Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell is an American singer-songwriter. Known for her distinctive musical sound and vocal style, she is a prominent figure in 2020s pop culture.
Eilish's production style frequently uses harmony lines and vocal layering, an extension of double tracking.
real name: Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell
labels: Darkroom, Interscope Records
genres: electropop, indie pop, alternative pop
awards: American Music Award for New Artist of the Year, American Music Award for Favorite Alternative Rock Artist, Billboard Music Award for Top New Artist, Billboard Music Award for Top Female Artist, Billboard Music Award for Top Billboard 200 Album, BRIT Award for International Female Solo Artist, Grammy Award for Album of the Year, Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album
plays: voice, guitar, ukulele, keyboard instrument
Facts from Wikidata and Discogs, free to use.
Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell was born in Los Angeles, California, on December 18, 2001. She is the daughter of actress and teacher Maggie Baird and actor Patrick O'Connell, both of whom are also musicians and work on Eilish's tours. Eilish is of Irish and Scottish descent. Her middle name, Eilish, was chosen by her parents while watching a documentary about Irish conjoined twins Katie and Eilish Holton and was originally meant to be her first name, while Pirate was to have been her middle name. Her grandfather, William Baird, died during her mother's pregnancy, therefore her parents named her after him. Eilish "absolutely hated" her first name growing up, saying she would have preferred to have been named Violet or something...
In 2015, 13-year-old Eilish began working on songs with her brother Finneas, who had been writing and producing for several years and had his own band. The first songs they recorded together were called "She's Broken" and "Fingers Crossed", the former written by Finneas and the latter by Eilish. "We recorded them and put them out on SoundCloud, just for fun", she recalled.
Eilish grew up listening to the Beatles, Justin Bieber, Green Day, the 1975, Arctic Monkeys, Nine Inch Nails, Linkin Park, and Lana Del Rey. She has named the Beatles as her greatest musical inspiration, crediting the band for inspiring "95% of [her] love for music". She has said that stumbling upon Aurora's "Runaway" on YouTube inspired her to pursue a career in music. Hip-hop is her favorite genre of music.
Eilish has a soprano vocal range. Avery Stone of Vice called her vocals "ethereal", and Maura Johnston of Rolling Stone characterized them as "whispery". Doreen St. Félix of The New Yorker wrote that she has a "husky, slurring voice that she can thin out to reedy". Music critic Robert Christgau wrote that while Eilish is musically and commercially pop, her brand also "reminds us how amorphous [pop] has become", calling her soprano "too diminutive for vocal calisthenics" and adding that her "playful version of teen-goth angst" and "electro-saturated debut album" captivate a diverse audience. Her music is generally described as pop or electronica, although she also incorporates elements of electronic, alternative, dance, hip-hop, and rock....
Are you them, or do you know them? The mail slot is open.
"Bury a Friend" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and the third single from her debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019), of which a line on the song inspired the album's title. It was released on January 30, 2019, and serviced to US alternative radio stations on February 19, 2019, through Darkroom and Interscope Records.
The song was described as electronica, electropop, synth-pop, and trip hop in press reviews, for which hip-hop beats, industrial influences, percussion, and a synthesizer provide minimalist instrumentation. Within the dark and violent lyrics, Eilish sings from the perspective of a monster under someone's bed.
On January 29, 2019, Billie Eilish formally announced the release of When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? and also revealed that she would release a single the next day at 9 am (PT). She further posted a 16-second teaser of the song, featuring her singing while being grabbed and pushed by gloved hands. "Bury a Friend" was eventually released on the scheduled date, having premiered on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 show as the day's World Record. Eilish further made an appearance on Annie Mac's Future Sounds show on BBC Radio 1 to discuss the track. It was serviced to US alternative radio stations on February 19, 2019, by Darkroom and Interscope Records. "Bury a Friend" was written by Eilish along with her brother Finneas O'Connell, while...
Eilish credited the song for setting the tone for When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, stating: "I immediately knew what it was going to be about, what the visuals were going to be, and everything in terms of how I wanted it to be perceived". "Bury a Friend" has been described as a minimalist electronica, electropop, synth-pop, and trip hop track with industrial elements in press reviews. Suzy Exposito of Rolling Stone called it "goth-R&B" reminiscent of Marilyn Manson's Antichrist Superstar (1996). The song is moderately fast at 120 beats per minute (BPM), and is written in the key of G harmonic minor. Its minimalist instrumentation features a hip-hop and "galloping" beat similar to Kanye West's "Black Skinhead" (2013). "Rumbling"...
Upon release, "Bury a Friend" received generally positive reviews from music critics. Several publications saw the song as her best single, as well as a highlight of When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?. It was likened to Lorde's "Royals" (2013), as well as its production to that on West's Yeezus (2013). Thomas Smith of NME saw "Bury a Friend" as "a sizeable middle finger to anyone who expected a twinkly ballad befitting to her lone EP, 2017's Don't Smile at Me", as well as a "statement" for "vocalising the uncertainties and inquisitions of a generation ready to make their mark". DIY's Lisa Wright labelled the song "intoxicating and intriguing – aka exactly what you want from a new star". Chloe Gilke of Uproxx praised the "full of...
An accompanying music video for "Bury a Friend" was uploaded to Eilish's official YouTube channel on January 30, 2019. It was directed by Michael Chaves in the span of a day. The clip contains horror elements, which have led to it being regarded by reviewers as "creepy" and "haunting". Eilish explained: "I had this idea where I’m naked. Like an abduction-type thing, completely not in control, just a helpless body, and people putting syringes up my arms and in my neck. That’s one of people’s biggest fears—needles—and that’s what I’ve been doing recently: honing in on people’s fears".
"Copycat" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish. It was released by Darkroom and Interscope Records as the fourth single from Eilish's debut studio EP, Don't Smile at Me (2017).
Eilish and her brother, Finneas O'Connell, co-wrote the song, with the latter solely handling the production. Musically an electronica and pop track with a hip hop-influenced instrumentation, the song was heavily inspired by someone who kept on copying Eilish and what she did.
"Copycat" was released on July 14, 2017, as the fourth single on Eilish's debut EP Don't Smile at Me. "Copycat" was written by the singer and Finneas O'Connell, her brother and the track's sole producer. Mastering and mixing was handled by the studio personnel, John Greenham, and Rob Kinelski, respectively. In an interview with Genius, Eilish mentioned that she wrote the song with her brother about a girl who copies everything that she does. "I write with my brother mostly. That song, we were just in his room, and I was like, 'Yo! There's this fucking girl and she keeps doing everything that I do. And I want to write about it.' Because it was in my mind." A remix by Sofi Tukker was released on January 12, 2018. Dan Regan of Billboard...
"Copycat" has been described as a hip-hop-influenced electronica and pop track in press reviews. According to sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, "Copycat" has a slow and constant tempo of 64 beats per minute (BPM) and is played in the key of E minor. Eilish's vocals span a range of E3 to G5. It features a minimalist production consisting of a bass guitar and piano. Titiana Crisano of Billboard compared the instrumentation to the later work of XXXTentacion and Tyler, the Creator. In an interview with Billboard, Eilish stated that Finneas came up with the "weird, creepy bass sound" and she thought it was cool.
Insider's Libby Torres, called the track a "precursor of sorts to 'Bad Guy'" and felt that "Copycat" lacks the "driving bass and increasingly-layered vocals" that made "Bad Guy" a good song. However, Torres concedes it is still a "worthy song that provides a tantalizing glimpse of Eilish's early potential". NME's Thomas Smith commented that "Copycat" was "impossibly swagger" with "scattered beats and energetic live performances making it a welcome entry point for many fans." Niall Byrne of The Irish Times described the ending as a "menacing synth" that reappears to "underscore her sullen demeanour". Kirsten Spruch of Billboard described the track as a "ground-shaking opener". Katherine Cusumano of W magazine cited the track as a...
"Ocean Eyes" is the debut single by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish. It was initially released on SoundCloud on November 18, 2015, and then temporarily released as a promotional recording on January 8, 2016, with Drup Music.
"Ocean Eyes" was solely written and produced by Eilish's brother Finneas O'Connell, who originally wrote it for his band, but later gave the song to Eilish after feeling the song suited her vocals.
"Ocean Eyes" was written, mixed, and produced by Billie Eilish's brother, Finneas O'Connell. He had written and produced the song originally for his band, the Slightlys, before realizing it would be a better fit for Eilish's vocals. He gave it to Eilish when her dance teacher at the Revolution Dance Center (Honolulu Avenue, Los Angeles) Fred Diaz asked them to write a song for choreography. Eilish has cited the Låpsley song "Station" as a key influence on "Ocean Eyes".
