Watch (Billie Eilish song)

"Watch" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American singer Billie Eilish from her debut EP Don't Smile at Me (2017). Written and produced by Eilish's brother Finneas O'Connell, it was released through Darkroom and Interscope Records on June 30, 2017, as the EP's third single.[2]

"Watch"
Single by Billie Eilish
from the EP Don't Smile at Me
ReleasedJune 30, 2017 (2017-06-30)
Format
GenrePop[1]
Length2:56
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Finneas O'Connell
Billie Eilish singles chronology
"Bored"
(2017)		 "Watch"
(2017)		 "Copycat"
(2017)
Music video
"Watch" on YouTube

Background

The song is about Eilish leaving a toxic relationship behind. In an interview with Vice, Eilish explains that the song is about someone "In a relationship, you're not just in a relationship with that person — you're in a relationship with that person being in a relationship with you, and if you're self-aware enough — like, this person is treating me really badly, and I feel like nothing, and I feel like waste and not worth anything, then it's time to leave that relationship! So that's kind of what the song is about."[3]

Music video

An official music video was released on September 18, 2017 directed by actress Megan Park.[4] In the video, Eilish flips the script, saying how a bad relationship can make someone feel worse about themselves, and how to leave that part of yourself behind.[3]

Eilish stated in an interview with Vice:

"Our director, Megan [Park], had some ideas, and she came up with the wax [bed]room idea... I'm sitting [in a bedroom], but it looks like the room is melting. The idea is that, at the end of the video, you see that room is right across from the ladder where I'm burning. And I get up and I walk over to the other "ladder" me—[who represents] the old me, who's hurt and heartbroken by this boy, and can't do anything without thinking about this person, and is so distracted. And the new me is kind of over it. You know? Like, "I don't want this me anymore. Go away." So I go up to the old me like, "Screw you, I'm going to light you on fire now."[3]

Commercial performance

The song was certified gold in Mexico. It was certified platinum in Canada, Australia, and the United States.

Critical reception

In 2020, Insider placed the song at number 22 on their Every Billie Eilish song, ranked list, with Claudia Willen saying that the song "provided a mere glimpse of the greatness to come in Eilish's career."[5]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Don't Smile at Me.[6]

  • Billie Eilish – vocals
  • Finneas O'Connell – producer, songwriter
  • John Greenham – mastering engineer, studio personnel
  • Rob Kinelski – mixer, studio personnel

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[7] Platinum 70,000
Canada (Music Canada)[8] Platinum 80,000
Mexico (AMPROFON)[9] Gold 30,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[10] Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA)[11] Platinum 1,000,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various June 30, 2017
[12]

&Burn
"&Burn"
Single by Billie Eilish and Vince Staples
from the EP Don't Smile at Me
ReleasedDecember 15, 2017 (2017-12-15)
Format
  • Digital download
  • streaming
GenreTrap
Length2:59
Label
  • Darkroom
  • Interscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Finneas O'Connell
Billie Eilish singles chronology
"My Boy"
(2017)		 "&Burn"
(2017)		 "Bitches Broken Hearts"
(2018)
Vince Staples singles chronology
"Rain Come Down"
(2017)		 "&Burn"
(2017)		 "Get the Fuck Off My Dick"
(2018)

"&Burn" is an alternate version of "Watch" with American rapper Vince Staples. It was released as a single on December 15, 2017, via Darkroom and Interscope Records,[13] and was later included in a December reissue of Don't Smile at Me.[14]

Background

In a statement made by Eilish with The Fader through email, she wrote, "Vince Staples was my NUMBER 1 choice, so when we got him to hear it and he agreed to do, it was incredible and the verse he did is so mf good. He is a god and I’m excited for it to finally come out!"[15]

Composition

According to HighClouds music blog author Shahin Rafikian, "The beginning of the song consists of isolated vocals with super-minimalistic instrumentals, progressing into an alternative-trap track."[1]

Commercial performance

"&Burn" certified gold in the United States and Canada. It was also certified platinum in Australia.

Critical reception

Insider placed the song at number 7 on their Every Billie Eilish song, ranked list, saying that "Watch" feels more vulnerable and nostalgic, while "&Burn" sounds powerful and resolute."[5]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Don't Smile at Me.[6]

  • Billie Eilish – vocals
  • Vince Staples – vocals, songwriter
  • Finneas O'Connell – producer, songwriter
  • John Greenham – mastering engineer, studio personnel
  • Rob Kinelski – mixer, studio personnel

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[16] Platinum 70,000
Canada (Music Canada)[8] Gold 40,000
United States (RIAA)[17] Gold 500,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various December 15, 2017
  • Digital download
  • streaming
  • Darkroom
  • Interscope
[18]

References
  1. Rafikian, Shahin (December 15, 2017). "Billie Eilish drops "&burn," an alt version of "Watch," feat. Vince Staples". HighClouds. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  2. Rucker, Matt (June 30, 2017). "Billie Eilish Returns With a Fiery Break-Up Anthem, "watch"". Ones to Watch. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  3. Stone, Avery (September 18, 2017). "Watch Billie Eilish Set Fire to a Bad Relationship in New Video for "watch"". Vice. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  4. "Megan Park Helms Fiery Billie Eilish Music Video". PRETTYBIRD. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  5. Ahlgrim, Callie; Torres, Libby; Willen, Claudia (March 18, 2020). "Every Billie Eilish song, ranked". Insider. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  6. Don't Smile at Me (booklet). Billie Eilish. Darkroom/Interscope Records. 2019. B0030752-02.CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2019 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  8. "Canadian single certifications – Billie Eilish – Watch". Music Canada.
  9. "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved January 14, 2020. Type Billie Eilish in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Watch in the box under TÍTULO
  10. "British single certifications – Billie Eilish – Watch". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 8, 2020. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Watch in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  11. "American single certifications – Billie Eilish – Watch". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 22, 2019. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  12. "watch by Billie Eilish on Spotify". Spotify. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  13. "&burn - Single by Billie Eilish & Vince Staples on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  14. "dont smile at me". Billie Eilish. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  15. Renshaw, David (December 14, 2017). "Billie Eilish shares "&Burn," a gloomy collaboration with Vince Staples". The Fader. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  16. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2019 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  17. "American single certifications – Billie Eilish – &Burn". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 4, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  18. "&burn (with Vince Staples) by Billie Eilish on Spotify". Spotify. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
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