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I'm a Mess (Bebe Rexha song)

{{Infobox song

| name = I'm a Mess

| image = Bebe Rexha - I'm a Mess (Remixes).png

| border = yes

| alt =

| caption = Remixes cover

| type = single

| artist = Bebe Rexha

| album = Expectations

| released = {{Start date|2018|06|15|}}

| recorded = 2017

| length = {{duration|m=3|s=15}}

| genre = Pop

| label = Warner Bros.

| writer = {{hlist|Bleta Rexha|Justin Tranter|Meredith Brooks|Shelly Peiken|Jussifer}}

| producer = {{hlist|Jussifer|Devon Corey}}

| prev_title = Girls

| prev_year = 2018

| next_title = Say My Name

| next_year = 2018

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|LdH7aFjDzjI|"I'm a Mess"}}}}

}}

"I'm a Mess" is a song by American singer Bebe Rexha from her debut studio album, Expectations (2018). It was released as the first and only single from the album on June 15, 2018, following an early radio release in the United States.{{Cite news|url=https://twitter.com/BebeRexha/status/1005260603596865537|title=Bebe Rexha on Twitter: "We sent all the radio stations a version so they can live with it & hopefully like it enough to play it. Some stations loved it & played it"|date=June 4, 2018|access-date=April 7, 2018}} The song is produced by Jussifer and vocal produced by Devon Corey. According to Rexha, "The song is about accepting your own imperfections, and not dwelling on them but rather celebrating them".{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/BebeRexha/status/1007672386110525440|title=Bebe Rexha on Twitter|publisher=Twitter|access-date=June 15, 2018}}

Background and release

On September 18, 2017, a snippet of the track was shared by Rexha via an Instagram story. The second snippet was released on April 20, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WE9LIcXQFQ|title=Bebe Rexha – I'm a Mess (Snippet)|publisher=YouTube|access-date=July 25, 2018}} On June 7, 2018, Bebe announced through social media that her upcoming debut album's first single, entitled "I'm a Mess", would be released on June 15, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/BebeRexha/status/1004519488115507200|title=Bebe Rexha on Twitter|via=Twitter|date=June 13, 2018|access-date=September 23, 2020}}

Composition

"I'm a Mess" contains an interpolation of the 1997 song "Bitch", performed by Meredith Brooks.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8461302/bebe-rexha-im-a-mess-bitch-songwriter-credits|title=Bebe Rexha's New Song 'I'm a Mess' Adding '90s Hit 'Bitch' Songwriters to Credits|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-07-25}}{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/music/news/bebe-rexha-im-a-mess-song-im-a-mess-similar-1997-bitch-song-1202848285/|title=Bebe Rexha's 'I'm a Mess' Gives Belated Credit to Writers of 1997 Hit 'Bitch'|last=Angermiller|first=Michele Amabile|date=2018-06-15|work=Variety|access-date=2018-07-25}} It was written by Rexha alongside Justin Tranter and Jussifer, while the latter handled production with Devon Corey.{{Cite news|url=http://www.idolator.com/7681502/bebe-rexha-im-a-mess-listen?safari=1|title=Tune. Bebe Rexha's "I'm A Mess" Is An Emo Anthem|date=2018-06-15|work=idolator|access-date=2018-07-25}}

The song centers around the artist's experience of unrequited love for an unnamed love interest. The artist is deeply enamored, but the recipient of her affections remains indifferent, leading to a cascade of emotions including sadness, anger, and insecurity. These emotions manifest as the artist grapples with trust issues, causing her to become guarded and lash out at the world around her.

The lyrics serve as a poignant portrayal of the artist's inner turmoil, torn between the intensity of her love and the simultaneous feelings of resentment. Although she recognizes the impossibility of a reciprocated love, a glimmer of hope persists within her, yearning for a change in the dynamics.

Beyond the personal narrative, the song offers a broader commentary on the complexities of love. It highlights the dual nature of love as a potent and, at times, destructive emotion. The artist becomes a casualty of her own affections, inadvertently inflicting emotional wounds upon herself without realizing the harm.

Music video

The music video was directed by Sophie Muller and premiered on July 19, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://soundigest.com/2018/07/23/bebe-rexha-im-a-mess-music-video/|title=Bebe Rexha I'm a Mess Music Video Celebrates Her Faults|date=23 July 2018}}

