“Giving me 2015 tumblr boy energy”: Internet reacts as Central Cee sings Billie Eilish’s ‘Birds of a Feather’ in a recent video

Central Cee recently surprised audiences by serenading them with Billie Eilish's Birds of a Feather. The British rapper is currently in the UK as part of his 'Can't Rush Greatness' World Tour, and he performed the song on stage at London’s O2 Arena, which displayed his full range of versatility. His performance was met with much fanfare from the fans, both by those in the arena and on social media.

The event itself was full of surprises, and lively performances from Skepta, Lil Baby, and Sexyy Red only added to the appeal of the event. The clips of the event went viral on social media and sparked a wave of reactions from users who were surprised to see a different side of Central Cee:

"Central cee trying to be emo is giving me 2015 tumblr boy energy and i'm not mad at it lol," commented one fan.

"A supportive king!" exclaimed another.

"UK drill meets sad girl vibes—never thought I’d see the day, but it kinda works," wrote another fan.

"Stfu i need this version its wholesome," remarked a fourth user.

The event wasn't without its detractors, as some fans rolled their eyes at the rendition of Billie Eilish's much-acclaimed song:

"He needs to save that for the drafts," joked one fan.

"Now I know why he “raps,” trolled another.

"Central Cee murdered this song literally. I guess he had run out of songs from his "expansive catalog" had to do something", mocked yet another fan.

"He sounds a mess no shade," remarked another.

Central Cee and his admiration for Billie Eilish

This wasn't the first time Central Cee has publicly acknowledged Birds of a Feather's impact on him, as he has previously expressed his appreciation for Billie Eilish and her tracks. In an interview with CRG Radio show recently, he professed his love for the track and paid tribute to Billie Eilish:

"You see me, I don’t know lyrics. I was saying I know ‘Juicy’ by Biggie Smalls just about off by heart and that’s the only song and then, after listening to it maybe a thousand times, I know Billie Eilish’s ‘Birds of a Feather"

He then shared his journey from being a casual listener to becoming an ardent fan of Eilish:

"I need to listen to something for time to hear lyrics. I think I fancied her first. I was looking at her, I was just watching the video to look at her and then I started thinking, ‘Yeah, no, this actually cold. And now I don’t know if it’s ‘mind games’; I’ve just heard it so much, but I love it. I just love the music now. It’s not even about [Eilish] anymore"

The report then goes on to add:

"I’ve just been told that [‘Birds of a Feather’] was one of the biggest songs of last year, and it kind of makes me think that when something’s so popular — I know people do it with my music — that I’m not actually as unique as I think I am for liking that song. But I am in my circle!"

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While UK drill and alternative pop may seem worlds apart, Central Cee embracing the spirit of the song by performing it live on stage speaks volumes to his willingness to push creative boundaries. Not to mention the respect and adulation he has for Billie Eilish.

Central Cee's 'Can't Rush Greatness' Tour only started on April 1, 2025, in Oslo and is scheduled to wrap up on July 2 in Perth, Australia. As he carries on with his World Tour, audiences can expect more such spontaneous acts of inspiration from the rapper.

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