Billie Eilish Talks Making “What Was I Made For?” for Barbie and Hints at New Album | Tonight Show

Summary

Billie Eilish discusses her hit song 'What Was I Made For?' with Jimmy Fallon, sharing the creative journey behind it. She reveals how the collaboration with Greta Gerwig and Mark Ronson for the 'Barbie' movie came about, recounting the casual yet impactful process of creating the song. Billie describes the emotional connection the song has with fans, particularly women, and how it brings people together. She also teases her upcoming album and upcoming performance on 'Saturday Night Live'. The conversation highlights the intimate and genuine moments that shaped the song's success.

Takeaways

• 😀 Billie Eilish’s song 'What Was I Made For?' has achieved immense success, including being number one on the Billboard charts for 14 weeks and receiving over 2 billion streams.
• 😀 The song has garnered multiple award nominations, including Critics' Choice Award, Golden Globe, and five Grammy nominations, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year.
• 😀 Billie Eilish initially heard the song before watching the movie 'Barbie' and found it emotionally powerful, leading her to anticipate its inclusion in the movie.
• 😀 Greta Gerwig, the director of 'Barbie,' had a casual, relaxed conversation with Billie and Finneas, encouraging them to create the song but emphasizing they were under no pressure to do so.
• 😀 The song came together quickly after a creative block, with Finneas and Billie Eilish composing the entire song in one sitting after seeing the movie, with the first chord played immediately by Finneas.
• 😀 Billie recalls that the initial line of the song was written spontaneously, with her feeling that it was a natural step rather than a planned moment of brilliance.
• 😀 The song's release was paired with a montage in the 'Barbie' movie, featuring visuals of people living their lives, which was added after the song was completed.
• 😀 Billie Eilish shared that the song deeply connected with audiences, especially women, in a way that she had never experienced before, bringing people together over shared life experiences.
• 😀 'What Was I Made For?' is described as a deeply emotional and beautifully crafted song that resonated with listeners in a unique and personal way.
• 😀 Billie Eilish hinted that she and Finneas are almost finished with a new album, though she did not provide additional details, teasing future music releases.

Q & A

How did Billie Eilish come to create the song 'What Was I Made For?' for the Barbie movie?

Billie Eilish was approached by her brother Finneas, who suggested they write a song for the Barbie movie. Afterward, they had a FaceTime meeting with Greta Gerwig and Mark Ronson, where they discussed the project. In January, they visited the movie studio and watched the first 30 minutes of the film, which inspired them to create the song.

What role did Greta Gerwig play in the creation of the song?

Greta Gerwig provided an incredibly laid-back and supportive approach, offering Billie and Finneas the freedom to create whatever they wanted. She expressed that if they were inspired, they should make something, but if not, it was perfectly fine. She also mentioned that the song should capture Barbie's heart, which stuck with Billie and Finneas.

What made the song 'What Was I Made For?' emotionally impactful for Billie Eilish?

The emotional connection to the song came after watching the movie. Billie was especially moved by a scene involving Barbie and Ruth in a white abyss. The visual imagery of that scene, combined with the song, created a deep emotional impact, which carried through the writing of the song.

How did Billie Eilish and Finneas approach the writing of the song?

Billie and Finneas initially struggled with writer's block, but after watching the movie and discussing the project, they were inspired to write the song. Finneas played the first chord on the piano, which sparked the creation of the melody, and Billie contributed to the vocal lines that followed.

What was the specific scene from the Barbie movie that inspired the song?

The song was inspired by a scene where Barbie and Ruth are in a white abyss, and Ruth takes Barbie's hands and says, 'Feel.' This moment was deeply impactful to Billie and became a key element in their creative process for the song.

Why was the inclusion of 'What Was I Made For?' in the movie's montage so significant?

'What Was I Made For?' was used in a montage at the end of the movie, which featured people living their lives during the song. This montage was added after the song was created, and it was a powerful moment that deeply moved both Billie and the audience.

What did Billie Eilish mean when she said the song connected with fans in a different way?

Billie Eilish felt that the song 'What Was I Made For?' brought women together in a unique way, allowing them to experience shared emotions and life experiences. It created a sense of connection among listeners that she hadn't felt with her other music.

How did the song 'What Was I Made For?' stand out compared to other songs by Billie Eilish?

Billie Eilish noted that this song connected with her fans on a more personal level, as it resonated deeply with people’s life experiences. The emotional nature of the song and the context of the movie made it particularly special and impactful for both Billie and her audience.

What future plans did Billie Eilish hint at during the interview?

Billie Eilish mentioned that she and Finneas are almost done working on a new album, which they are excited to release. She teased more details would come later, but confirmed that fans could expect something new soon.

How did Billie Eilish describe her performance of 'What Was I Made For?' on 'Saturday Night Live'?

Billie Eilish confirmed that she would be performing 'What Was I Made For?' on 'Saturday Night Live' with Kate McKinnon as the host. She didn't reveal the specific songs she would be performing, leaving some mystery for the audience to look forward to.