Billie Eilish Laughs Off Standing Ovation After 2024 Oscars Performance
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Billie Eilish and her brother, Finneas O'Connell, performed a touching version of "What Was I Made For?" from the movie Barbie at the 2024 Oscars. Their performance moved the director, Greta Gerwig, to tears.
For the Academy Awards performance, Eilish wore an outfit with more pink tones. After their performance, Eilish was surprised by the standing ovation but took it in stride and laughed it off.
Eilish, 22, and O’Connell’s song "What Was I Made For?" was nominated for Best Original Song at the awards show. The other nominees in the category included Becky G’s “The Fire Inside” from Flamin’ Hot, Ryan Gosling’s “I’m Just Ken” from Barbie, Jon Batiste’s “It Never Went Away” from American Symphony, and Scott George’s “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)” from Killers of the Flower Moon.
After receiving their Oscar nomination, Eilish and O’Connell, 26, expressed their gratitude to the Academy in a heartfelt statement.
"We are thrilled to have been nominated for ‘What Was I Made For?’ As huge fans of movies, music in movies, and the Oscars, this nomination means the world to us,” the duo shared on Instagram back in January. “We want to express our gratitude to the Academy, its members, and to be included among so many talented songwriters we admire. A big thank you to the amazing Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach for their brilliant vision and work, the entire Barbie team, Lucky Chap Entertainment, and the Warner Bros. Pictures crew.”
Billie Eilish Laughs Off Standing Ovation After 2024 Oscars Performance
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The duo went on to show appreciation for Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, who weaved “[their] song into the fabric and heart of [Barbie] so well.”
They ended by giving a special acknowledgment to Margot Robbie for her outstanding work as a producer and her amazing performance that inspired them while writing the song. They expressed their gratitude and mentioned how honored they felt.
Earlier in February, Eilish and O’Connell won the Song of the Year award at the 2024 Grammys.
Billie Eilish Laughs Off Standing Ovation After 2024 Oscars Performance
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Eilish expressed her surprise during her acceptance speech, exclaiming, "I’m shocked out of my balls." She then went on to thank her family and Gerwig, 40, for creating "the best movie of the year."
Following the Grammys, Eilish shared that a difficult period in her life inspired her to write "What What I Made For."
After the awards ceremony, she shared with reporters how she once felt like she didn't quite fit in and was living in her own world. It was a time in her life where she felt invisible. However, when people heard her music and responded positively, she was amazed by how much they understood her.
In 2022, Eilish and O'Connell received their first Oscar for their song "No Time to Die" from the James Bond movie with the same title.
Editor's P/S:
Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell's performance at the 2024 Oscars was a captivating and emotional moment. Their rendition of "What Was I Made For?" from the movie Barbie showcased their remarkable talent and the power of music to evoke strong reactions. The song's nomination for Best Original Song and their subsequent win at the Grammys for Song of the Year are testaments to their artistry and the impact they have had on the industry.
Eilish's personal connection to the song, inspired by a period in her life when she felt invisible and out of place, adds depth and resonance to her performance. It highlights the transformative power of art to provide solace and foster a sense of belonging. The song's message of self-discovery and acceptance is particularly poignant, reminding us that even in moments of doubt, we are all capable of finding our purpose and making a meaningful contribution to the world. recognition and the impact their music has had.