At the 62nd 2020 Grammy Awards, the 18-year-old singer and songwriter Billie Eilish won 5 Grammys including Best New Artist, Song of the Year for “bad guy”, Record of the Year, and Album of the Year. Billie released her debut album in March 2019. She is a generational talent, something special.
Along with her brother, producer and songwriter Finneas O’Connell, and Academy Award Winning Composer Hans Zimmer, Billie wrote the theme song “No Time To Die” for the upcoming James Bond movie of the same title, starring Daniel Craig in his final performance as Agent 007.
Listen as she sings her lyrics:
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Billie’s poignantly haunting departure from previous “Bond” theme songs captured the tragic irony of James Bond’s existence. Daniel Craig’s incarnation of James Bond is inspired. His humanist version portrays the man cursed in love, either betrayed by love or losing the love of his life. James can save the world, but he can’t find true love in the world.
Billie renews relevance in the multi-billion dollar industry of motion picture franchises. Perhaps, none more iconic than James Bond. Perhaps, Billie wins the Best Original Song Oscar for “No Time To Die”?
The COVID-19 pandemic postponed the release of “No Time To Die” to April 2021. The pandemic has already delayed and canceled numerous major motion picture releases in 2020. Perhaps, we will see Billie sing “No Time To Die” at the Oscars in 2022?
In the “Carpool Karaoke” episode with hysterical “Late, Late Show” host James Corden, he and Billie sang her songs while driving on the streets of Los Angeles. After her amazing karaoke rendition of her hit “Ocean Eyes”, which she wrote when she was 13 years-old, Billie introspectively reflected, “That song changed my life…”
She fondly recalled writing songs with her brother Finneas in his bedroom when they were kids. They loved what they did. Billie said, “Something like I do for no reason, but for fun.” Yet, having fun might be the most profound reason of all. Just saying.
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The late Claire Wineland, a cystic fibrosis activist, said that people often search for happiness in life. She said, “That’s bullshit”. No, searching for happiness isn’t bullshit in itself. Rather, the exclusive search can be misguided. Claire said, “Have a life that you’re proud of… Have your life be a piece of art.” Amen.
Maybe, we can’t always locate happiness. Yet, happiness arises out of what we love to do, for no reason. What Billie loves to do. What Claire loved to do. What I love to do. Happiness arises in our Art.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, happiness is harder to find. Still, we can have a life that we’re proud of. We create our life as Art. We can do what we love.
After Sunday morning Aikido practice with weapons and tachiwaza, empty hand technique, I told Sensei Bobby, “Great practice. That was a lot of fun.” He smiled, “It’s all about having fun.” Hai. We endure what we do, we train over the years, because we have fun. Period.
Sensei Bobby has been my Aikido Brother for over 30 years; Mizukami Sensei taught us both. Sensei was meaningful to us. Mad love and respect for Sensei. We make a difference for Aikido students as part of Sensei’s enduring legacy.
Making a difference is meaningful when it’s fun. Making a difference isn’t some “in order to” or about fixing something wrong. Mizukami Sensei’s dream was that everyone practice Aikido to make the world a better place. He wanted us to have fun doing so.
Just train, for no reason. Have fun, for no reason, too. That’s meaningful. Just saying.
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This post is republished on Medium.
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Photo: Billie Eilish on Flickr
