Pet names hold a sacred place in the pop canon. From the ubiquitous “baby” to the derogatory “bitch,” each one has been used to varying degrees of affection throughout pop’s evolution. It only make sense that Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello — two of the biggest pop stars of their generation — would infuse the trope with their Latin heritages on new single “Señorita.” The second collaboration between the two, after 2015’s “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” the track is a sexy ode to a vacation rendezvous that allows the pair to flex their undeniable chemistry on and off the mic.
Beginning quite innocently, Cabello tells Mendes “I love it when you call me señorita” with a hint of sensuality that betrays the heat that will come further in the song. After declaring her need for him, Mendes takes listeners back to their chance encounter in Miami, where they “danced for hours” and “her body fit right in [his] hands;” it’s everything one hopes for when they jet off for a break from their normal life. Cabello takes the reins in the second verse, detailing their tryst in the hotel room and delivering the best lyric on the song: “you say we’re just friends/but friends don’t know the way you taste.” With just enough personality to not be entirely forgotten, “Señorita” is a fun if unremarkable track that’ll sound right at home in Mendes’ and Cabello’s discographies.
Rating: 4/5