"Ocean Eyes" has a tempo of 145 beats per minute (BPM). The song is played in the key of E minor, while Eilish's vocals span a range of E3 to E5. Critics described "Ocean Eyes" as a pop, alternative hip-hop, dream-pop, synth-pop, indie-pop, and R&B ballad. Laurence Day of The Line of Best Fit described it as having "sparse percussion" and "low-slung bass", adding that Eilish's vocals "are soft and melodic, dispersing amongst the effervescent synths". Writing for i-D, Mathias Rosenzweig described the song as an "unhurried, minimalist beats and lush synths, reminiscent of ocean waves on a dreary grey day". Eilish uses her soprano voice in the track.
Alicia Keys covered "Ocean Eyes" in December 2019 as part of Spotify's Singles series. Rania Aniftos of Billboard wrote that Keys's cover gave "Ocean Eyes" a "characteristically soulful twist with a piano arrangement". In March 2024, the Gaslight Anthem released a cover version of "Ocean Eyes" as part of their EP History Books (Short Stories). The cover "starts off with a haunting vocalisation before jumping straight into a loud drumbeat and chugging guitar while frontman Brian Fallon juxtaposes Eilish's original soft vocals with his raspy voice".
"Watch" is a song by American singer Billie Eilish from her debut EP Don't Smile at Me (2017). Written and produced by Eilish's brother Finneas O'Connell, the song was released for digital download and streaming through Darkroom and Interscope Records on June 30, 2017, as the third single from the EP.
"Watch" was released on June 30, 2017, as the third single on Eilish's debut EP Don't Smile at Me. The track was written and produced by Eilish's brother, Finneas O'Connell. Mastering and mixing was handled by the studio personnel, John Greenham and Rob Kinelski, respectively. The song was originally titled "Watch & Burn", before becoming two separate tracks, one being "Watch" and the other being "&Burn", a collaboration with Vince Staples.
"Watch" was met with critical acclaim from music critics. Insider's Claudia Willen wrote that the song "provided a mere glimpse of the greatness to come in Eilish's career." Nicole Almeida of Atwood Magazine commended the production, which she described as "meticulous" and "amazing". Avery Stone of Vice described the chorus as "sweeping". It was ranked number 28 by NME's Sam Moore, who compared it to Lorde's compositions and affirmed it was a "stepping stone towards bigger and better things". The track has been awarded several certifications; including double platinum in Australia, and platinum in Canada and the United States by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), Music Canada (MC), and the Recording Industry Association...
"Six Feet Under" is the second single by American singer Billie Eilish. It was published to SoundCloud on June 23, 2016, and commercially released a day later by Drup Music.
Finneas O'Connell, Eilish's brother, solely wrote and produced the track, which was described by critics as a pop ballad. Commercially, it received platinum certifications in Australia, Brazil, Canada, and New Zealand.
"Six Feet Under" was originally released through Eilish's SoundCloud on June 23, 2016, and was released as a commercial single for digital download and streaming by Drup Music, a day later. The track was written and produced by Eilish's brother, Finneas O'Connell. Mastering and mixing was handled by the studio personnel, John Greenham, and Rob Kinelski, respectively.
Upon its release, "Six Feet Under" was praised by Ryan Reed of Rolling Stone, who called the track "mournful" and "atmospheric". The song has been awarded a platinum certification award from Music Canada (MC). It has also been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the Mexican Association of Producers of Phonograms and Videograms, A.C. (AMPROFON).
"Bad Guy" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and the fifth single from her debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019). It was released on March 29, 2019, by Darkroom and Interscope Records.
The song was described by media as dance-pop, electropop, and pop-trap, with minimalist instrumentation. In the lyrics, Eilish taunts someone for being tough while suggesting that she is a more resilient bad guy than he is.
Eilish released her first studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, on March 29, 2019. "Bad Guy" was simultaneously issued as the record's fifth single. The song was co-written by Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell, with the latter also produced the track and Eilish providing additional production. It was mastered by John Greenham and mixed by Rob Kinelski, both of whom also served as studio personnel. In August 2019, the single was made available for pre-order on cassette and scheduled to ship in October; selected cassettes were signed by Eilish. Additionally, a flexi disc was similarly released for pre-order to ship in the following 4–6 weeks. Each of the two releases came with a digital single delivered via email for...
"Bad Guy" is divided into two-halves; the first is fast at 135 beats per minute (BPM) and the latter is slower at 120 BPM. The song is played in the key of G minor following a chord progression of Gm–Cm–D7, while Eilish's vocals span a range of F3 to C6. The track was called dance-pop, electropop, pop-trap, and "nu-goth pop" in media articles; it features a minimalist production consisting of synth bass, a kick drum, amplified finger snaps and 808 bass. Furthermore, the single's hook uses a synthesizer riff, which has been described as both "goofy carnival" and "cartoony". In an interview with Rolling Stone, the use of a Sydney pedestrian traffic light sound in the song was revealed; it originates from a phone recording made by Eilish in...
Upon its release, "Bad Guy" received mainly positive reviews, with several critics praising its lyrics. White of Uproxx likened the song to material released by the White Stripes, writing, "It's the kind of song that builds power as it unfolds, an anthem imbued with casual fearlessness". Labeling "Bad Guy" as a "low-key banger", Stereogum's Chris DeVille drew comparisons between the song and the work of Lorde and Fiona Apple. Writing for PopBuzz, Sam Prance said "Bad Guy" is "iconic" and dubbed the "duh" lyric as "already one of the standout musical moments of 2019". He continued; "It's the perfect anthem for anyone who likes to get in touch with their dark side". Vanity Fair's Louie XIV included the track in the magazine's list of "9...
A music video for "Bad Guy" was directed by Dave Meyers and was uploaded to Eilish's official YouTube channel on March 29, 2019. Additionally, Eilish released a vertical video on August 15, 2019. The video begins with a yellow backdrop while the opening track "!!!!!!!" from When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? plays. Eilish discusses taking out her Invisalign dental brace before laughing. She eventually kicks her way through a wall while wearing a yellow sweatshirt and sweatpants, and hands her dental brace to a man, Eric Lutz, on her right. Scenes showing Eilish dancing wildly are interspersed with her feeding pigeons, getting a nosebleed while wearing a white outfit in a blue room with a clock, pouring milk and cereal into a suited...
"When the Party's Over" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and the second single from her debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019). It was released on October 17, 2018, through Darkroom and Interscope Records.
It was written and produced by Finneas O'Connell. The song was featured in the Invincible episode "What Have I Done?", along with The Summer I Turned Pretty episode "Summer Tides".
The concept behind "When the Party's Over" was inspired after Finneas O'Connell, Eilish's brother, had left his date's house "kind of for no reason" and was driving home alone late at night, simultaneously unhappy at the end of the relationship but also feeling a sense of safety through a lack of full investment in it. O'Connell later approached Eilish with a draft of the track, and they decided to perform it live a year before it was released, which O'Connell later recalled was "such a terrible idea" as he feared that fans would deem the studio recording inferior to the live version. They consequently set out to "get the magic" of a live performance "into a space where it's still interesting to record," a process which O'Connell described...
"When the Party's Over" is a bare-bones goth-pop piano ballad that acts as a departure from the electro and R&B beats of her earlier output. Music publications have noted its hymnal-like qualities and use of bass, as well as its minimal instrumentation, which spotlight Eilish's vocal abilities. Rolling Stone editor Ryan Reed highlighted the track's "atmospheric vocal harmonies," use of vocoder and Eilish's use of her high vocal register, while Nicole Engelman of Billboard wrote of the "angelic hums" that accompany the singer, whose voice "[swells] up from a whisper." Chris DeVille of Stereogum compared the song to the work of Imogen Heap and Lana Del Rey. Musicnotes published this song in a 34 time signature with a tempo of 124 beats per...
"When the Party's Over" was met with critical acclaim. Suzy Exposito of Rolling Stone wrote that the track is one of the moments off When We All Fall Asleep where "Eilish can't help but draw back the curtain [...] and let you in." Similarly, Sputnikmusic reviewer SowingSeason called it one of the "still frame moments when she allows herself to be heard not as the cynical teenage pop star, but rather as Billie the seventeen-year-old girl who's going through all the same things you are;" they also commended her "mesmerizing whispers and hums." Billboard's Nicole Engelman praised the "haunting" song's "sharply insightful" lyrics, which she argued, "demonstrate a maturity well beyond her 16 years of age." Pitchfork editor Stacey Anderson...
The music video was released on October 25, 2018. The video starts with a blue-haired Eilish sitting in a white room, before gulping down a cup filled with black liquid. Black tears start flowing down her cheeks, staining her outfit in the process. Towards the end of the video, the camera pans downwards, revealing that the black liquid started to stain the floor. Eilish said her inspiration for the video came from a fan art of a drawing of her with black eyes leaking. "I thought it was visually really dope and I wanted to physically create it." It was directed by Carlos López Estrada.
