdq4vJOFXE
Dear Ben, Pt II
This song is a follow-up to Dear Ben, a song from TIM...T, in which Jennifer declared her love for Ben. Pt. II was co-written by British singer-songwriter RAYE (who just did very well at the BRITS!) and she also sings backing vocals.
Visit this post to listen to Dear Ben (scroll down): https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2022/11/20th-anniversary-of-jlos-this-is-me.html
Or here's a direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI-uIOe08Oo
And here's the lyric video for Dear Ben. Pt II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMLsCVsZsvE
Hummingbird
Hummingbird is an upbeat song where J.Lo sings about her and Ben bringing out the best in each other. :)
Watch the lyric video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZWm1b4nEt8
Hearts and Flowers
Hearts and Flowers has been called a sequel to Jennifer's hit single Jenny from the Block (from This Is Me...Then). It samples part of the song and Jennifer also references it in the lyrics, with the lines such as, "They see it's the same ol' Jenny, wanna block me" and "Don't be fooled by the rocks that I got".
Watch the video for Jenny from the Block here: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2022/11/20th-anniversary-of-jlos-this-is-me.html
And here is the lyric video for Hearts & Flowers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vioV9A3OLh8
Greatest Love Story Never Told
Finally, Greatest Love Story Never Told brings the album to a close. The title comes from the collection of letters Ben wrote to Jennifer. It also shares its name with the documentary.
Listen to the full album/watch videos at the links below:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5n2H8XDZfGQS92t0dpTNtg
YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0WnuvyfeQnEdMq-CdrngcFb5pwtaepMr
Watch the trailer for This Is Me...Now: A Love Story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Osu2N9gysYk
And the trailer for The Greatest Love Story Never Told documentary here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL-ClLQT54s
Hope you liked the post! :) Overall I think it's a good album that will appeal to you if you're a J.Lo fan! What do you think of This Is Me...Now? What are your favourite songs?
I have the Amazon Exclusive Art Version. If you're thinking of getting the physical CD, you should be aware that on Amazon (UK at least) the Deluxe version only has 12 tracks, so it's minus Greatest Love Story Never Told. But the Amazon version has all 13. Plus, its cheaper! :)
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