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"My Future"
Cover art for "My Future": a cartoon drawing that depicts Billie Eilish sitting on grass as she stares at the night sky and the full moon
Single by Billie Eilish
from the album Happier Than Ever
WrittenApril 1–3, 2020[1][2]
ReleasedJuly 30, 2020
Recorded2020
Genre
Length3:28
Label
Songwriters
ProducerFinneas O'Connell
Billie Eilish singles chronology
"Ilomilo"
(2020) 		"My Future"
(2020) 		"Therefore I Am"
(2020)
Music video
"My Future" on YouTube

"My Future" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish, released as the lead single from her second studio album, Happier Than Ever (2021). It was released on her brother Finneas O'Connell's birthday, July 30, 2020, through Darkroom and Interscope Records, exactly a year before the album's release. An R&B and ambient ballad with influences of soul and jazz, the song's lyrics address an ode to self-love and personal power. Eilish wrote the song alongside its producer, Finneas O'Connell.

The song received positive reviews from music critics, with praise directed towards its theme of self-empowerment. "My Future" was featured on 2020 year-end lists by multiple publications, including Billboard, USA Today, and Slate. The song peaked at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100, giving Eilish her third top-10 hit in the United States. It reached the top five in Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Singapore.

An animated music video for "My Future" was directed by Andrew Onorato, and produced by Australian animation company Studio Chop. The visual was released on Eilish's official YouTube channel on July 30, 2020. In the video, Eilish walks away from a relationship while thinking about her future. The visual was praised by critics for its animation. Eilish performed the song at the 2020 Democratic National Convention and the 2020 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball.

Background and release

[edit]

On July 24, 2020, Eilish took to her Instagram page to post a picture of herself standing on a balcony with the skyline of Los Angeles in the background, wearing a black face mask and a grey jogging suit. The post featured the caption "'my future' out Thursday".[3][4][5] On July 28, 2020, Eilish promoted the track by sharing the animated cover art, which depicts her sitting under a tree while looking at the Moon.[6] On July 29, Eilish shared a 20-second audio clip of "My Future" on Instagram.[6][7] "My Future" was inspired by Eilish being alone in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] In an interview with Apple Music's Zane Lowe, Eilish stated: "We wrote the song in like two days, This is the most we've ever worked in one period of time. But we record, we wrote it like a month into quarantine probably. And it was pouring rain. [...] [I]t was such a perfect setting. And then we recorded the vocal in Finneas' studio, which is just in his basement in his house".[9] Eilish added that "it was exactly where my head was at - hopeful, excited and a craaaazy amount of self-reflection and self-growth. But recently it has also taken on a lot of new meaning in the context of what's happening in the world now. I hope you can all find meaning in it for yourselves."[10][11] "My Future" was written by Eilish alongside her brother Finneas O'Connell, while production was solely handled by the latter. The track was mastered by John Greenham and mixed by Rob Kinelski, both of whom served as studio personnel.[12] It was released for digital download and streaming as the lead single from Eilish's second studio album, Happier Than Ever (2021) on July 30, 2020, via Darkroom and Interscope Records.[13][14]

Composition

[edit]
"My Future"
"My Future"—a song about self-empowerment with electric piano, guitars, and drums—begins with a subdued melody and switches to an upbeat production with a summery rhythm.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Critical commentary described "My Future" as an uptempo[15][16] and R&B and ambient ballad, with influences of soul and jazz.[17][18][19][20] The song features electric piano, guitars, and drums.[21] Craig Jenkins of Vulture described its melody as reminiscent of soul blues songs and old Disney films' music.[22] "My Future" has been compared to Eilish's cover of Bobby Hebb's "Sunny",[22] as well as the works of Jorja Smith and Corinne Bailey Rae.[17] It opens with a slow and melancholic melody,[23] transitioning midway into an upbeat production with a percussive rhythm.[24][25][26] Coco Romack of MTV News felt that the latter part of the song was summery.[23]

Lyrically, "My Future" serves as an ode to self-love and personal power.[23][27] Coco Romack of MTV wrote that it "claps back at the notion that one must be validated by outside affection".[23] Chris Willman of Variety stated that the song was about "leaving a narcissistic significant other behind to concentrate on achieving goals on one's own".[28] The song begins almost entirely a capella, as Eilish sings about walking away from a relationship to put herself first: "I've changed my plans/Cause I/I'm in love/With my future".[29][26] "I'm in love with my future/Can't wait to meet her/I'm in love, but not with anybody else/Just want to get to know myself", Eilish sings through jazz-inspired vocals before a "funky" bassline appears.[30] The song ends on voice and keyboards, with the line: "I'll see you in a couple years".[17]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Daily TelegraphStarStarStarStar[31]
NMEStarStarStarStar[32]

