Pop superstar Billie Eilish has revealed that one of the biggest hits of her career almost never saw the light of day. The singer candidly admitted in a new interview that she worried her chart-topping song, “Birds of a Feather,” was “kind of stupid” and considered scrapping it multiple times during the creation of her highly acclaimed album, Hit Me Hard and Soft. Eilish, known for her darker themes, expressed embarrassment over the song’s unusually upbeat and romantic tone.
Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Eilish confessed her doubts persisted even when presenting the full record to her label. “Multiple times I was like, ‘We should cut this,'” she recalled, adding, “Even when I played the whole album for the label, I was like, ‘Guys, this one is kind of stupid.'” Her brother and producer, Finneas, ultimately convinced her to keep the track, which features a breezy, neo-new-wave sound that contrasts sharply with much of her previous work.
The decision to keep the song proved to be one of the best of her career. The track soared to global success, reaching number two on the Billboard 200 and spending three weeks atop the Billboard Global 200 chart. The viral hit was later nominated for three major Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year, confirming its critical and commercial power.
This revelation highlights a common struggle for artists who try to balance personal creative instincts with audience expectations. Despite her initial hesitation, the success of Billie Eilish Birds of a Feather proves that fans embraced the unexpected injection of lightness. The song is now firmly established as a fan favorite and a permanent fixture in her live setlists.