"Bellyache" is a song by American singer Billie Eilish from her debut EP, Don't Smile at Me (2017). The song was released as the EP's second single on February 24, 2017, through Darkroom and Interscope Records.
It was written by Eilish and Finneas O'Connell, with production being handled by the latter. A midtempo alternative hip-hop and electropop song, it has deep house, Latin macabre, and R&B influences.
"Bellyache" was released for digital download and streaming on February 24, 2017, as the second single from Eilish's debut EP Don't Smile at Me, through Darkroom and Interscope Records. The track was written by Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell, known under his stage name of Finneas, with him solely handling production. Mastering and mixing were handled by studio personnel John Greenham and Rob Kinelski, respectively. In December 2021, American rapper and singer Doja Cat revealed that she was asked by Eilish to feature on the track during its early stages of development, yet declined since she was experiencing writer's block at the time. In an interview with Teen Vogue, Eilish stated that "Garbage" (2013) by American rapper Tyler,...
Critical commentary described "Bellyache" as a midtempo alternative hip-hop and electropop song. It has influences of deep house, hip-hop, Latin macabre, and R&B in the instrumentation. According to sheet music published by Universal Music Publishing Group at Musicnotes.com, "Bellyache" is composed in the key of E minor, at a moderate tempo of 100 beats per minute. Eilish's vocals span a range of E3 to B4. Jason Lipshutz of Billboard mentioned that "Bellyache" has "macabre lyrics around a delectable pre-chorus hook and a steady acoustic pattern that eventually gives way to a sizzling drum machine".
"Bellyache" was met with mostly positive reviews from music critics, with a number of them praising the lyrics and production. Mike Wass, writing for Idolator, called it a "sinister synth-anthem that positively seethes fury and frustration". Writing for Elle magazine, Estelle Tang labeled the song as a "banger about bad decisions". Eve Barlow of Vice described "Bellyache" as "totally psycho" and "perfectly pop". Meaghan Garvey, writing for The Fader, cited the track as a "loping" and "cowboy-ish number with a touch of deep-house bounce". Ilana Kaplan of Paper noted that while Eilish's 2016 singles "Ocean Eyes" and "Six Feet Under" are more pop, "Bellyache" has "more of an R&B production angle", and admitted it would become more prominent...
An accompanying music video was uploaded to Eilish's YouTube channel on March 22, 2017, and was directed by Miles and AJ. In it, Eilish is shown stranded in the middle of a deserted highway which is Mojave-Tropico Road in California. The sky is a shade of purplish-blue, and the sides of the pavement are marked with cacti and sand. She is dressed from head to toe in a yellow ensemble. The video begins with Eilish walking down a long, empty desert road, dragging a red wagon filled with garbage bags, which she eventually reveals to be full of cash. Eilish starts to recount the bad things she has done, "Where's my mind?" she wonders, before forgetting about it: "Maybe it's in the gutter, where I left my lover". Throughout the video, Eilish...
"My Strange Addiction" is a song by American singer Billie Eilish from her debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019). It was written by her brother Finneas O'Connell, who also produced the song.
The song has been certified platinum in the US and Canada and has reached number 43 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It also peaked at number 12 in Australia, 21 in Canada and New Zealand, 39 in Ireland and Norway, 46 in Sweden, 51 in the Netherlands and at 100 in Italy.
The song uses clips from "Threat Level Midnight", an episode of The Office, a comedy show that previously aired on NBC. In an interview, Billie Eilish stated that she had been a "superfan" of the show. In a quote, Eilish stated that, when creating the song, she thought that the beat produced was similar to that of an instrumental track used within the movie's Scarn Dance scene. Subsequently, she decided to use quotes from the movie; instead of going through the normal routes to get permission to use the audio in the song, she instead ripped the audio from the show. She stated that the reason for including clips from The Office was because she considered the show to be her strange addiction.
"Wish You Were Gay" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and the fourth single from her debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019). It was released on March 4, 2019, through Darkroom and Interscope Records.
Eilish wrote "Wish You Were Gay" with its producer, her brother Finneas O'Connell, when she was 14 years old. A classic pop song, it incorporates an acoustic guitar, a sound of cracking knuckles as percussion, canned laughter, and applause from an audience.
Billie Eilish wrote "Wish You Were Gay" when she was 14 years old, about a boy in whom she took a romantic interest. She introduced the song and previewed a demo of it to her fans through her Instagram account in July 2018. Eilish explained that the boy did not reciprocate her feelings; she felt distraught that he did not love her back. Seeking a rationale for his disinterest in her, she hoped that he was attracted only to men: "[The song] literally means I wish he was gay so that he didn't like me for an actual reason, instead of the fact that he didn't like me." Some time after songwriting, the boy approached Eilish and came out to her as gay. About the situation, she commented that she "wrote the song and made him fuck a dude. I'm...
Music critics classified "Wish You Were Gay" as a pop or classic pop song with influences of jazz music. With a runtime of 3 minutes and 41 seconds, it begins with Eilish's voice over acoustic guitar chords. Later, a rhythm consisting of cracking knuckles appears. Canned laughter and the sound of shouting children play as reactions to some lines she sings. "Wish You Were Gay" closes with a sample of a round of applause; Jon Pareles from The New York Times considered the song's inclusion of an audience an attempt at highlighting its theatrical elements. During an interview with MTV, Finneas shared that he wanted its production to go a "bombastic, triumphant place". He hoped that by using clapping and stomping noises to create a heavy beat,...
Some music critics praised "Wish You Were Gay" for what they deemed an unconventional yet catchy production, such as Chloe Gilke of Uproxx, who compared it positively to Eilish's previous works. She commended how Eilish and Finneas used "unexpected vocal flourishes and offbeat sounds" to create, in her view, an "immaculate" tune. Meanwhile, a few considered its production risky but found the risk unsuccessful, saying it caused the album to "stumble" midway through its runtime. Pitchfork's Stacey Anderson favored Eilish's vocals, and journalist Robert Christgau shared similar opinions, calling her voice "tunefully cooed". However, Anderson was less positive about the use of a laugh track and self-centered lyrics.
"Xanny" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish from her debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019). The singer and her brother, Finneas O'Connell, co-wrote it, while the latter handled its production.
Musically, it was described as a mid-tempo and jazz-influenced pop ballad. Eilish recalled being inspired by several artists during the track's creation, most notably by Frank Sinatra.
"Xanny" is the third track on Eilish's debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, released for digital download and streaming on March 29, 2019, by Darkroom and Interscope Records. The song was written by the singer and her brother, Finneas O'Connell; the latter solely produced it. The duo has cited Frank Sinatra and Feist's "So Sorry" (2007) as primary influences during the creation process. They were also inspired by tracks such as LCD Soundsystem's "New York, I Love You but You're Bringing Me Down" (2007), Post Malone's "Stay" (2018), Johnny Mathis's "Misty" (1959), Daniel Caesar's "Japanese Denim" (2016) and Melody Gardot's "Who Will Comfort Me" (2009). Mastering and mixing were handled by John Greenham and Rob...
Eilish elaborated that the message of "Xanny" was "less 'don't do drugs' [and] more 'be safe'". She endorses what Vox's Charlie Harding described as a "teen sobriety trend" in the lines: "I'm in their secondhand smoke / Still just drinking canned Coke / I don't need a Xanny to feel better". Other "self-aware" lyrics include: "Please don't try to kiss me on the sidewalk / On your cigarette break / I can't afford to love someone / Who isn't dying by mistake in Silver Lake".
Upon release, "Xanny" was generally praised by music critics. Insider's Libby Torres said that, although the track "lacks the slick hooks or sardonic lyrics of other songs on the album", Eilish's "breathy vocals and dismissive attitude towards recreational pill use make it one of the project's hidden gems". Pitchfork's Stacey Anderson commended the lyrical content, which, according to her, "wonderfully underscore[s] how all teen angst is both fiercely sincere and an effect of being only partially informed". Brendan Wetmore, writing for Paper magazine, stated that the "extremely jarring and tone-oscillating track" was influenced by the "modern pop" genre, which, as claimed by him, was created by the likes of Sophie and Lana Del Rey. Thomas...
"I Love You" is a song by American singer Billie Eilish from her debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019). Eilish co-wrote the song with her brother Finneas O'Connell, who also handled production.
As the 13th track on the album, "I Love You" is an acoustic guitar-based ballad accompanied by various plane-related noises, where Eilish's lyrics describe the resistance to falling in love with someone.
On March 29, 2019, "I Love You" was released as the 13th track on Eilish's debut studio album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? The song was written by the singer and her brother Finneas O'Connell, known under his stage name of Finneas, who also solely produced it. It was recorded in Finneas' bedroom studio in Highland Park, Los Angeles. Mastering and mixing was handled by studio personnel John Greenham and Rob Kinelski, respectively. Casey Cuayo received credit as studio personnel and an additional mixer. Eilish shared in an Instagram story on March 25, 2020, a playlist of her inspirations for the track, which included songs from Phoebe Bridgers, Post Malone, Ry X, XXXTentacion, Bon Iver, and Sufjan Stevens. Finneas later explained...