Upon release, "My Future" was met with critical acclaim from music critics. William Hughes of The A.V. Club called it "sleepy" and "somnambulistic".[16] Gary Dinges of USA Today commended the lyrical content, which he described has "raw lyrics" and "stellar vocals".[29] Samantha Hissong and Brittany Spanos, writing for Rolling Stone, described "My Future" as Eilish's "most uplifting song to date".[30] Romack praised the song as "dreamy".[23] The staff of Teen Vogue commented that the song "shows continued growth in how Billie is looking at the world", while the staff of DIY called it "something of an understated feminist anthem".[15][20] Jenkins depicted the track as "a reminder that even though the present looks scary, there are better times on the other side".[22] Billboard's Jason Lipshutz dubbed the song as "personal" and added it "bursts into a ray of sunshine, with Eilish's voice blossoming in the warmth".[27]

John R. Kennedy of iHeartRadio Canada labeled "My Future" as a "poignant" song.[33] The song was praised by The New York Times' Jon Caramanica, who called it and "uncomplicated", and felt "Eilish's ease is the dominant mode — worrying about yourself first makes for no worry at all".[19] Jessica Mckinney of Complex praised the song as one of Eilish's most "rare upbeat and sunny records".[34] Writing for The Independent, Isobel Lewis regarded the song as a "haunting piano ballad" with "strong guitar and Eilish's signature electronic style".[35] Reviewing for Slant Magazine, Alexa Camp cited the track as a "dreary but gorgeous dirge, with Eilish's soulful, layered vocals stacked on top of atmospheric keyboards".[36] Mike Wass of Idolator praised the production of "My Future", which he described as "reflecting the positivity of the lyrics".[8]

Accolades

[edit]

"My Future" was placed at number 12 on Insider's Every Billie Eilish song, ranked list, with Callie Ahlgrim describing the song as "gorgeous", "poetic", and an "extremely timely ode to independence", further praising the production, saying it "remains appropriately gentle" and never "feels glib or over-the-top optimistic". She concluded saying Eilish's vocals "have truly never sounded better", and remarked them as "effortless" and "hypnotic" that are "noticeably more drawn-out, elaborate, and confident."[37] The song featured on 2020 year-end lists by Billboard (33),[38] Dazed (10),[39] Stereogum (25),[40] Slate (17),[41] and USA Today (1).[42]

Commercial performance

[edit]

"My Future" debuted at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart dated August 15, 2020, becoming Eilish's third top-10 hit in the United States and her highest debut on the chart, surpassing "Bad Guy" (2019), which debuted at number seven.[43][44] The track also topped the US Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, rising from number 18 to the summit during the issue dated August 15, 2020, becoming Eilish's first track to top the chart.[44] It also peaked at number one on the Hot Alternative Songs chart.[44] On the US Alternative Digital Song Sales chart, "My Future" became Eilish's fifth number one.[44] At the time, she was tied with Twenty One Pilots for the second-most leaders in the chart's history,[44] while Imagine Dragons lead the chart with six number ones.[44] The track was streamed 20.9 million times and had 15,000 downloads in the US through July 31 and August 6, 2020.[44] It drew more than 1.3 million streams and sold 3,000 in the week ending July 30.[44] The song ranked up to 7.4 million downloads on radio during the week dated August 9, 2020.[44]

Internationally, the song peaked at number nine on the Canadian Hot 100 and received a platinum certification by Music Canada (MC) for track-equivalent sales of 80,000 units in Canada.[45][46] On the UK Singles Chart, the song reached number seven, becoming Eilish's fifth top-10 in the United Kingdom.[47] "My Future" also peaked within the top five on the singles charts in Australia,[48] Malaysia,[49] New Zealand,[50] and Singapore.[51] It further reached the top-20 in the Czech Republic,[52] Ireland,[53] Denmark,[54] Finland,[55] the Netherlands,[56] Norway,[57] Portugal,[58] Scotland,[59] Slovakia,[60] and Switzerland.[61]

Music video

[edit]

Background and synopsis

[edit]
Many journalists compared the music video's aesthetic to that of anime; some said it was reminiscent of Studio Ghibli films.

