Everything happened almost immediately forBillie Eilish. At such a young age, the nine-time Grammy-winning singer first gained public attention with “Ocean Eyes,” a single she initially released on SoundCloud. Her first Extended Play,Don’t Smile At Me, debuted to both critical and commercial acclaim shortly after, which ultimately led to the release of her equally successful debut studio album,When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go. From then on, the “Birds of a Feather” singer has been achieving one massive feat after another. And that doesn’t come without merit, as her music is not to be overlooked. She has been winning over the hearts of younger listeners, with her latest album,Hit Me Hard and Soft, receiving the same praise and recognition as her earlier work. However, despite her established reputation, one EP remains criminally underrated:Guitar Songs.
‘Guitar Songs’ Showcases Billie Eilish in Her Most Reflective Yet
In 2022, Eilish surprised her fans with the unexpected release of her second EP calledGuitar Songs, which featured only two tracks: “TV” and “The 30th.” This comes a year after the release ofHappier Than Everin July 2021. Both songs received praise for their descriptive lyrics, proving Eilish’s songwriting ability once again. But what sets these songs apart from her other work is their stripped-down production, with only Eilish’s warm, ethereal vocals taking center stage. The result is a raw, intimate, and deeply personal listening experience, backed by the exquisite sound of acoustic guitar. Even early on, the singer-songwriter had the ideal voice for introspective, mellow songs — andGuitar Songsfinally lets that voice take the spotlight.
“TV” and “The 30th” were the only new songs they had at the time. Eilish said in an interview withZane LoweforApple Musicthat the tracks felt current to her and that she wanted to share them with the world immediately; hence, the reason whyGuitar Songsfeatured only two tracks. WhileGuitar Songsgenerally received positive reviews, it wasn’t her most commercially successful release. Still, it showcased her ability to write songs that resonate with many while also touching on current societal issues, making it some of her most powerful work yet. And it certainly deserves the same, if not more, attention her other work has received.
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The Meaning Behind “TV” and “The 30th”
The singer shared withLowe what went into the writing process forGuitar Songs. She revealed that she wrote “The 30th” on December 30 with her brother, singer-songwriter and record producerFinneas O’Connell. The song came about after an event that occurred on November 30th, though she didn’t specify what exactly happened. However, the song depicts a narrator processing fear and trauma after a near-fatal car accident involving someone close to her — and the lingering questions that followed. This is reflected in the lyrics: “What if you weren’t alone? / There were kids in the car / What if you were remote? / No one knows where you are / If you changed anything, would you not have survived?” The narrator quickly reminds herself that the person is alive, and that’s what matters.
“That’s why it’s called ‘The 30th’ because something happened on November 30th, and it had just been the most indescribable thing to have to witness and experience. I had been writing down all these thoughts that I was having,” she told Lowe. “I was with Finneas, and I was like, ‘I’m sorry, I don’t know what you were planning on doing, but we need to write this song about this right now,’ and we did. And that was the first song we wrote since ‘Happier Than Ever’.”
Eilish first shared “TV” with fans during a concert in England before including it as one of the two tracks onGuitar Songs. It’s a poignant ballad about feeling isolated in both romantic and platonic relationships, with the narrator finding comfort in shows likeSurvivor“just to watch somebody suffer.” The lyrics highlight her mental state and growing detachment from the real world. But what caught the attention of listeners was its mention of “movie stars on trial,” presumably referencing the defamation trial betweenJohnny DeppandAmber Heard, highlighting the public’s obsession with celebrity drama instead of focusing on pressing societal issues like the overturning ofRoe v. Wade.
On the Roe v. Wade line on “TV,” the singer also told Lowe that they wrote it before it was officially overturned. She said: “It was like a curtain of doom. I mean, there was almost no even reaction. I had this, I guess now that I think about it, unrealistic hope that that wouldn’t happen. We wrote that line when the news got out about the fact that they’re considering overturning it, and we wrote that line then. It’s a really scary world right now.”
