Wikipedia

Copycat (Billie Eilish song)

"Copycat"(stylized inall caps) is a song recorded by American singer-songwriterBillie Eilish.It was released byDarkroomandInterscope Recordsas the fourthsinglefrom Eilish's debut studioEP,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 anelectronicaandpoptrack with a hip hop-influenced instrumentation, the song was heavily inspired by someone who kept on copying Eilish and what she did.

"COPYCAT"
A girl is seen on ladder.
SinglebyBillie Eilish
from the EPDon't Smile at Me
ReleasedJuly 14, 2017(2017-07-14)
Genre
Length3:13
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Finneas O'Connell
Billie Eilishsingles chronology
"Watch"
(2017) 		"COPYCAT"
(2017) 		"Idontwannabeyouanymore"
(2017)
Audio video
"Copycat"onYouTube

Commercially, "Copycat" peaked at number 12 on theBillboardBubbling Under Hot 100chart and number 100 on theCanadian Hot 100.It has also received severalcertifications,notably a double platinum award from theMexican Association of Producers of Phonograms and Videograms, A.C.(AMPROFON). The song was performed live during Eilish's 2019When We All Fall Asleep Tourand herWhere Do We Go? World Tourin 2020. ASofi Tukkerremix was released on January 12, 2018.

Background and release

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"Copycat" was released on July 14, 2017, as the fourth single on Eilish's debut EPDon't Smile at Me.[1]"Copycat" was written by the singer andFinneas O'Connell,her brother and the track's sole producer.Masteringandmi xingwas handled by the studio personnel, John Greenham, andRob Kinelski,respectively.[2]In an interview withGenius,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 bySofi Tukkerwas released on January 12, 2018.[4]Dan Regan ofBillboardpraised 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]

Music and lyrics

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"Copycat" has been described as ahip-hop-influencedelectronicaandpoptrack in press reviews.[6][7][8]According to sheet music published at Musicnotes, "Copycat" has a slow and constanttempoof 64 beats per minute (BPM) and is played in the key ofE minor.Eilish's vocals span a range ofE3toG5.[9]It features a minimalist production consisting of abass guitarandpiano.[7][10]Titiana Crisano ofBillboardcompared the instrumentation to the later work ofXXXTentacionandTyler, the Creator.[7]In an interview withBillboard,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 afalsettoand 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 "psych" and returns to the original dark lyrics.[7][11][13][14]

Reception and live performances

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Insider'sLibby 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'sThomas 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 ofThe Irish Timesdescribed the ending as a "menacingsynth"that reappears to" underscore her sullen demeanour ".[16]Kirsten Spruch ofBillboarddescribed the track as a "ground-shaking opener".[14]Mike Wass writing forIdolatorlabeled "Copycat" as a "raised middle-finger to all the fakes and frauds".[17]Katherine Cusumano ofWmagazine cited the track as a "don't-eff-with-me opening statement".[11]

"Copycat" did not enter theBillboardHot 100,however, it peaked at number 12 on theBubbling Under Hot 100chart.[18]The song also peaked at number 100 on theCanadian Hot 100.[19]"Copycat" has been awarded notably a double platinumcertificationaward from theMexican Association of Producers of Phonograms and Videograms, A.C.(AMPROFON).[20]Eilish performed "Copycat" at theCoachella Valley Music and Arts Festivalin April, at theGlastonbury Festivalin June, and atPukkelpopin August 2019.[21][22][23]"Copycat" was included on the setlist of Eilish's 2019When We All Fall Asleep Tour,and on her 2020Where Do We Go? World Tour.[24][25]A fraction of song was interpolated during a performance of "Oxytocin"duringHappier Than Ever, The World Tour(2022).[26]

Track listing

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Digital download / streaming[27]

  1. "Copycat" – 3:14
  2. "Watch"– 2:57

Digital download / streaming – Sofi Tukker remix[4]

  1. "Copycat" (Sofi Tukkerremix) – 3:18

Personnel

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Charts

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Weekly chart performance for "Copycat"
Chart (2019–2020) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[19] 100
USBubbling Under Hot 100 Singles(Billboard)[18] 12
US Alternative Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[28] 17

Certifications

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Certifications and sales for "Copycat"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[29] 2× Platinum 140,000‡
Austria (IFPIAustria)[30] Gold 15,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[31] 2× Platinum 120,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[32] Platinum 80,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[33] Gold 45,000‡
France (SNEP)[34] Gold 100,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON)[20] 2× Platinum 120,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[35] Platinum 20,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[36] Gold 5,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[37]
Sofi Tukker remix 		Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[38] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[39] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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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

