Better Mistakes
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Better Mistakes
| type = studio
| artist = Bebe Rexha
| cover = Bebe Rexha - Better Mistakes.png
| border = yes
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2021|5|7}}
| recorded = 2019
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 36:00
| label = Warner
| producer = {{hlist|Burns|Jussifer|Jason Gill|Greg Kurstin|The Six}}
| prev_title = Expectations
| prev_year = 2018
| next_title = Bebe
| next_year = 2023
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Better Mistakes
| type = studio
| single1 = Baby, I'm Jealous
| single1date = October 9, 2020
| single2 = Sacrifice
| single2date = March 5, 2021
| single3 = Sabotage
| single3date = April 16, 2021
| single4 = Break My Heart Myself
| single4date = 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 album's title as Better Mistakes, along with its artwork and release date (May 7, 2021), on April 14, 2021,{{cite instagram|user=beberexha|postid=CNpqTHzlDDv|title=Better Mistakes - New Album May 7th|date=April 14, 2021|accessdate=May 30, 2021}}{{Cite news |last=Alvarado |first=Karen |date=April 14, 2021 |title=Bebe Rexha Announces Her Sophomore Album Better Mistakes |work=Celeb Secrets |url=https://www.celebsecrets.com/bebe-rexha-announces-her-sophomore-album-better-mistakes/ |access-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-date=December 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220184238/https://www.celebsecrets.com/bebe-rexha-announces-her-sophomore-album-better-mistakes/ |url-status=live }} along with the announcement of the third single, "Sabotage".{{cite instagram|user=beberexha|postid=CNp3WHNDDt1|title=One more surprise since it doesn't seem like you all can wait any longer for this one... #SABOTAGE out Friday!|date=April 14, 2021|accessdate=April 14, 2021}} 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".{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Jeff |date=October 28, 2020 |title=Bebe Rexha Talks Overcoming Insecurities — and Teases New, Britney Spears-Inspired Music |url=https://people.com/music/bebe-rexha-baby-im-jealous-overcoming-insecurities-new-album/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501112240/https://people.com/music/bebe-rexha-baby-im-jealous-overcoming-insecurities-new-album/ |archive-date=May 1, 2021 |access-date=2022-07-03 |website=People |language=en}} The opening track, "Break My Heart Myself", which features Travis Barker, makes references to how Rexha lives with bipolar disorder.{{Cite news |last=McCabe |first=Kathy |date=May 4, 2021 |title=Bebe Rexha shares her mental health battles on new record Better Mistakes |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2521891143 |id={{ProQuest|2521891143}} |access-date=July 3, 2022 |archive-date=August 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808042109/https://www.proquest.com/docview/2521891143 |url-status=live }}
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.{{cite tweet|user=BebeRexha|number=1313134891454717952|title=#BabyImJealous ft @dojacat out Friday, pre-save now http://beberexha.lnk.to/babyimjealous|date=October 5, 2020|accessdate=October 5, 2020}}{{cite web|date=October 5, 2020|title=Bebe Rexha Links With Doja Cat For "Baby, I'm Jealous"|url=https://www.idolator.com/7915043/bebe-rexha-links-with-doja-cat-for-baby-im-jealous|access-date=October 5, 2020|website=Idolator|archive-date=March 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315050158/https://www.idolator.com/7915043/bebe-rexha-links-with-doja-cat-for-baby-im-jealous|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Bebe Rexha announces new Doja Cat collaboration "Baby I'm Jealous"|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/bebe-rexha-announces-new-doja-cat-collaboration-baby-im-jealous|access-date=October 5, 2020|website=The Line of Best Fit|archive-date=October 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009002227/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/bebe-rexha-announces-new-doja-cat-collaboration-baby-im-jealous|url-status=live}} The song charted at number 58 on the US Billboard Hot 100. She released the follow-up single, "Sacrifice", on March 4, 2021.