Bitches Broken Hearts
The lyrics of "Bitches Broken Hearts" address the aftermath of a breakup. The song received mainly positive reviews from music critics, several of whom praised the music and lyrics. It was certified platinum in the States and Canada by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Music Canada (MC), respectively.
Background and release
"Bitches Broken Hearts" was originally released through Eilish's SoundCloud on November 10, 2017. The song was later released for digital download and streaming on March 30, 2018, through Darkroom and Interscope Records. It was included as the B-side on the 7-inch vinyl of "You Should See Me in a Crown", released on October 20, 2018, and was sold exclusively during her 1 By 1 Tour. "Bitches Broken Hearts" was written by the singer, her brother Finneas O'Connell and Emmit Fenn. The song was co-produced by Finneas and Fenn, making it the first Billie Eilish song to feature production from someone other than Finneas.
Composition
Critical commentary described "Bitches Broken Hearts" as an R&B track. According to sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, "Bitches Broken Hearts" has a moderately fast tempo of 120 beats per minute (BPM) and is played in the key of A minor. Eilish's vocals span one octave from G3 to G4. Lyrically, the song delves into the aftermath of a breakup, Eilish pretends that she no longer needs or cares about her former lover: “You can pretend you don’t miss me/You can pretend you don’t care/All you wanna do is kiss me/Oh, what a shame, I’m not there.” Eilish continues to her lovers' incompatibility, calling them "suicide and stolen art"; she also knows they'll both eventually move on and start to meet new people: "Somebody new is gonna comfort you/Like you want me to/Somebody new is gonna comfort me/Like you never do".
Reception
"Bitches Broken Hearts" was met with generally favorable reviews from music critics. Insider's Claudia Willen, praised Eilish's vocals, saying she "[has] smooth vocals [that] float seamlessly through the track, effectively capturing the fleeting nature that often comes with young love". Kirsten Spruch of Billboard commented that the song has "subdued like a lot of the siblings' work" but has "a tropical flare, which makes it a great Eilish cut for those looking for something a bit more relaxing". Laurence Day of The Line of Best Fit viewed the song as a "intimacy and free-flowing energy of a raw demo take" and "it's still got all of Eilish's sensational vocal power". Commercially, "Bitches Broken Hearts" has been awarded a platinum certification in the United States and Canada by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Music Canada (MC), respectively.
Live performances
In July 2018, Eilish performed "Bitches Broken Hearts" for Vevo Lift. A video for the performance was released to YouTube on July 30, 2018, and was directed by Ryan Booth. Booth shot the basketball docu-series about Penny Hardaway called The Harder Way.
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes of You Should See Me in a Crown / Bitches Broken Hearts.
- Billie Eilish – vocals, songwriter
- Finneas O'Connell – producer, songwriter, guitar, synthesizers, arrangement
- Emmit Fenn – producer, songwriter, engineer, mixer, mastering engineer, drum programming, piano, synthesizers, vocals
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | Platinum | 70,000 |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) | Platinum | 40,000 |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Platinum | 80,000 |
| Mexico (AMPROFON) | Gold | 30,000 |
| Poland (ZPAV) | Gold | 10,000 |
| Portugal (AFP) | Gold | 5,000 |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 200,000 |
| United States (RIAA) | Platinum | 1,000,000 |
|
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | March 30, 2018 |
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| United States | October 20, 2018 | 7" |