Musically, "I Love You" runs at a "lovingly" slow tempo of 72 beats per minute (BPM), and is played in the key of C major. Eilish's vocals, which are sung quietly and treated with some reverb, span a range between the notes of G3 and A4. Finneas also provides backing vocals by harmonizing with her throughout the song. Critical commentary described the track as an acoustic-based ballad. In the second verse, the song features the sound of a flight attendant call button pitch-shifted to follow all the chords. Craig Jenkins of Vulture called it a "dark" song, reminiscent of Lana Del Rey's Born to Die and Halsey's Badlands. Chris DeVille, writing for Stereogum, noted that the song finds Eilish "in a world wrecked by tragedy". According to...
"I Love You" received mainly positive reviews from music critics. The song was praised by Insider's Libby Torres, who called the track "heart-wrenching" and "serene", and opined that its lyrics feel "like you're in the hazy eye of a storm". Sam Prance of AllMusic viewed the song as a "heartbreaking acoustic beauty that pegs Eilish as something more than a spooky, scare-the-parents gimmick". Madeline Roth of MTV called it a "gorgeous penultimate track". Jon Pareles of The New York Times commended the lyrical content, which he described as a "hovering, hesitant confession". Jason Lipshutz of Billboard commended the lyrics and melody, which he described as a "obsessive-romantic anthem". Vulture's Jenkins said "I Love You" was one of "the...
"My Boy" is a song by American singer Billie Eilish. It was released by Darkroom and Interscope Records as the sixth single from Eilish's debut extended play (EP), Don't Smile at Me (2017).
Eilish and her brother, Finneas O'Connell, co-wrote the song, with the latter solely handling the production. A pop track with funk- and jazz-influenced instrumentation, the song was heavily inspired by boys who broke Eilish's heart.
"My Boy" was released on July 28, 2017, as the sixth single on Eilish's debut EP Don't Smile at Me. The track was written by the singer and Finneas O'Connell, her brother and the track's sole producer. Mastering and mixing was handled by the studio personnel, John Greenham and Rob Kinelski, respectively. A remix of the song by TroyBoi titled "MyBoi" was released on March 9, 2018. Claire Ruder writing for Earmilk praised TroyBoi's remix, saying it "was able to successfully transform a tempo-changing short-and-sweet pop song into bass-laden and explosive EDM." And further mentions "'MyBoi,' turns chopped vocals from Billie into an instrument for the chorus of the track, paired with intricate layers of hi-hats, heavy kicks, and bass."
"My Boy" was praised by Insider's Callie Ahlgrim, who called the track "slow" and "mysterious" and felt its chorus "is so springy and elastic that it's almost distractingly danceable." "My Boy" experienced limited success on record charts, only reaching number 20 on the US Billboard Alternative Digital Song Sales chart. It, however, has been awarded several certifications; being certified triple platinum in Canada by Music Canada (MC), double platinum in both Australia by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and in New Zealand by Recorded Music NZ (RMNZ), platinum in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and gold in the United Kingdom by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). "My Boy"...
In 2019, American punk rock band, the SWMRS, covered "My Boy" at the Blondies in London for 50 of their biggest fans. The staff of Kerrang! called the SWMRS cover a "healthy dose of surfer punk rock".
"You Should See Me in a Crown" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and the lead single of her debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019). It was released on July 18, 2018, through Darkroom and Interscope Records.
It was written by Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell, who also produced the track. The song received positive reviews and was charted in countries including the US, Canada and Australia.
The song's title was inspired by a scene from the third episode of the second season of the BBC television series Sherlock titled "The Reichenbach Fall", where the villain Jim Moriarty says the line "Honey, you should see me in a crown". Eilish and O'Connell, who are fans of the series, thought that the line was "dope" and decided to write a song around the quote. The song "Human" by Iranian-Dutch singer Sevdaliza was also cited as one of the track's influences.
"You Should See Me in a Crown" is an electropop and trap song featuring Eilish singing over "blaring synths and rapid-fire hi-hats" as well as "industrial throbs". The chorus utilizes a "thumping bass (that) slithers menacingly." Additionally, the song incorporates a recording of Eilish's father sharpening knives.
The track was premiered on Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show on July 18, 2018. Two days later, Eilish posted a video of a tarantula crawling out of her mouth on her social media accounts with the caption "u scared?" In October, she made her daytime television debut on The Ellen DeGeneres Show performing the song inside a glass box seated on a throne. The Ringer deemed the performance the ninth most awkward on the show in 2018. The song was used as the official theme song for the professional wrestling pay-per-view event NXT TakeOver: New York.
The song was well received by music critics; many noted that it was significantly darker than Eilish's previous work. NME's Thomas Smith reacted positively towards the song, writing "she's not playing nice anymore. Kicking off with some mumbled vocals and a melody that sounds like the most sinister nursery rhyme you ever heard, Billie's sending for everyone." Raisa Bruner of Time featured the song on her "5 Songs You Need to Listen To" list on the week of July 20, 2018 and wrote "Eilish finds a vibe that's the right kind of eerie as she makes an unabashedly dark statement of confidence and purpose." Jacob Moore of Complex called the track "a gorgeously written song with a pop core and an unforgettable chorus, but dark undertones give it an...
"&Burn" is a song by American singer Billie Eilish and American rapper Vince Staples. It was released for digital download and streaming as a single on December 15, 2017, through Darkroom and Interscope Records.
It was later included as the seventh single on a reissue of Eilish's debut EP, Don't Smile at Me, in December of that year. Staples and Finneas O'Connell co-wrote the song, with the latter solely handling production.
In a statement made by Eilish to The Fader through email, she wrote, "Vince Staples was my number 1 choice, so when we got him to hear it and he agreed to do it, it was incredible and the verse he did is so good. He is a god and I'm excited for it to finally come out!" When Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell were recording the song, it was under the title of "Watch & Burn". The track later became two separate songs, with one being "Watch" (2017), and the other being "&Burn".
Critical commentary described "&Burn" as a "hip hop-influenced pop track". David Renshaw from The Fader described "&Burn" as a "moody slow-burner packed with booming drums and hushed verses". Wandera Hussein of Billboard stated the track is supported by "booming kick drums" and "velvety keys". She further mentioned that Eilish's vocals are "poignant, baby-soft, [and] express a fiery revenge". Staples provides background vocals on the song and his appearance has been described as a "deep and gloomy verse". The song starts with the strike of a match, which continues throughout as the main beat.
"&Burn" was met with generally favorable reviews from music critics. Insider's Callie Ahlgrim commented that "Watch" feels more "vulnerable" and "nostalgic", while "&Burn" sounds "powerful" and "resolute". Lindsay Howard of Variance labeled the former as "simmering". Robin Murray of Clash described "&Burn" as a "remarkable fusion that brings out the best in [Eilish] and [Staples]. Matthew Kent, writing for The Line of Best Fit, depicted the song as one of "Eilish's best tracks to date" and saw it as "a darker duet more akin to the track's lyrics about literally setting an ex's car on fire". The staff of NME explained that "the end product sees the pair feed off of each other's bolshy attitude as they trade verses in this hard-hitting...
"Come Out and Play" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish. It was released for digital download and streaming as a single on November 20, 2018, through Darkroom and Interscope Records.
Eilish wrote the song with its producer, her brother Finneas O'Connell. A lullaby-influenced midtempo pop ballad, Eilish's lyrics within the song address several topics, including her attempting to beg a friend to no longer hide away.
Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell were approached by Apple, with the company sending them an early version of a festive commercial entitled "Holiday — Share Your Gifts". The siblings then wrote the song based around the theme of the advert, recording it in their parent's home using a Mac and Logic Pro X recording studio software. The track premiered on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 radio show on November 20, 2018. "Come Out and Play" was released for digital download and streaming through the record labels Interscope Records and Darkroom on the same day as a single. The song was later included on the Japanese edition of Eilish's debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? in December 2019. "Come Out and Play" was written by...
According to Musicnotes.com, "Come Out and Play" runs at a moderately slow tempo of 72 beats per minute (BPM), and is played in the key of C major. Eilish's vocals span a range between the notes of G3 and A4. Critical commentary described the song as a lullaby-influenced mid-tempo pop ballad. Randall Colburn of Consequence of Sound said the song features "a few gentle guitar notes" and further includes a "gauzy ambiance, and textured percussion" in its instrumentation.