{{cite web|author=Tuesday|date=2021-03-02|title=Bebe Rexha to premiere video for new song "Sacrifice" Thursday on YouTube's 'RELEASED' - Music News - ABC News Radio|url=http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2021/3/2/bebe-rexha-to-premiere-video-for-new-song-sacrifice-thursday.html|publisher=Abcnewsradioonline.com|accessdate=2021-04-23|archive-date=December 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220184237/http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2021/3/2/bebe-rexha-to-premiere-video-for-new-song-sacrifice-thursday.html|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite instagram|user=beberexha|postid=CON2LcoFnX1|title=DIE FOR A MAN ft. @liluzivert out this Friday ☠️|date=April 28, 2021|accessdate=April 28, 2021}} She later gave a snippet of the song a day before the single's release.{{Cite web|title=If you ever were to say goodbye...|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/COQZXxRp7Co/?igshid=w11dc8lr6644 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/COQZXxRp7Co |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=registration|access-date=April 29, 2021|website=Instagram}}{{cbignore}}
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.{{Cite magazine |last=Benjamin |first=Jeff |date=July 29, 2022 |title=ITZY's Yeji & Ryujin Join Bebe Rexha on 'Break My Heart Myself' Remix After Viral K-Pop Performance |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/itzy-yeji-ryujin-bebe-rexha-break-my-heart-myself-remix-k-pop-1235119591/ |access-date=July 29, 2022 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729055601/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/itzy-yeji-ryujin-bebe-rexha-break-my-heart-myself-remix-k-pop-1235119591/ |url-status=live }}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/better-mistakes-mw0003493388|title=Better Mistakes – Bebe Rexha {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|publisher=AllMusic|last=Yeung|first=Neil Z.|access-date=February 27, 2022|archive-date=November 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128060218/https://www.allmusic.com/album/better-mistakes-mw0003493388|url-status=live}}
| rev2 = Clash
| rev2score = 7/10{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/bebe-rexha-better-mistakes|title=Bebe Rexha – Better Mistakes|work=Clash|last=Murray|first=Robin|quote="Bebe speaks her whole truth on a riveting, contradictory, and exhilarating pop album…"|date=May 7, 2021|access-date=May 12, 2021|archive-date=May 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512201142/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/bebe-rexha-better-mistakes|url-status=live}}
| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev3score = B{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/music/music-reviews/bebe-rexha-better-mistakes-review/|title=Bebe Rexha - Better Mistakes - Entertainment Weekly|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|last=Greenblatt|first=Leah|date=May 7, 2021|access-date=May 29, 2021|archive-date=November 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128060218/https://ew.com/music/music-reviews/bebe-rexha-better-mistakes-review/|url-status=live}}
| rev4 = The Forty-Five
| rev5 = Spectrum Culture
| rev6 = The Young Folks
}}
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".
Commercial performance
Better Mistakes debuted at number 140 on the US Billboard 200 becoming Rexha's lowest charting album on the chart.{{Cite web|last=Willman|first=Chris|date=2021-05-17|title=Bebe Rexha Addresses 'Upsetting' Album Debut, Plus More Chart Feats and Defeats|url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/charts-bebe-rexha-j-cole-moneybagg-yo-1234974986/|access-date=2021-05-19|website=Variety|language=|archive-date=December 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220184238/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/charts-bebe-rexha-j-cole-moneybagg-yo-1234974986/|url-status=live}} In Canada, the album debuted at number 57 on the Billboard Canadian Albums.{{Cite magazine|title=Bebe Rexha|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/bebe-rexha/chart-history/cna/|access-date=2021-10-04|magazine=Billboard|archive-date=December 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210091740/https://www.billboard.com/artist/bebe-rexha/chart-history/cna/|url-status=live}}
{{clear}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Better Mistakes track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length = 36:00
| title_width = 20%
| writing_width = 55%
| extra_width = 22%
| title1 = Break My Heart Myself
| note1 = featuring Travis Barker
| writer1 = {{hlist|Bleta Rexha|Justin Tranter|Jussi Karvinen|Travis Barker}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|Jussifer|Mike Elizondo|Barker}}
| length1 = 2:31
| title2 = Sabotage
| writer2 = {{hlist|Rexha|Michael Tighe|Jon Hume|Michael Matosic|Greg Kurstin}}
| extra2 = Kurstin