An animated music video for "My Future" was directed by Australian director Andrew Onorato, and released on Eilish's official YouTube channel the same day as the single.[17][26] It was produced by Australian animation company Chop Studio.[62] The video was animated by Alex Dray, Andrew Onorato, Annie Zhao, Cliona Noonan, Nancy Li, and Sarah Schmidt.[63] The visual has been described as "anime in nature".[64]

The visual tells a story of a young woman "coming into her own".[15] In it, an animated Billie symbolizes a relationship she's walking away from. She wanders alone through a Studio Ghibli-inspired, psychedelic forest in the rain while contemplating about her future.[16][29][65] When the second verse comes around, the sun comes out and the forest begins to bloom, as trees engulf Eilish and lift her up to the sky.[26][66][67]

Critical reception

[edit]

The animated video was positively received by critics upon release. Jackson Langford of NME called it a "gorgeous animated affair",[26] while Ann Powers of NPR stated Eilish is a "fairy tale heroine" and that the video "dwells within the magic cultivated by an autonomous young woman who's ready to claim her future as it comes".[17] Ronia Aniftos, writing for Billboard, commented that "[as] [the] sun comes out and the greenery begins to bloom exponentially, [so] [does] Eilish's career continues to do in real life".[66] Kirsten Acuna of Insider viewed the visual as a "beautifully animated music video".[24] Jessica Wang, writing for Bustle magazine, compared the visual to the works of Hayao Miyazaki, with movies such as: Spirited Away (2001), My Neighbor Totoro (1998), and Kiki's Delivery Service (1989).[63] In a less enthusiastic review, Time Out magazine writer Emma Steen noted the video "lack[s] the finesse of a Ghibli anime", but said it is a "mesmerising visual".[62]

Live performances and other usage

[edit]

Eilish performed the song for the first time on the third night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention.[68] A few days later, she and Finneas played the song for NPR's "Tiny Desk (Home) Concert".[69][70] Eilish performed the song at the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball in December 2020, with Finneas playing the piano and providing background vocals.[71] In September 2020, American singer Miley Cyrus covered the song for BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge while surrounded by candles and a masked band.[72][73][74]

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[12]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications and sales for "My Future"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[97] Platinum 70,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[98] Gold 15,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[99] 3× Platinum 120,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[100] 2× Platinum 160,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[101] Gold 45,000‡
France (SNEP)[102] Gold 100,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON)[103] Platinum+Gold 90,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[104] Platinum 30,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[105] Gold 25,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[106] Gold 5,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[107] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[108] Gold 400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for "My Future"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various July 30, 2020
[13]
United States
[109]
Various September 18, 2020 7" picture disc
[110]

References

[edit]

Grokipedia

My Future

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
"My Future" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish, released on July 30, 2020, as the lead single from her second studio album, Happier Than Ever.[1] Co-written and produced by Eilish alongside her brother Finneas O'Connell, the track emphasizes themes of self-empowerment and optimism through lyrics reflecting personal independence and future prospects.[1] Musically, it incorporates pop structures with jazz and soul influences, marking a tonal shift toward positivity relative to Eilish's earlier material dominated by darker introspection.[1] The song achieved commercial success, debuting at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 and maintaining a position on the chart for twelve weeks.[2] It also topped the Billboard Alternative Digital Song Sales chart, becoming Eilish's fifth number-one there.[3] An animated music video, directed by Australian animator Andrew Onorato and produced by Studio Chop, accompanied the release, featuring Eilish's character evolving into a giant traversing fantastical landscapes under a full moon.[4] Critically, "My Future" earned praise for its uplifting message and stylistic evolution, appearing on multiple 2020 year-end song lists from outlets including Billboard.[5]

