Tilly Birds stepped into the global music scene with their first English album, I’ll Remember To Forget You, alongside the striking “Shouting Eyes” music video.
On January 29, Thai alternative indie band Tilly Birds —Third, Billy, and Milo— released their third studio album and their first-ever English album, I’ll Remember To Forget You. It captures the cycle of convincing yourself you’re over someone—again and again—only to remain stuck in the same emotional loop, unable to bring yourself to let go.
The 13-track album includes previously released singles such as “Retro-39,” “Never a Waste of Time,” “Call It a Day,” “White Pills,” and “Heaven,” a collaboration with Filipino band Ben&Ben.
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I’ll Remember to Forget You Tracklist Breakdown
Dearest Tears
“Dearest Tears” hits straight in the chest and kicks the album off with confidence. As the opening track, it works like an emotional appetizer—raw, gripping, and impossible to ignore from start to finish.
Dearest tears, don’t let me down
Saved you up to let you down
I need your love to hurt me now
That line, “I need your love to hurt me now,” cuts especially deep. It shows how pain becomes the last remaining connection to someone who’s already gone.
Our Happy Place
“Our Happy Place” hooks you instantly. The opening dialogue acts like an invitation—and a trap—pulling you in before Third’s vocals hit without warning. From the very first listen, Tilly Birds draw you straight into their version of a “happy place.”
Take me to a good place
Promise me somewhere I’ll finally be okay
At first, the track settles into a beautifully balanced pop arrangement. Third’s vocals lead the way, gliding over upbeat drums and a catchy hook that feels light and comforting. Then everything shifts. The second half charges forward with full-throttle rock energy, powered by sharper synth-guitar lines that raise the intensity.
Because of that shift, it’s impossible not to picture this song live. From the bridge to the outro, the energy feels ready to explode. I’m already looking forward to hearing “Our Happy Place” performed live—it’s the kind of track built to be felt in a crowd.
Call It A Day
An already beloved single, “Call It A Day” fits naturally into the album. This track marks the moment when sadness stops romanticizing itself. Instead, it faces the truth: no matter how hard you try, some relationships simply won’t work. That realization is exactly why it hits so hard. Rather than clinging to what was, the song chooses to end what can’t be saved.
Let’s fall out of love and let’s call it a day
Let’s give up on trying, it’s better this way
You’re so close, you’re so far, it’s so hard
Vocally, Third sounds calmer and more grounded. He doesn’t beg or place blame. Instead, he delivers each line with quiet restraint, letting acceptance speak for itself. As the album unfolds, “Call It A Day” becomes essential. That simple decision to let go turns into one of the record’s most painful moments—not because it’s dramatic, but because it’s real.
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If You Say So (featuring James Alyn)
“If You Say So” captures the mindset of “just say the word and I’ll do it—whatever you want me to do.” It’s devotion taken to the extreme, where giving everything feels natural, even necessary.
My head’s on fire when I’m stuck with you
But I’ll put it out if you say so
Dying inside, making up with you
But I’ll come alive if you say so
This track rides a tight pop-rock groove, driven by an instantly catchy hook and elevated by a lush synth solo that adds a dreamy edge. Here, Tilly Birds fully flex their strength—balancing polished pop instincts with the album’s bolder sonic risks. James Alyn fits seamlessly into the track, his voice locking into the mood and amplifying its emotional pull.
Shouting Eyes
“Shouting Eyes” hits hard from the very first beat. The chorus explodes, the instrumentation cuts sharply, and everything locks into place with precision. Because of that intensity, it’s easy to imagine how explosive this track would feel on stage. The song bottles emotion until it finally bursts—and it doesn’t ask politely.
Your eyes are so inviting,
but your mouth says otherwise
From there, the urgency takes over. The music refuses to hold back, driven by a constant, restless tension that feels openly confrontational. Lines like “You keep repeating, ‘No, no’ / Your eyes are shouting, ‘Go, go’” cut with sharp frustration. Third’s delivery sounds tight and strained, as if he’s holding everything in just enough to make the emotion hit harder.
Finally, the music video ties everything together. By visualizing the Seven Deadly Sins, it reflects the song’s core idea—chaos raging beneath the surface while composure slowly breaks.
Never A Waste Of Time
Nothing misses with this one. “Never a Waste of Time” still stands as my favorite Tilly Birds song. It earns its place on repeat—every day, every moment. Third’s vocals shape a soft, bittersweet ballad that finally lets the album breathe. Still, it doesn’t make things easy.
