Fetish (feat. Gucci Mane)

"Fetish" delves into the complex and often dark themes of obsessive love, sexual desire, and psychological fixation. Lyrically, the song redefines the word "fetish" not in its typical sexual context but as a metaphor for an all-consuming, almost unhealthy emotional and physical connection to someone. Selena Gomez sings from the perspective of someone who knows she is the object of this intense obsession. She wields a certain power in this knowledge, expressed in lines like, "If I were you, I'd do me too." This line suggests a self-aware confidence in her own allure. The song explores the cyclical nature of this intense relationship, where pushing the lover away only makes them come back stronger, highlighting a dynamic of codependency and irresistible attraction. The collaboration with director Petra Collins for the music video further complicates the meaning, introducing elements of horror and psychological distress to visualize this "crazy and complicated" love. Gomez explained that she wanted to explore the "dirty, gross, and weird love you can have towards someone," moving away from a purely sexual interpretation to one that embodies the raw, sometimes disturbing, nature of obsession.

The narrative of the song unfolds from the perspective of a woman who is fully aware of the intoxicating and obsessive power she holds over her lover. She presents a take-it-or-leave-it attitude, confident that her partner is too dependent on her love to ever actually leave. There's a sense of self-awareness and almost a touch of narcissism as she acknowledges her own irresistibility, singing that if she were in her lover's shoes, she would be equally obsessed with herself. This isn't a simple love song; it's a depiction of a potent, almost chemical attraction that defies logic. The protagonist understands her lover's state, sympathizing with their powerlessness against her allure. She describes the dynamic as a push-and-pull, where even when she pushes her partner away, they inevitably return, drawn back by this unshakable "fetish" for her love.

The second verse deepens this theme of addiction and losing control. The lover is constantly testing their limits, going over them, but is ultimately unable to quit their obsession. The narrator uses the metaphor of being twisted up like origami to describe the complex, all-encompassing hold she has on them. This isn't just a physical attraction; it's a psychological and emotional entanglement. The pre-chorus repeats her understanding and lack of surprise at this dynamic, reinforcing her position of power and control within the relationship.

Gucci Mane's verse shifts the perspective to the infatuated lover. He acknowledges the rumors and the talk surrounding their intense connection. His lyrics paint a picture of a man completely captivated, viewing his partner as his own personal fetish. He plays along with the hard-to-get dynamic she creates, admitting that her walk and talk are what ensnare him. He describes her as acting tough but knowing she's soft underneath, adding a layer of playful challenge to their dynamic. His verse solidifies the song's central theme: an irresistible, almost irrationally intense desire that one person has for another, a craving so powerful it's likened to a fetish.

The song "Fetish" was officially released on July 13, 2017. It was written by a team including Selena Gomez, Radric Davis (Gucci Mane), Chloe Angelides, Brett McLaughlin (Leland), Gino Barletta, Jonas Jeberg, Joe Khajadourian, and Alex Schwartz. The production was handled by Jonas Jeberg and The Futuristics (Khajadourian and Schwartz). The idea for the song originated from a two-week writing camp that the songwriters organized themselves to create material for Gomez. Songwriter Leland mentioned their goal was to take the edgy word "fetish" and apply it to a deep emotional and sexual connection. After the initial track was created, it was sent to Interscope Records. Gomez then tweaked some elements to make it her own, and Gucci Mane was brought on to add his verse. Gomez had previously worked with Gucci Mane on the film Spring Breakers and personally asked him to be on the track, to which he enthusiastically agreed. The song was teased at the end of the music video for her previous single, "Bad Liar," and was noted by critics as a significant step in her artistic evolution towards a more experimental and mature sound.

"Fetish" is built on a slow-burning, mid-tempo rhythm that gives the song its seductive and deliberate pace. The underlying beat is a blend of R&B and electronic elements, creating a steady, hypnotic pulse throughout the track. This rhythmic foundation supports the song's theme of inescapable obsession. The lyrical rhythm often features a syncopated delivery from Gomez, with her breathy vocals weaving in and out of the beat, creating a sense of intimacy and tension. The rhyme scheme is relatively straightforward, often relying on couplets (AABB) and simple end rhymes to maintain a catchy, pop-accessible structure within its experimental soundscape. For example, in the first verse, "leave it" is rhymed with "need it," and "mirror" with "nearer." This simplicity makes the confident and provocative lyrics stand out. Gucci Mane's verse introduces a different rhythmic flow, aligning more with classic hip-hop cadences, which provides a dynamic contrast to Gomez's melodic sections and diversifies the song's rhythmic texture.

