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Released on Jan 21, Billie Eilish and Rosalía premiered their long-awaited collaboration “Lo Vas A Olvidar” for the popular show Euphoria’s upcoming special, “Part Two: Jules.” Because of coronavirus shutdowns, the show and song were both put on hold, leaving fans wondering when they would be released. Now, things are finally making some headway with two special episodes that premiered on Jan 24 for fans to watch as they wait for season 2.
While there are some troubling themes in Euphoria, your teen may gravitate toward its artful style and Emmy-winning storytelling. And now that Gen Z icons Billie Eilish and Rosalía are involved, your teen may be even more interested in what this show is all about. In this post, we’ll review Euphoria and the song “Lo Vas A Olvidar” and offer tips on starting great conversations about them with your teen.
Euphoria
Starring Zendaya as Rue, an introverted teen who struggles with drug addiction, Euphoria explores the topics of drugs, sex, relationships, and violence in a teenager’s world. From what we know about the show so far, it’s no exception to HBO’s list of graphic shows. Though Euphoria is about teens, the show’s adult content (strong language, nudity, etc.) may not be appropriate for your teen to watch. Even people outside of the faith community have found the show to be controversial and troubling.
Despite its explicit nature, the show touches on heavy issues that may ring true to some teens that aren’t typically displayed in the media. Even fans who are uncomfortable with the graphic nature of the show say it’s still worth the watch because of its cinematography, engaging storytelling, top-tier actors and actresses, and its ability to showcase secondary characters that mirror the main character’s depth of development.
Discussing the show with your teen
The thought of our teens watching such an intense show can be worrying. If this show is something your teen has watched or is interested in, open up a conversation with them and consider asking your teen some of the questions below. And remember, show them that you care about their opinion, even if you really don’t agree with them.
For teens who have watched Euphoria:- How is the show realistic to high school today? How is it unrealistic?
- Does the show’s graphic content bother you? Why or why not?
- Looking at Euphoria through a biblical lens, what are the pros and cons of the show?
- Would you recommend this show to a friend?
- Do you plan on watching season 2 when it comes out?
- Is Euphoria a show you would like to watch? Why or why not?
- In your opinion, is graphic content and strong language something to be cautious about in movies and shows? Why or why not?
- Are your friends watching Euphoria? If so, what do they say about it?
- Are there other shows like Euphoria that you’re interested in watching? If so, what are they?
“Lo Vas A Olvidar”
¿Lo va’ a olvidar? (Will you forget it?) Can you let it go? Can you let it go?
¿Lo va’ a olvidar? Can you let it go? ¿Lo va’ a olvidar?
“Lo Vas A Olvidar” is featured in the upcoming Euphoria special, “Part 2: Jules,” giving fans a taste of the moody, mysterious show to come. The music video for “Lo Vas A Olvidar” features Eilish and Rosalía singing with large bubbly acrylic nails in a creatively lit empty space, uniting English and Spanish lyrics with a chilling, hypnotic sound. It’s Eilish’s first dive into Latino music, and fans are loving it.
Translating to “Will You Forget It,” this breakup song yearns for forgiveness, or even a complete absolution, of mistakes with a significant other. The lyrics leave some fans wondering whether this song is a reflection of the singers’ personal experiences or was specifically made for the show. While the connection to the show or the artists is unclear, this song speaks to our imperfect human nature and deep need for forgiveness when we mess up.
Dime que no te arrepientes aún (Tell me you still don’t regret it)
Dime si aún queda algo en común (Tell me we still have something in common)
El tiempo que se pierde no vuelve (The time that is lost does not return)
Dame un beso y bájame de la cru’ (Give me a kiss and take me down from the cross)
Rosalía and Eilish reference their mistakes and condemnation with the symbol of being strung up on a cross, as if they endured this brutal form of punishment—one that Jesus suffered—for their sins. They want forgiveness, and in order to receive it, they must be taken down from a cross to let go of their problems and move forward. But rather than picking it up themselves as Jesus calls us to do, they’re pleading for someone else to help them to escape their cross unscathed, as if it never existed.
Un día se hundió y al otro puedo partirme (One day I’m a god and the next I can break)
You say it to me like it’s something I have any choice in
If I wasn’t important, then why would you waste all your poison?
When we’re in love, life feels like a rollercoaster, and it can be hard to make the right decisions when everything feels so unstable. While we can easily blame this on human nature, it’s important to acknowledge our personal shortcomings. Additionally, when Eilish and Rosalía sing “Carrying all this poison isn’t good,” and later “If I wasn’t important, then why would you waste all your poison?” it’s likely the singers are using poison to symbolize the grudge of someone they care about, as if their worth is proved by the amount of effort someone put into hating them.
Discussing the song with your teen
As you may have gathered, this song isn’t entirely hopeful. We don’t know if they were forgiven by their exes or if they ever will be. This mirrors how we are bound to make mistakes and how we have no real control over how others will react when we do. When talking about this with your teen, consider these questions:
- When it comes to past relationships, is it important to have closure? Why or why not?
- What would you do if someone you cared about wouldn’t forgive you?
- Have you ever felt trapped by your mistakes? If so, how did you feel? What did you do to move forward?
- How can we move on when someone refuses to forgive us?
- Is forgiving and forgetting a mistake the same thing? Why or why not?
- How can we actively forgive ourselves and others in a biblical way?
Keep reading
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- Fear of Failure: Teen Guidance
- Review: Billie Eilish’s “Therefore I Am”