"&Burn" is a song by American singer Billie Eilish and American rapper Vince Staples. It was released for digital download and streaming as a single on December 15, 2017, through Darkroom and Interscope Records, and was later included on a reissue of Eilish's debut EP, Don't Smile at Me, in December of that year. Staples and Finneas O'Connell co-wrote the song, with the latter solely handling production. A hip hop-influenced track, the song is an alternate version of Eilish's single "Watch".
In a statement made by Eilish to The Fader through 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 brother Finneas O'Connell were 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]
Critical commentary described "&Burn" as a "hip hop-influenced pop track".[1][12] David Renshaw from The Fader described "&Burn" as a "moody slow-burner packed with booming drums and hushed verses".[1] Wandera Hussein of Billboard stated 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
"&Burn" was met with generally favorable reviews from music critics. Insider's Callie Ahlgrim commented that "Watch" feels more "vulnerable" and "nostalgic", while "&Burn" sounds "powerful" and "resolute".[13] Lindsay Howard of Variance labeled the former as "simmering".[3] Robin Murray of Clash described "&Burn" as a "remarkable fusion that brings out the best in [Eilish] and [Staples].[15] Matthew Kent, writing for The 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 of NME explained 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 of Atwood Magazine dubbed the song as "stronger" and "bolder" than "Watch", but still "retain[s] the same vulnerability the original lyrics offer".[5] Commercially, "&Burn" has been certified gold in the United States and platinum in Australia by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), respectively.[18][19] To promote "&Burn", Eilish performed it live at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival with Staples in April 2019.[20]
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of the Don't Smile at Me reissue.[9]
