After bursting onto the music scene in 2015 with the single “Ocean Eyes,” a song released when she was just 14, Billie Eilish quickly became one of pop’s hottest artists. Known for her dark aesthetic, Eilish mixes alternative, gothic, emo and indie pop to create a distinctive sound, accompanied by her often whispery voice.
The singer, now 20, has released two studio albums, starting with 2019 When we all fall asleep, where do we go?, 2021 follow-up Happier than ever. Both were well received by critics and fans; however, it was her debut that won three Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Vocal Album and Album of the Year.
When we all fall asleep, where do we go? features Eilish’s biggest hit, “Bad Guy,” which received both Record and Song of the Year at the Grammys. Other hits from the album include “You Should See Me in a Crown”, “When the Party’s Over”, “Bury a Friend” and “Ilomilo”, the last single to be released before the album was released on the 29th. March 2019.
“Ilomilo” was written in collaboration with his brother Finneas O’Connell, who produced the album. Drawing inspiration from industrial rock, electropop and ska, the song’s lyrics are heavily inspired by the video game of the same name. “Ilomilo” was released on Windows Phone 7 in 2010 and appeared on Xbox Live Arcade in 2011. Over 49 levels, the player must bring together the characters Ilo and Milo, who have been separated. To reunite the pair, the player must engage in risky behavior, hoping that their actions will be enough to return to the other.
In a live stream with Verizon, Eilish explained that the song is about “losing someone, or being scared of losing someone and it’s sort of unavoidable. It’s awful and terrifying,” she said, “Especially when you lose someone, it’s a horrible feeling, so it’s the feeling of being scared.” During an appearance on The hottest, Eilish also discussed the track, stating, “The idea is the game; it’s like losing the person you love and then finding them again.
In another interview, this time with radio energy, Eilish described “Ilomilo” as “one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written in my life.” In 2020, the musician also shared a playlist of songs that inspired the track, which included XXXTentacion, Kavinsky, Daniel Olsen, and Aaron Zigman. Since the track’s release, it has achieved platinum status in Australia and gold in the United States.
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