Come Out and Play (Billie Eilish song)

Eilish and her brother were approached by Apple, who sent them an early version a festive commercial entitled "Holiday — Share Your Gifts". The siblings then wrote the song based around the theme of the advert. It was recorded in their parent's home using a Mac and Logic Pro X recording studio software.[1][2] The track premiered on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 radio show.[3] "Come Out and Play" was released for digital download and streaming through record labels Interscope Records and Darkroom on November 20, 2018 as a standalone single.[4] The song was later included on the Japanese edition of Eilish's debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?.[5] "When I Was Older" was written by the singer and her brother Finneas O'Connell, and he also produced it. Mastering and mixing was handled by studio personnel, John Greenham and Rob Kinelski, respectively.[6]

According to sheet music website Musicnotes.com, "Come Out and Play" runs at a moderately slow tempo of 72 beats per minute (BPM), and is played in the key of C major. Eilish's vocals span a range between the notes of G₃ and A_$.[7] Critical commentary described the song as a lullaby-influenced mid-tempo pop ballad.[8][9][10][11] Randall Colburn of Consequence of Sound said the song has "a few gentle guitar notes" and further includes a "gauzy ambiance, and textured percussion" in it's instrumentation.[9] Clara Scott of The Michigan Daily has compared the song to Joni Mitchell's "River" (1971) and Luther Vandross’ “Every Year, Every Christmas” (1995).[11]

In an interview with Beats 1, Eilish states: "It was very different because we had never written a song about empowering yourself. Your talent and what you love is a gift to you. Whether or not you're good at it, it doesn't matter. If it's something you enjoy, share it. It's very Christmassy and cute."[12] Lyrically, the song features Eilish trying to beg a friend to no longer hide away, tying in with the theme of the Apple commercial in which the song is used, entitled "Share Your Gifts". Eilish encourages someone to break out of their comfort zone and overcome their fears: "You don't have to keep it quiet / And I know it makes you nervous / But I promise you, it's worth it / To show 'em everything you kept inside / Don't hide, don't hide."[12][13][14] Shea Lenniger of Billboard mentions that Eilish's vocals sound "so soft that it sounds like a lullaby".[8]

Apple released an animated music video for the track. In it, people are scared to come out show their talents to the world as Eilish sings lyrics such as, "You'll never know until you try it/ You don't have to keep it quiet."[8] "Come Out and Play" was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. Idolator's Mike Nied called the song a "serious win" and he wouldn't be surprised if "the track dominate[d] streaming services".[10] Katherine Gillespie of Paper stated that the song is "designed for listening to while staring out the window at falling snow and twinkling lights".[2] Scott commended the lyrical content, which, according to him, feel "like holding a hot cup of tea in front of the fire — it is comforting most of the time, but occasionally rises with a sharp pang of emotion".[11] "Come Out and Play" was praised by Insider's Claudia Willen, who called the track "heartwarming" and felt its lyrics "[do] [their] best to encourage someone to break out their comfort zone and overcome their fears".[12] "Come Out and Play" debuted at number 69 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[15] It also peaked at number 47 on the UK Singles Chart.[16] The song also charted in Australia,[17] Austria,[18] Canada,[19] Ireland,[20] Latvia,[21] Sweden,[22] and the Netherlands.[23] The song has notably been awarded a platinum certification by Music Canada (MC).[24]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[6]

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

• "Come Out and Play" at Discogs (list of releases)