diversions

Billie Eilish Does It Again as I Continue to Live in Her Shadow

Billie's song captures teenage angst with haunting lyrics and minimalism.

R

22 Jul 2023 — 2 min read

The image shows two musicians performing together on a dimly lit stage. On the left, a man in dark clothing plays guitar. On the right, a woman with dark hair wears a light jacket and plays guitar while singing into a microphone. Their styles appear quite different.

Image: Raph_PH/Flickr

Despite Billie's chart-topping hit "What Was I Made For?" leaving me feeling both proud and a little creatively inadequate, I can't deny her ability to make teenage angst sound profound

By Finneas O'Connell, Musician

Billie, my effortlessly talented younger sister and the reigning queen of whisper-pop, has released another song.

It's yet another chart-topper in waiting.

"What Was I Made For?", written for that Barbie movie that's sure to dissect societal expectations or something along those lines, has all the classic Billie hallmarks: introspective lyrics that will linger in your head for days and the uncanny ability to make teenage disillusionment sound profound. Think of it as the ideal soundtrack for an epic Malibu Dreamhouse meltdown, filled with perfectly smudged eyeliner.

Those lyrics, man. Lines like "Takin' a drive, I was an ideal / Looked so alive, turns out I'm not real" cut deep. She has this way of articulating the universal angst of existence, a skill that's a little frustrating when you're the one who co-wrote them song.

Don't get me wrong, I'm proud of the track. But it's hard not to feel overshadowed sometimes by the kid who turned brooding into a phenomenon.

Naturally, the production is perfectly sparse and atmospheric – a Billie signature and testament to her unique sonic vision. Honestly, it's a pretty sweet setup when you can make minimalism this impactful. I mean, I've tried the whole "less is more" thing. It's a lot harder than it looks. Maybe I need to add a brooding cello line or something. Or maybe twelve.

Look, "What Was I Made For?" is a powerful, genuinely good track. It's another reminder that deep down, even inside the world of manufactured pop perfection, there's room for a little soul-searching. Billie's ability to tap into that raw emotional core is what connects her to millions of fans.

Hey, maybe her success will inspire me to actually finish a song without adding 17 layers of synths and obscure samples. Or maybe it'll just inspire a vague sense of inadequacy and a late-night ice cream binge.

Guess we'll see. Until then, congrats Billie, you've done it again. ■