"Come Out and Play" was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. Idolator's Mike Nied called the song a "serious win" and said he would not be surprised if "the track dominate[d] streaming services". Katherine Gillespie of Paper stated that the song is "designed for listening to while staring out the window at falling snow and twinkling lights". The song was praised by Insider's Claudia Willen, who called the track "heartwarming" and felt its lyrics "[do] [their] best to encourage someone to break out their comfort zone and overcome their fears". Colburn called it a "heartfelt" and "subdued", while Patrick Doyle called "come out and play" a "sprawling ballad". Milca P., writing for HotNewHipHop, commented the "dark...
"Bitches Broken Hearts" is a song recorded by American singer Billie Eilish. The song was written by Eilish, and its producers: Emmit Fenn and Finneas O'Connell.
Originally released via SoundCloud on November 10, 2017, it was released as a standalone single on all digital platforms on March 30, 2018. The song was released on a 7-inch vinyl as the B-Side to her single "You Should See Me in a Crown".
"Bitches Broken Hearts" was originally released through Eilish's SoundCloud on November 10, 2017. The song was later released for digital download and streaming on March 30, 2018, through Darkroom and Interscope Records. It was included as the B-side on the 7-inch vinyl of "You Should See Me in a Crown", released on October 20, 2018, and was sold exclusively during her 1 By 1 Tour. The song was included on the expanded edition of her debut EP, Don't Smile at Me, in December 2018, and the reissue of her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, the following December. "Bitches Broken Hearts" was written by the singer, her brother Finneas O'Connell and Emmit Fenn. The song was co-produced by Finneas and Fenn, making it the first...
Critical commentary described "Bitches Broken Hearts" as an R&B track. According to sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, "Bitches Broken Hearts" has a moderately fast tempo of 120 beats per minute (BPM) and is played in the key of A minor. Eilish's vocals span one octave from G3 to G4. Lyrically, the song delves into the aftermath of a breakup, Eilish pretends that she no longer needs or cares about her former lover: “You can pretend you don’t miss me/You can pretend you don’t care/All you wanna do is kiss me/Oh, what a shame, I’m not there.” Eilish continues to her lovers' incompatibility, calling them "suicide and stolen art"; she also knows they'll both eventually move on and start to meet new people: "Somebody new is gonna comfort...
"Bitches Broken Hearts" was met with generally favorable reviews from music critics. Insider's Claudia Willen, praised Eilish's vocals, saying she "[has] smooth vocals [that] float seamlessly through the track, effectively capturing the fleeting nature that often comes with young love". Kirsten Spruch of Billboard commented that the song has "subdued like a lot of the siblings' work" but has "a tropical flare, which makes it a great Eilish cut for those looking for something a bit more relaxing". Laurence Day of The Line of Best Fit viewed the song as a "intimacy and free-flowing energy of a raw demo take" and "it's still got all of Eilish's sensational vocal power". Commercially, "Bitches Broken Hearts" has been awarded a platinum...
"Bored" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish from the soundtrack album, 13 Reasons Why (2017). The song was written by Eilish, her brother Finneas O'Connell, Aron Forbes, and Tim Anderson.
Production was solely handled by Finneas. It was released by Darkroom and Interscope Records for digital download and streaming on March 30, 2017, as the lead single from the soundtrack.
The song was written by Eilish alongside her brother Finneas O'Connell, known under his stage name of Finneas, Aron Forbes, and Tim Anderson. Finneas was solely responsible for the song's production. Eilish told V magazine that being able to make music for 13 Reasons Why and having it appear on the show's soundtrack was great for her due to opening her music to a much bigger audience. "Bored" was released for digital download and streaming by Darkroom and Interscope Records as the lead single from the soundtrack album 13 Reasons Why (A Netflix Original Series Soundtrack) on March 30, 2017.
"Bored" has been met with mainly mixed reviews from music critics. The staff of NME stated that the song is "salvaged by the layer-upon-layer of vocal takes that come to a head towards the end", and said it "belongs to a now-bygone Eilish sonic era". Jules LeFevre, writing for Junkee magazine, placed the song at number 17 on her Every Billie Eilish Song Ranked From Worst To Best list, opining that it is "completely forgettable". She continued, commenting that Eilish "tumbles down the melody on the line 'I'm not afraid anymore', like a pebble down a waterfall". For Insider, Courteney Larocca described "Bored" as a "delicate, ethereal song", and praised the layering of Eilish's vocals throughout the song. Angie Piccirillo of Consequence of...
The music video for "Bored" was released to Eilish's YouTube channel on June 26, 2017, and directed by Miles & AJ. Eilish came up with the concept for it. The video sees her climbing and hanging off a ladder that seems to climb forever into endless white space, while she is dressed in a blue tracksuit with matching high-top Nikes In an interview with Elle magazine, Eilish said the video was inspired by "being trapped in a relationship that was going nowhere. When you're in such a toxic place with someone and you're treated so badly for such a long time that eventually you're used to it." Eilish also talked about the visual's endless ladder: "The thought of being on an endless ladder in a kind of timeless/antigravity space where no rules...
"When I Was Older" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish from the soundtrack album to the film Roma (2018). It was released as a single by Sony Masterworks on January 9, 2019.
Eilish wrote the song with its producer, her brother Finneas O'Connell. "When I Was Older", an electronic track with lullaby-influenced instrumentation, has lyrics heavily inspired by the film's plot.
On January 8, 2019, Eilish announced the release date of "When I Was Older". She stated that the song's title was inspired from a piece of dialogue spoken by the character Pepe: "When I was older I used to be a sailor, but I drowned in a storm." Eilish revealed the 2018 movie Roma, which was directed by Alfonso Cuarón and described as "domestic worker’s journey set against domestic and political turmoil in 1970s Mexico", as a major inspiration behind the song. "When I Was Older was released for digital download and streaming through record label Sony Masterworks on January 9, 2019 in various countries. Although "When I Was Older" was not in the movie, it was chosen by Cuarón to appear on the album Music Inspired by the Film Roma on...
"When I Was Older" is moderately slow at 72-76 beats per minute (BPM). The song is played in the key of B minor, while Eilish's vocals span a range of E3 to A4. It has been described as a lullaby-influenced uptempo-electronic track in press reviews. Derrick Rossignol of Uproxx said the song starts with "eerie" instrumentation consisting of "some bass and simple percussion". Patrick Hosken of MTV has compared "the gloomy, blippy" track to Lil Uzi Vert's "XO TOUR Llif3" (2017) and Radiohead's "Pyramid Song" (2001).
"When I Was Older" was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. Idolator's Mike Nied said the song was a "standout" and "shaping up to be a rather menacing anthem". Rolling Stone's Angie Martoccio and Billboard's Angelica Acevedo called it "haunting". Rossignol stated that the song is "pretty neat". Tom Breihan of Stereogum stated that it is hard to see how "When I Was Older" has anything to do with Roma, although wrote its "themes of alienation might have some resonance" and called the track a "weirdly pretty song". Chris William of Variety praised the track for the lyrics, calling them "impressive" and also noted its "preternatural spookiness". Pitchfork editor Philip Sherburne described it as "gorgeous" and one of the...
"Everything I Wanted" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish, released on November 13, 2019, by Darkroom and Interscope Records as a standalone single. It was later added to the Japanese complete and deluxe editions of Eilish's debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019).
Written by Eilish and its producer, her brother, Finneas O'Connell, it is an electronica and house-influenced alternative pop track with minimal piano and downtempo bass guitar instrumentation. Inspired by a nightmare she experienced, the song is about Eilish's strong relationship with O'Connell and his protectiveness of her from harm.
In October 2019, Finneas O'Connell said he and his sister, Billie Eilish, were working on new music. In November of that year, Eilish announced the release of two new songs and a music video for the song "Xanny", which was released the following month. She later announced the song's title, "Everything I Wanted", and its release date during a livestream on Instagram on November 10, 2019. "Everything I Wanted" was used in an advertisement for Beats by Dre headphones that features Eilish. The track was originally titled "Nightmare".
"Everything I Wanted" has a moderately fast tempo of 120 beats per minute (BPM) and is played in the key of A major while Eilish's vocal range spans from the low note of E3 to the high note of B4. According to Jem Aswad from Variety, the song features a significant use of reverberation, a "gentle beatbox, and soft, hazy keyboard riffs". The track has been described as a house and electronica-influenced pop and alternative pop track in press reviews; it features minimalist production consisting of piano and downtempo bass guitar instrumentation. According to Lake Schatz of Consequence of Sound, the song has a "spare beat and quiet keys".
The music video was positively received by critics. Rebecca Alter of Vulture called the video "very good" and commented that it "looks like it was shot by the cinematographer who did 'The Long Night' on Game of Thrones". MTV's Jordyn Tilchen praised Eilish for directing the video and said her "skills shine through on this project". Layla Halabian of Nylon wrote that "the video [brings] new meaning to the saying: Blood is thicker than water." Derrick Rossignol of Uproxx called the visual a "shadowy, Eilish-directed clip", while Alyssa Quiles of Alternative Press called it "stunning". In his review for Complex, Joshua Espinoza said Eilish's message to her brother is "heartfelt". Michele Mendez of Elite Daily likened the video's story and...