Musically, "Fetish" is characterized by its minimalist and atmospheric production, blending elements of alternative R&B and trap-pop. The arrangement is built around a subdued, steady beat and a deep bassline, creating a hypnotic and intimate soundscape. Selena Gomez's vocal delivery is a key stylistic choice; she employs a breathy, almost-whispered tone that enhances the song's seductive and eerie mood. This style was noted by critics as being more textured and experimental than her previous work. There's also a subtle use of Auto-Tune effects that contributes to the track's electronic feel. Gucci Mane's rap verse provides a textural contrast, with his more direct and grounded delivery playing against Gomez's ethereal vocals. Lyrically, the song uses a direct address and a confident, self-aware narrative voice, exemplified by the line, "If I were you, I'd do me too," which showcases a bold and slightly narcissistic persona. The accompanying music video, directed by Petra Collins, employs a distinct visual style with a vintage, '70s-inspired aesthetic and surreal, horror-tinged imagery, which was a deliberate move to subvert the sexual expectations of the song's title.

Upon its release, "Fetish" was met with widespread critical acclaim, with many critics praising its experimental, alternative R&B sound and Gomez's artistic growth. It was seen as a bold departure from mainstream pop, solidifying her transition into a more mature and adventurous artist. Commercially, the song performed well globally, reaching the top 10 in several countries including Canada, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, and charting within the top 40 in the US, UK, Australia, and Germany. It was certified Platinum by the RIAA in the United States. The music video, directed by the acclaimed photographer and artist Petra Collins, garnered significant attention for its subversive, horror-inspired visuals that defied the song title's sexual connotations. This collaboration was seen as a high-fashion, art-pop statement. The song marked a pivotal moment in Gomez's discography, representing a creative peak where she embraced a more niche, artistically driven direction that was both critically respected and commercially successful.

The central metaphor of "Fetish" is the recontextualization of the titular word. Instead of its common sexual meaning, the song uses "fetish" to symbolize an intense, overwhelming, and obsessive desire for another person's love, so powerful it becomes an addiction. The lyrics "I push you out and you come right back" symbolize a volatile push-and-pull dynamic, characteristic of consuming, and sometimes unhealthy, relationships. The lyric "twisted up like origami" is a vivid simile for the complex and contorting effect the narrator has on her lover.

The accompanying music video, directed by Petra Collins, is rich with symbolism that explores these themes through a horror-inspired lens. Actions like Gomez eating soap or lipstick are not literal but metaphorical, suggesting a form of self-destruction or an attempt to internalize a distorted standard of beauty. The setting of a seemingly perfect suburban home that falls into ruin symbolizes the internal chaos and distress beneath a placid exterior. Rain pouring inside the house represents an overwhelming sadness or emotional release she cannot contain, while the final scene in an industrial freezer suggests a desperate attempt to cool down or preserve herself from the intense heat of her emotions and the obsession.

The most significant recurring phrase in the song is the line, "You got a fetish for my love," which serves as the central hook and thematic core. Its repetition in the chorus drills home the song's main idea: an obsessive, all-consuming desire that defines the relationship. This phrase is powerful because it reclaims a word often associated with niche sexuality and broadens it to describe an intense emotional dependency. Another key recurring lyric is, "I push you out and you come right back." This line establishes the push-and-pull dynamic of the relationship, highlighting its volatility and the lover's inability to stay away. The confident and self-aware declaration, "If I were you, I'd do me too," also appears in each chorus, acting as a recurring motif of the narrator's empowerment and understanding of her own intoxicating effect on others. Musically, the minimalist, atmospheric beat with its steady bassline is a constant motif that creates the song's signature hazy and seductive mood.