Billie Eilish is a 16-year-old American singer and songwriter. She has taken the internet by storm and rebranded pop with her alternative and unique approach to music. She co-writes with her brother Finneas, who also produces most of her music. What makes Eilish so rare as an artist is her honesty and refusal to stick to the status quo that pop music pushes her to be. Her vocals are eerie, but sultry, and mesh extremely well with her instrumental and electronic beats.
Ocean Eyes
No fair
Your really know how to make me cry
When you give me those ocean eyes
This was the first song globally heard by Billie Eilish. In this song, Eilish's infatuation with her lover (specifically their eyes) after their relationship has ended and the effects that they have on her. The line in the chorus "no fair" has a double meaning that communicates that is is not fair that her lover has this much control over her life even though he is not a part of it, and that their relationship was not a "fair", as in carnival. The lyrics are intensely imaginary that compare her lover's eyes to napalm skies and burning cities. She is scared to fall for him, but knows that she inevitably will when he gives her those "ocean eyes".
Lovely ft. Khalid
Isn't it lovely, all alone
Heart made of glass, my mind of stone
Tear me to pieces, skin to bone
Hello, welcome home.
This song addresses the personal depression of both voices in the song. Billie sings the chorus saying "Isn't it lovely", which is contrary to the actual feeling that she is trying to express. She goes further to sing "Heart made of glass, my mind of stone". This line is meant to metaphorically express the fragility of a person with depression and how their mind can often be unyielding to their thoughts. The combination of violin and piano gives off a melancholy vibe, giving the listener a feeling as if they are floating through the song like a person with this mental illness. Billie and Khalid sing in a soft tone as if they are numb from depression. This song tells a story that is different from the stereotypical depiction of depression where the person suffering is only sad; it shows the thoughts going through their head and the numbness behind them.
idontwannabeyouanymore
Tell the mirror what you know she's heard before
I don't wanna be you anymore
The meaning of this song is directly in the title. Billie expresses the feeling of not want to be herself and the pain that comes with it. It dwells on the ultimate feeling of understanding that your emotions and reactions are particular to you as a person and the way that you choose to deal with those emotions are is not always your choice. Her vocals are soft throughout the song but as she sings "I don't wanna be you anymore", her voice strains as though she is crying for help for a problem that she knows can't be fixed. The terrible feeling of not being able to escape the skin that you are in when you feel as though you are in a bad place in your life is terrifying to her.
