Let’s be real for a second. If you were watching the MTV Video Music Awards back in 2016, you probably remember that feeling of collective breath-holding. Britney Spears was returning to the VMA stage for the first time in nine years. The stakes? Sky-high. The song? Her sultry comeback single "Make Me..." featuring G-Eazy. But then, something happened that nobody really expected. Mid-performance, the beat shifted, and suddenly Britney was singing the hook to Me Myself and I.
It wasn't her song. It was Bebe Rexha’s.
People were confused. Some fans thought she’d released a secret cover. Others wondered if she was officially joining the track. Honestly, it was just one of those chaotic, peak-pop-culture moments that felt right but looked a little messy behind the scenes.
The VMA Moment That Sparked the Confusion
The 2016 VMAs were supposed to be Britney’s big "I'm back" statement. She looked incredible in that yellow sparkly outfit, and G-Eazy was there to provide the rap verses for "Make Me...". But instead of a straight-up performance of her own lead single, they pivoted into a mashup.
Britney started singing the chorus: "It's just me, myself and I / Solo ride until I die." It sounded... different. Seeing a legend like Britney Spears cover a contemporary hit during her own comeback set was a choice. For many viewers, this was the first time they associated Britney Spears Me Myself and I together, and the search engines have been trying to make sense of it ever since.
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The Bebe Rexha "Drama" (Or Lack Thereof)
Here’s where it gets kinda juicy. Bebe Rexha, who actually wrote the song and sang the original vocals on G-Eazy's hit, was literally sitting in the audience. Imagine being a rising star, sitting in the crowd, and watching the Princess of Pop perform your song on a global stage without you.
Bebe later went on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen and admitted she was a little blindsided. She said she didn't know the performance was happening until the last minute. She even joked that the team was probably "scared" she wouldn't clear the rights for it.
But, because it’s Britney, there were no hard feelings. Bebe eventually posted a photo with her backstage, calling it an "amazing moment." If Britney Spears wants to sing your chorus, you basically just let it happen. It's a pop law.
Why Does "Me Myself and I" Feel So Britney?
The reason this specific mashup stuck in people's heads isn't just because of the performance. It’s because the lyrics of Me Myself and I feel like they were ripped directly from Britney’s own diary.
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Think about it.
- Isolation: The song is about not needing anyone else.
- Self-Reliance: It’s about finding peace when you’re alone.
- The Industry: It touches on the loneliness of fame.
At the time, Britney was still under the conservatorship. She was performing a residency in Vegas. She was being told what to do, where to go, and how to act. Singing a song about being "solo" while a rapper talks about "fake friends" was, in hindsight, a massive neon sign of what she was actually feeling. It wasn't just a cover; it felt like a confession.
The Las Vegas Connection
After the VMAs, the mashup didn't just disappear. Britney actually added it to her Britney: Piece of Me residency at Planet Hollywood. For a while, if you went to see her in Vegas, you’d hear that same transition from "Make Me..." into the G-Eazy cover.
It became a staple of that era. There was even a "VMA Studio Version" that fans cobbled together because people wanted a clean audio file of her vocals on that track. To this day, you can find unofficial versions on YouTube with millions of views because her breathy, signature tone actually suited the moody vibe of the song better than most people expected.
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Setting the Record Straight
Let's clear up some of the common things people get wrong about this whole saga:
- Is there an official studio recording? No. Britney never went into a booth to record a formal cover of "Me Myself and I" for an album. Anything you hear online is either a live rip or a fan-made edit using her live vocals.
- Was it a slight against Bebe Rexha? Definitely not. It was a creative decision by the VMAs and G-Eazy’s team to bridge his biggest hit with her new single.
- Was it on the Glory album? Nope. The song doesn't appear on any version of Glory, even the 2020 deluxe re-releases.
Actionable Takeaways for the Super-Fan
If you're looking to dive deeper into this specific Britney era, here’s what you should actually do instead of just searching for a non-existent studio track:
- Watch the iHeartRadio Music Festival 2016 version: Many fans argue this performance was actually tighter and better-mixed than the VMA one.
- Listen to the "Make Me..." Remixes: If you liked the vibe of that performance, the Cash Cash Remix of "Make Me..." captures that same high-energy, club-ready feel.
- Read "The Woman in Me": If you want to understand why songs about independence meant so much to her during 2016, her memoir explains the headspace she was in during the Glory era better than any article ever could.
Ultimately, the Britney Spears Me Myself and I moment wasn't just a random cover. It was a brief window into a woman who was tired of the noise and just wanted to be her own person. It might not be on Spotify, but it’s a permanent part of the Britney lore.