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Copycat (Billie Eilish song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Copycat"
A girl is seen on ladder.
Single by Billie Eilish
from the EP Don't Smile at Me
ReleasedJuly 14, 2017 (2017-07-14)
GenrePop
Length3:13
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Finneas O'Connell
Billie Eilish singles chronology
"Watch"
(2017) 		"Copycat"
(2017) 		"Idontwannabeyouanymore"
(2017)
Audio video
"Copycat" on YouTube

"Copycat" (stylized in all caps) is a song recorded by American singer Billie Eilish. It was released by Darkroom and Interscope Records as the fourth single from Eilish's debut studio EP, Don't Smile at Me (2017). Eilish and her brother, Finneas O'Connell, co-wrote the song, with the latter solely handling the production. Musically an electronica and pop track with a hip hop-influenced instrumentation, the song was heavily inspired by someone who kept on copying Eilish and what she did.

Commercially, "Copycat" peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart and number 100 on the Canadian Hot 100. It has also received several certifications, notably a double platinum award from the Mexican Association of Producers of Phonograms and Videograms, A.C. (AMPROFON). The song was performed live during Eilish's 2019 When We All Fall Asleep Tour and her Where Do We Go? World Tour in 2020. A Sofi Tukker remix was released on January 12, 2018.

Background and release[]

"Copycat" was released on July 14, 2017, as the fourth single on Eilish's debut EP Don't Smile at Me.[1] "Copycat" was written by the singer and Finneas O'Connell, her brother and the track's sole producer. Mastering and mixing was handled by the studio personnel, John Greenham, and Rob Kinelski, respectively.[2] In an interview with Genius, Eilish mentioned that she wrote the song with her brother about a girl who copies everything that she does. "I write with my brother mostly. That song, we were just in his room, and I was like, 'Yo! There's this fucking girl and she keeps doing everything that I do. And I want to write about it.' Because it was in my mind."[3] A remix by Sofi Tukker was released on January 12, 2018.[4] Dan Regan of Billboard praised the remix, saying its tone "beefs up [Copycat] with a club-ready rhythm", and has a "flush of colors in its disco cheeks as new layers of synthetic brightness come in waves."[5]

Composition and lyrical interpretation[]

"Copycat" has been described as a hip-hop-influenced electronica and pop track in press reviews.[6][7][8] According to sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, "Copycat" has a slow and constant tempo of 64 beats per minute (BPM) and is played in the key of E minor. Eilish's vocals span a range of E3 to G5.[9] It features a minimalist production consisting of a bass guitar and piano.[7][10] Titiana Crisano of Billboard compared the instrumentation to the later work of XXXTentacion and Tyler, the Creator.[7] In an interview with Billboard, Eilish stated that Finneas came up with the "weird, creepy bass sound" and she thought it was cool.[7]

The song is Eilish's response to someone who kept copying everything she is doing: "Copycat trying to cop my manner/Watch your back when you can’t watch mine/Copycat trying to cop my glamour/Why so sad, bunny, you can’t have mine?"[11][12] As the song reaches the bridge, the instrumentation turns into a piano ballad and Eilish's vocals become somewhat quiet and build into a falsetto and apologizes as she warns the person that they have reached their limit: "You just crossed the line/You've run out of time/I'm so sorry, now you know/Sorry I'm the one that told you so."[10][11] She then tricks the listener with "psyche" and returns to the original dark lyrics.[7][11][13][14]

Critical reception[]

Insider's Libby Torres, called the track a "precursor of sorts to 'Bad Guy'" and felt that "Copycat" lacks the "driving bass and increasingly-layered vocals" that made "Bad Guy" a good song. However, Torres concedes it is still a "worthy song that provides a tantalizing glimpse of Eilish's early potential".[13] NME's Thomas Smith commented that "Copycat" was "impossibly swagger" with "scattered beats and energetic live performances making it a welcome entry point for many fans."[15] Niall Byrne of The Irish Times described the ending as a "menacing synth" that reappears to "underscore her sullen demeanour".[16] Kirsten Spruch of Billboard described the track as a "ground-shaking opener".[14] Mike Wass writing for Idolator labeled "Copycat" as a "raised middle-finger to all the fakes and frauds".[17] Katherine Cusumano of W magazine cited the track as a "don't-eff-with-me opening statement".[11]

Commercial performance[]

"Copycat" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, however, it peaked at number 12 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[18] The song also peaked at number 100 on the Canadian Hot 100.[19] "Copycat" has been awarded notably a double platinum certification award from the Mexican Association of Producers of Phonograms and Videograms, A.C. (AMPROFON).[20]

Live performances[]

Eilish performed "Copycat" at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April, at the Glastonbury Festival in June, and at Pukkelpop in August 2019.[21][22][23] "Copycat" was included on the setlist of Eilish's 2019 When We All Fall Asleep Tour, and on her 2020 Where Do We Go? World Tour.[24][25]

Track listing[]

