Billie Eilish almost scrapped mega hit Birds of a Feather.
The 23-year-old singer-songwriter initially thought about ditching the track – which has been played over 3 billion times on Spotify since its release on May 17, 2024 – from her Hit Me Hard and Soft album because it was “kind of stupid”.
Billie told the Wall Street Journal: “Multiple times I was like, ‘We should cut this.’ Even when I played the whole album for the label, I was like, ‘Guys, this one is kind of stupid.'”
Birds of a Feather went on to become a global hit – reaching number two on the Billboard 200 and topped the Billboard Global 200 for three weeks.
It also gave Billie Grammy Award nominations for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance.
Elsewhere in the interview, the music icon reflected on how the music industry doubted that her downbeat songs would appeal to a wide audience.
Billie said: “It’s so funny to think back on all of the criticisms that were like, ‘The songs are too sad.’ “So many people and companies wanted us to make happier songs.”
When she penned Birds of a Feather, the pop star wanted to add “something dark” to ensure the track was not all “rainbows and smiles”.
She added: “We wrote about the idea that you’re going to die soon, and let’s make it last.”
Earlier this year, Billie spoke about her struggle with writer’s block – the inability to write, having difficulty coming up with ideas, and having a creative slow-down.
She told CBS News: “It never is comfortable. You never get used to it. It happens, and you’re like, ‘What the hell?! I’m never gonna create again.'”
At the time of her interview with CBS, the singer revealed she is working on a follow-up record to Hit Me Hard and Soft.
Billie gave a tour of her studio and explained she’s been back at work with her 28-year-old brother and collaborator Finneas.
She said: “It’s just so much fun. And it’s just like not even serious. We’ve just been making music, and also crocheting a lot.”