The Singles Jukebox

No, too vague!

[Video][Website]
[2.86]

Alfred Soto: I suppose Meredith Brooks’ “Bitch” needed twenty years to seep into another generation’s gimmicky songwriting.
[4]

Katherine St Asaph: There’s a distinctive strain in pop, from “Criminal” to Born to Die, of women confessing their messes — a strain that always teeters on the edge of exploitative. But this is also a little unnecessarily gendered; “I’m a Mess” resembles nothing more than the very dudely “Stressed Out.” Well, that and “Bitch” minus the glee, plus “New Rules” minus the part with the rules. It’s about as good as that sounds.
[4]

Will Adams: I’d figured Rexha a smarter songwriter than needing nostalgia swipes to sell a chorus. And despite her professions of advocacy about mental health, it’s a bit eyebrow-raising when said advocacy involves an asylum chic video. But mainly, “I’m a Mess” falters compared to the overlooked “I’m Gonna Show You Crazy,” which was more nuanced and sympathetic to its protagonist.
[4]

Alex Clifton: Here’s a list of things I was reminded of while watching the lyric video for this song: “Bitch,” obviously; Ed Sheeran singing about his own “mess”; “I’m a mess, but the mess that you wanted”; a Yellowcard song with the line “everything’s gonna be alright” that’s not sung entirely the same way, but I still had to pause to figure out where I’d heard that line from; the lyric video for Troye Sivan’s “Bloom,” which also has one of those horrendous shiny lanky doll-people; and “Love Myself” and “Solo,” two better songs about self-love. Yeah, Bebe, this is a mess.
[3]

Ramzi Awn: It’s hard to tell whether it’s the vocal performance or the vocal production that sounds wrong on “I’m a Mess,” but either way, the mundane lyrics shine through. Every day, more and more songs find a way to celebrate the pain of desperate love, but this isn’t one of them. The only painful thing here is the music. 
[0]

Hazel Southwell: Especially with the revelation that Bebe Rexha is the worst, her annoying voice is even more annoying. If this song was delivered with the steely, wounded aggression another singer could put into it, rather than the breathy baby-voice of Rexha it would actually be a more-than-decent pop song but it takes a maturity and self-awareness she’s totally unwilling to show anywhere. 
[4]

Stephen Eisermann: It’s so weird, but if I pinch my nose and sing I sound just like Bebe. Does that make me a mess, too?
[1]