Lost Cause (Billie Eilish song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Lost Cause"
Single by Billie Eilish
from the album Happier Than Ever
ReleasedJune 2, 2021
Genre
Length3:32
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Finneas O'Connell
Billie Eilish singles chronology
"Your Power"
(2021) 		"Lost Cause"
(2021) 		"NDA"
(2021)
Music video
"Lost Cause" on YouTube

"Lost Cause" is a song by American singer Billie Eilish. It was released on June 2, 2021, through Darkroom and Interscope as the fourth single from her second studio album Happier Than Ever (2021). The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 27.

Background[]

On May 28, 2021, American singer Billie Eilish shared a silent five second video of herself looking off-camera on Instagram. She wrote in the caption: "New song out next week."[1] Eilish's brother, American singer and producer Finneas O'Connell confirmed the release as well, posting on his Twitter account, "New billie song coming very soon."[1] On May 31, 2021, Eilish took to Instagram to share different photos of herself and one of a car wheel with the caption: "Nothing but a lost cause."[2] On June 1, 2021, the singer announced on her social media accounts that "Lost Cause" would be released on June 2, 2021, and that it would be the fourth single off of her upcoming sophomore studio album Happier Than Ever (2021). Along with the same announcement, Eilish revealed the music video for the song would be released on the same day.[3][4]

Music and lyrics[]

"Lost Cause" is a mid-tempo[5] trip hop[6] and soft rock[7] song which consists of jazz-inspired[8] minimalistic instrumentation.[9] According to Madison Vain of Esquire, the song is lined with "reverb-soaked acoustic guitar", and noted the lyrics: "I know you think you're such an outlaw" are a "direct call back" to her 2019 number one hit single "Bad Guy".[10] Ethan Shanfeld for Variety said Eilish "croons over a slinky bass line and laid back drum beat".[11]

Wren Graves for Consequence said Eilish shows off her "smoky voice over a restrained track that offers little more than sly bass behind her".[12] Heran Mamo of Billboard stated the "sultry kiss-off" song lets Eilish's "former love interest know she sees right through him and notices he's nothing but a lost cause",[13] while Zoe Haylock of Vulture opined Eilish "sings about moving on from an ex".[14] Brenton Blanchet of Complex mentioned Eilish sings of a "jobless man who couldn’t even bring her flowers".[15] Rolling Stone's Claire Shaffer writes that the artist was "taking someone down a peg for their apathy”; Shaffer placed emphasis on the lyrics "You ain't nothing but a lost cause/And this ain’t nothing like it once was” and “I know you think you’re such an outlaw/But you got no job."[8]

Critical reception[]

P. Claire Dodson of Teen Vogue compared the track to Eilish's previous single "Your Power" (2021), describing the latter as "more vulnerable [and] airy" while saying the former is a "lighter, more playful type of roast".[16] Coco Romack for MTV described the song as a "low-key empowerment anthem" and compared it to American girl group TLC's 1999 single "No Scrubs" and English singer Dua Lipa's 2017 single "New Rules".[17] James Rettig for Stereogum called the track "breezy and laidback".[18] Stephanie Eckardt of W mentioned that "Lost Cause" is just the "latest indication of where [Eilish]'s headed next leading up to the release of her long-awaited sophomore album Happier Than Ever".[19] Gabrielle Sanchez for The A.V. Club opined Eilish is known for "clinging to the melancholy, whispering sad tales of monsters under the bed" but explained the song sees her "looking happier than she’s ever been".[20] Joe Smith of Gigwise stated that "Lost Cause" is a "groovy and subdued effort from Eilish that captures exactly what made her so popular in the first place".[9]

Release and chart performance[]

"Lost Cause" was released to digital download and streaming media on June 2, 2021.[13] It was serviced to contemporary hit radio stations only in Australia and Russia later the month.[21][22] Due to lack of major radio push and unusual Wendsday release, the single didn't manage to catch same success of its predecessors, being first single of Happier Than Ever to not chart in top ten in the US.[23] The song debuted and peaked at number 27 on Billboard Hot 100 on chart issue June 19, 2021.[24][25] Staying yet two weeks on the chart, the song dropped of it after just three weeks; it re-entered after album's release at number 84.[26]

