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Billie Eilish and the art of being oneself

Billie Eilish is one of the most influential singers of Generation Z. Her artistic journey highlights the importance of authenticity and honesty, and it offers profound insights on the true essence of success.

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 Not everyone knows that the American singer Billie Eilish almost ended up being named “Pirate.” She was still in her mother’s womb when her four-year-old brother, Finneas, picked this name for her. Her parents liked it, and they used it affectionately before she was born. Although “Pirate” didn’t become her first name, it was included in her full name: Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O’Connell. This quirky anecdote offers a glimpse into the unconventional environment in which Billie grew up. Her parents, who are actors and musicians, always encouraged her and her brother to express their creativity and individuality.

An unexpected start

Billie Eilish began playing her first instrument, the ukulele, at six, and she wrote her first song, about a zombie apocalypse, at eleven. From early on, she shared this passion for music with her brother Finneas. Their collaboration took an unexpected turn in 2015, when Billie’s dance teacher asked them for a song to use for an end-of-year recital. Billie and Finneas posted their song “Ocean Eyes” on the streaming service SoundCloud so the dance teacher could access it. However, it quickly caught the attention of a much larger audience. The song went viral and propelled Billie to international fame. Her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? was released in 2019, when she was only seventeen. The record, which she wrote with Finneas, confirmed her as one of the most significant singers of generation Z.

Singing the dark, vulnerable side

Billie Eilish’s musical style mixes various forms of pop, like goth-pop and electropop, with indie influences. Her voice has been described as ‘ethereal’, ‘whispery’ and ‘husky’. Her songs have a dark and intimate vibe. They address deep and personal topics, such as sadness, anxiety, heartbreak and self-doubt. To write them, Billie draws inspiration from her own life, transforming her experiences and insecurities, such as her problems with depression, into intense and sincere lyrics. More recently, another topic has emerged in her songs: the difficulties of dealing with her success. Billie confessed that at first she didn’t like becoming famous. “I hated going outside,” she said. “I hated going to events. I hated being recognized. I hated the internet having a bunch of eyes on me.” What she longed for, instead, was the freedom to simply live a normal teenage life.

Being oneself

Billie’s willingness to speak openly about her own emotional vulnerability is arguably the most important aspect of her success. Her honesty is a powerful reminder to her fans that the important thing is not to be flawless but to be authentic and to have the courage to confront one’s personal difficulties. The combination of honesty and self-expression has made Billie a role model for many young women, encouraging them to express themselves without fear of judgement. In this sense, Billie Eilish perfectly embodies the difficult art of being oneself in a world that often favors conformity. In a way, she is staying true to the spirit of the name her brother Finneas once chose for her: Pirate.

Vacuous fame and personal success

Billie Eilish precocious success should lead to another, more general consideration. Our society tends to glorify youth and success, but this can have tragic consequences. Many young musicians have succumbed to the pressures of fame. This pressure is not limited to celebrities; many young people feel that they need to achieve success early in their lives. This can lead to burnout, depression, addictions, and the search for reckless shortcuts to reach one’s goals. What should be more relevant than Billie Eilish’s chart-topping achievements is her commitment to her passion for music. True success isn’t synonymous with fame, nor is it bound to a specific age; rather, it comes from building a meaningful life, pursuing one’s passions, and fostering genuine connections with others.

USEFUL LINKS

1) Read Billie Eilish’s biography on Rolling Stone magazine:
https://www.rollingstone.com/t/billie-eilish/

2) You can read more about Billie Eilish on Biography.com:
https://www.biography.com/musicians/billie-eilish

3) Listen to the BBC interviewing Billie Eilish:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48pYog8H2mA

4) Read this article on The Guardian on Billie Eilish and the difficulties and dangers of being famous:
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/feb/26/billie-eilish-the-worlds-a-little-blurry-documentary-film-britney-spears-pop-stardom?ICID=ref_fark
 
COMPREHENSION

1) Read the article and complete the sentences with the correct alternative.
1. Billie Eilish’s upbringing was
a. conventional and traditional.
b. creative and unconventional.
c. centered on strict discipline.

2. Billie Eilish’s parents are
a. scientists.
b. teachers.
c. artists.

3. The topic of Billie Eilish’s first song was
a. a zombie apocalypse.
b. a love story.
c. an end-of-year recital.

4. Billie and Finneas posted “Ocean Eyes” on SoundCloud to
a. audition for a record label.
b. test its popularity with the public.
c. share it with Billie’s dance teacher.

