ALBUM REVIEW: Bebe Rexha performs that ’70s show on ‘Bebe’
Pop songstress Bebe Rexha turns back the clock on her third album, Bebe, infusing ’70s disco sound and aesthetic with ’80s pop and modern production. Riding high on the massive success of “I’m Good (Blue),” which samples Eiffel 65’s “Blue (Da Ba Dee),” Rexha’s third album is a barrage of infectious pop anthems.
Bebe
Bebe Rexha
Warner, Apri 28
8/10
Get the album on Amazon Music.
“Heart Wants What It Wants” opens with a pulsing bass and bluesy guitar line. The beat kicks in along with Rexha’s smoky vocals. There’s a noticeable organic feel to the track and Rexha trades in big synths and beats for a more refined, vintage sound.
Mid-tempo jam “Miracle Man” is an instant attention-grabber with its funky bass line clashing with a choppy keyboard line. Rexha’s lyrical message is dialed into self-empowerment and individuality.
“I need a miracle man who can make me believe in love again/ Say amen/ ‘Cause a women like me ain’t easy to please,” Rexha sings.
A familiar voice opens upbeat pop throwback “Satellite.” Rapper Snoop Dogg drops a guest verse. The ’70s-like synths and Chic-like melody lift it into the stratosphere. Sonically, the album is a nod to times gone by. In that way, it’s similar to fellow pop superstar Miley Cyrus’ Endless Summer Vacation.
But Snoop’s not even the biggest guest icon on the album. Acoustic ballad and album closer “Seasons” features none other than legendary Dolly Parton. Oddly, it’s not as effective because both singers have a similar raspy, deep delivery. Their voices blend well in harmony but it’s hard to tell them apart.
The urgency picks up on upbeat dance floor anthem “When It Rains.” Rexha has a keen ability to deliver a vocal hook that takes the song to the next level. “Call On Me” escalates even more, adding Euro-pop traits to the club-ready anthem.
“God only knows how long I’ve waited for this/ I’ve lived a million lives,” Rexha sings about her search for lasting love.
The momentum keeps up on “I’m Good (Blue).” There’s little to be added on this explosive David Guetta collab. It’s an instant pop anthem. The tone then shifts for “Visions (Don’t Go),” a bluesy track that blends understated verses with a fist-pumping chorus. “I’m Not High, I’m In Love” is an interesting clash of styles. While the arrangement is a throwback, Rexha’s vocals are decidedly modern with a compressed, with a choppy production in the verses and an energetic chorus.
The slickly produced “Blue Moon” is one of Bebe‘s strongest tracks, a cross between high-powered Fleetwood Mac and danceable Blondie. Rexha’s vocal firepower is her best work on the album. “Born Again” reels things into an atmospheric piano-driven ballad, with theatrics exchanged in favor of raw introspection. The song has a cinematic quality and feels like it belongs in an ’80s romance film.
“The sun is setting high on the East Coast/ Without you baby I’ve been feeling solo/ But every time you kiss me I’ve been born again,” Rexha sings.
The Blondie (and Miley Cyrus) vibe sticks around on “I Am,”which seeks self-empowerment at he tail end of a toxic relationship. Rexha lists off her strengths but also questions why her soon to be ex-lover doesn’t see them.
Overall, Bebe take the sounds of the past and likely introducing them to new audiences. It also shows Bebe Rexha has plenty more to say.
Follow writer Mike DeWald at Twitter.com/mike_dewald.