Jennifer Lopez’s “This Is Me… Now” Marks her Ninth Album

Cindy Martinez

On Friday, Feb 16. global Puerto Rican superstar Jennifer Lopez, famously known for her acting, dancing and music talents, dropped her “This Is Me… Now” album. Nuyorican Productions and BMG Rights Management produced this album, which is the first album released by Lopez under this new partnership; but Lopez’s ninth studio album release.

This album entices a lot of dimensions of Lopez’s love life with former and current lover Ben Affleck. Her album takes us on a journey of emotion as we listen to her reunite with her long-lost love. Despite all odds against them after three marriages and six engagements; the album reveals her happily ever after with Affleck. 

In 2002 Jennifer Lopez met Ben Affleck on the set of the movie “Gigli” and from there the tabloids picked up on their relationship.  In the fall of September 2003 Lopez and Affleck planned to get married but postponed and went their separate ways. Lopez went on to get married and have children as did Affleck. However, years later they ended up divorcing their spouses and found each other once again. It’s not every day in the world of Hollywood that megastars such as Lopez and Affleck rekindle their relationship after twenty years of breakups, new lovers and divorce. However, in Lopez’s new album, we learn that she defeated all odds and finally made her happy ever after. 

The release of her past albums was none short of iconic for Lopez. In 2002 Lopez released her third studio album, titled “This Is Me… Then,” where her album was influenced by her relationship with Affleck at the time. Songs on the 2002 album include “Dear Ben,” “Baby I Love You” and “You Belong To Me.” Lopez fans were ecstatic when she dropped the 2024 album “This is Me… Now” after marrying Affleck in July of 2022, this album signified her happy ending with her reunited love. 

Lopez’s newest album paints the picture of Lopez and Affleck’s love timeline and finding their way back to each other. The pop and contemporary R&B album features thirteen songs all seemingly dedicated to Affleck. Songs featured on the album include “Dear Ben, Pt II,” “This Time Around” and “Greatest Love Story.”  These songs are referenced to Affleck as she sings and reminisces on the time lost when she and Affleck were not together. She also sings about how she feels now that she is married to him. 

Lopez sings straight from the heart with each of her songs accompanied by a sweet chorus to the unchanging melody of the music. It is quite clear whether you are just listening to her songs for the first time or a longtime fan that her rekindled romance is the strength of a movie. 

Although many of her fans were ecstatic about her album, some were sad. In an interview with ET, she hints at retirement after the release of  “This Is Me… Now.”  

According to ET, Lopez said “The truth is I don’t even know if I’ll ever make another album after this. It’s such the quintessential kind of Jennifer Lopez J.Lo project and I feel very fulfilled, so they will be collector’s items at a certain point.”

Regardless if this is Lopez’s last album or not her musical talent will never retire. You can listen to her album about her rekindled romance with her former lover on all streaming platforms.