Eilish performed "Everything I Wanted" live for the first time at Corona Capital in Mexico City in November 2019, the final stop of her When We All Fall Asleep Tour. She performed it again during an Apple Live acoustic show at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino the same year. It was later included on the set list of her Where Do We Go? World Tour (2020). Eilish performed the song live with O'Connell playing acoustic guitar for Blux in February 2020. In April of that year, the pair performed an acoustic version of "Everything I Wanted" during a 50-minute livestream for Verizon Communications.
"Hostage" is a song by American singer Billie Eilish from her debut EP, Don't Smile at Me (2017). The singer and her brother Finneas O'Connell co-wrote the song, while the latter solely handled production.
The song is a stripped-down pop track. Lyrically, it is about the intense love and an overwhelming desire to possess that Eilish feels for her romantic partner.
"Hostage" was included as the eighth and final track on Eilish's debut EP Don't Smile at Me, released on August 11, 2017. The song was written by Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell, known under his stage name of Finneas. He was also solely responsible for the song's engineering and production. Mixing was done at The Fortress of Amplitude by Rob Kinelski and mastering was handled by John Greenham. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, "Hostage" is composed in the key of A minor and has a slow tempo of 65 beats per minute (BPM). Eilish's vocals span a range from E4 to G5. Musically, "Hostage" was described as a stripped-down pop track. Lyrically, it begins with Eilish being in a happy relationship: "I wanna be...
Writing for Atwood Magazine, Nicole Almeida described the song as "one of the EP's most stripped back moments", and said that it "balances tenderness and affection with lyrics that display an obsessiveness that borders on dangerous". She further compared the song to the "eeriness" of "Bellyache", and the "vulnerability" of "Idontwannabeyouanymore", both of which are from Don't Smile at Me. Katherine Cusumano, writing for W magazine, said the track "strikes [a] balance between human relatability and a bit of a psychotic edge". NME ranked "Hostage" at number 21 on their 'Every single Billie Eilish song ranked in order of greatness' list. The staff hailed the song as "gradually intensifying" and said it was "raw with emotion and dark...
A music video for "Hostage" was produced by Henry Scholfield. It was first released exclusively via Apple Music on July 11, 2018. The video was later uploaded to YouTube on October 8, 2018. It was a collaboration between Scholfield, Belgian musician Stromae, Luc Junior Tam, and Eilish. Eilish asked Scholfield, Stromae and Tam to create a room with equal parts that would feel intimate and suffocating. Eilish explained in a statement that it took a while for them to shoot the visual, as a result of issues with schedules and trouble choosing a location to shoot the video. Eilish explained they were originally going to shoot it in Brussels, where Eilish was touring and where Stromae lived. They eventually figured out a plan that involved...
The music video is set in an all white room, amplifying the empty isolation the characters are stuck in. The visual starts with a choreographed dance between Eilish and her lover, who are both dressed in all white. Her lover is eventually attacked by ghostly extensions of the clothed wall and ceiling. As Eilish turns to her lover, the walls reach out and pull him in all directions. He starts to suffocate beneath the fabric while he is getting pulled up.
"Ilomilo" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and the seventh, and final single from her debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019). The song was released to Italian contemporary hit radio stations on April 10, 2020, by Universal Music Group, and to US alternative radio on May 26, 2020, through Darkroom and Interscope Records.
Musically an electropop and electronic industrial track with ska-influenced instrumentation, the song was heavily inspired by the puzzle video game of the same name. The track also references "Bury a Friend", its predecessor on the album track list.
"Ilomilo" was written by Eilish and her brother, Finneas O'Connell, who also produced it. Mastering and mixing was handled by studio personnel, John Greenham and Rob Kinelski, respectively. Casey Cuayo is credited as studio personnel and as an additional mixer. In an Instagram story on March 25, 2020, Eilish shared a playlist of her inspirations for the track, which included songs from XXXTentacion, Kavinsky, Daniel Olsen and Aaron Zigman. When Eilish mentions the song to her mother Maggie Baird, she describes the track as "being a parent to her".
According to sheet music website Musicnotes.com, "Ilomilo" is moderately fast at 120 beats per minute (BPM) and is played in the key of C minor. Eilish's vocals range between G3 to A♭4. Critical commentary described "Ilomilo" as a mid-tempo electropop and electronic industrial track. The New York Times's Jon Pareles noted the use of a "briskly plinking, near-ska beat" in its instrumentation. Throughout the song, her voice is distorted to sound like she is stuttering, and her vocal track is layered over a similarly deformed-sounding bass and "paranoid" synths. Sean Ward, for The Line of Best Fit, wrote that the song sees "the demon is in a place of contemplation".
"Ilomilo" was met with positive reviews from music critics. Insider's Libby Torres, called the track "catchy" and felt its lyrics "[do] [their] best to parse the emptiness left by someone important", as "insanely relatable". Jason Lipshutz of Billboard also commended the lyrics, which he described as "propulsive". Sam Prance of PopBuzz stated the song's production was "clever". Madeline Roth of MTV called the song a "thumping beat", while Deville described it as "skittering". Sean Ward writing for The Line of Best Fit, interpreted the song as being "disturbing". Yasmin Cowan of Clash depicted the song as an "anxious lullaby". The staff of NME, who called the song "fitting", commented that as you listen to the track, your "interest in...
On March 29, 2019, "Ilomilo" was released as the eleventh track on Billie Eilish's debut studio album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?. The song was sent to Italian contemporary hit radio stations on April 10, 2020, by Universal Music Group, and later to US alternative radio on May 26 through Darkroom and Interscope Records, as the album's seventh and final single. On February 22, 2020, Eilish released a live version of "Ilomilo" that was performed at the Houston's Toyota Center on October 10, 2019.
"All the Good Girls Go to Hell" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and the sixth single from her debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019). It was released on September 6, 2019, through Darkroom and Interscope Records.
An electro track with pop influences, "All the Good Girls Go to Hell" sees Eilish sing about climate change. She wrote the song with its producer, Finneas O'Connell.
In an interview with Vulture, Eilish's brother Finneas O'Connell, known under his stage name of Finneas, said the song's lyrics are about climate change, God, and the Devil, as well as "the idea that humans have made such a mess of the planet at this point that they're both talking to each other like, 'What's going on? Why did they do all of this?'" Elaborating on this in an interview with MTV, Finneas said he and Eilish thought it would be fun to write a song from the perspective of the devil or god, who would be looking down at humans and be disappointed in them for destroying the Earth. He continued, saying them looking down is a consequence to humans for their actions. Eilish told Howard Stern during an interview on The Howard Stern...
"All the Good Girls Go to Hell" was described as a "poppy" electro track by music critics. Neil Z. Young of AllMusic noted the song's "playful bass strum" that manages to "pull some G-funk effects into its orbit", while Robert Christgau of Vice magazine mentioned the song features "plinked piano". The staff of NME commented that "All The Good Girls Go To Hell" is "powered by bright pianos, off-the-wall synths and bass from Finneas in the second verse", and Jason Lipshutz of Billboard said Eilish's "stuttering words about death and desire lilt over the dripping beats of the propulsive". Chris Darville of Stereogum mentioned the song is "built around the oft-recycled notion that eternal damnation must be a much more interesting destination...
"All the Good Girls Go to Hell" has received mainly positive reviews from music critics. Madeline Roth of MTV described the song as a "jaunty, stuttering gem". Jon Pareles from The New York Times viewed the song as a "mocking, music-hall" track. Kenneth Womack of Salon magazine labeled the track as "playful". Christopher Thiessen from Consequence of Sound named "All the Good Girls Go to Hell" one of the essential tracks on When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? and called it a "banger". Roisin O'Connor, in his review for The Independent, had negative thoughts for the album's first four tracks, saying it "takes until track five – 'All the Good Girls Go to Hell' – for the album to gather any kind of momentum". In Clash, Yasmin Cowan...
Eilish teased a music video for "All the Good Girls Go to Hell" with a clip of an image that said "haven't you been waiting long enough?" in September 2019. Her final teaser told people who were in New York to head to Times Square and check the screens at 4:00 pm. The music video was released through Eilish's YouTube channel the following day. It was directed by Rich Lee and filmed in Los Angeles, California. In an Instagram post, the video's stylist talked about the filming and how it was hard. She revealed that Eilish "suffered greatly for this beauty, hanging off a crane and dragging 25 foot long wings saturated in black slime weighing much more than her in agonizingly long takes". The stylist further added that Eilish thought of the...
"Lovely" is a song by American singers Billie Eilish and Khalid. Darkroom and Interscope Records released it as the lead single from the Netflix drama series 13 Reasons Why's second season soundtrack.
