"I'm a Mess"
Remixes cover
Single by Bebe Rexha
from the album Expectations
ReleasedJune 15, 2018 (2018-06-15)
Length3:15
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Jussifer
  • Devon Corey
Bebe Rexha singles chronology
"Girls"
(2018)		 "I'm a Mess"
(2018)		 "Say My Name"
(2018)
Music video
"I'm a Mess" on YouTube

"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.[1] 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".[2]

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.[3] 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.[4]

Composition

"I'm a Mess" contains an interpolation of the 1997 song "Bitch", performed by Meredith Brooks.[5][6] It was written by Rexha alongside Justin Tranter and Jussifer, while the latter handled production with Devon Corey.[7]

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.[8]

Live performances

Rexha performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,[9] on the Teen Choice Awards,[10] on the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards. She also performed at the iHeartRadio Music Festival (along with "Meant to Be")[11] and on Big Brother[12] and America's Got Talent.[13]

Track listing

  • Digital download
  1. "I'm a Mess" - 3:15
  • Digital download – Acoustic[14]
  1. "I'm a Mess" (Acoustic) – 2:33
  • Digital download – Remixes[15]
  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

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[44] Platinum 70,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[45] 3× Platinum 120,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[46] 3× Platinum 240,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[47] Gold 45,000‡
France (SNEP)[48] Gold 100,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway)[49] 2× Platinum 120,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[50] 2× Platinum 100,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[51] Gold 5,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[52] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[53] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[54] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
United States June 15, 2018 Original Warner Bros. [4]
Italy June 22, 2018 Contemporary hit radio [55]
United States July 16, 2018 Hot adult contemporary [56]
Various October 19, 2018 Digital download Acoustic Atlantic [14]
United Kingdom November 10, 2018 Hot adult contemporary Original [57]
Various November 30, 2018 Digital download Remixes [15]

References

  1. ↑ "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"". June 4, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Bebe Rexha on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Bebe Rexha – I'm a Mess (Snippet)". YouTube. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Bebe Rexha on Twitter". June 13, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2020 – via Twitter.
  5. ↑ "Bebe Rexha's New Song 'I'm a Mess' Adding '90s Hit 'Bitch' Songwriters to Credits". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-07-25.
  6. ↑ Angermiller, Michele Amabile (2018-06-15). "Bebe Rexha's 'I'm a Mess' Gives Belated Credit to Writers of 1997 Hit 'Bitch'". Variety. Retrieved 2018-07-25.
  7. ↑ "Tune. Bebe Rexha's "I'm A Mess" Is An Emo Anthem". idolator. 2018-06-15. Retrieved 2018-07-25.
  8. ↑ "Bebe Rexha I'm a Mess Music Video Celebrates Her Faults". 23 July 2018.
  9. ↑ Legaspi, Althea (2018-06-26). "Bebe Rexha Navigates a Hospital for 'I'm a Mess' on 'Fallon'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2018-07-25.
  10. ↑ Cardoza, Riley (13 August 2018). "Bebe Rexha Dances On A Giant Bed For Amazing 'I'm A Mess' Performance At TCAs". Hollywood Life.
  11. ↑ "Bebe Rexha Brings The House Down In Surprise-Filled iHeartRadio Performance". iHeartRadio.
  12. ↑ "Bebe Rexha's "I'm A Mess" Enters Top 3 On US iTunes Sales Chart Following "Big Brother"". Headline Planet. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  13. ↑ "Bebe Rexha and Glennis Grace Team Up For Surprise Duet On 'AGT' Finale: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  14. 1 2 "iTunes - Music - I'm a Mess (Acoustic) - Single by Bebe Rexha". iTunes Store. 19 October 2018.
  15. 1 2 "I'm a Mess [Remixes] – Single by Bebe Rexha on Apple Music". iTunes. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  16. ↑ "Argentina Hot 100 – Semana del 20 de Octubre del 2018". Billboard Argentina (in Spanish). Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Bebe Rexha – I'm a Mess". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Bebe Rexha – I'm a Mess" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Bebe Rexha – I'm a Mess" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Bebe Rexha Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  21. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201834 into search. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés + Streaming – SNEP (Week 1, 2019)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  23. ↑ "Bebe Rexha – I'm a Mess" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  25. ↑ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles in Malaysia" (PDF). Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  27. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  28. ↑ "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single uke 37, 2018". VG-lista. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Bebe Rexha – I'm a Mess". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  30. ↑ Arvunescu, Victor (September 2, 2018). "Top Airplay 100 – Toamna începe... tot cu Mahmut Orhan!" [Top Airplay 100 – Fall starts off... with Mahmut Orhan!] (in Romanian). Un site de muzică. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  32. ↑ "RIAS TOP 30 DIGITAL STREAMING CHART 2018 WEEK 31" (PDF). RIAS. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  33. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201909 into search. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  34. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201835 into search. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  35. ↑ "Veckolista Heatseeker – Vecka 35, 31 augusti 2018". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  36. ↑ "Bebe Rexha – I'm a Mess". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  37. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  38. ↑ "Bebe Rexha Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  39. ↑ "Bebe Rexha Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  40. ↑ "Bebe Rexha Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  41. ↑ "Bebe Rexha Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  42. ↑ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  43. ↑ "Pop Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  44. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2019 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  45. ↑ "Brazilian single certifications – Bebe Rexha – I'm A Mess" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. November 14, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  46. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Bebe Rexha – I'm A Mess". Music Canada. February 3, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  47. ↑ "Danish single certifications". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  48. ↑ "French single certifications – Bebe Rexha – I'm A Mess" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  49. ↑ "Norwegian single certifications – Bebe Rexha – I'm A Mess" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  50. ↑ "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2021 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  51. ↑ "Portuguese single certifications – Bebe Rexha – I'm a Mess" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  52. ↑ "Spanish single certifications – Bebe Rexha – I'm a Mess". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  53. ↑ "British single certifications – Bebe Rexha – I'm a Mess". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  54. ↑ "American single certifications – Bebe Rexha – I'm a Mess". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  55. ↑ "BEBE REXHA "I'm a Mess" - (Radio Date: 22/06/2018)". radiodate.it. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  56. ↑ "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases". All Access. All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  57. ↑ "BBC – Radio 2 – Playlist". BBC Radio 2. Archived from the original on 10 November 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
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