Better Mistakes
Studio album by
Bebe Rexha
ReleasedMay 7, 2021 (2021-05-07)
RecordedMay–October 2019
GenrePop
Length36:00
LabelWarner
Producer
Bebe Rexha chronology
Expectations
(2018) 		Better Mistakes
(2021) 		Bebe
(2023)
Singles from Better Mistakes
  1. "Baby, I'm Jealous"
    Released: October 9, 2020
  2. "Sacrifice"
    Released: March 5, 2021
  3. "Sabotage"
    Released: April 16, 2021
  4. "Break My Heart Myself"
    Released: July 29, 2022

Better Mistakes is the second studio album by American singer Bebe Rexha, released on May 7, 2021, by Warner Records. It serves as the follow-up to her debut studio album, Expectations (2018) and contains guest features from Travis Barker, Ty Dolla Sign, Trevor Daniel, Lil Uzi Vert, Doja Cat, Pink Sweats, Lunay and Rick Ross. The album was preceded by the singles "Baby, I'm Jealous", "Sacrifice", and "Sabotage".

Background

Bebe worked on the album and finished it before the COVID pandemic, with most of the recording taking place in the summer and fall of 2019. Rexha announced the parent album's title as Better Mistakes, along with its artwork and release date (May 7, 2021), on April 14, 2021,[1][2] along with the announcement of the third single, "Sabotage".[3] On April 15, she revealed the tracklist on her social media accounts. The album was available for pre-order on April 16, conceding with the release of "Sabotage".

Composition

Rexha described the album as a pop record with "a lot of hip-hop in it". She added that it's "not...dance music, but you can bop to it".[4] The opening track, "Break My Heart Myself", which features Travis Barker, makes references to how Rexha lives with bipolar disorder.[5]

Singles

On October 5, 2020, Bebe Rexha announced the lead single called "Baby, I'm Jealous", featuring Doja Cat, would be released on October 9.[6][7][8] The song charted at number 58 on the US Billboard Hot 100. She released the follow-up single, "Sacrifice", on March 4, 2021.[9] On April 14, Rexha announced the third single, "Sabotage", would be released on April 16, along with the album's pre-order. On April 28, Rexha announced the song "Die for a Man" featuring American rapper-singer-songwriter Lil Uzi Vert would be released as the promotional single off the album on April 30.[10] She later gave a snippet of the song a day before the single's release.[11]

A remix of "Break My Heart Myself" featuring Yeji and Ryujin of K-pop girl group Itzy was released as a single on July 29, 2022, following a viral dance performance of the original song by Yeji and Ryujin in June.[12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Clash7/10[14]
Entertainment WeeklyB[15]
The Forty-Five[16]
Spectrum Culture65%[17]
The Young Folks8/10[18]

Robin Murray from Clash called the album a "bulldozer 30 minute pop experience" that "affords Bebe Rexha space to amplify her potency while exposing her insecurities", further summarizing it as "13 songs that punch out their truths and then dissipate".[14]

Commercial performance

Better Mistakes debuted at number 140 on the US Billboard 200 becoming Rexha's lowest charting album on the chart.[19] In Canada, the album debuted at number 57 on the Billboard Canadian Albums.[20]

Track listing

Better Mistakes track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Break My Heart Myself" (featuring Travis Barker)
2:31
2."Sabotage"
Kurstin2:56
3."Trust Fall"
2:30
4."Better Mistakes"
  • Lostboy
  • The Six
2:15
5."Sacrifice"
Burns2:40
6."My Dear Love" (featuring Ty Dolla Sign and Trevor Daniel)
  • Lee
  • Bolooki
2:52
7."Die for a Man" (featuring Lil Uzi Vert)
  • Mira
  • Gill
2:47
8."Baby, I'm Jealous" (featuring Doja Cat)
  • Jussifer
  • Gill
2:55
9."On the Go" (featuring Pink Sweats and Lunay)
Keenan2:59
10."Death Row"
  • Rexha
  • Tranter
  • Boardman
  • Bowman
The Six3:05
11."Empty"
  • Rexha
  • Tranter
  • Karvinen
  • Boardman
  • Bowman
  • Jussifer
  • The Six
2:28
12."Amore" (featuring Rick Ross)
The Futuristics2:54
13."Mama"
  • Jussifer
  • Lee
3:08
Total length:36:00