5. Billie Eilish’s voice is
a. powerful and loud.
b. soft and husky.
c. deep and energetic.

6. According to the text, Billie Eilish
a. did not like being recognized.
b. loves being recognized.
c. finds being famous exciting.

7. Through her honesty, Billie Eilish reminds her fans about
a. the importance of being flawless.
b. the need to conform to societal norms.
c. the importance of confronting personal struggles.

8. One can say that, like a pirate, Billie Eilish
a. loves adventures.
b. rebels against convention.
c. likes singing songs about the sea.

9. The pressure to achieve success might lead to
a. a more meaningful life.
b. depression.
c. improved creativity.

10. According to the text, the true essence of success is
a. building a meaningful life.
b. achieving fame at a young age.
c. search for reckless shortcuts.


VOCABULARY

2) Complete the sentences with the following words. Put the verbs and nouns in the right form, if necessary.

quirky  *  glimpse  *  to propel  *  ethereal  *  husky  *  vibe  *  willingness  *  flawless  *  to embody  *  reckless

1. I couldn’t get a proper look at the singer; I only caught a …………………………….. of her as she passed by the crowd.
2. Billie Eilish’s fashion sense is not normal or conventional. On the contrary, it’s  …………………………….. .
3. If they say that her voice is  …………………………….. , they mean that it sounds light and otherworldly.
4. Some say that Billie Eilish’s songs  ……………………………..  the anxieties and social problems of her generation.
5. I like singers with a  ……………………………..  voice. I find their deep, rough tones seductive and full of character.
6. Nobody is  ……………………………..  because we all have our defects.
7. His driving is  …………………………….. ! He’s going to cause an accident.
8. The café had a cozy, laid-back  ……………………………..  that made it the perfect place to relax.
9. The powerful engines of the rocket  ……………………………..  it into space.
10.  I hate people’s  ……………………………..  to talk about their personal issues on social media. I believe more in privacy.


GRAMMAR – Subordinating conjunctions

3) Choose the correct subordinating conjunction to complete the following sentences.

1. 
……………………………..   (Before/Since/When) they both had creative careers, Billie’s parents were glad to encourage her artistic endeavours.
2. Billie Eilish has claimed that she struggled with depression, ……………………………..   (which/while/whether) inspired many of her lyrics.
3. The song "Ocean Eyes" went viral …………………………….. (if/after/until) it was posted on SoundCloud.
4. Some fans admire Billie Eilish for her authenticity, …………………………….. (while/when/because) others are just interested in her music.
5.  …………………………….. (Rather than/Since/Unless) attending social events, Billie preferred doing normal teenage activities.
6. Billie Eilish was seventeen …………………………….. (while/when/whenever) she released her first album.
7. ……………………………...  (After/Before/While) turning to music, Billie was interested in dancing.
8. This song makes me sad ……………………………..  (wherever/whenever/as much as) I listen to it.
9. ……………………………..   (As much as/If/While) I like music, I can’t stand pop.
10. You can’t say classical music is boring …………………………….. (until/as/though) you’ve listened to Beethoven!


SHORT ESSAY

4) Reflect on your favourite songs. What do they say about you? (60-80 words)

5) In your opinion, what is true success? Is it about being famous, finding happiness, or something else entirely? Do you think it’s worth pursuing, or would you prefer to chase other goals? (60-80 words)


DEBATE

6) Pair up with one of your classmates and look at the proposition below; one of you will argue in favour of it and one of you against it.
Proposition: Being present on social media hurts an artist’s authenticity.

(Carlo Dellonte)
(Images: People crowd rock live night event At Music Concert HD Background, sufiyan zuberii, Shutterstock; 16-18 augustus 2019)

shutterstock_1488792800.jpg

Lowlands Festival, The Netherlands. Concert of Billie Eilish, Ben Houdijk, Shutterstock

1 Commenti
L

Lucia Scaglioni

09 dicembre 2024 alle 14:17

Molto utile

R

Redazione

13 dicembre 2024 alle 10:00 - in risposta a Lucia Scaglioni

Grazie per il suo commento! Siamo lieti che questi contenuti siano di suo gradimento. Continui a seguirci! La Redazione

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