The opening credits of True Detective Season 4 are soundtracked by a Billie Eilish song, and while some fans are loving it, the left-field choice also has its haters.
Music has been important to the first three seasons of True Detective, setting the scene for the grim themes being explored.
Season 1 was acclaimed for its metaphysical musings and hypnotic performances by Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. But just as memorable was ‘Far From Home,’ the apocalyptic opening theme by The Handsome Band.
Season 4 is filled with music, and you can read a run-down of every song used thus far here. But the Billie Eilish song that plays over the titles has caused something of a furor online.
True Detective fans divided by Billie Eilish’s credits song
‘Bury a Friend’ by Billie Eilish plays over the opening credits of True Detective Season 4. The song is the third track released from the artist’s debut album, was written with her brother/producer Finneas O’Connell, and released in January 2019.
It’s a dark song with dark imagery that matches some of the events in True Detective Night Country. But not everyone is happy with its use, with some taking to Twitter/X to express their annoyance.
One fan writes: “Billie Eilish’s song playing in the newest True Detective is enough reason for me to retire this show forever from my watchlist.”
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Billie Eilish song is playing in the newest True Detective is enough reason for me to retiring this show forever from my watchlist pic.twitter.com/koIGGZGbjr
— V- (@EROTlCALISA) January 15, 2024
Another critic wants it changed: “Is it too late for the new true detective title sequence to get a new song? Billie Eilish just isn’t on brand for TD sorry!”
But it isn’t all negative. One fan wrote: “Billie Eilish doing the theme song for the new True Detective season? Yeah count me in it’s going to be incredible.” While ‘The Collector‘ concurs, Tweeting: “OK, I was NOT expecting Billie Eilish x True Detective Season 4 and I am completely on board.”
Billie Eilish doing the theme song for the new True Detective season? Yeah count me in it’s going to be incredible.
— gearoid (@gearoidwalsh) January 14, 2024
Why the Season 4 team chose ‘Bury a Friend’
An old Billie Eilish song isn’t the obvious choice for True Detective’s opening credits, but showrunner Issa López says that once she properly listened to the lyrics, it was a no-brainer.
“I knew that the series was going to need a powerful anthem, a showstopper, honestly,” López tells Insider. “When we were doing the titles, I tried several things and then I realized that the lyrics of this song seem to be written for the series.
“It’s crazy. It talks about a tongue, about burying your friend. It seemed that it was made for the show. So we tried it and it just matched and it was meant to be.”
True Detective Night Country is available on HBO and MAX in the US, and Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK. Click here to read our review of Season 4.