Billie Eilish on 'Birds of a Feather': A Song That Almost Didn't Make the Cut
In an exclusive interview with the Wall Street Journal, Billie Eilish revealed that one of her most beloved songs, "Birds of a Feather", nearly didn't make it to her album due to its perceived simplicity. The song's chorus, in particular, was deemed "kind of stupid" by Eilish and her brother Finneas, with whom she collaborates on many projects.
The track, which explores themes of love, mortality, and the importance of cherishing every moment, was initially met with skepticism from the music industry. Many critics and fans alike were hesitant to embrace Eilish's more introspective and somber songs, labeling them as "too sad".
However, Eilish and Finneas refused to be deterred by these doubts. They persevered in refining the track, which ultimately became a standout on their critically-acclaimed album "Hit Me Hard and Soft". The single went on to achieve immense commercial success, peaking at Number Two on the Billboard 200 chart and topping the Billboard Global 200 for three weeks.
The song's impact was further cemented when it received multiple Grammy nominations, including Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance. Eilish herself acknowledged that "Birds of a Feather" addressed a difficult subject matter head-on: mortality. By incorporating this theme into her music, she aimed to create something lasting, rather than simply focusing on fleeting emotions.
Interestingly, Eilish also reflected on the criticisms that often accompany artists who explore darker subjects in their work. She poked fun at the idea that some critics had dismissed her songs as "too sad", stating that she and Finneas intentionally wove a more complex narrative into "Birds of a Feather".
In an exclusive interview with the Wall Street Journal, Billie Eilish revealed that one of her most beloved songs, "Birds of a Feather", nearly didn't make it to her album due to its perceived simplicity. The song's chorus, in particular, was deemed "kind of stupid" by Eilish and her brother Finneas, with whom she collaborates on many projects.
The track, which explores themes of love, mortality, and the importance of cherishing every moment, was initially met with skepticism from the music industry. Many critics and fans alike were hesitant to embrace Eilish's more introspective and somber songs, labeling them as "too sad".
However, Eilish and Finneas refused to be deterred by these doubts. They persevered in refining the track, which ultimately became a standout on their critically-acclaimed album "Hit Me Hard and Soft". The single went on to achieve immense commercial success, peaking at Number Two on the Billboard 200 chart and topping the Billboard Global 200 for three weeks.
The song's impact was further cemented when it received multiple Grammy nominations, including Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance. Eilish herself acknowledged that "Birds of a Feather" addressed a difficult subject matter head-on: mortality. By incorporating this theme into her music, she aimed to create something lasting, rather than simply focusing on fleeting emotions.
Interestingly, Eilish also reflected on the criticisms that often accompany artists who explore darker subjects in their work. She poked fun at the idea that some critics had dismissed her songs as "too sad", stating that she and Finneas intentionally wove a more complex narrative into "Birds of a Feather".
and it totally made me think about how Billie Eilish is so brave for being herself, you know? like she's not afraid to talk about tough stuff like mortality in her music. and ugh don't even get me started on the whole "too sad" thing... i mean who decides what's too much or too little for someone else's song? 
anyway back to those sloths, have you guys ever seen a sloth cuddle with another sloth? it's literally the most adorable thing 
I totally get why they thought "Birds of a Feather" was too simple, but I think it's one of Billie Eilish's strongest tracks. She always had this way of tapping into the deeper emotions and making you feel them, ya know? And that chorus might seem simplistic at first, but to me, it's actually super powerful. It's like she's saying "don't take life for granted" - that one line really resonates. And yeah, I can see why some critics might think her songs are too sad, but I think that's also what makes them so relatable. She's not afraid to get real and honest in her music. 
. I think the critics who said her songs were "too sad" just didn't get it, you know? Eilish's got a gift for taking dark topics like mortality and making them relatable to everyone 
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. I mean, sure, "Birds of a Feather" is an amazing song, but it's not like they just phoned it in – there's depth and emotion behind every lyric 
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It's all about the message and the emotion behind it. And honestly, her willingness to tackle darker subjects in her music is so inspiring - not everyone can do that without getting lost in the darkness 
It's like, if her critics can't appreciate the depth of a song that tackles mortality and love head-on, then they're just missing out on some real emotional resonance. And let's be real, who needs to focus on fleeting emotions when you can explore the meaninglessness of life in all its somber glory? 
! I'm so proud of her for sticking to her artistic vision, even when the music industry was doubting her. it's awesome that she and Finneas worked together to refine "Birds of a Feather" until it became this beautiful, powerful song 
. billie and finneas are all about creating something meaningful, not just catchy tunes 
. keep doing you, billie! 
. And honestly, the song's message is pretty powerful - mortality can be super tough to talk about, but Billie and Finneas handled it with so much care and nuance 
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. I mean, can you believe "Birds of a Feather" almost didn't make the cut on her album? It's crazy to think that someone would say her song is "kind of stupid"... I feel so bad for her and Finneas, they must've been super bummed out 
. But you know what, it just goes to show that even when people doubt your work, sometimes it's the ones who believe in you the most 
. Like, Eilish didn't let those critics bring her down, she kept pushing forward and created something amazing 
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even when people thought her songs were too sad or simple. Her music is like a reflection of her soul 
It's all about embracing your emotions and being true to yourself, you know? 
its like billie eilish poured her heart out on it & people almost didnt wanna listen to it but she & finneas were all like nope we got this