Music Video Monday: "Slow Down" by Selena Gomez

The music video for Selena Gomez's latest promo single "Slow Down" from Stars Dance dropped a week and a half ago on July 19th. Shot in Paris, France, the video features Selena in the backseat of a classic Mercedes-Benz, on wet streets, and in a neon-lit club while wearing elegant, low-cut, and naval-revealing outfits, which, despite her album's signaled move to adulthood, recalls Britney Spears five years Selena's junior. The video calls on Selena's fun side, and in the second half, she breaks down with dancers to a choreographed segment.

The track is a smart choice for the follow-up single to the massive success of "Come and Get It," leading us with the opening line, "Now that I have captured your attention." It's a fine music video meant nothing more than to display the non-scandaled  Gomez in a classy pop light of having fun.

I have somewhat of a soapbox! In reaction to my own comparison to Miss Spears and other critics' remarks of Stars Dance and Selena's "supposed" move to being grown-up, I say that no one said grown-up meant raunched-up. (Or did they? "Grown-ups" are supposed to be raunchy? Why do we do this to pop stars?) It's true that mature social criticisms and mature life experiences in songs can help signify this adulthood move. But why can't (early) adulthood be fun, also, even without raunchiness? (Don't get me wrong. Stars Dance does have its flirts.) Adults have clean yet exciting fun, too. As it is, this video displays the baby-faced, now legal-to-drink Selena dancing in a club and sporting in a snazzy ride--sounds like an adult to me. It's modest compared to some of her counterparts, but please! Let the young woman grow up at her own rate. She's only twenty-one. Let her be twenty-one and find her way from there. She and other stars are not puppets on display whose lives are sprawled out just for us little people's entertainment. Let her be the real girl she is.