Finneas won’t simply be up for accolades for his work with sister Billie Eilish at the 2022 Grammy Awards ceremony next year. Because the singer and producer, whose first album Optimist was released in October, is also nominated for the Best New Artist award. The album, which is filled with expertly composed ballads that ride the spectrum of pop music, demonstrates how polished Finneas is on his own.
“Only A Lifetime” is one of the album’s most contemplative tracks, as Finneas ruminates on the lyrics as he walks through the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach in the new single-take video. “How do you know if you’ve done everything right?” he inquires. Is it the money you kiss at night or the love you hold in your hand? ” they say as they pass by groupers and anemones in their enormous aquariums. The song is extremely direct about grasping the time we have before us, and he sings “So don’t waste the time you have, waiting for time to pass.” It’s only a lifetime; it’s not long enough; you won’t enjoy it if you don’t love it, so don’t waste it.”
And as his lyrics begin to conclude, the camera pulls back it reveals the surprise, that he’s actually there with his family. Eilish, their momma, Maggie Baird, and pop, Patrick O’Connell. They look on at the fish and it drives home the point of the song, like a wholesome new-age Norman Rockwell painting come to life.
