Katy Perry expressed her sadness for passing up the opportunity to collaborate with Billie Eilish.
The American Idol judge, 38, revealed to the crowd during what looked to be a small performance on Friday on a TikTok shared by 102.7 KIIS FM that she had previously been requested to work with Eilish on her breakthrough track, “Ocean Eyes”—before the 21-year-old went on to win a Grammy.
Perry claimed that she once received an email from someone saying, “Hey, check out this new artist,” however it is unclear to whom she is alluding. She was collaborating with me on Unsub [Records], so I would really like for us to collaborate with her.”
“It was a song called ‘Ocean Eyes,’ and it was just a blonde girl,” said Perry. “And I was like, ‘Meh, boring.'”
Perry acknowledged, her eyes widening, “Big error. Big error.” Then, jokingly, she said, “Do not let this hit the Internet.”
With the release of “Ocean Eyes” in 2015, Eilish gained initial recognition and went on to become one of the most well-known figures in the music business, earning seven Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and an Oscar for Best Original Song.
As evidenced in Eilish’s 2021 documentary Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry, the two musicians have since forged a friendship. Perry introduced herself and her then-fiance Orlando Bloom to the young singer, who at first failed to recognize the Pirates of the Caribbean actor.
Backstage at Coachella, Perry told Eilish, “My fiancé who does not listen to modern music, he will only play you in the car all the time.”
Then Bloom gave Eilish a hug and exclaimed, “I am so proud of you.”
Perry continued, “Congrats, I am so proud of you,” before offering some wise counsel. “This is going to be crazy for ten years, I wanted to say. It is a strange voyage, so if you ever want to talk, please do.”
Following their departure, Eilish enquired of her brother Finneas’ identity, to which Finneas promptly informed her of Bloom’s credits, chief among them being his portrayal of Will Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean.
“That person? That was him? “asked the woman. “Not at all! Return him to you. I would like to see him once more. He gave me a peck on the cheek. I was unaware that it was him. I assumed Katy Perry had simply met some random guy.”
Bloom came back and gave the singer a long, tender hug before Eilish took the stage. “This is a hug from the cosmos to you. The actor said to Eilish, “I am giving you so much love and life right now.