SALVATION, a long-awaited album by returning pop star Rebecca Black has finally arrived and delivers greatness. The album as a whole brings in a new sound of retro pop with messages that fuel confidence, empowerment, and a sense of thrill for audiences to take in. This album is a necessity for your next playlist or your everyday listening rotation. Rebecca Black is a powerful female Mexican-American pop artist who came into the spotlight about a decade ago with the hit single “Friday” in 2011. Rebecca Black Was Here, Black’s debut EP was released in 2021, followed by her debut album, Let Her Burn, in 2023 which rebranded the artist and her adoring artistry. SALVATION has personally been some of my favorite work Black has released, giving fans and the industry a new taste of greatness. 

Track one starts strong with the album’s title song, “Salvation” written by Rebecca Black, Lauren Aquilina, and Marcus Andersson. I love the message behind this track. While the instrumental aspect is busy and erratic, the message is important and engaging. The message of this song entails independence of oneself. Throughout the song lyrically, you hear Black shape the expression of her independent fire. 

I already saved myself

Promise that it hurts to hate me

Swear you’re only poisoning yourself

I found everything I needed on my own

Sweet liberation

In my salvation

I can save myself,

S-s-save myself

As an opener to a sophomore album, I was super excited to keep listening after soaking in the refreshing pop of emotion this song planted into me. 

“TRUST!” was the first single released off SALVATION and set the era into motion. Pop and party music has been waiting for the vibes of a new song that “TRUST” offers. The seductive and bold lyrics were written by Rebecca Black, Em Walcott, and Stint. The story pulls listeners straight in and leaves them wanting more. There is something about lusty lyrics and a dance beat that can make a pop song that much more exciting. I love the buildup to the chorus which plays as:

Keep it in motion, emotion 

Put me in position

Cup of devotion, unspoken

You got my permission

Kiss it better, tell me where

Braid your secrets in my hair

(Trust me baby)

I can handle you, can you handle

Trust!

Trust!

I can handle you, can you handle

Trust!

Trust!

I can handle you, can you handle

Trust!

Ooh la la, get me going like ga ga ga 

Trust!

Ooh la la

I can handle you, can you handle

Trust!

Ooh la la, get me going like ga ga ga 

Trust!

Ooh la la

I can handle you, can you handle

As I was listening, I also admired the minor details like the tone of which Rebecca Black’s voice was taking during the lines:

I can freak with you all night long

Ride the tractor like an outlaw 

Shoot me to the stars I’m so gone

Ughh, your moan is my favorite song

I was satisfied with the whole listen of the track and was eager to listen again and again, which I believe anyone who gives it a chance would agree.

“Water Sugar Cyanide” written by Rebecca Black, Jesse St John, and Nightfeelings, proceeded as the second single released, maintaining momentum. “Water Sugar Cyanide” is an absolute perfect club banger with the catchiness of a cold. This specific track gives the same energy as some tracks on brat, the album by Charli XCX, which I could confidently compare in the best ways possible, considering the striking artistry of both Rebecca Black and Charli XCX’s new club sounds in their careers. Aside from that, my obsession of the rhythm and flow occurs when I hear the lines:

I’m in the back of the 

back of the club

Bass go ba rump pump pum

Bass gonna do what the bass always does

Chew on my waist like bubblegum

Hit hit pop it ride

Sugar water cyanide

I also love the timeless fun feel and sort of 2010s vibe it gives me when I listen to it. I want to get up and dance every time I play this track. The message is along the lines of freaky yet poetic. You can hear that in these lines, which lyrically are some of my favorite on the album: 

Dancing in your acid rain

On my teeth you’re sugar cane

What’s pleasure without pain, hmm?

Black coffee in the morning

Hit hit without warning

Any audience listening to this rager of a song can feel fierce and free while listening. I am absolutely obsessed with this one.

