Decoding Selena Gomez’s “Souvenir”: A Lyrical Dialogue with The Weeknd’s Past Hits?

The music world is constantly abuzz with speculation, especially when artists, known for their deeply personal songwriting, release new tracks that seem to echo past relationships. Such is the case with Selena Gomez, whose “Souvenir,” a bonus track from the deluxe edition of her critically acclaimed album Rare, has ignited a fervent debate among fans. Released on April 9, this particular song, among others like “Boyfriend” and “She,” immediately stood out. While the latter two tracks gave Selenators catchy tunes and empowering messages, “Souvenir” struck a different chord, leading many to believe it’s a subtle, yet powerful, lyrical response to her ex-boyfriend, The Weeknd, born Abel Tesfaye.

The song opens with striking imagery that immediately sets the scene: “New York back in August / 10th floor balcony / Smoke is floating over / Jane and Greenwich street.” These specific geographical and temporal references are not lost on long-time followers of the celebrity couple. Selena, now 31, and The Weeknd, 34, shared a highly publicized romance that played out across various global stages, with a significant chapter unfolding in the vibrant streets of Manhattan. During her time filming Woody Allen’s A Rainy Day In New York, reports suggested the pair even shared a residence in the city, making those mentions of Greenwich Village and Jane Street particularly resonant. The meticulous detail in the lyrics paints a vivid picture for listeners, guiding them directly to a specific period in their shared history, strongly hinting at an autobiographical narrative.

However, it’s the chorus of “Souvenir” that truly sent shockwaves through the fandom and cemented the theory of a lyrical ‘subtweet.’ Selena sings, “You’re giving me chills at a hundred degrees / it’s better than pills how you put me to sleep / Calling your name, the only language I can speak / taking my breath, a souvenir that you can keep.” While the initial lines evoke a passionate, almost addictive connection, the phrase “Calling your name, the only language I can speak” became the undeniable focal point. Fans were quick to draw a direct, almost unmistakable, parallel to “Call Out My Name,” a pivotal track from The Weeknd’s 2018 breakup EP, My Dear Melancholy. This EP was widely believed to be a raw, emotional reflection on his relationship with Selena, released mere months after their split in late 2017.

The juxtaposition of these two lyrical phrases – The Weeknd’s plea “Won’t you call out my name?” and Selena’s declaration “Calling your name, the only language I can speak” – appeared to be far too precise to be mere coincidence. The internet exploded with fans expressing their astonishment and delight at the perceived lyrical dialogue. One fan succinctly tweeted, “The Weeknd: ‘call out my name’ Selena Gomez: ‘calling your name, the only language I can speak’ And I oop.” Others pointed out further connections, “This song has so many references about The Weeknd: Call out my name and In your eyes,” showing how Selenators and Abelena fans are adept at piecing together intricate lyrical narratives across artists’ discographies.

THE WEEKND: “call out my name”

SELENA GOMEZ: “calling your name, the only language I can speak” pic.twitter.com/5jKeHsYnUs

— seansky 🇵🇪 #peruanlivesmatters (@skyisrare) April 9, 2020

To fully appreciate the gravity of these lyrical connections, it’s essential to revisit the timeline of their relationship and subsequent musical releases. Selena Gomez and Abel Tesfaye’s relationship garnered significant media attention from January 2017 until their breakup in October 2017. Their romance was characterized by lavish dates, public appearances, and an undeniable chemistry that captivated fans worldwide. The Weeknd’s My Dear Melancholy EP, released in March 2018, was his first musical offering post-breakup, and its somber, reflective tone immediately suggested it was a direct response to the end of their relationship. The opening track, “Call Out My Name,” quickly became the anthem of a heartbroken artist, believed by many to be specifically addressing Selena.

Indeed, Abel’s lyrics in “Call Out My Name” paint a vivid picture of a relationship where he felt he was a source of healing and stability for his partner. He sang, “We found each other / I helped you out of a broken place / You gave me comfort / But falling for you was my mistake.” These lines, coupled with his subsequent claims of unwavering devotion – “I put you on top, I put you on top / I claimed you so proud and openly / And when times were rough, when times were rough / I made sure I held you close to me” – resonated deeply with fans who understood the emotional weight of their public breakup. The chorus, a melancholic plea, “So call out my name (Call out my name, baby) / So call out my name when I kiss you so gently (Ohh) / I want you to stay (I want you to stay),” seemed to directly beg for a continued connection, or at least a remembrance from the person he was addressing. Given this context, Selena’s almost mirror-like lyrical response in “Souvenir” becomes even more compelling.

The lyrical interplay between the two artists doesn’t stop there. Some fans believe that The Weeknd continued to carry the pain of this particular broken heart onto his subsequent album, After Hours, released in 2020. In the track “In Your Eyes,” he sings, “I’ll pretend that I’m in the dark / I don’t regret ’cause my heart can’t take a loss,” indicating a lingering sense of betrayal or difficulty moving on. This interpretation often connects to the period after Selena and Abel’s breakup, when Selena briefly reunited with Justin Bieber, a reconciliation that ultimately led to her powerful anthem, “Lose You To Love Me.” This timeline suggests a complex emotional landscape that both artists have navigated and channeled into their art. Further fueling these theories, the deluxe edition of After Hours includes a track called “Missed You,” which contains lines such as, “I said your name by mistake, played it off like I’m just confused / But I was frontin’, lyin’ to myself when I know the truth.” This lyrical admission of accidentally uttering a past lover’s name, and then trying to mask the true feeling behind it, adds another layer to the intricate web of potential references, leading many to believe it’s yet another nod to Selena.

Selena Gomez herself is no stranger to crafting deeply personal songs that reflect on her past relationships. Her album Rare, in its entirety, is a journey of self-discovery, empowerment, and moving past heartbreak. Tracks like “Lose You To Love Me” and “Look At Her Now” were direct and unequivocal statements about her highly publicized split from Justin Bieber. Therefore, it’s not out of character for her to weave subtle, yet pointed, references to other significant relationships into her music. “Souvenir” could be seen as her way of acknowledging a powerful, albeit painful, chapter, using her artistic voice to respond to a narrative that has long been etched in the public consciousness through The Weeknd’s own powerful records.

The beauty and frustration of lyrical interpretation lie in its inherent ambiguity. While artists often draw from personal experiences, they rarely confirm the specific muses behind their songs, leaving room for speculation. However, the sheer volume of circumstantial evidence—the geographical hints, the precise lyrical echoes, and the emotional timelines—makes the “Souvenir” and “Call Out My Name” connection exceptionally compelling. For fans, these lyrical ‘Easter eggs’ transform listening into an interactive puzzle, fostering a deeper engagement with the music and the artists’ narratives. Whether an intentional ‘subtweet’ or a serendipitous creative alignment, “Souvenir” has undoubtedly solidified its place as a significant piece in the ongoing lyrical dialogue between two of pop music’s most influential figures.