It only feels like Billie Eilish first burst onto the mainstream music scene yesterday. At just 14 years of age, she uploaded a song onto Soundcloud – ”Ocean Eyes” – for her music teacher.
It was an overnight hit that catapulted her and her brother, producer Finneas O’Connell, into unprecedented stardom. Fast forward to today, and Billie Eilish has released two full-length albums and performed sellout tours across the globe.
Billie Eilish’s music is eclectic, but she comes to life in her slower songs. Here are 10 of her best slow song offerings thus far.
Recommended: 10 Saddest Billie Eilish Songs That Will Make You Cry
1. Ocean Eyes
Album: Don’t Smile At Me EP
Released: 2017
It would be a sin to exclude the song that made Billie Eilish and her producer brother famous. Not only was it an accidental rise to stardom, but it perfectly showcased Billie Eilish’s talent and became a strong foundation for her to develop her style.
The angelic harmonizing vocals at the start of this track always take me aback. To think she wrote and performed this song at just 14 years of age is astounding and a credit to her natural talent.
2. Bored
Album: 13 Reasons Why Soundtrack
Released: 2017
As Billie Eilish grew up, she developed significantly as a musician. Her songs became more atmospheric, more complex thematically, and on the whole more enjoyable (in my opinion). “Bored” explores a relationship that’s become draining, but the song itself is anything but.
Humming electronica paired with Billie Eilish’s harmonies is a match made in heaven, and the deep, infrequent bass blasts are an exciting touch.
3. When The Party’s Over
Album: When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Released: 2019
This list will dive into a hefty number of songs from When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, but to me, the record’s slow highlight is “When The Party’s Over”. It’s a touching song about a relationship that’s lost its way and becoming toxic, with Billie Eilish deciding enough is enough of the toxicity.
I think this song is beautiful instrumentally, but also rather empowering for suggesting that people need to take their own emotions and needs into their own hands.
4. I Love You
Album: When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Released: 2019
Billie Eilish has pinned “I Love You” as one of the best songs she’s ever written thus far, and it’s hard to disagree with her. The delicate acoustic plucks and chords paint a melancholic picture as she sings of a crumbling relationship. It’s powerful and hard-hitting, but Billie Eilish’s vocals are a warm comfort in an otherwise hurtful situation.
The lack of other instruments in this track emphasizes Eilish’s vulnerability which makes “I Love You” all the more dynamic.
5. Bitches Broken Hearts
Album: When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Released: 2019
The delicate instrumentals of previous entries in this list continue in “Bitches Broken Hearts”, which is Eilish’s way of saying she’ll never get back with an ex. This could be due to falling out, toxicity, or simply falling out of love.
While some fans comment that they ‘miss’ this era of Billie Eilish, I feel that it was a necessary stepping stone for her sound’s evolution. Artists don’t stay in one area of music forever; they dip in and out of influences and ultimately, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? Has influenced Eilish and allowed her to grow in her way.
6. Listen Before I Go
Album: When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Released: 2019
Billie Eilish has several songs that are dark instrumentally but aren’t incredibly hard-hitting. “Listen Before I Go”, however, turns that on its head entirely. This soulful, sorrowful piano-led track is sung from the perspective of someone who is about to commit suicide.
The song’s protagonist is addressing their lover before their final moments in a song that wholly caught me by surprise when I first listened to it. Billie Eilish’s vocal performance is hypnotic, but the theme surrounding it pulls on the heartstrings.
7. Goodbye
Album: When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Released: 2019
I’ll be moving on to a different album in the next list entry. It can’t be ignored, however, that “Goodbye” is another slow, meaningful track from Billie Eilish that stands strong amongst her greatest offerings thus far.
“Goodbye” is suggested to be the final piece of a trilogy of songs on When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?. The first and second are supposedly “Listen Before I Go” and “I Love You”, resulting in “Goodbye” completing a full sentence: ‘Listen before I go, I love you, goodbye”.
8. idontwannabeyouanymore
Album: Don’t Smile At Me EP
Released: 2017
Moving away from relationships and their dramas, Billie Eilish becomes incredibly vulnerable in the heartfelt “idontwannabeyouanymore”. As the title suggests, the song is about her lack of self-confidence, and how she wants to move away from those negative feelings.
I think the slight upbeat punch to this track’s instrumentals acts as a glimmer of hope toward Billie Eilish accepting herself and moving on from her insecurities.
9. You Don’t Get Me High Anymore (Phantagram cover)
Album: N/A
Released: 2019
This one might not be an official Billie Eilish release, but her acoustic cover of the Phantagram hit is one of my favorite songs from her.
I think acoustic takes on electronic songs can be a risk, but in this one, Eilish pulled it off and then some. The song surprisingly matches her soulful voice and as a result, is transformed into having an entirely new feel to it.
10. Everything I Wanted
Album: When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Released: 2019
Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas O’Connell share a very special and long-lasting bond, which Eilish comments on regularly. “Everything I Wanted” is her tribute to her best friend, producer, and brother, which was inspired by a dream she had.
In her dream, she committed suicide and her brother helped her in real life to traverse this difficult dream. The song is full of love, but the dream that inspired it adds a melancholic air to “Everything I Wanted”.
Justin is an audio engineer with years of experience in the field. He has been creating and playing music his entire life, but he really found his passion for engineering when he was introduced to Logic Pro at age 10. Justin has spent countless hours perfecting his craft and now works as a freelance engineer out of Boston, MA.