Background and development

Inspiration and recording

During the early COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020, Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell initiated work on new material at his Los Angeles home studio, following a proposal from their mother, Maggie Baird, to leverage the enforced downtime by scheduling regular sessions—initially three days a week for Eilish to visit and collaborate.[6] Finneas, initially reluctant, agreed to a trial week, during which they wrote and recorded "My Future" as their inaugural track, completing it in approximately two days.[6][7] This accelerated timeline deviated from their typical iterative process, facilitated by Eilish delivering her lead vocals in a single, unredone take that captured raw emotional immediacy.[7] The song's creation reflected Eilish's quarantine-induced self-examination, emphasizing self-reliance, personal empowerment, and optimism amid isolation, with lyrics portraying loneliness not as deficit but as a pathway to autonomy.[7] Eilish articulated this in an email to fans, stating the track reminded her that "the future is ours, and I know we want to do everything we can to make it better for everyone in the world, and for the world itself," blending individual introspection with broader aspirational resolve.[8] Finneas handled production, incorporating nostalgic synth elements and a jazz-inflected vocal shift to evoke maturity and hope.[7] A key stylistic influence was Michael Bublé's 2009 track "Haven't Met You Yet," which Eilish obsessively played during her adolescence, inspiring the song's buoyant swing and theme of eager self-anticipation over romantic dependency.[9][10] "My Future" thus became the foundational piece for Eilish's second studio album, Happier Than Ever, signaling a pivot toward more organic, reflective songcraft.[6]

Announcement and release

"my future" was announced by Billie Eilish on social media on July 24, 2020, with a scheduled release date of July 30, 2020, marking her first original single since the James Bond theme "No Time to Die" earlier that year.[11] [12] Eilish shared a snippet of the track on Instagram the following day, July 29, building anticipation ahead of its debut.[13] The single was released on July 30, 2020, through Darkroom and Interscope Records, coinciding with the birthday of Eilish's brother and collaborator Finneas O'Connell.[14] [15] It became the lead single from her second studio album, Happier Than Ever, which was later released in July 2021.[15] The track was made available for streaming on platforms including Spotify and Apple Music at 7:00 p.m. ET.[16]

Musical composition and lyrics

Style and instrumentation

"My Future" blends elements of pop and R&B with jazz and soul influences, manifesting as an uptempo lo-fi ballad that shifts from a delicate, introspective opening to a more expansive arrangement.[17][18] The production, handled by Finneas O'Connell, emphasizes a progression reflective of emotional growth: it commences with mellow electric piano chords establishing a contemplative tone, before incorporating drum programming and subtle electric guitar flourishes to build momentum.[17] Lush background vocal harmonies provide textural depth, enhancing the track's sanguine yet restrained atmosphere.[17] Instrumentation draws on electronic and synthesized elements typical of O'Connell's minimalist approach, including electric bass, electric guitar, bass synth keyboards, and programmed drums that avoid heavy percussion in favor of rhythmic subtlety.[19] The song's key of E♭ major supports its melodic accessibility, with chord progressions featuring atypical major II chords that contribute to its distinctive harmonic flavor.[20] This setup underscores a departure from Eilish's earlier trap-infused sounds toward a more organic, forward-looking aesthetic, prioritizing vocal intimacy over dense layering.[17]

Lyrical content and themes

The lyrics of "My Future" center on themes of personal growth, self-empowerment, and emancipation from romantic dependency, as Billie Eilish contemplates transitioning from relational insecurity to self-reliant optimism.[13] In an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music, Eilish described the song as capturing her realization of independence, stating, "I just couldn't live without somebody or couldn't be happy without somebody or something. And then I was like, 'Holy s**t, I can actually be happy by myself.'"[21] This shift is evident in verses reflecting past vulnerability—"I can't even trust myself / It's killing me and I, I'm not gonna make it all by myself / Without you"—contrasted with the chorus's affirmative pivot: "Cause I, I'm in love / With my future / Can't wait to meet her / And I, I'm in love / But not the way that you think / Gonna be somebody / I'm not gonna be somebody's girl."[13] Eilish personifies her future self as a female entity ("her"), symbolizing an aspirational, autonomous identity detached from external validation, which underscores motifs of self-love and forward-looking hope amid personal evolution.[22] The song's inspirational roots trace to Eilish's childhood affinity for Michael Bublé's "Haven't Met You Yet," which she revisited in a video of herself at age 13 or 14, evoking subconscious themes of anticipation for self-fulfillment over romantic longing.[9][10] Written during the early COVID-19 quarantine on July 21, 2020, the lyrics also evoke resilience in isolation, blending introspection with jazz-inflected buoyancy to reject past relational pitfalls like codependency.[23]

