Bebe (album)

On February 8, 2023, Bebe Rexha hosted a listening event in Los Angeles to reveal details about the forthcoming release of her third studio album Bebe. On that day, Rexha alluded to the lead single, "Heart Wants What It Wants", and teased the collaborations, notably "Satellite" with American rapper Snoop Dogg and "Seasons" with singer Dolly Parton. The confirmed release date of April 28, along with the cover art, was published on March 15 through Rexha's social media channels. As planned, on April 28, Warner released the album for digital download and streaming across various countries. The singer emphasized a commitment to openness in her lyrics, framing the album as a platform for empowerment, self-reflection and personal development. The creation began in December 2021, with "Seasons" being the first song written. She shared a notable sense of pride for this song, especially due to her long-standing desire to collaborate with Parton. Throughout the process, Rexha immersed herself in the works of American singers such as Donna Summer and Stevie Nicks. The songs of the album were recorded across various studios, including in New York at Electric Lady as well as in Los Angeles at Henry's House, Peacemode, Rancho Pagzilla, The Compound and Valentine. ==Singles and promotion==

Ahead of the release of Bebe, three singles premiered between February and April 2023, with two of them complemented by corresponding music videos. "Heart Wants What It Wants" debuted as the album's first single on February 17, attaining a position in the top 100 in Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Lebanon and Poland. Its 1970s-themed video showcases Rexha amidst vintage filming equipment in a retro setting and offers a behind-the-scenes portrayal of the filming procedure. "Call on Me" was released as the album's second single on March 31, peaking at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs ranking. Satellite with Snoop Dogg launched as the album's third single on April 19, entering the top 50 in Croatia, Hungary, Poland and Romania. Its animated video depicts Rexha and Snoop Dogg's journey through the "Bebeverse" and was inspired by cartoons produced by Hanna-Barbera and Warner in the 1960s and 1970s, including Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century (1953), The Jetsons (1962), Josie and the Pussycats (1963) and Star Trek (1966). While not labeled as a single of the album, "I'm Good (Blue)" a collaborative effort with David Guetta, was introduced on August 26, 2022, and incorporated into the album. Among others, it received a double platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling more than 2,000,000 units in the US. As part of the promotion, a black-and-white video for the song "Seasons" was concurrently released with the album, in which Rexha and Parton appear as mirror-like images of each other, both adorned in monochromatic outfits. ==Music and lyrics==

in the creative process of developing Bebe. Bebe combines various genres of dance, disco, Eurodance, pop and rock intertwined with sounds from the 1970s and 1980s. Growing up in a household with immigrant parents, her early musical exposure revolved around Albanian music until an exploration into the diverse sounds of that period broadened her palette. Centered on the emotion of falling in love within a relationship, it places emphasis on the notions of empowerment and self-love. Following, "Miracle Man" represents a pop song advocating belief in love and delving into the pursuit of an ideal romantic partner. "Satellite" in collaboration with Snoop Dogg stands as a love song integrating disco and pop music with funk and dance-pop elements. "When It Rains" emerges as an upbeat dancefloor breakup song. Progressing with "Call on Me", it is a dance, EDM and house-pop song incorporating an electronic sound. "I'm Good (Blue)" in collaboration with David Guetta comprises upbeat club, dance and electronic genres, interpolating Italian group Eiffel 65's single "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" (1998). It captures the anticipation of a long clubbing night ahead and the excitement of having one of the best nights. "Visions (Don't Go)" has a retro electro-pop chorus. "I'm Not High, I'm in Love" is a disco-characterized pop song employing the metaphor of being stoned to display how gone she is with her love for a specific person. "Born Again" is a ballad with an acoustic and electric chorus, including backing choir. Closing with "Seasons" in collaboration with Dolly Parton, the song takes the form of an introspective country and pop ballad strengthened by a soft beat and slide guitar. The song reminisces about youth, with Rexha and Parton expressing a longing for the past while balancing memories of their youth with the wisdom of age. ==Critical reception==

Upon release, Bebe garnered a warm reception from music critics. Writing for Rolling Stone, Tomás Mier highlighted the album as a "stark" departure from the "darker energy" characterizing Rexha's earlier music. The pervasive "optimism" resonates throughout every song, portraying the evolution of the "California pop queen" into a luminary of a "dance-floor inferno", resulting in what is deemed her "best album" to date. Neil Z. Yeung from AllMusic observed the album as signaling an "authentic representation" of Rexha, leading to a "noticeable improvement" in quality and her "most sonically cohesive and focused statement" thus far. ==Commercial performance==

On the issue dated May 13, 2023, Bebe made its debut on the US Billboard 200 ranking at number 132. However, the album achieved a more favorable position in Canada, peaking at number 36 and remaining on the Canadian Albums Chart for a total of 11 weeks. In November 2023, it garnered a gold certification from Music Canada (MC) for shifting more than 40,000 units in Canada. Furthermore, the album reached positions in international charts, peaking at number 94 in France and number 97 in Japan, both within their respective top 100. ==Track listing==