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  1. ^"Billie Eilish Releases New Single 'Copycat'".Universal Music Group.Archived fromthe originalon May 24, 2020.RetrievedMay 25,2020.
  2. ^Don't Smile at Me(Media notes).Billie Eilish.Darkroom,Interscope Records.2017.{{cite AV media notes}}: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.RetrievedMay 25,2020.
  4. ^abc"COPYCAT (Sofi Tukker Remix) by Billie Eilish".Spotify.12 January 2018.RetrievedMay 22,2019.
  5. ^Regan, Dan (March 29, 2019)."The 12 Best Billie Eilish Remixes".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on July 21, 2019.RetrievedMay 22,2020.
  6. ^Smither, Tanis (July 14, 2017)."Billie Eilish proves she is pop's next princess with latest 'Copycat'".Earmilk.RetrievedMay 31,2020.
  7. ^abcdefCrisano, Tatiana (July 14, 2017)."15-Year-Old Pop Prodigy Billie Eilish Announces Debut EP & First-Ever Tour".Billboard.RetrievedMay 31,2020.
  8. ^Smith, Thomas (August 19, 2018)."Billie Eilish plots dominance on 'you should see me in a crown'".NME.RetrievedDecember 14,2018.
  9. ^"Billie Eilish 'Copycat' Sheet Music".Musicnotes. 21 January 2019.RetrievedMay 22,2020.
  10. ^abAlmedia, Nicole (February 16, 2018)."Music You Should Know: Confidence & Boldness on Billie Eilish's Debut EP 'Don't Smile at Me'".Atwood Magazine.RetrievedMay 25,2020.
  11. ^abcdCusumano, Katherine (August 14, 2017)."Meet Billie Eilish, Pop's Terrifying 15-Year-Old Prodigy".W.RetrievedMay 25,2020.
  12. ^La Ferla, Ruth (January 28, 2020)."Billie Eilish: Gen Z's Outrageous Fashion Role Model".The New York Times.RetrievedMay 31,2020.
  13. ^abAhlgrim, Callie (March 18, 2020)."Every Billie Eilish song, ranked".Insider.RetrievedMay 25,2020.
  14. ^abSpruch, Kristen (December 12, 2019)."10 Billie Eilish Songs Every Superfan Should Know".Billboard.RetrievedMay 25,2020.
  15. ^Smith, Thomas (March 8, 2019)."Get on board with Billie Eilish – her 10 best songs so far".NME.RetrievedMay 25,2020.
  16. ^Byrne, Niall (December 2, 2017)."New artist of the week: the callow, but impressive Billie Eilish".The Irish Times.RetrievedMay 31,2020.
  17. ^Wass, Mike (July 14, 2017)."The Drop: Your Guide To New Music Friday Featuring Billie Eilish & Olivia O'Brien".Idolator.RetrievedAugust 2,2020.
  18. ^ab"Billie Eilish Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)".Billboard.Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  19. ^ab"Billie Eilish Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)".Billboard.Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  20. ^ab"Certificaciones"(in Spanish).Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas.RetrievedJanuary 14,2020.TypeBillie Eilishin the box under theARTISTAcolumn heading andCopycatin the box under theTÍTULOcolumn heading.
  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.RetrievedMay 5,2020.
  22. ^Saval, Marina (July 1, 2019)."Billie Eilish Mesmerizes Glastonbury Crowd With Life-Affirming Performance".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on July 11, 2019.RetrievedApril 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.RetrievedApril 22,2020.
  24. ^Saw, Yadana (April 25, 2019)."Review: Billie Eilish at Spark Arena – 'a shared dream'".Radio New Zealand.RetrievedMarch 16,2020.
  25. ^Young, Alex (March 10, 2020)."Billie Eilish Launches 'Where Do We Go? World Tour'".Consequence of Sound.Archivedfrom the original on March 11, 2020.RetrievedApril 22,2020.
  26. ^Spanos, Brittany (February 4, 2022)."Opening Night of the First Billie Eilish Tour in Two Years Was Everything Fans Hoped For (Plus Rain)".Rolling Stone.Archivedfrom the original on February 4, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 6,2022.
  27. ^"dont smile at me by Billie Eilish".Spotify. 14 July 2017.RetrievedJune 25,2020.
  28. ^"Billie Eilish: Chart History - Alternative Digital Song Sales".Billboard.RetrievedNovember 22,2019.
  29. ^"ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2022 Singles"(PDF).Australian Recording Industry Association.RetrievedOctober 4,2022.
  30. ^"Austrian single certifications – Billie Eilish – Copycat"(in German).IFPIAustria.RetrievedAugust 29,2024.
  31. ^"Brazilian single certifications – Billie Eilish – Copycat"(in Portuguese).Pro-Música Brasil.RetrievedJune 4,2024.
  32. ^"Canadian single certifications – Billie Eilish – Copycat".Music Canada.
  33. ^"Danish single certifications – Billie Eilish – Copycat".IFPI Danmark.RetrievedApril 11,2023.
  34. ^"French single certifications – Billie Eilish – Copycat"(in French).Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.RetrievedAugust 26,2024.
  35. ^"Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2020 roku"(in Polish).Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry.RetrievedNovember 18,2020.
  36. ^"Portuguese single certifications – Billie Eilish – Copycat"(PDF)(in Portuguese).Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa.RetrievedOctober 3,2021.
  37. ^"Spanish single certifications – Billie Eilish – Copycat (Sofi Tukker Remix)".El portal de Música.Productores de Música de España.RetrievedOctober 8,2024.
  38. ^"British single certifications – Billie Eilish – Copycat".British Phonographic Industry.RetrievedSeptember 2,2022.
  39. ^"American single certifications – Billie Eilish – Copycat".Recording Industry Association of America.RetrievedNovember 22,2019.
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