"Rare" was developed in a writing session with producer Sir Nolan and songwriters Madison Love and Brett McLaughlin. The song was initially written for Gomez, however she declined, and the song was recorded by other artists. In 2018, Selena wanted the song for the album and received it through her label’s A&R. According to Nolan, Gomez added melodies and ad-libs to make it fit her perspective. Producer Simon Says co-produced "Rare" with Nolan stating: "Simon and I went through her vocal takes a million times, comped them, Melodyned them, and went over the timing a trillion times. When it's an artist this big, you don't want to take any risks."[3]
The song was revealed in an Instagram Live by Gomez on August 15, 2018. Later that day, co-writer McLaughlin confirmed his involvement in the song.[4] Gomez teased the song's lyrics in an interview with Elle in September 2018.[5] The song was then teased in the Rare album trailer.[6][7]
On February 28, 2020, the Alexander 23 Edit of "Rare" was released for digital download and streaming.
Compositionedit
Musically, "Rare" is three minutes and forty seconds long and has been described as a pop[8] and electropop[9] song. In terms of music notation, "Rare" was composed using 4 4 common time in the key of C Mixolydian with a tempo of 115 beats per minute,[10] following a chord progression of C–B♭. Gomez's vocal range spans from the low note of C4 to the high note of A5, giving the song one octave and five notes of range.[10] Gomez spoke to Billboard about "Rare":[11]
I have always loved that song, and I always wanted it to be the title of the record. And I felt like it was a great complement to where I left off with my other singles, because it is honest and raw, and basically saying, "I know I don't have it all, I’m not perfect, but I know that I deserve great, and I deserve love, and I deserve all of it, self-love." It's just one of those things where it's a confidence thing, but without being cocky.
Chart performanceedit
"Rare" debuted and peaked at number thirty on the US Billboard Hot 100 following the release of the parent album and its accompanying music video. It later peaked at number 17 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart following its release as a radio single.
The song also peaked within the top 40 on charts in Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Scotland.
Music videoedit
The BRTHR-directed music video, released on January 10, 2020, accompanied the song and album's release.[12] It features Gomez wandering in an ethereal world, laying on a spinning bed in a discotheque inspired room, and swimming in a pool. It was stated by Gomez that the music video was inspired by her philanthropic trip to Kenya months prior to the album release.
The dress Gomez wore in the video was designed by AADNEVIK.[13]
Live performancesedit
On February 24, 2020, Gomez performed the song for the first time at the Village Studio. This live version was released for digital download and streaming on March 6, 2020.[14]
^Rowley, Glenn (January 10, 2020). "Selena Gomez Is Right at Home Among Rainbows and Butterflies in Delightful 'Rare' Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
^"The 50 Best Songs of 2020 (So Far): Staff Picks". Billboard. June 10, 2020.
^Leland [@lelandofficial] (August 16, 2018). "Straight from the queen's mouth! Can't wait for everyone to hear "Rare". One of my favorite songs I've ever written and she sounds so so beautiful. https://twitter.com/seIenaIatest/status/1029890896974761985" (Tweet). Retrieved January 14, 2020 – via Twitter.
^Rapkin, Mickey (September 4, 2018). "Selena Breaks Her Silence". ELLE. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
^"Selena Gomez – Rare (Official Extended Album Trailer)". Retrieved January 14, 2020 – via YouTube.
^"Selena Gomez – Official Album Trailer". Retrieved January 14, 2020 – via YouTube.
^"Every Song Ranked on Selena Gomez's 'Rare'". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
^Saric, Tanja (February 24, 2020). "Watch Selena Gomez Perform A Beautiful Acoustic Rendition Of 'Rare'". ET Canada. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021.
^ ab"Selena Gomez "Rare" Sheet Music in F Major". Musicnotes.com. n.d. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
^"Selena Gomez Has Found Peace With 'Rare': 'I'm in the Happiest Place I've Ever Been in My Life'". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
^"Selena Gomez – Rare (Official Music Video)". Retrieved January 14, 2020 – via YouTube.
^"aadnevikofficial Instagram". instagram.com. January 14, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
^ abRare (Live from the Village Studio) – Single by Selena Gomez, March 6, 2020, retrieved March 6, 2020
^Rare (Alexander 23 Edit) – Single by Selena Gomez & Alexander 23, February 28, 2020, retrieved March 6, 2020
^"2020 People's Choice Awards: Complete List of Nominees". E! Online. 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
^Rare (CD booklet). Selena Gomez. Interscope Records. 2020.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"Selena Gomez – Rare" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
^"Selena Gomez – Rare" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
^"Selena Gomez – Rare" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
^"Selena Gomez Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
^"Selena Gomez Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
^"Selena Gomez Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
^"Croatia ARC TOP 100". HRT. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 202011 into search. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202003 into search. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
^"Track Top-40 Uge 2, 2020". Hitlisten. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
^"Top 100 Ecuador – Semana 4 del 2020 – Del 17/01/2020 al 23/01/2020" (in Spanish). National-Report. Archived from the original on January 5, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
^"ALBUMID TIPP-40". Eesti Ekspress. January 19, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
^"Airplay 100 – 23 februarie 2020" (in Romanian). Kiss FM. February 23, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
^"Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
^"RIAS International Top Charts Week 3". Recording Industry Association (Singapore). Archived from the original on January 25, 2020.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 202003 into search. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
^"SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". slotop50.si. Archived from the original on March 31, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.