Jump to content

&Burn

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"&Burn"
Eilish hanging over a ladder.
SinglebyBillie EilishandVince Staples
ReleasedDecember 15, 2017
GenrePop
Length2:59
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Finneas O'Connell
Billie Eilishsingles chronology
"My Boy"
(2017) 		"&Burn"
(2017) 		"Bitches Broken Hearts"
(2018)
Vince Staplessingles chronology
"Rain Come Down"
(2017) 		"&Burn"
(2017) 		"Get the Fuck Off My Dick"
(2018)

"&Burn"is a song by American singerBillie Eilishand American rapperVince Staples.It was released fordigital downloadandstreamingas asingleon December 15, 2017, through Darkroom andInterscope Records,and was later included on a reissue of Eilish's debut EP,Don't Smile at Me,in December of that year. Staples andFinneas O'Connellco-wrote the song, with the latter solely handling production. Ahip hop-influenced track, the song is an alternate version of Eilish's single "Watch".

The lyrics of the song address Eilish leaving a toxic relationship. "&Burn" received positive reviews frommusic critics,with many liking the lyrical content and production. The song has beencertifiedgold in both the United States and Australia by theRecording Industry Association of America(RIAA) andAustralian Recording Industry Association(ARIA), respectively. It was performed live by Eilish and Staples at theCoachella Valley Music and Arts Festivalin 2019.

Background and release

[edit]

In a statement made by Eilish toThe Faderthrough email, she wrote, "Vince Staples was my number 1 choice, so when we got him to hear it and he agreed to do it, it was incredible and the verse he did is so good. He is a god and I'm excited for it to finally come out!"[1]When Eilish and her brotherFinneas O'Connellwere recording the song, it was under the title of "Watch & Burn".[2][3]The track later became two separate songs, with one being "Watch"(2017), and the other being" &Burn ".[4][5][6]

The track was written by Staples and O'Connell, the latter of which solely produced it.[7][8]Masteringandmi xingwas handled by the studio personnel John Greenham andRob Kinelski,respectively.[9]"&Burn" was released as asingleon December 15, 2017 fordigital downloadandstreamingin various countries, through Darkroom andInterscope Records.[10]The song was later included on a reissue of Eilish's debut EPDon't Smile at Me.[11]

Composition and lyrical interpretation

[edit]

Critical commentarydescribed "&Burn" as a "hip hop-influencedpoptrack ".[1][12]David Renshaw fromThe Faderdescribed "&Burn" as a "moody slow-burner packed with booming drums and hushed verses".[1]Wandera Hussein ofBillboardstated the track is supported by "booming kick drums" and "velvety keys". She further mentioned that Eilish's vocals are "poignant, baby-soft, [and] express a fiery revenge".[6]Staples provides background vocals on the song and his appearance has been described as a "deep and gloomy verse".[13][14]The song starts with the strike of a match, which continues throughout as the main beat.[5][13]

Reception and promotion

[edit]

"&Burn" was met with generally favorable reviews frommusic critics.Insider'sCallie Ahlgrim commented that "Watch" feels more "vulnerable" and "nostalgic", while "&Burn" sounds "powerful" and "resolute".[13]Lindsay Howard ofVariancelabeled the former as "simmering".[3]Robin Murray ofClashdescribed "&Burn" as a "remarkable fusion that brings out the best in [Eilish] and [Staples].[15]Matthew Kent, writing forThe Line of Best Fit,depicted the song as one of "Eilish's best tracks to date" and saw it as "a darker duet more akin to the track's lyrics about literally setting an ex's car on fire".[16]The staff ofNMEexplained that "the end product sees the pair feed off of each other's bolshy attitude as they trade verses in this hard-hitting reimagining of 'Watch', a restrained moment from'Don't Smile at Me'".[17]Nicole Almeida ofAtwood Magazinedubbed the song as "stronger" and "bolder" than "Watch", but still "retain[s] the same vulnerability the original lyrics offer".[5]Commercially, "&Burn" has beencertifiedgold in the United States and platinum in Australia by theRecording Industry Association of America(RIAA) andAustralian Recording Industry Association(ARIA), respectively.[18][19]To promote "&Burn", Eilish performed it live at theCoachella Valley Music and Arts Festivalwith Staples in April 2019.[20]

