Xanny | |||||
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Song by Billie Eilish | |||||
Album | When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? | ||||
Released | March 29, 2019 | ||||
Genre(s) | Pop | ||||
Length | 4:03 | ||||
Label(s) | Darkroom, Interscope | ||||
Producer(s) | Finneas O'Connell | ||||
When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? chronology | |||||
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Xanny (stylized in all lowercase) is a song recorded by Billie Eilish for her debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?. The singer and her brother Finneas O'Connell co-wrote it, whilst the latter solely handled its production. Musically, it was described as a mid-tempo and jazz-influenced pop ballad. Eilish recalled being inspired by several artists during the track's creation, most notably by Frank Sinatra. Productionwise, her distorted falsetto vocals are prominently layered over a similarly deformed bass in the drop of "Xanny", replicating the feeling of secondhand smoke. Lyrically, Eilish addresses substance abuse among teenagers; she was specifically inspired by the negative effects it had on her friends and ultimately on her.
Upon its release, "Xanny" received positive reviews from music critics, with one of them likening it to the works of Sophie and Lana Del Rey. The track was accompanied by a self-directed music video released on December 5, 2019. Minimalistically produced, it depicts the singer in an all-white outfit sitting on a bench against a white background whilst her face is burned by disembodied hands holding cigarette butts. Reviewers praised the visual's simplicity and its correlation to the song. With the release of its parent album, "Xanny" reached number 35 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Alongside top ten peaks in several countries, it was certified platinum in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Eilish included the track on the setlists of her 2019 When We All Fall Asleep Tour and 2020 Where Do We Go? World Tour.
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
What is it about them?
I must be missing something
They just keep doing nothing
Too intoxicated to be scared
Better off without them
They're nothing but unstable
Bring ashtrays to the table
And that's about the only thing they share
[Chorus]
I'm in their second hand smoke
Still just drinking canned Coke
I don't need a Xanny to feel better
On designated drives home
Only one who's not stoned
Don't give me a Xanny, now or ever
[Interlude]
Can you check your Uber rating? Oh my god
(And it's like, wait, like, when?)
[Verse 2]
Wakin' up at sundown (Ooh)
They're late to every party (Ooh)
Nobody's ever sorry (Ooh)
Too inebriated now to dance
Morning as they come down (Come down)
Their pretty heads are hurting (Hurting)
They're awfully bad at learning (Learning)
Make the same mistakes, blame circumstance
[Chorus]
I'm in their second hand smoke
Still just drinking canned Coke
I don't need a Xanny to feel better
On designated drives home
Only one who's not stoned
Don't give me a Xanny, now or ever
[Bridge]
Please don't try to kiss me on the sidewalk
On your cigarette break
I can't afford to love someone
Who isn't dying by mistake in Silver Lake
[Outro]
What is it about them?
I must be missing something
They just keep doin' nothing
Too intoxicated to be scared
Hmm, hmm
Hmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm
Come down
Hurting
Learning