Music video

Production

The music video for "My Future" is an animated short directed by Australian animator Andrew Onorato and produced by Melbourne-based Chop Studio.[4][24] Onorato was approached via email by producers at Interscope Records to develop the visual accompaniment for Billie Eilish's single, submitting initial concepts that underwent collaborative refinement but largely shaped the final product.[4] Animation credits include contributions from Alex Dray, Andrew Onorato, Annie Zhao, Cliona Noonan, Ian Ballantyne, João Monteiro, Josh Trotter, Keith Kavanagh, Maddie Brewer, Nancy Li, Sarah Schmidt, and Sean Anderson, employing a hand-drawn style to depict Eilish's character evolving from a melancholic, rain-soaked figure to one ascending amid blooming flora and celestial elements.[24] The project was completed during the COVID-19 quarantine restrictions, enabling remote creative processes that aligned with the song's introspective themes of personal growth and optimism.[24] Onorato noted the production's emphasis on trust and artistic freedom, drawing from his prior experience in music videos for artists like Childish Gambino.[4]

Synopsis and visual elements

The music video for "my future" depicts an animated Billie Eilish as a diminutive, green-skinned, frog-like humanoid creature who explores and dances through a lush, moonlit forest, symbolizing personal growth and self-love.[25] The narrative begins with the character in a state of introspection, leaping and twirling amid bioluminescent flora and gentle wildlife, gradually transforming and elongating in height as the song progresses to represent maturation and independence from past dependencies. Directed by Andrew Onorato and released on July 30, 2020, the video culminates in the figure standing tall against the night sky, gazing optimistically forward.[4][26] Visually, the video employs hand-drawn 2D animation with intricate details in natural elements, such as swaying trees, glowing mushrooms, and flowing water, evoking a sense of wonder and serenity.[25] The color palette features deep blues and greens accented by moonlight's silvery glow, creating an ethereal atmosphere that contrasts the character's initial small scale with her eventual grandeur.[27] Influences from Studio Ghibli films are evident in the whimsical character design and fluid environmental interactions, including brief appearances of expressive animals like an irate frog, enhancing the thematic emphasis on harmony with nature and inner evolution.[25] The animation's smooth movements and layered backgrounds contribute to a dreamlike quality, aligning with the song's introspective lyrics about embracing one's future self.[4]

Reception

Critical analysis

Critics have lauded "My Future" for its lyrical emphasis on self-reliance and personal agency, interpreting the narrative as a rejection of relational dependency in favor of individual growth. Eilish articulates this through direct declarations of autonomy, such as "I should be loving myself," positioning the song as a manifesto against waiting for external validation, which she confirmed stems from a realization of self-love preceding romantic attachments.[22] [28] This theme resonated amid the July 30, 2020, release during global lockdowns, where reviewers noted its function as a subtle antidote to collective despair, encouraging listeners to envision controllable personal futures rather than passive endurance.[23] Musically, the composition diverges from Eilish's prior trap-influenced minimalism toward a jazz-inflected balladry, commencing with sparse piano and culminating in a prominent saxophone solo that underscores thematic liberation. Finneas O'Connell's production integrates soulful blue notes and broken-beat rhythms, allowing Eilish's soprano to explore brighter timbres without distortion, a maturation evident in comparisons to her debut album's claustrophobic electronics.[8] [29] Critics attributed this evolution to home-recorded sessions during quarantine, yielding a "jazzy electronic torch song" that highlights vocal toughness and melodic nostalgia akin to Disney soundtracks, though grounded in contemporary optimism.[14] The track's deceptively straightforward structure—building from introspection to exuberance—has been analyzed as mirroring psychological transitions from doubt to resolve, with the instrumental shift symbolizing emergent hope.[30] While mainstream outlets praised its empowering restraint over bombast, avoiding overt preachiness, the absence of deeper causal exploration into relational failures limits interpretive depth beyond surface-level self-affirmation.[8] Nonetheless, its alignment with Eilish's stated mindset of excitement for self-discovery underscores a credible pivot, evidenced by consistent positive aggregation in year-end lists despite varying institutional biases in music journalism toward narrative-driven acclaim.[13]

Accolades

"My Future" garnered significant recognition from music critics and publications, appearing on multiple year-end lists of the best songs of 2020. USA Today ranked it as the top song of the year, praising its optimistic shift in Eilish's sound amid the global pandemic.[31] Billboard included the track in its staff-curated list of the 100 Best Songs of 2020, highlighting its collaborative production with Finneas O'Connell and its thematic resonance with self-empowerment.[32] Variety selected "My Future" for its 40 Best Songs of 2020, noting the song's blend of jazz influences and introspective lyrics as a standout in Eilish's evolving discography.[33] Additional placements came from Slant Magazine's 50 Best Songs of 2020, where it was commended for subverting expectations of pop structure, and Refinery29's list of the 29 Best Songs of the Year, emphasizing its role in providing hope during isolation.[34][35] Aggregators like Album of the Year also reflected its critical favor, compiling it among top tracks based on editorial consensus.[36]