| length2 = 2:56
| title3 = Trust Fall
| writer3 = {{hlist|Rexha|Madison Love|Sorana Păcurar|Blake Slatkin}}
| extra3 = {{hlist|Slatkin|Nick Mira|Sam Wish}}
| length3 = 2:30
| title4 = Better Mistakes
| writer4 = {{hlist|Rexha|Tranter|Lisa Scinta|Peter Rycroft|Richard Boardman|Pablo Bowman}}
| extra4 = {{hlist|Lostboy|The Six}}
| length4 = 2:15
| title5 = Sacrifice
| writer5 = {{hlist|Rexha|Bowman|Rycroft|Matthew Burns}}
| extra5 = Burns
| length5 = 2:40
| title6 = My Dear Love
| note6 = featuring Ty Dolla Sign and Trevor Daniel
| writer6 = {{hlist|Rexha|Tyrone Griffin|Trevor Neill|Tranter|Brian Lee|Andrew Bolooki}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|Lee|Bolooki}}
| length6 = 2:52
| title7 = Die for a Man
| note7 = featuring Lil Uzi Vert
| writer7 = {{hlist|Rexha|Symere Woods|Michelle Buzz|Nick Mira|Jason Gill}}
| extra7 = {{hlist|Mira|Gill}}
| length7 = 2:47
| title8 = Baby, I'm Jealous
| note8 = featuring Doja Cat
| writer8 = {{hlist|Rexha|Amala Dlamini|Bowman|Tranter|Karvinen|Gill}}
| extra8 = {{hlist|Jussifer|Gill}}
| length8 = 2:55
| title9 = On the Go
| note9 = featuring Pink Sweats and Lunay
| writer9 = {{hlist|Rexha|David Bowden|Michael Keenan|Jefnier Osorio Moreno}}
| extra9 = Keenan
| length9 = 2:59
| title10 = Death Row
| writer10 = {{hlist|Rexha|Tranter|Boardman|Bowman}}
| extra10 = The Six
| length10 = 3:05
| title11 = Empty
| writer11 = {{hlist|Rexha|Tranter|Karvinen|Boardman|Bowman}}
| extra11 = {{hlist|Jussifer|The Six}}
| length11 = 2:28
| title12 = Amore
| note12 = featuring Rick Ross
| writer12 = {{hlist|Rexha|Michael Pollack|William Roberts|Nate Cyphert|Alex Schwartz|Joe Khajadourian|Harry Warren|Jack Brooks}}
| extra12 = The Futuristics
| length12 = 2:54
| title13 = Mama
| writer13 = {{hlist|Rexha|Tranter|Karvinen|Lee|Alexander Dexter-Jones|Freddie Mercury}}
| extra13 = {{hlist|Jussifer|Lee}}
| length13 = 3:08
}}
Notes
- "Amore" contains an interpolation of the 1953 song "That's Amore", written by Harry Warren and Jack Brooks.
- "Mama" contains an interpolation of the 1975 song "Bohemian Rhapsody", by the band Queen.
Personnel
Musicians
- Bebe Rexha – lead vocals
- Travis Barker – drums {{small|(1)}}
- Peter Rycroft – bass, drums, guitar, synthesizer programming {{small|(4)}}
- David Strääf – drum programming {{small|(4)}}, guitar {{small|(4, 11)}}, backing vocals, drums, synthesizer {{small|(10, 11)}}; acoustic guitar, electric guitar, percussion, programming, violin {{small|(10)}}
- Richard Boardman – drum programming, synthesizer {{small|(4, 11)}}; keyboards {{small|(10)}}
- Burns – all instruments {{small|(5)}}
- Pablo Bowman – backing vocals {{small|(5)}}, guitar {{small|(10)}}
Technical
- Colin Leonard – masterer
- Jaycen Joshua – mixer {{small|(1, 2, 6–9, 12, 13)}}
- Şerban Ghenea – mixer {{small|(3)}}
- Tom Norris – mixer {{small|(5)}}
- Mitch McCarthy – mixer {{small|(10)}}
- Greg Kurstin – recording engineer {{small|(2)}}
- Alex Pasco – recording engineer {{small|(2)}}
- Julian Burg – recording engineer {{small|(2)}}
- Burns – recording engineer {{small|(5)}}
- Devon Corey – vocal engineer {{small|(2)}}
- Jon Hume – vocal engineer {{small|(2)}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for Better Mistakes ! scope="col"| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{album chart|BillboardCanada|57|artist=Bebe Rexha|rowheader=true|access-date=May 18, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|UKDigital|22|date=20210514|rowheader=true|access-date=May 14, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|140|artist=Bebe Rexha|rowheader=true|access-date=May 17, 2021}} |
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Release dates and formats for Better Mistakes ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row" rowspan="3"| Various
| May 7, 2021 | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | rowspan="3"| Warner | align="center"| {{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/better-mistakes/1562792026|title=Better Mistakes by Bebe Rexha on Apple Music|work=Apple Music|access-date=May 30, 2021|archive-date=May 30, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210530035334/https://music.apple.com/us/album/better-mistakes/1562792026|url-status=live}} |
|---|
| July 2, 2021
| CD | align="center"| Physical releases for Better Mistakes:
|
| December 31, 2021
| LP |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Bebe Rexha}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Albums produced by Burns (musician)
Category:Albums produced by Greg Kurstin
Category:Albums produced by Jason Gill (musician)