BEBE REXHA’s “EXPECTATIONS” — Bop or Flop
Bebe Rexha has released her highly anticipated debut album “Expectations” and although the LP’s final single is entitled “I’m A Mess”, it does not describe its nature in any capacity. Infused with pop, rock, and hip-hop, this album did not disappoint. Here’s everything you need to know and why.
The first track on the album is rock-inspired “Ferrari”, and it features telling lyrics such as “livin’ in the fast lane’s getting kinda lonely”, which create a stark contrast to the upbeat pop anthem’s melody. This is the first of many emotions expressed throughout the rest of the album.
Continuing past “Ferrari”, we reach Rexha’s low points in songs like “Sad”, “Grace”, and “Pillow”, which showcase her superiority in writing and lyricism. Expanding on the diversity of her style, she adds hip-hop tracks “Mine” and “Steady” (ft. Tory Lanez) as well as #1 hit single “Meant to Be”, which features pop-country duo Florida Georgia Line. The track spent 40 weeks at number one on the country charts, beating Sam Hunt’s previous record of 34.
That’s not Rexha’s only success, however. The single “I’m a Mess” is her second Top 40 hit besides previously released “I Got You”, and is her most listened and most popular song on Spotify. The music video for “Mess” has amassed over 100 million views on YouTube, and features Rexha comedically yet effectively bringing awareness to mental health issues and normalizing the mention of anxiety and depression.
The album remarkably contains only 3 features, 2 of which being the previously mentioned “Steady” and “Meant to Be”, and the 3rd being pop-rap hybrid “2 Souls on Fire” that features Migos rapper Quavo. This is almost unheard of, as most artists rely heavily on features to boost the sales of their debut albums and create buzz. Rexha instead uses her stellar songwriting and vocal skills to create unique pop music that still stays on brand for a female pop singer in 2018.
In conclusion, while “Expectations” explores completely different sounds from pop to rap to country, each unique track works together to create a cohesive album that tells a story of heartbreak and coming back from being knocked down. The album impressed me and certainly surpassed all “Expectations” I may have had.
ALBUM RATING: 5/5
