Ojos Tristes

Album: I Said I Love You First (2025)
Charted: 56
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Ojos Tristes" is a slow-burning bilingual pop song by Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco with additional vocals from María Zardoya of The Marías. Gomez sings in English and Zardoya performs in Spanish.
  • "Ojos Tristes" - which translates to "Sad Eyes" - is a post-breakup lament. It samples and reimagines the 1981 Spanish classic "El Muchacho de los Ojos Tristes" by Jeanette, though it shifts the perspective. Where Jeanette's original describes meeting a melancholy, mysterious man, Gomez flips the narrative, with a woman reflecting on the one she left behind.
  • Jeanette gave Gomez and Blanco's version her seal of approval, calling it "gorgeous" and applauding its ability to honor the past while giving it a fresh, modern edge.
  • The production, handled by Benny Blanco, María Zardoya, and The Marías' drummer/producer Josh Conway, wraps the song in a hazy, dreamlike disco glow, balancing nostalgia with contemporary polish.
  • Gomez and Blanco recorded "Ojos Tristes" for their collaborative album I Said I Love You First. It's another chapter in Gomez' exploration of her Latina roots, a journey she's been on since Revelación, her 2021 Spanish-language EP.
  • Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco saw The Marías in concert in 2024. "I was mesmerized by them," Gomez told Billboard, "and knew I wanted to have them on our album."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Taylor Dayne

Taylor DayneSongwriter Interviews

Taylor talks about "The Machine" - the hits, the videos and Clive Davis.

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Psychedelic Furs lead singer Richard Butler talks about their first album since 1991 and explains what's really going on in "Pretty In Pink."

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Kerry Livgren of Kansas

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Tim and his brother Richard are the Furs' foundation; Tim explains how they write and tells the story of "Pretty In Pink."