Lovely (Billie Eilish and Khalid song)

"Lovely" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song recorded by American singers Billie Eilish and Khalid. It was released by Darkroom and Interscope Records as the first single from Netflix drama series 13 Reasons Why. It was written by the lead artists and Eilish's brother Finneas O'Connell, who also produced the track.[1] The song has been described as chamber pop song. During the song's lyrics, Eilish and Khalid try to overcome serious depression together.

"Lovely"
Single by Billie Eilish and Khalid
from the album 13 Reasons Why: Season 2 (Music from the Original TV Series)
ReleasedApril 19, 2018 (2018-04-19)
Format
GenreChamber pop
Length3:20
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Finneas O'Connell
Billie Eilish singles chronology
"Bitches Broken Hearts"
(2018)		 "Lovely"
(2018)		 "Party Favor"
(2018)
Khalid singles chronology
"Love Lies"
(2018)		 "Lovely"
(2018)		 "OTW"
(2018)
Music video
"Lovely" on YouTube

Upon its release, "Lovely" received positive reviews from music critics. The track was accompanied by a music video released on April 26, 2018. The video depicts Eilish and Khalid walking around a glass case, interacting with each other. "Lovely" reached number 64 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song further peaked within the top ten in several countries. It was certified quadruple platinum in Canada and Australia. Eilish included the track on the setlists of her 2019 When We All Fall Asleep Tour and 2020 Where Do We Go? World Tour.

Background and composition

"Lovely" was written by Eilish, her brother Finneas O'Connell and Khalid. Finneas solely produced the track. Mastering and mixing was handled by the studio personnel John Greenham and Rob Kinelski, respectively.[2] It was released on the album 13 Reasons Why: Season 2 (Music from the Original TV Series) as its first single.[3] The song has been described as a chamber pop song.[4] The song is written in the key of E minor with a moderately fast tempo of 114 of 110 beats per minute and its chord progression follows a basic sequence of Cmaj7–Em–Bm.[5] The track features strings, a downcast piano and percussion.[6][7][8][9] The song's lyrics start with the duo attempting to overcome a serious depression: "Thought I found a way/But you never go away."[6] Author Jon Blistein of Rolling Stone further mentioned that Eilish and Khalid sing with "a sense of urgency and yearning": "Oh, I hope some day I'll make it out of here/ Even if it takes all night or a hundred years."[7] The singers get hopeless as they move into the chorus. "Isn't it lovely, all alone?/Heart made of glass, my mind of stone/Tear me to pieces, skin and bone/Hello, welcome home."[6][7]

Reception

NME's Hannah Mylrea called the song one of the best from the official soundtrack for the second season of 13 Reasons Why, saying "With its lush strings and interweaving vocals, this sizzling duet is properly gorgeous. The masterfully written [ballad] is completed with heart-wrenching crescendos and trickling piano lines, and is totally, ahem, lovely."[10] Mike Nied of Idolator gave the song a positive review and said "the collaborators deliver some of their most soulful vocals over heartrending strings and atmospheric production."[6] Earmilk was similarly positive, saying "Take two of the best voices in pop music and pair them with one of the greatest new producers in pop music, and you get magic."[11] "Lovely" debuted at number 64 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on January 2019.[12] In the United Kingdom, "Lovely" reached number 47.[13] The song has further peaked within the top 10 in Australia and New Zealand.[14][15] It has received several certifications, including quadruple platinum certifications from Music Canada (MC) and the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).[16][17]

Promotion

Eilish first performed "Lovely" with Khalid in Japan in 2018.[18] The song was included on the setlist of Eilish's When We All Fall Asleep Tour (2019).[19] and eventually added to the singer's 2020 Where Do We Go? World Tour.[20] A music video for the song was released a week following the single's release and was directed by Taylor Cohen.[21] The video was inspired by Eilish's desire to portray two people being “hopelessly trapped”.[22] It begins with Eilish alone, Khalid then appears out of thin air behind her. The two singers are trapped inside in a crystalline box. They walk around for a while, sometimes interacting and then the camera pans up and shows a single, thundering rain cloud. It beings to rain inside the box and the water starts to rise and freeze.[23] The walls would begin to be shrouded in ice as Khalid and Eilish hold each other inside. As the video ends, the ice thaws to reveal the box is empty.[21] The music video was positively received by music critics upon its release. While Mike Nied of Idolator called the video "undeniably dark",[22] Madeline Roth of MTV stated it was " undeniably somber" yet Eilish and Khalid "at least seem to find some comfort in one another."[23]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[2]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[50] 5× Platinum 350,000
Austria (IFPI Austria)[51] Platinum 30,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[52] Gold 20,000
Canada (Music Canada)[16] 4× Platinum 320,000
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[53] Platinum 90,000
France (SNEP)[54] Platinum 200,000
Germany (BVMI)[55] Gold 200,000
Italy (FIMI)[56] Platinum 50,000
Mexico (AMPROFON)[57] 3× Platinum 180,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[58] 2× Platinum 60,000*
Poland (ZPAV)[59] 3× Platinum 60,000*
Portugal (AFP)[60] 2× Platinum 40,000^
Sweden (GLF)[61] Platinum 8,000,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[62] Platinum 600,000
United States (RIAA)[63] 2× Platinum 2,000,000

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

References
  1. Billie Eilish - Topic (April 19, 2018), lovely, retrieved November 28, 2018
  2. ""Lovely" by Billie Eilish and Khalid". Tidal. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  3. "Lovely by Billie Eilish on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  4. Solomon, Dan (July 13, 2018). "Khalid's 2018 Guest Appearances Could Make an Entire Album". Texas Monthly. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  5. "Billie Eilish & Khalid "lovely" Sheet Music in E Minor (transposable)". Musicnotes.com. May 1, 2018. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  6. "Billie Eilish & Khalid Join Forces On Lush New Single "Lovely"". Idolator. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  7. Blistein, Jon (March 18, 2020). "Hear Khalid Join Billie Eilish on Aching New Song, 'Lovely'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
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  9. Corrigan, Graham (April 19, 2018). "Billie Eilish and Khalid Join Forces on "Lovely"". Complex. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
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  56. "Italian single certifications – Billie Eilish & Khalid – Lovely" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved December 23, 2019. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Lovely" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
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