Billie Eilish: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

The Tiny Desk is working from home for the foreseeable future. Introducing NPR Music's Tiny Desk (home) concerts, bringing you performances from across the country and the world. It's the same spirit — stripped-down sets, an intimate setting — just a different space.

Aug. 26, 2020 | Stephen Thompson -- It didn't take long for Billie Eilish to become one of the biggest pop stars in the world, sweep the Grammy Awards' major categories and release the latest James Bond theme. And today, at just 18, she and her brother, Finneas, have accomplished what no one has been able to do for five and a half months: perform a Tiny Desk concert in what certainly appears to be the NPR Music offices.

Of course, due to safety concerns, even the NPR Music staff can't set foot in the building that houses Bob Boilen's desk. But if you look over Eilish's shoulder, there's no mistaking the signs that she's appearing at the Tiny Desk in its present-day form: On the last day before staff began working from home, I took home the Green Bay Packers helmet that sat on the top shelf — the one Harry Styles had signed a few weeks earlier — for safe keeping. In this performance, that spot is empty.

So how the heck did they do it?

Honestly, it's best that you watch the whole video to experience the extent of the technical feat — which, in the spirit of Eilish's Saturday Night Live performance, they're willing to share with you. And thankfully, we still have our ways of photographing the desk, even if the room has fallen silent.

So settle in for a welcome jolt of Tiny Desk innovation, not to mention two of the excellent standalone singles Billie Eilish has released in the past year: "my future" and "everything i wanted." And, seriously, be sure to watch until the very end.

SET LIST
"my future"
"everything i wanted"

MUSICIANS
Billie Eilish: vocals, keys; Finneas: keys, guitar

CREDITS
Video by: Matty Vogel; Audio by: Finneas; Art Director: Henry Hickman; Producer: Bob Boilen; Audio Mastering Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Video Producer: Morgan Noelle Smith; Associate Producer: Bobby Carter; Photographer: Michael Cullen; Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey; Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

[nprmusic]

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[MMMMatt]

The real unsung hero here is the production intern who had to run to kinko's and print off high def images of the NPR tiny desk and assemble it perfectly to fool us all.

[Coolgirlclare]

her voice is like someone running their hands through your hair

[pidygonzales]

here in 2024 asking for another tiny desk concert. we need this.

[sasacabalquinto]

Them singing Everything I wanted together felt like they've shared many lives together, not only in this lifetime. So precious.

[enzomartinmusic]

I'm impressed
1. by their talent
2. cause no one's commenting about how convincing that cardboard is

[Taggimit]

The moment she said "cardboard cutout" I scheduled a vision appointment.

[lulu]

she was 19 here, i find it so difficult to believe. incredibly talented

[plexus]

I like how it feels like Finneas is happy to be in the background and have his sister front and center, and works to prop her up and be a pedestal for her to reach a higher place. Good on him.

[plou]

7:32 when Billie misses her entrance, then smiles at her brother holding it together with his harmony. Definitely my favorite part.

[pohanah]

I don't think anybody is giving her brother enough praise. Do you guys hear those lyrics. How much love he has for her based on the second song, it's so ridiculously precious.

[Aceization]

The voice is timeless. You could play that opening song at any point in the past 100 years and people would love it.

[dougsthang]

Never heard a voice sound so intimate and close mic’d when they’re actually back off the mic. Great vocal quality.

[EggBeatzz]

As someone who has a horrible habit of singing along with EVERYTHING, Billie had me completely still and silent. Breathtaking.

[AshTooAsh]

I want a whole album stripped down like this. It's so relaxing.

[johnjensen]

I'm sorry I missed this 2 years ago. A ton of respect for her and her brother's talent!

[priankapadayachee]

I honestly love watching Finneas watch Billie... such pure love and admiration!!! Incredible sibling relationship

[ritapereirareis]

A fact you can’t deny...

You may know all the lyrics but you were too hypnotized to sing along

[attachmentissues]

Billie's smile when she got a bit late singing
"Cause it feels like yesterday was a year ago" epic

[CarryTheZero]

The innocence and fragility in her voice really gets me