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of theDon't Smile at Mereissue.[9]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications and sales for "&Burn"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[18] Platinum 70,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[21] Gold 20,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[22] Gold 40,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[23] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[19] Gold 500,000‡

‡Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^abcRenshaw, David (December 14, 2017)."Billie Eilish shares '&Burn,' a gloomy collaboration with Vince Staples".The Fader.RetrievedJune 19,2020.
  2. ^Skelton, Eric (December 14, 2017)."Billie Eilish and Vince Staples Collaborate on '&Burn'".Complex.RetrievedJuly 30,2020.
  3. ^abHoward, Lindsay (December 14, 2017)."Hear Billie Eilish's Simmering New Track '&Burn,' Featuring Vince Staples".Variance.RetrievedJuly 30,2020.
  4. ^Spruch, Kristen (December 12, 2019)."10 Billie Eilish Songs Every Superfan Should Know".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on June 26, 2020.RetrievedMay 25,2020.
  5. ^abcAlmedia, Nicole (February 16, 2018)."Music You Should Know: Confidence & Boldness on Billie Eilish's Debut EP 'Don't Smile at Me'".Atwood Magazine.Archivedfrom the original on March 13, 2020.RetrievedMay 25,2020.
  6. ^abHussein, Wandera (December 15, 2017)."Billie Eilish Unveils New Track 'Burn' Featuring Vince Staples, Whose Verse Is 'So Mf Good'".Billboard.RetrievedJuly 30,2020.
  7. ^Kaye, Ben (December 15, 2017)."Vince Staples joins Billie Eilish on new single '&burn': Stream".Consequence of Sound.RetrievedJuly 30,2020.
  8. ^Birnstengel, Grace (December 14, 2017)."Billie Eilish – '&Burn' (Feat. Vince Staples)".Stereogum.RetrievedJuly 30,2020.
  9. ^abDon't Smile at Me(booklet). Darkroom/Interscope Records.2019. B0030752-02.
  10. ^Citations regarding the digital release of "&Burn" in various countries:
  11. ^"dont smile at me".Billie Eilish. Archived fromthe originalon June 21, 2020.RetrievedJune 19,2020.
  12. ^Rossignol, Derrick (December 15, 2017)."15-Year-Old Billie Eilish Gets A Vince Staples Feature On Her Alluring Single '&burn'".Uproxx.RetrievedJuly 30,2020.
  13. ^abcAhlgrim, Callie (March 18, 2020)."Every Billie Eilish song, ranked".Insider.RetrievedApril 29,2020.
  14. ^Minsker, Evan (December 14, 2017)."Billie Eilish Enlists Vince Staples for New Song '&burn': Listen".Pitchfork.RetrievedJuly 30,2020.
  15. ^Murray, Robin (December 15, 2017)."Billie Eilish Pairs Up With Vince Staples On '&burn'".Clash.RetrievedJuly 30,2020.
  16. ^Kent, Matthew (December 15, 2017)."Billie Eilish teams up Vince Staples for the sizzling '&burn'".The Line of Best Fit.RetrievedJuly 30,2020.
  17. ^"Every single Billie Eilish song ranked in order of greatness".NME.July 30, 2020.RetrievedJuly 30,2020.
  18. ^ab"ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles"(PDF).Australian Recording Industry Association.RetrievedFebruary 3,2022.
  19. ^ab"American single certifications – Billie Eilish – &Burn".Recording Industry Association of America.RetrievedApril 4,2020.
  20. ^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.
  21. ^"Brazilian single certifications – Billie Eilish – &Burn"(in Portuguese).Pro-Música Brasil.RetrievedJune 6,2024.
  22. ^"Canadian single certifications – Billie Eilish – &Burn".Music Canada.RetrievedMay 28,2022.
  23. ^"British single certifications – Billie Eilish & Vince Staples – &Burn".British Phonographic Industry.RetrievedSeptember 1,2023.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%26Burn&oldid=1227722432"