The artists wrote the song with Eilish's brother and producer Finneas O'Connell. The song has been described as a chamber pop ballad whose lyrics recount Eilish and Khalid trying to overcome serious depression together.
Darkroom and Interscope Records released "Lovely" on April 19, 2018, for digital download and streaming as the lead single for the album 13 Reasons Why: Season 2 (Music from the Original TV Series). The song was later included on the expanded edition of Eilish's debut EP Don't Smile at Me. Billie Eilish, Khalid and Finneas O'Connell wrote the track while production was handled solely by Finneas. Studio personnel, John Greenham and Rob Kinelski, handled mastering and mixing respectively. In an interview with Zane Lowe on Beats 1, Eilish explained the inspiration for the track's title: "We called it that because the song was sort of really freaking depressing so then it’s like oh, how lovely, just taking everything horrible like you know...
Critical commentary described "Lovely" as a chamber pop-based stripped back ballad. According to sheet music published by Universal Music Publishing Group at Musicnotes.com, it is written in the key of E minor with a moderately fast tempo of 115 beats per minute; its chord progression follows a basic sequence of Cmaj7–Em–Bm. The track features minimalist production that consists of piano, violin strings provided by Madison Leinster, and percussion. Eilish explained about working with Khalid and how the track was created to Zane Lowe: "One thing that I’ll say is that when we wrote this song, what was cool about it was that it wasn’t like we’re going to the studio and going to write a hit. He just came over and we hung out. Me and my brother...
"Lovely" was met with widespread critical acclaim. Jon Blistein writing for Rolling Stone magazine called "Lovely" a "smoldering ballad". The Times' Raisa Bruner described the song as "somber" and "haunting", writing "[there] [is] little to celebrate in the dark, brooding lyrics, but still 'Lovely' finds beautiful sounds in that pained place". Mike Nied of Idolator commended the production, describing the strings as "heartrending" and the production "atmospheric". Robin Murray writing for Clash described the track as an "internet-shattering single", and a "bold, defiant gesture". The Evening Standard's David Smyth described Eilish's and Khalid's vocals in "Lovely" as a "grandiose duet".
Taylor Cohen and Matty Peacock directed the music video for "Lovely". It was uploaded to Eilish's official YouTube channel on April 26, 2018. The video opens with Eilish trapped inside a crystalline box. Khalid then appears out of thin air behind her, wearing matching black threads and silver chains as he sings with her. Eilish and Khalid start to wander wearily around the box. A single rain cloud then unleashes rain and thunder. The singers sometimes separate, but manage to find their way back to each other. The rain from the cloud begins to freeze in the box and ice covers the walls as Khalid and Eilish hold each other. But as the video moves towards its end, the ice melts to reveal the box is empty. Eilish created the video's concept...
"Wildflower" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and the fourth single from her third studio album, Hit Me Hard and Soft (2024). She wrote it with her brother and its producer, Finneas O'Connell.
A folk-pop track, "Wildflower" sees Eilish consoling her friend after a breakup only to later begin dating the friend's ex-boyfriend, and the guilt she felt as a result. It was serviced to contemporary hit radio in the United States by Darkroom and Interscope Records on March 4, 2025.
"Wildflower" has been described as a folk-pop song. Although Eilish never clarified who it is about, it was later reported that multiple lines allude to her relationship with Devon Lee Carlson, the ex-girlfriend of Jesse Rutherford whom Eilish dated from October 2022 to May 2023. The title is believed to be a reference to Wildflower Cases, a company founded by Carlson. In a deeper analysis, Alex Hopper of American Songwriter opined that "Wildflower" serves as a "pseudo apology" to Carlson, in which Eilish depicts the end of their relationship. It showcases the singer as a "candid and honest" songwriter who does not shy away from highlighting her "rough edges".
"My Future" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish, released as the lead single from her second studio album, Happier Than Ever (2021). It was released on her brother Finneas O'Connell's birthday, July 30, 2020, through Darkroom and Interscope Records, exactly a year before the album's release.
A downtempo jazz pop ballad with influences of ambient, bossa nova, funk, R&B, and soul, the song's lyrics address an ode to self-love and personal power. Eilish wrote the song alongside its producer, Finneas O'Connell.
On July 24, 2020, Eilish took to her Instagram page to post a picture of herself standing on a balcony with the skyline of Los Angeles in the background, wearing a black face mask and a grey jogging suit. The post featured the caption "'my future' out Thursday". On July 28, 2020, Eilish promoted the track by sharing the animated cover art, which depicts her sitting under a tree while looking at the Moon. On July 29, Eilish shared a 20-second audio clip of "My Future" on Instagram. "My Future" was inspired by Eilish being alone in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an interview with Apple Music's Zane Lowe, Eilish stated: "We wrote the song in like two days, This is the most we've ever worked in one period of time. But we record,...
Critical commentary described "My Future" as an uptempo or downtempo jazz pop ballad, with influences of ambient, bossa nova, funk-pop, jazz, R&B, and soul. The song features electric piano, guitars, and drums. Craig Jenkins of Vulture described its melody as reminiscent of soul blues songs and old Disney films' music. "My Future" has been compared to Eilish's cover of Bobby Hebb's "Sunny", as well as the works of Jorja Smith and Corinne Bailey Rae. It opens with a slow and melancholic melody, transitioning midway into an upbeat production with a percussive rhythm. Coco Romack of MTV News felt that the latter part of the song was summery.
Upon release, "My Future" was met with critical acclaim from music critics. William Hughes of The A.V. Club called it "sleepy" and "somnambulistic". Gary Dinges of USA Today commended the lyrical content, which he described has "raw lyrics" and "stellar vocals". Samantha Hissong and Brittany Spanos, writing for Rolling Stone, described "My Future" as Eilish's "most uplifting song to date". Romack praised the song as "dreamy". The staff of Teen Vogue commented that the song "shows continued growth in how Billie is looking at the world", while the staff of DIY called it "something of an understated feminist anthem". Jenkins depicted the track as "a reminder that even though the present looks scary, there are better times on the other side"....
An animated music video for "My Future" was directed by Australian director Andrew Onorato, and released on Eilish's official YouTube channel the same day as the single. It was produced by Australian animation company Chop Studio. The video was animated by Alex Dray, Andrew Onorato, Annie Zhao, Cliona Noonan, Nancy Li, and Sarah Schmidt. The visual has been described as "anime in nature".
"Party Favor" is a song by American singer Billie Eilish from her debut studio EP, Don't Smile at Me (2017). The song was released by Darkroom and Interscope Records on a 7-inch vinyl as a promotional single from the EP on Record Store Day, along with a cover of "Hotline Bling".
It was written by Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell, with the latter solely handling the song's production.
"Party Favor" was released on a pink 7-inch vinyl as a promotional single from Don't Smile at Me on April 21, 2018, coinciding with Record Store Day for that year, along with a cover of "Hotline Bling", written by Canadian rapper Drake, as the B-side, by Darkroom and Interscope Records. The song title was also stylized in all lowercase. The cover version was later released for digital download and streaming in June 2018 by the aforementioned labels. "Party Favor" was written by Eilish and Finneas O'Connell, her brother and the track's sole producer and mixer.
Thomas Smith from NME said the song was "a far cry from her now-relentless and brooding productions, but still irresistibly catchy." Insider's Claudia Willen called it "a creative and brutal portrayal of just how ruthless breakups can be," though stated that "the song doesn't beg to be listened to on loop as some of Eilish's other breakup songs do, like 'Watch' and 'Bitches Broken Hearts'. Spruch commented that "Party Favor" can "be easily overlooked when standing next to early hits 'Bellyache' and 'Ocean Eyes'," but that it "still has a whole lot of that Eilish persona." Commercially, the track has been certified gold in the United States and Canada by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Music Canada (MC),...
"Chihiro" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish. The third track on her third studio album, Hit Me Hard and Soft (2024), it was released to Italian contemporary hit radio stations on January 17, 2025, via EMI.
The song was written by Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell, who also produced the track for Darkroom and Interscope Records.
On April 12, 2024, in an interview with Apple Music's presenter Zane Lowe, Eilish teased a 15-second snippet of "Chihiro", which was released on her third studio album, Hit Me Hard and Soft (2024). The song's title is a reference to Chihiro Ogino, the main character of the 2001 Studio Ghibli animated film Spirited Away. In an interview with Angie Martoccio of Rolling Stone, Eilish said:
"Chihiro" is a mid-tempo dance-pop, funk, and R&B song that incorporates elements of progressive R&B and tech house. In the lyrics, Eilish sings of feelings of being lost and found that are reminiscent of the Spirited Away character Ogino Chihiro.
The music video for "Chihiro" was teased on June 5, 2024, when Eilish shared on social media a short video in which she runs down a hallway. It premiered on Eilish's Vevo channel on YouTube at 09:00 Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) on June 6. Eilish directed the music video and stars in it alongside Nat Wolff.