Commercial performance

Chart achievements

"My Future" reached a peak position of number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100, debuting at number 7 the week of August 15, 2020, and charting for 20 weeks.[2] It also topped the Billboard Hot Alternative Songs chart.[37] In the United Kingdom, the single peaked at number 7 on the Official Singles Chart.[38] The track performed strongly on streaming platforms, debuting at number 1 on both the US and global Spotify daily charts upon release.[39] It amassed over 562 million streams on Spotify as of recent tracking.[40]

Certifications and sales

"My Future" has achieved multiple certifications reflecting its commercial success through combined sales and streaming equivalents. In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the single 2× Platinum in recognition of 2 million units consumed.[41] In the United Kingdom, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) awarded silver certification for 200,000 units in August 2021, later upgrading to gold for 400,000 units as of January 2025.[42][43] Denmark's IFPI certified it gold, equivalent to 45,000 units. The track has also accumulated over 562 million streams on Spotify alone, contributing significantly to its certified totals.[40]
CountryCertifying bodyCertificationCertified units
DenmarkIFPI DenmarkGold45,000
United KingdomBPIGold400,000
United StatesRIAA2× Platinum2,000,000

Performances and cultural usage

Live renditions

Billie Eilish debuted "My Future" live during a virtual performance at the 2020 Democratic National Convention on August 18, 2020, where she preceded the rendition with a speech urging voter registration and criticizing then-President Donald Trump's leadership.[44] [45] The stripped-down arrangement featured Eilish accompanied by minimal instrumentation, emphasizing the song's introspective lyrics.[44] She performed the track at Amazon's Prime Day Show on June 17, 2021, delivering an intimate version with Finneas O'Connell on piano amid a dimly lit stage setup.[46] Later that year, the song became a fixture in her concert setlists, with data indicating it was played over 100 times across tours by mid-2025.[47] In December 2022, Eilish and O'Connell reunited for a duet rendition at the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony in Singapore, broadcast on PBS, highlighting environmental themes aligned with the event's focus.[48] During the Hit Me Hard and Soft World Tour (2024–2025), "My Future" remained a consistent closer or mid-set highlight, with fan-recorded performances from venues including Santiago, Chile (April 2023), Seattle (December 6, 2024), Tokyo (August 16, 2025), and Miami's Kaseya Center (October 11, 2025) showcasing evolving arrangements with full band production and atmospheric lighting.[49] [50] [51] These live versions often extended the song's jazz-inflected outro, adapting to arena acoustics while preserving its core emotional arc.[47]

Media appearances and covers

"My Future" has been covered by several artists, with notable renditions including Miley Cyrus's acoustic version performed on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge on September 1, 2020, which featured a stripped-down arrangement emphasizing the song's introspective lyrics.[52] Chika released her own interpretation on March 9, 2021, incorporating rap elements over the original's jazz-infused production while praising Eilish's songwriting as a key influence.[53] Folk musician Sarah Jarosz delivered a bluegrass-tinged cover on October 1, 2020, highlighting the track's versatility beyond its pop-jazz roots.[54] These covers underscore the song's broad appeal, though none achieved significant commercial chart impact independent of the original.[55] Regarding media appearances, the track has seen limited sync placements in television, film, or advertising as of 2025, with no major soundtrack features or commercial licenses prominently documented; its primary exposure beyond Eilish's own promotions remains through streaming platforms and user-generated content.[56] The original recording appeared in virtual performances, such as Eilish's rendition at the 2020 Democratic National Convention on August 20, 2020, where it served as an uplifting closer amid political messaging.[57]

