Last week, the 96th annual Oscars celebrated some of the most influential films, actors, cast members, and soundtracks in their highly-anticipated awards show. In addition to some first time award winners, Billie Eilish & Finneas took home yet another Oscar for their beautifully poetic and emotional song "What Was I Made For" from the Barbie Original Soundtrack.
The vulnerable & lyrically effortless track body of art has weighed heavy on our hearts since its release for its authenticity and meaningful delivery. The siblings wrote and produced the heavy-hearted track for Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" movie that quickly turned heads and became one of the most influential films of the decade. From empowering women to drawing attention to pain points in society, the beauty of the film coupled with the nostalgia of the iconic dolls made for an indescribable film.
In addition to the song's 45 nominations and over 20 accolades, the original track was awarded one of the highest honors: Best Original Song at the 2024 Oscars. Only moments prior did they receive a standing ovation and a teary-eyed audience from their live performance but they took the stage and claimed their second academy award.
Prior to its official release in the summer of 2023, Eilish teased this production as one of her personal favorites and most emotional pieces of art in her discography. During the creative process, she tied her very real emotions with the character perfectly through its themes of identity, growth, societal pressure, and the internal dialogue we all fall victim to. The duality of simple lyricism & heavy themes highlights feelings deeply rooted in our lives and is something we can all connect to in one way or another.
Despite both Billie & Finneas curating the song during a creative low point. They stripped things down until the music flew right through them. The lyrics not only relate to the Barbie movie through its connection with fantasy-like elements but they directly correlate with our own lives. From the ease of childhood coupled with the reality of adulthood, the woo of celebrity status to the loneliness underneath, and even the difficult internal conversation we toy with such as our purpose in life.
Billie told Vanity Fair that the difficult high range of her voice throughout the entire song was purposeful for not only the production of the song but the scene it was featured in. Its almost held back and quiet nature connects strongly to how many females feel, such that they're expected to do so. Additionally, the difficult vocal range ebbs around heartbrokenness, pain, and as though she's on the brink of emotional wreckage. Despite the duo writing the song from the perspective of Margo Robbie's Barbie character, the undeniable connection each and everyone one of us can feel to such simplistic lyrics makes the song all the more special.
Finneas and Billie stole the words right from our hearts and placed them into a set of cathartic yet uncomplicated lyrics that all of us can relate to.
Comments