Copycat (Billie Eilish song)

"Copycat" was released on July 14, 2017, as the fourth single on Eilish's debut EP Don't Smile at Me.[1] "Copycat" was written by the singer and Finneas O'Connell, her brother and the track's sole producer. Mastering and mixing was handled by the studio personnel, John Greenham, and Rob Kinelski, respectively.[2] In an interview with Genius, 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 by Sofi Tukker was released on January 12, 2018.[4] Dan Regan of Billboard praised 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]

"Copycat" has been described as a hip-hop-influenced electronica and pop track in press reviews.[6][7][8] According to sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, "Copycat" has a slow and constant tempo of 64 beats per minute (BPM) and is played in the key of E minor. Eilish's vocals span a range of E₃ to G₅.[9] It features a minimalist production consisting of a bass guitar and piano.[7][10] Titiana Crisano of Billboard compared the instrumetation to the later work of XXXTentacion and Tyler, the Creator.[7] In an interview with Billboard, 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 a falsetto and 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 "psyche" and returns to the original dark lyrics.[7][11][13][14]

Insider's Libby 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's Thomas 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 of The Irish Times described the ending as a "menacing synth" that reappears to "underscore her sullen demeanour".[16] Kirsten Spruch of Billboard described the track as a "ground-shaking opener".[14] Mike Wass writing for Idolator labeled "Copycat" as a "raised middle-finger to all the fakes and frauds".[17] Katherine Cusumano of W magazine cited the track as a "don't-eff-with-me opening statement".[11]

Commercially, "Copycat" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, however, it peaked at number 12 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[18] The song also peaked at number 100 on the Canadian Hot 100.[19] "Copycat" has been awarded notably a double platinum certification award from the Mexican Association of Producers of Phonograms and Videograms, A.C. (AMPROFON).[20]

Eilish performed "Copycat" at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April, at the Glastonbury Festival in June, and at Pukkelpop in August 2019.[21][22][23] "Copycat" was included on the setlist of Eilish's 2019 When We All Fall Asleep Tour, and on her 2020 Where Do We Go? World Tour.[24][25]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Don't Smile at Me.[2]

• Billie Eilish – vocals, songwriter
• Finneas O'Connell – songwriter, production
• John Greenham – mastering
• Rob Kinelski – mixing