Legacy and impact

Artistic influence

"My Future" exemplified Billie Eilish's evolution toward organic, jazz-infused pop production, featuring a saxophone solo by her brother Finneas O'Connell that departed from the electronic dominance of her debut album. This stylistic choice, blending introspective lyrics with upbeat instrumentation, contributed to a broader shift in pop music toward vulnerability and genre experimentation, as observed in analyses of Happier Than Ever.[58] The track's adaptability has influenced jazz and folk interpretations, prompting covers that highlight its harmonic structure and melodic phrasing suited to acoustic settings. Grammy-winning folk artist Sarah Jarosz delivered a stripped-down rendition in October 2020, emphasizing the song's emotional core through guitar and vocals.[54] Similarly, jazz vocalist Aubrey Johnson incorporated it into her repertoire, with critics praising her version for its striking interpretive depth in live performances.[59] Arrangements like the PM Jazz Band's 2025 soulful big-band adaptation further demonstrate how the song's elements have been reimagined in jazz contexts, bridging contemporary pop with traditional improvisation.[60] By prioritizing themes of self-reliance over relational dependence—"I'm in love with my future, but not with anybody else"—the song resonated amid the 2020 pandemic, encouraging similar empowerment narratives in emerging artists' work and reinforcing Eilish's role in normalizing mental health introspection in mainstream pop.[58] This influence extends to production practices, where sibling collaborations like Eilish and O'Connell's home-based approach inspired independent creators to eschew high-budget studios for intimate, DIY aesthetics.[61]

Cultural interpretations and critiques

"My Future" has been widely interpreted as an anthem of personal empowerment and self-reliance, with Eilish articulating in interviews that the song captures a pivotal realization during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020: the capacity for fulfillment independent of romantic involvement.[23] She co-wrote the track with her brother Finneas O'Connell amid quarantine isolation, emphasizing themes of introspection and optimism, as evidenced by the shift from melancholic verses to an uplifting jazz-inflected chorus symbolizing growth.[13] The accompanying animated music video, released on July 30, 2020, depicts Eilish transforming into a colossal female figure striding through landscapes, visually reinforcing motifs of self-actualization and detachment from past dependencies.[22] Feminist analyses frame the lyrics as a rejection of relational dependency, positioning the song as a subtle endorsement of female autonomy in a cultural landscape often critiqued for prioritizing partnership. For instance, the chorus's declaration of love for one's "future" self over external partners aligns with broader narratives of women reclaiming agency, though such readings predominate in progressive-leaning outlets potentially influenced by institutional biases toward individualism.[62] Eilish's own commentary underscores this as a post-breakup epiphany, not ideological advocacy, focusing on empirical self-discovery rather than prescriptive feminism.[28] The pronoun "her" in "I'm in love with my future, can't wait to meet her" has invited queer readings, especially retrospectively after Eilish's 2023 admissions of attraction to women, with some interpreting it as foreshadowing fluid identity exploration.[63] However, Eilish clarified the phrasing as metaphorical for an aspirational self, not literal romantic intent, amid the song's 2020 context of pandemic-induced solitude.[7] This ambiguity has fueled debates on intentional subtext versus overinterpretation, with mainstream commentary often amplifying progressive lenses while downplaying heteronormative defaults. Critiques from conservative perspectives have targeted the song's August 18, 2020, performance at the Democratic National Convention, where Eilish prefaced it with a direct rebuke of President Donald Trump—"We can't let him win"—casting it as partisan activism blending art with electoral advocacy.[64] A Texas county Republican Party chairman publicly mocked the lyrics as "not normal," spotlighting the "meet her" line as suggestive of endorsing same-sex relationships, reflecting broader concerns over cultural normalization of non-traditional orientations in youth-oriented media.[65] Such views, while partisan, highlight causal tensions between the song's self-focused ethos and traditional emphases on familial structures, though empirical data on its societal impact remains anecdotal absent longitudinal studies.[66]

