Drug addiction in the song "Xanny" by Billie Eilish

References

IB Themes

  • Identities because though the verses of the song, is visible how is explored the nature of the self and what it is to be human. Also, is observable topics related with lifestyles and health and well-being.
  • Social organization because, as the theme of identities, the song explores the ways in which groups of people organize themselves through common systems. Moreover, is seeable topics like social relationships and law and order.

Message of the song

Verses

Chorus: "I'm in their second hand smoke / Still just drinking canned Coke / I don't need a Xanny to feel better / On designated drives home / Only one who's not stoned / Don't give me a Xanny, now or ever"
Meaning: It implies the confrontation to the drugs by the character (perhaps the same singer, Eilish). With the first line, is seeable what is the situation the character is in is like, this is negative, since it's having a negative impact on her or him (Secondhand smoke is smoke inhaled involuntarily by a non-smoking person). Continuing, we can observe that the character continues to drink “canned Coke” as opposed to using the drug, Xanax, even, affirms to her or his friends that doesn’t “need a Xanny to feel better”. With this, apparently, the character is the only one who refrains from using these drugs and as a result, is the only one who can drive her friends home as a sober individual. Thus, the character has seen the impact of drugs first hand. Therefore, he/she doesn’t want to be given “a Xanny, now or ever.”

Eilish, B. (2019). Xanny. Retrieved from: .
Mayo Clinic. (w.d.). Drug addiction (substance use disorder). Retrieved from: https://dualdiagnosis.org/drug-addiction/.
Dual Diagnosis.org. (w.d.). Foundations Recovery Network. Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/drug-addiction/symptoms-causes/syc-20365112.
BBC. (2019). Billie Eilish: 4 Things You May Not Know About The Teen Singer Who Made Grammy History. Retrieved from: https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-50837368.
BBC. (2020). Billie Eilish at the Grammys: A timeline of her life and career. Retrieved from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/51265890.
Stiernberg, B. (2019). Billie Eilish On 'Xanny' Inspiration: 'I Don't Want My Friends To Die Anymore. Retrieved from: https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8504834/billie-eilish-on-xanny-inspiration-i-dont-want-my-friends-to-die-anymore.

Cultural aspect

  • Xanny: Is a a colloquial term (apparently created by the singer Billie Eilish) that refers to the recreational and street drug, Xanax, which was created to treat anxiety by providing a temporary mood improvement, however this drug is also highly addictive and dangerous when taken continuously.
  • Drug adiction (also called substance use disorder): Is a disease that affects the brain and behavior of a person, which produces both psychological dependence and physical dependence on a certain substance (such as Xanax), causing the inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug.

Features of the song

Based on the existence of drugs and their increase in the last decade, the singer reacts to promote reflection in society, where a change must be made in people's actions regarding drug use.

Background

In to extent the song “Xanny” by Billie Eilish depict the drug addiction and its consequences in the young people in the USA in the period 2019-20?

How does the song "Xanny" by Billie Eilish, depict the impact of the drugs in the USA?

There is an analysis of the drug use by young in US and the link with the lyrics of the song.

Throughout the song, it express the theme of drug use and drug adiction in United States .

Eilish finds different ways of expressing the ugliness of drug addiction that she has seen in American people’s lives, even expressing her wise dislike for the lifestyle and declaring that no matter what may happen in life, she doesn’t “need a Xanny to feel better”.

Demonstrates how the song "Xanny" portrays the current issue of drug use and addiction by teenagers, which also affects and is present in many countries around the world.

Singer

The writer and singer of the song "Xanny" is the American singer Billie Eilish, a young girl which starts her carreer since she was 14 years old. The artist speaks openly about this condition that she suffers: Tourette syndrome. On the other hand, her songs are based on her life and that of his brother, who is her producer.