Gears powerfully shifted with track number four, “American Doll”, projecting as a brand new release and listen for fans. This particularly spectacular track was written by Rebecca Black, Jesse St John, Nightfeelings & Hannes Roovers. Take my ballot and my vote because this song is my all time favorite out of this entire album. Lyrically and musically it serves to prove my favoritism. As upbeat as the instrumental is, it is still clear through the lyrics the sort of eerie storytelling Black is venting about. Diving straight into the first few verses of the song you notice the subtle yet huge references to the struggle of woman perfection.

Sit up

Act right

Smile big

Spotlight

Don’t speak

Be nice

A list appetite

Its safe to swallow me

Take my autonomy

The best girls are made up

Of grace and apologies

I love the sarcasm that is being projected through these lines. An especially relatable expression lives in the last two lines of the first verse with:

The best girls are made up

Of grace and apologies

I feel like now more than ever as women are finding their voice in this world. There are so many expectations in society, relationships, and even internally for women. This song truly shines for girl power and the use of one’s voice. The woman of the world needed this song. Rebecca Black is here for the girls. The credit of this honorary song for women goes to the writers; Rebecca Black, Jesse St John, Nightfeelings & Hannes Roovers. 

   Track five, “Tears In My Pocket” written by Rebecca Black, Lauren Aquilina, Chris Lyon, and Marcus Andersson, starts subtle and I find a new sense of some sort of sweet emotion through the lyrics. Starting the song off less intense you would think this would be a slow track, yet creeping into the chorus and on, we find another pleasing party hit. When the chorus picks up after contagious electronic sounding pauses to set you up, repetition of the following lyrics rise with the beat. 

You can keep your tears in my pocket

I absolutely love the sound of this particular track. It feels brand new, shining through Rebecca Black’s new pop star sound, which will keep an impact for her growing career. I love how this song has such influence on powerful instruments and sounds with repetitive lyrics for audiences to learn and love. “Tears In My Pocket” is a simple yet unique track that I could play at any time and it would fit the mood.

    “Do You Even Think About Me?” is one of Black’s more emotional tracks on the album. This song was written by Rebecca Black, Lauren Aquilina, Chris Lyon & Marcus Andersson. Don’t count this song out, Black included her iconic electronic pop sound even in an emotional ballad, which is what I think is most radiating about her sound. We start off in the song slow and soft with lyrics:

Wish I had a video screen

Live streaming your perspective of me

Frozen at 19

Wish we had aged gracefully

The speed picks up, and so does the anger that’s being painted in these next lines. 

But we etched the words in our own minds

And they hurt less but got worse with time

Guess I’ll be your villain and you’ll be mine

Kinda hope I left a black hole in your life

But do you even think about it at all?

Do you even think about me at all?

Black ends the track with outstanding belting of her voice and busy music in the instrumental aspect, making a strong connection between the music and the lyrics, anger and sadness. 

Last but certainly not least on Rebecca Black’s album, the track “Twist The Knife”, written by Rebecca Black, Jesse St John, Zhone & Novodor. Once again, I absolutely loved this track. It being the last song on the album makes for a bittersweet end. I would say this is another favorite of mine because of the sort of 2010s feel I get from the song. Truly, another timeless track. This is a perfect upbeat song for dancing and adding to your feel good playlist. The message of being free resonates with the strength of the music and her voice. I love the prechorus lyrics and execution.

Twist the knife

I’ll sing it out for karma’s sake

I would rather burn myself alive

Dancing ‘till I die

I am also hooked to the bridge which goes as: 

For my final sacrifice 

Leave my lovers paralyzed

Bloody, beauty paradise

Dancing ‘till i die

‘Till I, I, I

‘Till I die

Black gave us some heavy and busy tracks before, but I truly love the balance in this last song to pull everything this album stands for together.

SALVATION is a journey through many different sounds and stories from Rebecca Black that still all make you want to get up and dance. Confidence and independence are instilled into listeners. It was an honor to listen to these tracks and as I listened further and further the songs pieced together a full masterpiece. Rebecca Black shall be seen as a totally rebranded artist who has taken her career from high to higher. Audiences and fans should be dying to hear this album, and any other work Black stirs up. SALVATION is a lifestyle and shall be noticed as a new vital part of pop music today.