Billie Eilish Almost Tossed 'Birds of a Feather' and Worried Song Was 'Kind of Stupid'

Billie Eilish's Hit Single Almost Got the Boot - Here's Why She Almost Tossed 'Birds of a Feather'

In an unexpected twist on her chart-topping success story, Billie Eilish revealed in a recent interview that she nearly cut "Birds of a Feather" from her critically acclaimed album, "Hit Me Hard and Soft". The song, which is now one of the singer's most recognizable hits, almost didn't make it out of the gates due to what Eilish described as a fear that it was "kind of stupid".

When asked about the song's creation in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Eilish recalled the difficulties she and her brother Finneas faced while working on the track. The chorus, particularly the line "I'll love you till the day that I die", proved challenging to nail down. Despite their efforts, Eilish admitted to having doubts about the song's potential, repeatedly questioning whether it should be cut from the album.

The singer confessed to her reservations even after playing the entire album for her label, stating that she believed the song was "kind of stupid" in a moment of introspection. Thankfully, Finneas and Eilish persevered with their vision, and the track went on to become one of the summer's most enduring hits.

Despite initial concerns about its commercial viability, "Birds of a Feather" has proven to be a massive success, reaching number two on the Billboard 200 chart and topping the Billboard Global 200 for three weeks. The song also earned Grammy nominations in multiple categories, including Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance.

Eilish acknowledged that she had faced skepticism from some quarters about her more introspective and emotionally charged songs. However, with "Birds of a Feather", she successfully proved that even the darkest subjects can be explored and conveyed through music without alienating listeners. The song's enduring popularity is a testament to Eilish's bold artistic vision and her ability to connect with audiences on a deep level.

In another revealing moment from the interview, Eilish revealed that when writing "Birds of a Feather", she sought to balance the lighter moments in her life with the inevitability of mortality. She joked about slipping in "something dark" into the song to avoid being perceived as solely upbeat and cheerful, instead opting for a more nuanced exploration of love and loss. The end result is a hauntingly beautiful track that showcases Eilish's unique ability to convey vulnerability and emotion through her music.

omg can u believe billie eilish almost didnt include "birds of a feather" in her album?? i was so worried when i heard she thought it was kinda stupid lol what was she thinking?! anyway, i'm so glad finneas talked her down and they went with it because now its one of the best songs on hit me hard and soft. billie's songwriting is always so deep and emotional, it makes me feel all the feels like when she talks about balancing light and dark in "birds" it's so relatable to anyone who's ever struggled with anxiety or depression anyway, i'm just gonna keep on loving billie eilish no matter what and her music

I'm glad Billie Eilish's album didn't cut "Birds of a Feather" but I can see why she was hesitant about it back then. The song does sound pretty emotional, like it could be a bit too much for some listeners . But you know what? I think that's part of its appeal - it's raw and honest . Eilish's willingness to explore the darker side of love and loss is really admirable . And yeah, it's cool that she was able to balance out the song with a lighter tone... it makes the whole thing feel more nuanced, you know? Like, it's not just some cheesy love song . Overall, I'm glad we got to hear it - it's definitely one of her strongest tracks

I'm so glad Billie Eilish shared this behind-the-scenes story about "Birds of a Feather" I mean, can you even imagine if she cut it from the album? The song is iconic now, but can you imagine what the rest of the album would've been like without it? It's crazy to think that she was so uncertain about it - I love how Finneas and Billie pushed through their doubts and made something special. And that line "I'll love you till the day that I die" is just... *shiver*

man i cant believe billie eilish almost didnt release "birds of a feather" it makes me think about how easily we can get caught up in our own doubts and fears. like what if finneas hadnt convinced her to keep the song on? it would be crazy to think that one of her most iconic songs almost got lost in the process i love how she talks about balancing light and dark themes in her music, it's so relatable when you're trying to navigate your own emotions and not want to be seen as "upbeat" or "cheerful". anyway its crazy to see how much of a difference one song can make in an album

i'm low-key impressed that billie eilish almost scrapped "birds of a feather" lol what if she did? the song would've been way more introverted & less catchy maybe it'd've resonated with a different audience, but i kinda love how she pushed through her doubts & created something so iconic

omg i think its crazy how billie eilish almost cut "birds of a feather" from her album like who wouldn't want that song on repeat? the line "i'll love you till the day that i die" is literally giving me chills every time i listen to it anyway glad finneas and billie persevered with their vision because its such an iconic track

[Image of Billie Eilish with a sheep in the background, both looking anxious]()

[ GIF of "Birds of a Feather" playing on repeat with a red "X" marked through it ] (just kidding, it's a hit!)

[Image of a chart with "Birds of a Feather" at number 2 and Billie Eilish looking relieved ]

[GIF of Billie Eilish taking down her own doubts with a giant "NOPE" stamp ]

omg i'm loving billie eilish right now she's always been so bold and unafraid to explore dark themes in her music, but this song takes it to a whole new level "birds of a feather" is like such a masterpiece - the way the chorus is super catchy but also kinda haunting is just perfect i love how billie was hesitant to include it at first, but finneas convinced her to stick with it and now it's one of her biggest hits what i think is so admirable about billie's music is that she never shies away from getting real and vulnerable on stage

OMG I'm still surprised Billie almost didn't put "Birds of a Feather" on her album LOL what if she cut it? This song is SO iconic now , and I love how it shows that even when we're writing from the heart (literally), we can be unsure about our own work . It's actually kinda refreshing to see an artist admit they were worried their song might not connect with listeners . The fact that Finneas was all in on this track, even when Billie was having doubts, is like a testament to their collab skills . And can we talk about the lyrics? So deep and emotional, it's no wonder fans relate to it so much

I'm surprised Billie Eilish almost dropped "Birds of a Feather" - I mean, it's one of her biggest hits now! I can understand why she had doubts about it though, the song does have some intense emotions but in a good way . It's actually kinda inspiring that she was brave enough to share those fears with her label and Finneas and just went for it . The song is definitely not your typical upbeat pop track, it has depth to it and Billie Eilish's ability to connect with people on an emotional level is what makes it so special . I think it's awesome that she was able to balance the lighter moments in her life with the darker themes, it really adds to the song's complexity .

I gotta say, I'm surprised "Birds of a Feather" even made it onto the album. To me, that line about loving someone till the day you die sounds like a bit too much drama for mainstream pop. Don't get me wrong, Billie Eilish is talented and all, but sometimes I think these artists push the envelope just to be provocative . And yeah, maybe it's stupid (no pun intended) that she was worried about cutting it from the album. I mean, what if the label didn't like it? At least now we get to enjoy it on repeat

I'm like totally impressed by Billie Eilish's strength in sticking to her vision with "Birds of a Feather". I mean, who needs to play it safe when you're creating something real? She wasn't afraid to explore the darker side of love and loss, even if it was hard to listen to at times. It's like she's showing us that music can be both beautiful and uncomfortable all at once . I think that's what makes her so powerful as an artist – she's not afraid to get real and vulnerable. And honestly, I think it's awesome that she faced skepticism from some people, because it just proves that she's pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo .

OMG u guys i cant even believe billie eilish almost dropped "birds of a feather" from her album lol she was literally like "is this stupid" about it idk how she wouldve handled if finneas didnt convinced her 2 keep it the song is literally a masterpiece now i think its so relatable to be honest i've been there where u write something and r like "no way is this gonna work" but then u play it for ppl and they love it & btw billie's vulnerability in interviews always gives me LIFE