Notes

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Charts

Chart performance for Better Mistakes
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[21] 57
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[22] 22
US Billboard 200[23] 140

Release history

Release dates and formats for Better Mistakes
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various May 7, 2021
Warner [24]
July 2, 2021 CD [25]
December 31, 2021 LP [26]

References

  1. ^ @beberexha (April 14, 2021). "Better Mistakes - New Album May 7th". Retrieved May 30, 2021 – via Instagram.
  2. ^ Alvarado, Karen (April 14, 2021). "Bebe Rexha Announces Her Sophomore Album Better Mistakes". Celeb Secrets. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  3. ^ @beberexha (April 14, 2021). "One more surprise since it doesn't seem like you all can wait any longer for this one... #SABOTAGE out Friday!". Retrieved April 14, 2021 – via Instagram.
  4. ^ Nelson, Jeff (October 28, 2020). "Bebe Rexha Talks Overcoming Insecurities — and Teases New, Britney Spears-Inspired Music". People. Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  5. ^ McCabe, Kathy (May 4, 2021). "Bebe Rexha shares her mental health battles on new record Better Mistakes". The Daily Telegraph. ProQuest 2521891143. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  6. ^ @BebeRexha (October 5, 2020). "#BabyImJealous ft @dojacat out Friday, pre-save now http://beberexha.lnk.to/babyimjealous" (Tweet). Retrieved October 5, 2020 – via Twitter.
  7. ^ "Bebe Rexha Links With Doja Cat For "Baby, I'm Jealous"". Idolator. October 5, 2020. Archived from the original on March 15, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  8. ^ "Bebe Rexha announces new Doja Cat collaboration "Baby I'm Jealous"". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on October 9, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  9. ^ Tuesday (March 2, 2021). "Bebe Rexha to premiere video for new song "Sacrifice" Thursday on YouTube's 'RELEASED' - Music News - ABC News Radio". Abcnewsradioonline.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  10. ^ @beberexha (April 28, 2021). "DIE FOR A MAN ft. @liluzivert out this Friday ☠️". Retrieved April 28, 2021 – via Instagram.
  11. ^ "If you ever were to say goodbye..." Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  12. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (July 29, 2022). "ITZY's Yeji & Ryujin Join Bebe Rexha on 'Break My Heart Myself' Remix After Viral K-Pop Performance". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 29, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  13. ^ Yeung, Neil Z. "Better Mistakes – Bebe Rexha | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  14. ^ a b Murray, Robin (May 7, 2021). "Bebe Rexha – Better Mistakes". Clash. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2021. Bebe speaks her whole truth on a riveting, contradictory, and exhilarating pop album…
  15. ^ Greenblatt, Leah (May 7, 2021). "Bebe Rexha - Better Mistakes - Entertainment Weekly". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  16. ^ French-Morris, Kate (May 7, 2021). "Bebe Rexha – 'Better Mistakes' review: pop's cross-pollinator continues her scrappy charm". The Forty-Five. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  17. ^ Davies, Jeffrey (May 9, 2021). "Bebe Rexha: Better Mistakes". Spectrum Culture. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  18. ^ Abbott, Noah (May 14, 2021). "Bebe Rexha - Better Mistakes - The Young Folks". The Young Folks. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  19. ^ Willman, Chris (May 17, 2021). "Bebe Rexha Addresses 'Upsetting' Album Debut, Plus More Chart Feats and Defeats". Variety. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  20. ^ "Bebe Rexha". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 10, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  21. ^ "Bebe Rexha Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  22. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  23. ^ "Bebe Rexha Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  24. ^ "Better Mistakes by Bebe Rexha on Apple Music". Apple Music. Archived from the original on May 30, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  25. ^ Physical releases for Better Mistakes:
  26. ^ "Bebe Rexha – Better Mistakes – Vinyl LP". Rough Trade. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
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