Digital download and streaming[26]
No.TitleLength
1."Copycat"3:14
2."Watch"2:57
Digital download and streaming – Sofi Tukker Remix[4]
No.TitleLength
1."Copycat" (Sofi Tukker Remix)3:18

Personnel[]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Don't Smile at Me.[2]

Charts[]

Weekly charts[]

Weekly chart performance for "Copycat"
Chart (2019–2020) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[19] 100
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[18] 12
US Alternative Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[27] 17

Year-end charts[]

Chart (2019) Position
Portugal (AFP)[28] 417

Certifications[]

Certifications and sales for "Copycat"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[29] Platinum 70,000double-dagger
Canada (Music Canada)[30] Platinum 80,000double-dagger
Mexico (AMPROFON)[20] 2× Platinum 120,000double-dagger
Poland (ZPAV)[31] Platinum 20,000double-dagger
Portugal (AFP)[32] Gold 5,000double-dagger
United Kingdom (BPI)[33] Silver 200,000double-dagger
United States (RIAA)[34] Platinum 1,000,000double-dagger

double-dagger Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[]

Release dates and formats for "Copycat"
Region Date Format Version Label(s) Ref.
Various July 14, 2017
Original
[7]
January 12, 2018 Sofi Tukker Remix [4]

References[]

  1. ^ "Billie Eilish Releases New Single 'Copycat'". Universal Music Group. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Don't Smile at Me (Media notes). Billie Eilish. Darkroom, Interscope Records. 2017.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ Winn, Lily (September 20, 2017). "Billie Eilish Breaks Down 'Copycat' On Genius' Series 'Verified'". Genius. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "COPYCAT (Sofi Tukker Remix) by Billie Eilish". Spotify. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  5. ^ Regan, Dan (March 29, 2019). "The 12 Best Billie Eilish Remixes". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  6. ^ Smither, Tanis (July 14, 2017). "Billie Eilish proves she is pop's next princess with latest 'Copycat'". Earmilk. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Crisano, Tatiana (July 14, 2017). "15-Year-Old Pop Prodigy Billie Eilish Announces Debut EP & First-Ever Tour". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  8. ^ Smith, Thomas (August 19, 2018). "Billie Eilish plots dominance on 'you should see me in a crown'". NME. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  9. ^ "Billie Eilish 'Copycat' Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. 21 January 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  10. ^ a b Almedia, Nicole (February 16, 2018). "Music You Should Know: Confidence & Boldness on Billie Eilish's Debut EP 'Don't Smile at Me'". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  11. ^ a b c d Cusumano, Katherine (August 14, 2017). "Meet Billie Eilish, Pop's Terrifying 15-Year-Old Prodigy". W. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  12. ^ La Ferla, Ruth (January 28, 2020). "Billie Eilish: Gen Z's Outrageous Fashion Role Model". The New York Times. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  13. ^ a b Ahlgrim, Callie (March 18, 2020). "Every Billie Eilish song, ranked". Insider. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  14. ^ a b Spruch, Kristen (December 12, 2019). "10 Billie Eilish Songs Every Superfan Should Know". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  15. ^ Smith, Thomas (March 8, 2019). "Get on board with Billie Eilish – her 10 best songs so far". NME. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  16. ^ Byrne, Niall (December 2, 2017). "New artist of the week: the callow, but impressive Billie Eilish". The Irish Times. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  17. ^ Wass, Mike (July 14, 2017). "The Drop: Your Guide To New Music Friday Featuring Billie Eilish & Olivia O'Brien". Idolator. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  18. ^ a b "Billie Eilish Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  19. ^ a b "Billie Eilish Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  20. ^ a b "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved January 14, 2020. Type Billie Eilish in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Copycat in the box under TÍTULO
  21. ^ Powers, Shad (December 10, 2019). "Second time around even better for Billie Eilish as Weekend 2 set is more powerful, raw". The Desert Sun. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  22. ^ Saval, Marina (July 1, 2019). "Billie Eilish Mesmerizes Glastonbury Crowd With Life-Affirming Performance". Variety. Archived from the original on July 11, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  23. ^ "Hysterie tijdens Billie Eilish, maar perfect is het nog lang niet" [Hysteria during Billie Eilish concert, but it isn't perfect yet]. Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). August 18, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  24. ^ Saw, Yadana (April 25, 2019). "Review: Billie Eilish at Spark Arena – 'a shared dream'". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  25. ^ Young, Alex (March 10, 2020). "Billie Eilish Launches 'Where Do We Go? World Tour'". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on March 11, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  26. ^ "dont smile at me by Billie Eilish". Spotify. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  27. ^ "Billie Eilish: Chart History - Alternative Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  28. ^ "Top AFP - Audiogest - Top 3000 Singles + EPs Digitais" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  29. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  30. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Billie Eilish – Copycat". Music Canada.
  31. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2020 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  32. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Billie Eilish – Copycat" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  33. ^ "British single certifications – Billie Eilish – Copycat". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 22, 2019.Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Copycat in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  34. ^ "American single certifications – Billie Eilish – Copycat". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
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