Top 5- Billie Eilish

Surprise! I’m not dead! (yet)

Yay!

Sorry this is late, but I was busy and being lazy. Anyway, I’m back now, and that’s all that matters.

To be completely honest, I have no idea what to expect. Billie Eilish has been suggested to me (multiple times) before, and I haven’t gotten around to actually listening to it.

Well, that’s what this blog is for.

This does seem kinda dark, so I’m probably gonna have to listen to American Authors’ relentless optimism to even this out. But we’ll see.

Today’s list is as follows: bad guy, bury a friend, you should see me in a crown, when the party’s over, and lovely.

capital letters? are they a thing?

Sorry, I’m one of those people.

Well, here we go!

bad guy

Hey, look, bass!

When the lyrics start, I do like the effect where she’s singing really sharply, and slowly more voices come in.

It’s really just the bass and clicking in the background, so more attention is drawn to the lyrics, and you’re more unsettled.

Speaking of unsettling, this song is ridiculously so. The chorus is really just ‘I’m a bad guy… duh.’

On ‘bad guy’, there’s editing on the voice that makes it sound like a growl, making it even more unsettling.

To the meaning!

So, according to Genius, this is someone ‘flaunting her tough nature while questioning his own’. Which kinda makes sense, given the condescending way she sings the first half of the pre-chorus, from ‘so you’re a tough guy’ onwards.

I see it as more of a stereotype, like the ‘bad guy’ is the kind of girl who makes someone’s girlfriend nervous. It’s kind of implying that the guy is cheating, and the narrator (look at this new word I learned) is saying that she’s the bad guy. Also, the guy (who’s probably cheating) thinks that he’s a ‘tough guy’, but she’s saying ‘uh, no, dude.’

Also, false ending. Fun.

Onto the next!

Ha! that was a false ending!

But seriously. this section is over.

or is it…

yeah, it is.

Bury a friend

Hey! I learned to spell friend!

Well, there’s a creepy voice throughout the song.

By the way, I may not be writing that much about this song, because there’s only so much of this I can take. This song is freaking me out.

Okay. It’s on pause. I cannot handle that.

Apparently, this song is written from the perspective of the monster under her bed, which is creepy in itself. However, it’s shown that she is the monster, which is creepier. Also, the album is inspired by sleep paralysis and also in an interview she talked about having freaky dreams that sometimes actually happened.

I’m officially scared.

*crosses fingers* please let the next song be not creepy please please please

HA. I wish.

You should see me in a crown

So, apparently, the title is a Sherlock reference. I don’t know, I didn’t get past the Hound of the Baskervilles episode of that show.

Well, this is mildly less disturbing, so that’s a plus.

I think this song is about confidence, and wanting to rule the world. The knife sharpening sound is terrifying, and it also makes you think of someone getting up, sharpening their knives, getting ready. It’s the feeling of determination that’s conveyed pretty well in this song. They’re going to take over.

sorry this is short. i can’t think.

But this is my favorite song so far on this list, so that’s something.

When the Party’s over

I think I have heard this song before, so hey.

Instead of the straight-into-it thing the other three songs have had, this one has more of a slow build. It’s more relaxing (ish).

As for the meaning, it’s someone whose relationship is falling apart, despite their efforts. (‘Tore my shirt to stop you bleedin’/But nothing ever stops you leavin”). They’re saying that they could pretend it’s okay when it’s not. (I could lie, say I like it like that, like it like that).

It’s almost quietly angry, angry at the other person for, well, being a jerk. (‘I’ve learned to lose you’). In particular, ‘I’ll call you when the party’s over’, which almost sounds like they’re trying to end a conversation, because they either can’t hear the other person, or want them to leave them alone. They’re done putting up with the other person, and just want to be left alone.

(yes, that was with the help of Genius) (im useless) (sorry)

Lovely

Once again, this is a lot more low-key.

This song’s pretty depressing? Like, the whole ‘isn’t it lovely, all alone.’ thing.

In the first verse, the person (or people, given that Khalid is here too), think they’ve found a way out of something, let’s call it the darkness, but it never goes away.

Then you have the pre-chorus, which shows them wanting to escape, hoping they’ll make it out.

In the chorus, you have her saying she has a ‘heart made of glass’ and a ‘mind of stone’. Their emotions are fragile, but their minds are stone, as in their minds are the defense against the world.

The second verse has them saying that the darkness is always there (something’s on my mind/always in my head space), and that they’re ‘looking for a better place’, echoing the sentiment of looking for a way out.

The second pre-chorus is almost the same as the first, but with one difference: instead of ‘Oh, I hope some day I’ll make it out of here’, it says ‘but I know’. It gives more of an optimistic view on the situation.

And the chorus repeats.

Overall, this song is about escaping the darkness. At some point in the song, it goes from hoping to knowing they’ll make it. It’s representing the journey out.

conclusion

Well, this post was a wild ride.

I have mixed feelings, honestly. I really love lovely, but bury a friend and bad guy aren’t really my thing. Billie Eilish is an incredible singer, though, and her songs are well-written and well-thought-out.

Honourable Mention: lovely

I don’t know what to say. I just really like this song.

Anyway, that’s another post done! The waiting list has gotten really long, so that’s a thing.

Next week, we have Alan Walker, who I know even less about, so hey. This’ll be interesting. A journey of discovery!

Also, since I forgot to say this at the beginning, the Spotify playlist does exist and I did remember to update it, so go check that out. Go me!

And a final note: recently I actually found the Killers’ Wembley Song on YouTube, after hearing about it a bunch on Instagram. (if you’re from Insta, hi!) So, anyway, it’s incredible, and you should go watch it, and it’s here so there’s literally no excuse for you not to watch it. And if, like me, you’re already a loyal Victim who’s seen the video about a million times, well, one more watch can’t hurt, right?

My obsession aside, sorry this was kinda short, but it was hard. Anyway, this post is over.

Finally, in the wise words of Brandon Flowers, Dave Keuning, Mark Stoermer, and Ronnie Vanucci:

We hope you enjoyed your stay. It’s good to have you with us, even if it’s just for the day.

Fish brain out.