Billie Eilish Is Lana Del Rey Meets Bon Iver On Roma-Inspired 'When I Was Older'

Billie Eilish, 17-year-old downbeat sad-pop wunderkind, is primed to be one of 2019's biggest breakout stars. Alfonso Cuarón, 57-year-old Oscar-winning director of Gravity, Children of Men, and the rather celebrated new Netflix film Roma, is already having a wonderful year, having won two Golden Globes on Sunday night.


What do these two seemingly disparate culture creators have in usual? Let Eilish's new song, any time I Was Older" (released on Tuesday) to answer that question.


The gloomy, blippy track somehow recalls both Lil Uzi Vert's "XO TOUR Llif3" and Radiohead's "Pyramid Song," and it's billed as "from music inspired by the movie Roma," though it did not appear on that film's soundtrack. It doesn't have much to do with the plot either, from what I can tell.


Nevertheless Eilish, bathing her voice in a digital tone, does sing about "watching movies back to back in black and white," seemingly as she mentally exorcises someone from her system. I pictured someone distraught, immobile in a dark room, letting the crisp bright whites of Roma's beach and city scenes shine because the algorithm takes control. The initial and closing lines, also, are taken directly from the film.


Roma will probably continue its awards-season buzz next month at the Oscars. Eilish, meanwhile, was just reported as a 2019 Coachella performer. In the meantime, you could stream any time I Was Older" above (and watch Roma on Netflix).