Camila: Album Review

Credits to the owner of the photo.

Album Review: CAMILA

- Bernmina Tarnate -

*this originally appeared on my own blog in 2018, with constant updates up to this day

We all know the feeling of anticipation- for that drink you ordered at Starbucks, for that perfume you ordered online, for that friend who's already thirty minutes late. Since her split with Fifth Harmony, Cuban-American artist Camila Cabello already promised the world how she will give a huge chunk of her heart through an album. After releasing it last January 12, we cannot deny that the anticipation was worth it.

Photo credits to the Wikipedia page of CAMILA

From acoustic strums to pop beats, all songs in CAMILA by Camila Cabello did not fail to make listeners feel the roller-coaster of emotions driven by the lyrics. The sweet guitar play in Real Friends to Into It, we know there's so much more coming from our Havana gal. For the time-being, here's my top three favorite songs from the album. (Which were really, really hard to choose.)

1. In the Dark

Photo from SoundCloud

Being instantly connected to a song is a magical feeling. It’s the moment we press the repeat current song button on our phone and enjoy the rhythm like we own it. This was my experience as I sang along to the unique and reassuring vibe of this track. Amazingly, Camila can also be described with those words. The singer-songwriter is popular for her connection to her fans. Just like her, this song tells the listener how they can free themselves like they do in the dark. How at the end of the day, after the blank starts, the fake friends, and the guest lists, we can always be ourselves with the right person.

Best Lyric: "Darling, come on and let me in

Darling, all of the strangers are gone, they're gone

I said, darling, come on and let me see

Darling, I promise that I won't run​.

So tell me, who are you in the dark?"

Watch the unbelievable, lovely audience participation in her live performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhDBM_nEaM0

2. Never Be The Same

Who wouldn't like this song after Camila's performance in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon? That outfit, that backdrop, and that vocal run certified Camila’s future. It sounded even better than the studio version of the song! Plus, the music video is so vivid we all knew she poured more than her heart into this. We never looked at Camila the same way we used to after listening to her sing this one.

Best Lyric: "And I could try to run, but it would be useless

You're to blame

Just one hit of you, I knew I'll never ever, ever be the same."

Camila’s life-changing music video is up on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph54wQG8ynk. (Heads up, the beginning makes us soft.)

3. Havana

I think this list will be no good without mentioning the legendary Havana that boosted the craze on Camila's career. Featuring American rapper Young Thug, the audio grandiously has 1.7 billion views and the music video has 919 million views in Youtube as of August 2020. This song successfully established Camila’s foundation post-Fifth Harmony. It traced her back to her Cuban roots, and the story of the music video was both comedic and romantic. This song sounds nice in the studio version, in an acoustic version, in a live performance, so yeah. Camila stole our hearts in this one.

Best Lyric: "I knew it when I met him, I loved him when I left him.

Got me feeling like ooh, ooh, ooh,

And then I had to tell him, I had to go."

Banner for the music video, photo credits to Entertainment Tonight Online.

Youtube link for the audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCjNJDNzw8Y

Youtube link for the music video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=BQ0mxQXmLsk (Watch out for To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’s Noah Centineo!)

2019 Update: Camila Cabello officially opened the 61st Grammy Awards by performing Havana with Ricky Martin and J Balvin. That night, the song was nominated for the Best Pop Solo Performance for the live version, and this album was nominated for Best Pop Vocal album. Camila’s colorful opening ensemble was entertaining and star-studded. If you catch the easter eggs, you will see how Cabello also made it political by defending immigrants against USA President Trump’s plan to build a wall. You can read more on billboard.com through this link: https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/grammys/8497549/camila-cabello-2019-grammys-performance

Other close contenders to this list were:

• Real Friends, because at some point of our lives we all wanted to have that. It’s also heart-wrenching to know that this artist wrote this in a hotel comfort room all alone.

• She Loves Control, a true feminist anthem, this gives women empowerment in relationships. Like Camila sings, she wants it half-way.

• All These Years, for the people we’ve loved all these years. Letting go of love and then realizing how we are still into that love just makes us want the person more. This is the summary of your diary about your very own skinny love experience.

• Consequences, is a piano melodic song for the love that completely sucked life out of us. Loving really has consequences, even if it’s young and sweet.

Camila Cabello’s first album is not an inch short of introducing her, her style, and her inviduality in an industry that can make people forget who is who in a second. So far, we’re loving her first album and we’re here for the next.

Is your list the same? Send us a message so we'll know!