"Happier Than Ever" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish from her second studio album of the same name (2021). It was released as the album's sixth single on July 30, 2021, through Darkroom and Interscope Records.
An emo pop-punk song, it is about Eilish's anger towards a former partner due to a toxic relationship. It opens with soft vocals backed by classical and bass guitars before it transitions into a more distorted punk sound.
Billie Eilish won five awards at the 62nd annual ceremony of the Grammy Awards for her first full-length album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019) and its single "Bad Guy". An avant-pop album with a horror-like atmosphere and whispery vocals, it debuted atop record charts in various countries and brought Eilish to mainstream fame. Her soft singing style became recognized as her signature sound.
"Happier Than Ever" is a sentimental power ballad. Music journalists classified it as an emo pop-punk song. Others wrote that the song incorporates arena rock, alternative rock, grunge, and blue-eyed soul elements. Billboard writer Glenn Rowley described its musical style as "genre-shifting".
Eilish teased an upcoming release in April 2021, posting "things are comingggg" on her Instagram account. On April 26, she released a 15-second long snippet of "Happier Than Ever" on her Instagram account, featuring visuals of her sitting in a chair with her back to the camera. DIY described the clip as "stripped-back", speculating that it is "welcoming Billie's brand new era". The song was released alongside the album on July 30, 2021, as its sixth single. An edit comprising only its second part was released for digital download and streaming on September 4, 2021, and a different radio edit which adds the chorus at the beginning of the song and the build up into the second half solicited to contemporary hit radio in Italy six days later.
Many music reviewers lauded "Happier Than Ever" as the album's standout song. Critics who dubbed the song a highlight included Consequence's Mary Siroky, Pitchfork's Quinn Moreland, and Complex's Jessica McKinney. Jason Lipshutz, a staff editor for Billboard, thought that it "best captures the essence of the album" due to demonstrating Eilish's songwriting and vocal talents, which he believed was a defiance of traditional expectations from pop music. In an article for NME, El Hunt argued that Eilish's performance in the song offered powerful emotional impact and proved that her voice had improved throughout the years. Evaluating the album for Stereogum, Tom Breihan opined that "Happier Than Ever" provided it with the "only real moment of...
"Oxytocin" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish from her second studio album, Happier Than Ever, released on July 30, 2021, through Darkroom and Interscope Records. She wrote it with its producer―her brother, Finneas O'Connell, who also provided backing vocals.
An EDM, electronica, electropop, industrial pop and techno song, "Oxytocin" was the last track created for the album. While composing it, Eilish aimed to make it sound "insane" when performed live, envisioning sexual imagery for the lyrics.
"Oxytocin" was written by Billie Eilish and Finneas, while the latter handled production and provided backing vocals. It was the last track created for Happier Than Ever, being recorded on February 16, 2021, in Finneas's basement studio; it replaced "What I Wanna Hear?" on its final track listing. The singer spoke about the creative process behind the song and said that it is named after the hormone of the same name, which is released due to love or childbirth. In an interview with The Guardian, Eilish talked about inspiration for the track, saying that "[t]here was flashing in [her] head", adding that she had sex images in her mind during the recording. Additionally, she admitted that in the song's background, barking of her dog Shark can...
Musically, "Oxytocin" is a dance, EDM, electronica, electropop, industrial pop and techno song, with elements of dubstep. It is set in the key of E minor, with a tempo of 125 beats per minute. Eilish's vocals range from E3 to B4, while her vocal performance has been described as "breathy whispers", "subtle", "steamy and slightly strained". The song contains a "techno pulse", "bursts of atonal synth", "upbeat", "heavy" and "eerie" bass, "lo-fi beats", "club groove", "evocative vocal echoes", and "hypnotic rhythm". Before the outro kicks in, there is a second of silence; Courteney Larrocca of Insider described the production of this moment as "overdrive".
"Oxytocin" was met with widespread critical acclaim, with critics mostly praising its production, sentiment and vocal delivery. Ranking "Oxytocin" sixth out of the sixteen tracks on Happier Than Ever, Hannah Dailey of Billboard called the song "a rarity" from Eilish, as it is "overtly sexual", and noted that Eilish's "usually low-decibel voice" is raised to "a feral shout as she belts 'You should really run away.'" Dailey also noted that the production works "in tandem with Eilish's lyrics", as it "intensifies into a hungry, pounding beat". Gil Kaufman of the same publication described the beat of the song as "dramatic". Writing for NME, El Hunt linked "Oxytocin" to the "futuristic sound" of Eilish's debut studio album, When We All Fall...
"Your Power" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and the third single from her second studio album, Happier Than Ever (2021). It was released on April 29, 2021, through Darkroom and Interscope Records.
A folk and downtempo ballad backed by an acoustic guitar, the song is a plea for people to stop abusing their authority, and it mainly addresses men who exploit vulnerable women. Its lyrics narrate a damaging sexual relationship between a female high school student and an older man, exploring the topics of domestic abuse, sexual harassment, and statutory rape.
At the age of 18, Billie Eilish won five awards at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards held in 2020. These include Album of the Year for her debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019). It was a commercial success, debuting at number one on many national record charts and bringing her mainstream fame. Eilish disclosed she would begin work on her second studio album in 2020. Introducing it in an interview with Rolling Stone, she said that "almost none of the songs on this album are joyful". Its lyrical themes include the unhealthy effects of fame and the struggles that young women experience in the entertainment industry, such as misogyny, power imbalance, and emotional abuse. On April 27, 2021, Eilish announced the...
"Your Power" is a folk ballad; Jordan Darville of The Fader wrote that the song shifts towards indie folk, while Pitchfork's Cat Zhang described the song as downtempo. It has a minimalist production that emphasizes Eilish's vocal performance; she sings in a falsetto vocal register and uses a soft vocal style, and there is a reverberating effect on her voice. Acoustic guitars are the song's primary instruments, indicating a shift from the sound of Eilish's earlier works. The Guardian's Alexis Petridis contrasted the acoustic composition with what he described as the "electronic horror-movie soundtrack approach" of When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? Furthermore, he argued that "Your Power" drew musical influences from the works of...
Eilish directed the music video for "Your Power", which premiered the same day as the song's release. This marked the fourth time that she acted as director for her own music videos. Within one week of release, the video amassed over 50 million views on YouTube.
"Idontwannabeyouanymore" is a song by American singer Billie Eilish from her debut EP, Don't Smile at Me (2017). Eilish and her brother, Finneas O'Connell, co-wrote the song, with the latter solely handling the production.
It was released through Darkroom and Interscope Records on July 21, 2017, as the fifth single from the EP. Musically, the song is a neo soul, pop, and R&B track with a jazz-influenced melody, that was heavily inspired by Eilish being depressed.
"Idontwannabeyouanymore" was conceived when Eilish was suffering from depression. In an interview with Genius, Eilish stated "I have still dealt with depression. 'Idontwannabeyouanymore' is about times I’ve felt this way. The real truth is that depression can happen to anyone no matter who you are or what you have and there is no shame to admitting that you feel this way. It’s a very real thing and should never be ignored or labeled 'a choice'." She compared the song to her 2017 single "Copycat". On July 21, 2017, "Idontwannabeyouanymore" was released as the fifth single on Eilish's debut EP Don't Smile at Me (2017). "Idontwannabeyouanymore" was written by the singer and her brother Finneas O'Connell, the latter of which also produced it....
According to sheet music website Musicnotes.com, "Idontwannabeyouanymore" has a gentle lilt tempo of 57 beats per minute (BPM) and is played in the key of E minor. Eilish's vocals range from G3 to D5. Critical commentary described the song as a neo soul, pop, and R&B track with a jazz-influenced melody. Many critics noted influences from Amy Winehouse and Lana Del Rey in the song.
Writing for Clash magazine, Steph Kretowicz described "Idontwannabeyouanymore" as a "breathy catharsis". Nicole Almedia of Atwood Magazine described Eilish's vocals as a "great display of [her] vocal capacity" and praised her capability of "delivering powerful sentimentality in every word". In her review for Earmilk, Jess Bartlet stated the track has a "vocal vulnerability and innocence that wouldn't sound out of place in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill". Insider's Libby Torres remarked that "Idontwannabeyouanymore" when combined with her "airy vocals" and "gently flowing piano", it makes the track a "perfect song". The song placed at number 20 on NME's "Every single Billie Eilish song ranked in order of greatness" list, with the staff...
A remix by Elijah Hill was released on September 15, 2018, for Trap Nation through YouTube and SoundCloud. Dan Regan of Billboard praised the remix, saying Hill "catches it like a piece on confetti on the wind and brings it to the top of a mountain" and is another "future bass remix big enough to fill a stadium".