Live performances

Rexha performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bebe-rexha-navigates-a-hospital-for-im-a-mess-on-fallon-666962/|title=Bebe Rexha Navigates a Hospital for 'I'm a Mess' on 'Fallon'|last=Legaspi|first=Althea|date=2018-06-26|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=2018-07-25}} on the Teen Choice Awards,{{cite web|url=https://hollywoodlife.com/2018/08/12/bebe-rexha-performance-teen-choice-awards-im-a-mess//|title=Bebe Rexha Dances On A Giant Bed For Amazing 'I'm A Mess' Performance At TCAs|first=Riley|last=Cardoza|date=13 August 2018|publisher=Hollywood Life}} on the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards. She also performed at the iHeartRadio Music Festival (along with "Meant to Be"){{Cite web|url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2018-12-05-bebe-rexha-brings-the-house-down-in-surprise-filled-iheartradio-performance/|title=Bebe Rexha Brings The House Down In Surprise-Filled iHeartRadio Performance|website=iHeartRadio}} and on Big Brother{{cite web|url=https://headlineplanet.com/home/2018/09/17/bebe-rexhas-im-mess-enters-top-3-us-itunes-sales-chart-following-big-brother/|title=Bebe Rexha's "I'm A Mess" Enters Top 3 On US iTunes Sales Chart Following "Big Brother"|date=17 September 2018|website=Headline Planet|access-date=30 January 2019}} and America's Got Talent.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/television/8476102/bebe-rexha-glennis-grace-duet-agt-video|title=Bebe Rexha and Glennis Grace Team Up For Surprise Duet On 'AGT' Finale: Watch|magazine=Billboard|access-date=30 January 2019}}

Track listing

  • Digital download
  1. "I'm a Mess" - 3:15
  • Digital download – Acoustic{{cite web|title=iTunes - Music - I'm a Mess (Acoustic) - Single by Bebe Rexha|date=19 October 2018 |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/im-a-mess-acoustic-single/1438681229|publisher=iTunes Store}}
  1. "I'm a Mess" (Acoustic) – 2:33
  • Digital download – Remixes
  1. "I'm a Mess" (Ofenbach Remix) — 2:44
  2. "I'm a Mess" (Robin Schulz Remix) – 3:20
  3. "I'm a Mess" (Alphalove Remix) – 3:11

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (2018–19)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Argentina (Argentina Hot 100){{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com.ar/chart/hot100/2018-10-12|title=Argentina Hot 100 – Semana del 20 de Octubre del 2018|work=Billboard Argentina|language=es|access-date=October 18, 2018|archive-date=2019-03-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331065629/http://www.billboard.com.ar/chart/hot100/2018-10-12|url-status=dead}}

| 77

{{single chart|Australia|41|artist=Bebe Rexha|song=I'm a Mess|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 25, 2018}}
{{single chart|Flanders Tip|17|artist=Bebe Rexha|song=I'm a Mess|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 8, 2018}}
{{single chart|Wallonia Tip|30|artist=Bebe Rexha|song=I'm a Mess|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 8, 2018}}
{{single chart|Canada|25|artist=Bebe Rexha|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 25, 2018}}
{{single chart|Czechdigital|29|year=2018|week=34|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 28, 2018}}
scope="row" | France (SNEP){{cite web|url=http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-megafusion/?ye=2019&we=01|title=Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés + Streaming – SNEP (Week 1, 2019)|publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|language=fr|access-date=January 13, 2019}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

| 86

{{single chart|Germany|86|songid=1771141|artist=Bebe Rexha|song=I'm a Mess|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 31, 2018}}
{{single chart|Hungarystream|31|year=2018|week=35|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 6, 2018}}
scope="row"| Ireland (IRMA){{cite web|url=http://irma.ie/index.cfm?page=irish-charts&chart=Singles|title=IRMA – Irish Charts|publisher=Irish Recorded Music Association|access-date=September 1, 2018}}

| 40

scope="row"| Malaysia (RIM){{cite web|url=http://www.rim.org.my/main/images/stories/RIM/Chart%202018/39_dm_i.pdf|title=Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles in Malaysia|publisher=Recording Industry Association of Malaysia|access-date=October 15, 2018}}

| 15

scope="row"| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2018-07-20|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=July 23, 2018|access-date=July 28, 2018}}

| 18

scope="row"| Norway (VG-lista){{cite web|url=http://www.vglista.no/topplister/topp-20-single-2018-37/|title=VG-lista – Topp 20 Single uke 37, 2018|publisher=VG-lista|access-date=September 15, 2018}}

| 18

{{single chart|Portugal|90|artist=Bebe Rexha|song=I'm a Mess|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 10, 2018}}
scope="row"| Romania (Airplay 100){{cite news|url=https://www.unsitedemuzica.ro/topuri/Top-Airplay-100-Toamna-incepe-tot-cu-Mahmut-Orhan-p5966|title=Top Airplay 100 – Toamna începe... tot cu Mahmut Orhan!|trans-title=Top Airplay 100 – Fall starts off... with Mahmut Orhan!|language=ro|author=Arvunescu, Victor|date=September 2, 2018|access-date=September 2, 2018|publisher=Un site de muzică}}

