Billie Eilish, “No Time to Die” | Track Review

Grammy-winning alternative pop musician Billie Eilish delivers another awesome James Bond song with the haunting ballad, “No Time to Die.”

Things don’t seem to be slowing down for Grammy-winning alternative pop star Billie Eilish.  In 2019, she had a breakout, once-in-a-lifetime album with WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?.  Unsurprisingly, in 2020, she racked up the Grammys, sweeping the big four categories of Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist.  Post-Grammy domination, and after a high-profile performance at the Academy Awards where brother FINNEAS accompanied her on piano, she releases a new single, “No Time to Die,” set to appear in the latest 007 film, No Time to Die.

As always, “No Time to Die” is co-written by Billie Eilish and FINNEAS (what a formidable team), with FINNEAS co-producing alongside Stephen Lipson.  The sound is a nice balance between that signature Eilish sound we’ve come to love – more understated, yet always chilling and haunting – and the dramatic, dark nature of the music appearing in the James Bond films.  For most of the song, the listener is mesmerized by the soft yet potent nature of Eilish’s instrument, with ample lyrical expressiveness.  But, even the oft-understated teen rises to the occasion, pushing her voice and singing dynamically to match the soaring nature of the music.  Of course, this moment occurs on the chorus:

“That I’d fallen for a lie
You were never on my side
Fool me once, fool me twice
Are you death or paradise?
Now you’ll never see me cry
There’s just no time to die.”

Final Thoughts

Billie Eilish continues to be the gift that keeps giving. “No Time to Die” has the makings of another potential Academy Award winning James Bond song.  Think about what Bond has done for Adele and Sam Smith – just saying.  This is a well-written, well-performed, truly gorgeous ballad that plays to Eilish’s strengths.

Billie Eilish • “No Time to Die” – Single • Darkroom / Interscope • Release: 2.13.20

Photo Credits: Darkroom / Interscope