Songfacts®:

• Born to a father of Mexican descent, Selena Gomez has often expressed her pride in her Hispanic ancestry. Ever since she first signed to Hollywood Records in 2008, Gomez has wanted to release a Spanish project, and she kickstarted the process with this single. "I'm so, so proud of my heritage, and just genuinely felt like I wanted this to happen," Selena Gomez said when releasing the ballad on January 14, 2021. "And it happened, and I feel like it's the perfect timing. Just with all the division in the world, there's something about Latin music that globally just makes people feel things."
• The song title translates into English as "At Once." It is a rhythmic pop song with lyrics that touch on empowerment, healing and having the strength to move forward. Gomez sings of a toxic relationship and her broken heart after her lover leaves her, before realizing she's better off without him in her life.
  
  "'De Una Vez' is such a beautiful song," Gomez told Apple Music. "It has a very powerful meaning behind it that anyone who has had their heart broken can relate to."
• During the triumphant chorus, Gomez's metaphorical bird soars away from the relationship, a new strength guiding her forward. Translated into English, the lyrics are:
  
  Once and for all
  I'm stronger
  Alone, I don't regret the past
  I know the time beside you cut off my wings
  But now this chest is bulletproof
  
  Gomez told Apple Music: "We all have the pain and the scars from various experiences we go through in life, but it's really how we heal ourselves."
• Gomez wrote the song with various Latin songwriters, including:
  
  Venezuelan-American Elena Rose, who is best known for working with Becky G ("Dollar") and Jennifer Lopez and Maluma ("Pa'Ti").
  
  Alejandro Borrero, who also co-penned Dua Lipa, J Balvin, and Bad Bunny's collaboration, "Un Dia (One Day)."
  
  Puerto-Rican Latin pop architect Tainy, who has produced numerous global hits, including Cardi B's "I Like It" and Bad Bunny's "Dakati."
  
  Jota Rosa, Kris Floyd, and Ivanni Rodríguez also contributed to the writing of the track. Tainy, Albert Hype, Jota Rosa and NEON16 are credited as producers.
• Though this marks Gomez' first Spanish-language single as a solo artist, she has embraced her Mexican-American roots on several previous occasions, including "Taki Taki" (2018) with DJ Snake, Ozuna and Cardi B, and "I Can't Get Enough" (2019) with Benny Blanco and J. Balvin. Also, back in 2010 she recorded "Un Año Sin Lluvia," a Spanish version of her Selena Gomez & The Scene hit "A Year Without Rain." The following year, The Scene's "Who Says" became "Dices."
• Los Pérez directed the magical realism themed music video. It finds Gomez traversing a mythical house, stepping into rooms depicting her creative and personal growth.
• This was one of the first Spanish language songs Gomez worked on. She explained in a video that at the time, doing a Latin project "was just an idea being bounced around." Then the rest of the record organically happened.