| 87

{{single chart|Scotland|59|date=20181026|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 27, 2018}}
scope="row"| Singapore (RIAS){{cite web |title=RIAS TOP 30 DIGITAL STREAMING CHART 2018 WEEK 31 |url=http://www.rias.org.sg/chart.pdf |website=RIAS |access-date=August 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816190605/http://www.rias.org.sg/chart.pdf |archive-date=August 16, 2018}}

| 10

{{single chart|Slovakia2|56|year=2019|week=09|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 12, 2019}}
{{single chart|Slovakdigital2|34|year=2018|week=35|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 3, 2018}}
scope="row"| Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=215&dfom=20180824|title=Veckolista Heatseeker – Vecka 35, 31 augusti 2018|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|access-date=August 31, 2018}}

| 2

{{single chart|Switzerland|93|artist=Bebe Rexha|song=I'm a Mess|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 1, 2018}}
{{single chart|UK|77|date=20180817|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 19, 2018}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|35|artist=Bebe Rexha|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 13, 2018}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|20|artist=Bebe Rexha|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 6, 2018}}
{{single chart|Billboarddanceairplay|17|artist=Bebe Rexha|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 19, 2019}}
{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|9|artist=Bebe Rexha|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 2, 2018}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (2018)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Canada (Canadian Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/canadian-hot-100|title=Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2018|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 5, 2018}}

| 91

scope="row"| US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/pop-songs|title=Pop Songs – Year-End 2018|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 5, 2018}}

| 37

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|certyear=2019|relyear=2018}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Bebe Rexha|title=I'm a Mess|type=single|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2018|certyear=2019|date=November 14, 2019|access-date=November 14, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Bebe Rexha|title=I'm a Mess|type=single|award=Platinum|number=4|certyear=2023|date=June 20, 2023|access-date=January 26, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Bebe Rexha|title=I'm a Mess|type=single|award=Gold|id=11275|certyear=2022|relyear=2018|access-date=May 3, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Bebe Rexha|title=I'm a Mess|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2018|certyear=2021|access-date=October 21, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Bebe Rexha|title=I'm a Mess|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2023|access-date=December 28, 2024|source=radioscope}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Bebe Rexha|title=I'm a Mess|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2020|access-date=December 28, 2024|source=radioscope}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|artist=Bebe Rexha|title=I'm a Mess|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2018|certyear=2020|access-date=November 26, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|type=single|artist=Bebe Rexha|title=I'm a Mess|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2018|certyear=2021|certmonth=8|access-date=October 10, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|type=single|artist=Bebe Rexha|title=I'm a Mess|award=Gold|relyear=2018|certyear=2022|id=file_2022-05-13-15-04-29.pdf|access-date=May 23, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=Bebe Rexha|title=I'm a Mess|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2023|id=bebe-rexha-im-a-mess|access-date=November 12, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Bebe Rexha|title=I'm a Mess|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2022|id=13459-4710-1|access-date=July 19, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Bebe Rexha|title=I_m a Mess|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2021|access-date=September 15, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
scope="col"| Region

! scope="col"| Date

! scope="col"| Format

! scope="col"| Version

! scope="col"| Label

! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"| United States

| June 15, 2018

| {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}}

| rowspan="3"|Original

| rowspan="3"|Warner Bros.

|

scope="row"| Italy

| June 22, 2018

| Contemporary hit radio

| {{cite web|url=http://radiodate.it/radio-date/bebe-rexha-i-m-a-mess-178052-22-06-2018-radiodate/|title=BEBE REXHA "I'm a Mess" - (Radio Date: 22/06/2018)|website=radiodate.it|access-date=1 November 2018}}

scope="row"| United States

| July 16, 2018

| Hot adult contemporary

| {{cite web|url=http://www.allaccess.com/hot-modern-ac/future-releases|title=Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases|publisher=All Access. All Access Music Group|access-date=23 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701084621/https://www.allaccess.com/hot-modern-ac/future-releases|archive-date=1 July 2018}}

scope="row"| Various

| October 19, 2018

| Digital download

| Acoustic

| rowspan="3"|Atlantic

|

scope="row"| United Kingdom

| November 10, 2018

| Hot adult contemporary

| Original

| {{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/playlist |title=BBC – Radio 2 – Playlist |publisher=BBC Radio 2 |access-date=13 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110003035/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/playlist|archive-date=10 November 2018}}

scope="row"| Various

| November 30, 2018

| Digital download

| Remixes

| {{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/im-a-mess-remixes-single/1444685545|title=I'm a Mess [Remixes] – Single by Bebe Rexha on Apple Music|website=iTunes|date=30 November 2018 |access-date=30 November 2018}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Bebe Rexha}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:I'm a Mess}}

Category:2018 songs

Category:2018 singles

Category:Warner Records singles

Category:Bebe Rexha songs

Category:Songs written by Bebe Rexha

Category:Songs written by Shelly Peiken

Category:Songs written by Justin Tranter

Category:Songs written by Meredith Brooks

Category:Music videos directed by Sophie Muller

Category:Songs written by Jussifer