Selena Gomez and Julia Michaels release new duet 'Anxiety' and the lyrics are so important

24 January 2019, 18:03 | Updated: 24 January 2019, 18:16

By Sam Prance

Julia Micheals dropped 'Anxiety (feat. Selena Gomez)' today as part of Inner Monologue Part I...

Selena Gomez is back. The 26-year-old returned to social media after a four month break last week and since then she's not only unveiled her new shoe line with Puma but she's also teased what she's got in store for us this year. In her own words: "I can’t wait to share the projects I’ve been working on with you." Unsurprisingly, fans are desperate for new music and Selena has actually just put out a new collaboration.

12 songs in 2018 that got real about anxiety

Yes. It is official. A new Selena Gomez song is really here and it's a duet with her close friend and longterm collaborator Julia Michaels. Julia is of course a huge artist in her own right ('Issues') but she's also worked with Selena on some of her biggest hits ('Good for You', 'Hands to Myself', 'Bad Liar') and now they have joined forces on 'Anxiety', the opening track of Julia's new EP Inner Monologue Part I.

Check out the full lyrics to 'Anxiety' below.

Julia Michaels and Selena Gomez team up on new song 'Anxiety'
Julia Michaels and Selena Gomez team up on new song 'Anxiety'. Picture: Emma McIntyre/AMA2017/Getty Images // Instagram

Julia performed 'Anxiety' solo at a gig last year and it's a deeply candid account of what it's like to experience anxiety. From: "Feel like I’m always apologising for feeling // Like I'm out of my mind" to "I’ve been told that I could take something to fix it // Damn, I wish it I wish it was that simple", the song is filled with personal lyrics and it will no doubt become an anthem for people who suffer anxiety.

Both Julia and Selena have spoken up about anxiety during their careers. Speaking to Harper's Bazaar in 2018, Selena said "I think it’s a battle I’m gonna have to face for the rest of my life" and Julia talked at length with Rolling Stone about how she has started to manage her anxiety, after missing major gigs and sessions because of it: "I’m controlling my anxiety instead of it controlling me".

Listen to 'Anxiety' here.

Julia Michaels - Anxiety (Audio) ft. Selena Gomez

Julia and Selena join the likes of other massive stars including Shawn Mendes ('In My Blood') and Ariana Grande ('breathin') who have written about anxiety in their music. Seeing as so many people experience anxiety, this kind of transparency is so important. It helps normalise anxiety and remind people that they are not alone.

Inner Monologue Part I is out now. It is six tracks long and includes a duet with Niall Horan titled 'What a Time'.

Julia Michaels - 'Anxiety (feat. Selena Gomez)'*

VERSE 1 - JULIA
My friends, they wanna take me to the movies
I tell them that I'm far from holding hands with my depression
And right when I think I’ve overcome it
Anxiety starts kicking in to teach us a lesson
Oh, I try my best just to be social
I make all these plans with friends, and hope they call and cancel
Then I overthink about the things I'm missing
Now I'm wishing
I was with them

PRE-CHORUS - JULIA
Feel like I’m always apologising for feeling
Like I'm out of my mind
When I'm doing just fine
But my exes all say that I'm hard to deal with
And I admit, I admit
Hey

CHORUS - JULIA
But all my friends, they don't know
What it's like, what it's like
They don't understand why
I can’t sleep through the night
I’ve been told that I could take something to fix it
Damn, I wish it I wish it was that simple, ah
But all my friends, they don't know
What it’s like  

VERSE 2 - SELENA
Always wanted to be one of those people in the room that
says something and everyone puts their hand up
Like, if you're sad put your hand up
If you hate someone, put your hand up
If you're scared, put your hand up
Feel like I’m always apologizing for feeling
Like I'm out of my mind
When I'm doing just fine
And my exes will say that I'm hard to deal with
And I admit it,
It's true

CHORUS - SELENA
But all my friends, they don't know
What it's like, what it's like
They don't understand why I can't sleep through the night
I've been told that I could take something to fix it
Damn, I wish it I wish it was that simple, ah
But all my friends, they don't know
What it's like

BRIDGE - JULIA, SELENA
I got all these thoughts
Running through my mind
All the damn time
And I can't seem to shut it off I think I'm doing fine
Most of the time I say that I'm alright
But I can't seem to shut it off I have all these thoughts
Running through my mind
All the damn time
And I can't seem to shut it off I think I'm doing fine
Most of the time I say that I'm alright
But I can't seem to shut it off
Shut it

CHORUS - JULIA, SELENA
But
All my friends, they don't know
What it's like, what it's like
They don't understand why I can't sleep through the night
And I thought that I could take something to fix it
Damn, I wish it I wish it was that simple, ah
But all my friends, they don't know
What it's like, what it's like (Ah, ah, ah, ah, hey)
What it's like, what it's like (Ah, ah, ah, ah, hey)
What it's like, what it's like

OUTRO - SELENA
I love this song