Credits and personnel

References

  1. Billie Eilish shows her soft side in emotional new song 'My Future'
  2. Billie Eilish | Biography, Music & News | Billboard
  3. Billie Eilish's brand new track “Therefore I Am” is topping ... - Facebook
  4. We spoke to the Aussie animator behind Billie Eilish's 'my future' video
  5. Billie Eilish Surprise Releases 2 New Songs: Listen - Billboard
  6. Billie Eilish on surviving teen fame and trauma, and how she finally stopped reading the comments
  7. My Future by Billie Eilish - Songfacts
  8. Billie Eilish 'My Future' Song Review - Vulture
  9. Billie Eilish Says Michael Bublé Inspired 'My Future' - Billboard
  10. Billie Eilish says a Michael Bublé song inspired 'My Future' - NME
  11. Billie Eilish Announces New Song 'My Future' Release Date - Vulture
  12. Billie Eilish Announces New Song 'My Future' - Billboard
  13. Billie Eilish – my future Lyrics - Genius
  14. Billie Eilish Drops 'My Future' in Time for Finneas' Birthday
  15. Billie Eilish Shares New Song “my future”: Listen | Pitchfork
  16. Billie Eilish releases new single My Future — how to stream it
  17. Billie Eilish: “my future” Track Review | Pitchfork
  18. Hear Billie Eilish's Beautifully Eerie New Song 'My Future' - SPIN
  19. My Future by Billie Eilish (Single, Alternative R&B) - Rate Your Music
  20. My Future by Billie Eilish Chords, Melody, and Music Theory Analysis
  21. Billie Eilish details PERSONAL story behind new song 'my future'
  22. Billie Eilish reveals hidden meaning behind My Future lyrics and video
  23. Billie Eilish's New Song 'my future' Finds Hope in Quarantine - Esquire
  24. Watch Billie Eilish's New Animated Video for "my future" - DNAMAG
  25. Billie Eilish Goes Miyazaki in 'my future' | Animation World Network
  26. Billie Eilish: My Future (Music Video 2020) - IMDb
  27. How Billie Eilish, BENEE Made 2020 Year of the Animated Music ...
  28. Here are the Lyrics to Billie Eilish's New Song "My Future" Explained
  29. Billie Eilish: Happier Than Ever Album Review | Pitchfork
  30. I'm Alone In My House Crying Over Billie Eilish's New Song
  31. Best songs of 2020: Billie Eilish to Bob Dylan, 'WAP' to The Weeknd
  32. The 100 Best Songs of 2020: Staff List - Billboard
  33. The 40 Best Songs of 2020 - Variety
  34. The 50 Best Songs of 2020 - Slant Magazine
  35. Music Saved 2020: The 29 Best Songs Of The Year - Refinery29
  36. The Best Songs of 2020 Aggregate - Album of The Year
  37. Billie Eilish Ties The All-Time Record For The Most No. 1 Hits On A ...
  38. BILLIE EILISH songs and albums | full Official Chart history
  39. Billie Eilish's "My Future" Earns #1 On US & Global Spotify Charts ...
  40. Billie Eilish - Spotify Top Songs - Kworb.net
  41. Female Artists Charts - X
  42. 2021 BPI Certifications - UK Charts - BuzzJack Music Forum
  43. BRIT CERTIFIED - BPI Highest Certified Female Artists of All Time in ...
  44. Billie Eilish - my future (Official Live Video) - YouTube
  45. Watch Billie's performance of “my future” live from the 2020 ...
  46. my future (Prime Day Show x Billie Eilish) - YouTube
  47. my future by Billie Eilish Song Statistics | setlist.fm
  48. Billie Eilish with FINNEAS - "my future" | Performance | Season 2022
  49. Billie Eilish | My Future (Live Performance) Chile 2023 - YouTube
  50. Billie Eilish - Live October 11, 2025 @ Kaseya Center, Miami, FL
  51. Billie performing “my future” at her show in Tokyo, Japan! - YouTube
  52. Miley Cyrus Covers Billie Eilish's 'My Future' for the BBC (Watch)
  53. Chika Covers Billie Eilish's “my future”: Listen | Pitchfork
  54. Sarah Jarosz - my future (Billie Eilish cover) - YouTube
  55. 9 Memorable Covers of Billie Eilish Songs - Billboard
  56. Billie Eilish | Tunefind
  57. Billie Eilish says to 'vote like our lives depend on it' in DNC ... - CNN
  58. How Billie Eilish changed pop with new album Happier Than Ever
  59. How Losing a Microphone Led to a West Coast Tour for Jazz ...
  60. “My Future” – Billie Eilish (arr. Thomas Wenglinski) | PM Jazz '25
  61. Team Billie Eilish to Independent Artists: Start with Singles and a Plan
  62. Song Review: “my future” by Billie Eilish - GRL MAG
  63. Our Future: Billie Eilish on Climate Activism and Radical Hope - Vogue
  64. Billie Eilish Delivers Powerful Anti-Trump Speech at DNC - Variety
  65. 'Not Normal': Texas County GOP Chairman Mocks Billie Eilish's ...
  66. “my Future” Review: Billie Eilish Embraces Self-Sufficiency - Axis.org
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