With just two days of tracktions, "Lost Cause" debuted at position 125 on Billboard Global 200 chart,[27] eventually peaking at 15 week later on chart issue dated June 19, 2021.[28] It debuted at number 14 on UK Singles Chart, becoming Eilish's eleventh top 40 single there,[29] it also became the highest new entry on Irish Singles Chart on June 11.[30] In Australia, the song became second highest new entry on the chart, debuting at number 18,[31] and staying continuously on the ARIA Singles Chart for three weeks, returning to the list after album's release at 46.[32]

Music video[]

Background and synopsis[]

A music video for the song was released the same day as the single.[13] The video was solely directed by Eilish, and was shot on April 22, 2021.[15] A day later, the singer uploaded a behind-the-scenes video to TikTok for the visual. It shows Eilish and her backup dancers having to go from kneeling on the floor to standing and jumping around while making sure their clothes were kept in place.[33] Derrick Rossignol from Uproxx stated Eilish's chest "was exposed than she apparently wanted the world to see, so she covered it with an emoji and wrote in text superimposed onto the video, 'titties was falling out'".[34]

In the music video, Eilish invites a group of women for a day party in a Los Angeles mansion[8][11][13] to do some interpretive dance moves around a king sized bed,[12][13] move in and out of walk-in closets,[12] twerk,[13] play Twister,[35][36] spray silly string,[15] shoot water guns,[11] drink orange soda,[20] and eat potato chips.[8][11][13] Eilish wears an oversized beige tee and matching cream bike shorts by Skims, while her friends wear tank tops and sweaters.[37] Eilish then changes into a blue camisole, shorts, and robe, while her friends wear "slinky pieces" in pastel blues and grays.[37]

Reception and controversy[]

Christian Allaire of Vogue stated the "matchy-matchy outfits are what truly make this slumber party soirée one to remember".[37] Jordan Darville of The Fader and Brit Dawson of Dazed compared the visual to American singer Beyoncé's 2014 single "7/11"'s music video.[6][38] The staff of DIY mentioned the video has a "color-coordinated and immaculately-choreographed slumber party".[39] Mia Mercado for The Cut opined the visual "can be best summarized as a giant (kinda horny?) sleepover".[40]

Due to sensual nature of the music video and that it only features women, following its release fans and media started speculating about Eilish's sexuality, with some being positive and congratulating artist her coming out,[41] while others started accussing the artist of queerbaiting.[42][43][44] However allegations of queerbaiting escalated on June 10, when the singer posted on Instagram behind-the-scenes photos of the music video shoot with caption "i love girls."[45] It is the second time, when the star was accused of that, following her 2019 single "Wish You Were Gay".[46] Three days later, the singer uploaded a selfie to her Instagram with capioned "I'm tired."[47] Some fans and publications defended Eilish,[48][49] whilst others still saw her actions as inappropriate.[50][51]

Credits and personnel[]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[52]

  • Billie Eilish – vocals, composition, songwriting, vocal engineering
  • Finneas O'Connell – production, composition, songwriting, acoustic guitar, background vocals, drum programming, engineering, synth bass, vocal arrangement
  • Dave Kutch – master engineering
  • Rob Kinelski – mixing

Charts[]

Chart performance for "Lost Cause"
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[53] 18
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[54] 24
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[55] 16
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[56] 36
Denmark (Tracklisten)[57] 35
France (SNEP)[58] 99
Germany (Official German Charts)[59] 45
Global 200 (Billboard)[28] 15
Hungary (Single Top 40)[60] 34
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[61] 29
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[62] 36
Ireland (IRMA)[63] 9
Italy (FIMI)[64] 88
Lithuania (AGATA)[65] 12
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[66] 48
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[67] 15
Norway (VG-lista)[68] 23
Portugal (AFP)[69] 22
Singapore (RIAS)[70] 18
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[71] 22
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[72] 25
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[73] 17
UK Singles (OCC)[74] 14
US Billboard Hot 100[75] 27
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[76] 3

Release history[]

Release dates and formats for "Lost Cause"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various June 2, 2021
[13]
Australia June 6, 2021 Contemporary hit radio UMA [21]
Russia June 17, 2021 Universal [22]

References[]

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  2. ^ Rossignol, Derrick (May 31, 2021). "Billie Eilish Strongly Hints At The Title Of Her Next Single". Uproxx. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
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