Here's What Billie Eilish's NDA Really Means
It's a great time to be a fan of Billie Eilish. The 19-year-old superstar has released a slew of music on her brand new album "Happier Than Ever," and fans are buzzing. The album released a few teaser songs earlier this month, but didn't officially hit Spotify until July 30. But what makes this album particularly unique is that in addition to Spotify releasing the album's new music, Eilish decided to include what she calls "Lyric Mode." This special content gives listeners an exclusive look into Eilish's thoughts and feelings behind the lyrics of the new album's music.
One of the songs off the album that fans can't get enough of is called "NDA," which was actually a teaser song released on July 9, per Rolling Stone. Alongside the release of the song was its music video, which is just as much of a conversation starter as the song itself. Directed by Eilish, it pictures her as she walks down a road at night being ominously followed by a group of people who disappear as soon as she suspects them. Shot in one take, as Eilish proceeds to walk down the road, cars zip past and weave around her, with the singer appearing to be pretty unbothered by it all (via Vulture). She even called the music video "one of the coolest videos I've ever made in my life," adding that everything in the video was totally real (via Elle).
So what is the song "NDA" actually about?
Billie Eilish says NDA is open for interpretation
According to Billie Eilish, per her "Lyric Mode" description of "NDA," these are her thoughts on the song: "'NDA' is kind of all over the map. It's got a lot of different things going on that were completely different situations. It was really just, like, things that I was thinking and feeling and doing in my life and I was like, 'I should just write about it.' I don't know. I think it's very cool, but, 'NDA' is very all over the place and up for interpretation."
Many listeners of the song have been offering up their own interpretations of what the song could be referencing. One especially poignant analysis comes from Alyssa Bailey via Elle, who describes the song as an "honest assessment of dating and navigating [Eilish's] life while famous." Bailey mentions a lyric that references a situation in which Eilish had to issue a five-year restraining order toward someone who was stalking her, which might explain the ominous figures that were following her in the video (via The Independent).
Billie Eilish and her feelings about fame
Nylon offers quite an in-depth analysis of the song, as well, interpreting it as a commentary on Billie Eilish's complicated relationship with fame. The outlet explains that "NDA" alludes to Eilish having "secretly purchased a house when she was 17, invited a 'pretty boy” over and made him sign an NDA," which is a non-disclosure agreement. NDA's are legally binding documentations that are very commonly requested by celebrities in order to ensure that they can privately share information with the people around them (via Seventeen).
Eilish having secretly bought a house is actually quite big for the singer, as for many years, it has been public knowledge that she's lived at her parents' house. "It's been a couple of years now where I've been doing my own thing," she told Rolling Stone. "But secretly, because nobody needs to know that."
Then, in the second verse, Eilish contemplates "quitting fame for good," with the following lyrics suggesting as much: "I can barely go outside, I think I hate it herе / Maybе I should think about a new career / Somewhere in Kaua'i where I can disappear." The ominous figures in the music video might also represent being in the public eye and constantly being watched by the public.