Music Review: "Come Out and Play," "When the Party's Over"

Artist: Billie Eilish

Genre: Pop, Electric Pop, Alternative Rock, Electronica

The authenticity of 16-year-old singer-songwriter Billie Eilish is portrayed in many ways, from how she dresses to her interviews and most prominently in her songwriting. Music fans everywhere have become accustomed to her heavy verses, where each lyric has a deeper meaning behind it. Her most recent releases, “Come Out and Play” and “When the Party’s Over,” are no different, both addressing issues one faces in life.

“When the Party’s Over” is about Eilish putting some distance between her and her lover. She sings about how their relationship has grown toxic and at such a young age, it is remarkable her songwriting abilities. Most songwriters go through a plethora of life experiences before they are able to write such deep and emotional lyrics. In an interview with Coupe De Main Magazine, she describes the song as an angry mood.

“It’s not really, ‘I’m sad,’ you know what I mean?” Eilish said. “So, ‘When The Party’s Over,’ I feel like that’s such a sentence. It’s like, ‘I’ll call you when the party’s over,’ you’re on the phone with someone and you can’t hear them, they can’t hear you, it’s loud, they’re mad at you for some reason. I feel like everybody’s had that struggle with someone.”

Throughout the song, you see the progression of an unhealthy relationship. She even gives us a vulnerable insight into the emotions she is feeling. The line ‘I’ve learned to lose you, can’t afford to’ from the first verse talks about how she cannot afford to lose her lover, even though she is so used to them leaving her. The mood she sets throughout the whole song leaves you with a sense of sympathy for Eilish. It builds up all types of feelings within you that, by the time the song is over, you want to save her from the hurt she is feeling.

Her most recent release, “Come out and Play,” was written for the Apple holiday project, but it will be a part of our lives long after the holidays pass. Eilish is singing about somebody—in the Apple music video, it is a young artist—who is afraid to let the world see their gifts. The video leads us to assume the artist is self-conscious and fears the rejection they might receive if they were to reveal their work to the world.

This song does not just relate to the artist—it can relate to anyone. Anyone who has ever been afraid to open themselves up to people, or to let their true selves show, can relate here. It is a scary thing to come out and let the world see who you are, but you will never know what you are missing out on until you try. Eilish acknowledges this can be hard, saying in the chorus, “Yeah, I know it makes you nervous, but I promise you it’s worth it.” It will be hard and it will be scary but, in the end, it will all be worth it.

This song reminds me of a quote from Matt Damon’s character in the movie “We Bought a Zoo.” Damon says, “All it takes is 20 seconds of insane courage, and I promise you something great will come of it.” You never know if you do not try. That is what this song is ultimately saying.

It truly is something special what Billie Eilish is doing at such a young age—her songs seem to mature as she continues releasing them. With the music world at her fingertips, there seems to be no limit to how far she can take this talent. So, for now, I suggest you sit back and enjoy the ride Eilish is taking us on.

Reese Gorman is a sophomore journalism major from Schertz, TX. He is passionate about music because he believes it has a unique way of bringing people together and it brings him joy. Reese’s favorite artist is The 1975 and his favorite genre of music is Indie/Alternative. In his free time, Reese enjoys golfing, climbing, camping and reading.