Instead, the melody opens up and feels gently reassuring, like sunlight breaking through after days of emotional rain. Third sounds composed and calm in the middle of the chaos, a feeling that carries into the music video. As an emotional pause in the album, the song doesn’t erase the pain—it helps you sit with it, like the feeling of acceptance.
White Pills
It’s impossible to imagine Tilly Birds’ English album without “White Pills,” one of their first English singles.
The line “Well, I guess you’re my ghost” sets the tone instantly. The song isn’t just about missing someone—it’s about being haunted by them. They’ve moved on, but he hasn’t. While the other person is out there with someone else, he stays stuck in their place, lying on the same side of the bed, next to nothing. Even with a table full of white pills to distract himself, he can’t stop dreaming about them.
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Dirty Knees
“Dirty Knees” is the song for a drunken night, when regrets hit and mistakes feel louder than ever. It’s not about forgiveness or closure—it’s about knowing you messed up, spiraling anyway, and still wanting them.
Listening to this track feels raw and restless, blending aching desperation with guilty longing. In that state, you beg, reach out, say things you normally wouldn’t, and blame it all on the alcohol afterward. Every note and beat mirrors the tension, pulling you into the messy, unfiltered chaos of emotion.
Retro-39
“Retro-39” remains an all-time favorite. It blends yearning with sweet, playful synths that bring a smile, yet a subtle ache lingers underneath.
Relive the love you left behind
Put it on Retro-39
So I’ll just rewind back to a better time
Rewind back to when you were still mine
The track feels reflective and restrained, capturing the pain of revisiting the past. Instead of moving on, he archives the relationship—preserving it in a version that never changes, never argues, never ends. It’s less about celebrating memories and more about hiding inside them, perfectly echoing the album’s recurring theme of struggling to let go.
Before The Sun Can Shine
“Before The Sun Can Shine” shares similar vibes with “Call It A Day” and “Never a Waste of Time.” This English re-arrangement of “On My Shoulder (เธอไม่ได้อยู่คนเดียว)” is stripped down and emotionally focused, making it especially powerful.
Sittin’ next to you under streetlights
I’ll hold you close right here along the night
Before the sun can shine
The track carries a gentle, suspended atmosphere, admitting that light can exist after darkness. It’s a reminder that he would still be there to offer comfort, even when they’re no longer together.
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Let Me Down In The Morning
“Let Me Down In The Morning” is a 49-second instrumental that feels romantic and like a deep breath. Despite its brevity, it carries the weight of an unsaid conversation. With echoes of “Dearest Tears,” it works as an emotional interlude—a pause rather than a break.
I’ll Remember To Forget You
“I’ll Remember to Forget You” perfectly captures the album’s emotional core. Its easy-listening pop sound, layered with a strong bridge and heartfelt chorus, blends raw vocals, lonely guitar lines, and soft drums to create a deeply moving experience.
The lyrics—like “Hit me like a cannonball”—hit with sudden force, reflecting the overwhelming weight of lost love. Even while trying to move on, he knew they were the only one he wanted. Stuck “on the fences,” the song shows that forgetting isn’t simple or quick; sometimes the only way forward is carrying the memory until it finally fades.
Heaven
The Tilly Birds and Ben&Ben collaboration on “Heaven” perfectly captures the magic of meeting someone at just the right moment. Its bright pop energy instantly draws you in, opening with the chorus and plunging you into the excitement.
“Heaven” feels like sunlight breaking through the album’s heavier emotions, bringing warmth and uplift. It’s about cherishing what was, letting go of what can’t be controlled, and finding peace between memories and reality. It reminds listeners of this album that even after heartbreak, there’s room to heal, hope, and rediscover themselves.
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With I’ll Remember To Forget You, Tilly Birds takes you on an emotional journey through heartbreak—struggling to let go, moving on, and facing longing and yearning. Honestly, it’s one of the most relatable albums I’ve heard. From the first track to the last, you can feel the thought, emotion, and care poured into every song.
Each track hits differently, but in a way that feels like it was written for the moments we all secretly feel but can’t put into words. It doesn’t just tell a story—it makes you feel it. And because it’s in English, I find myself singing along at the top of my lungs, fully immersed in every note and lyric, connecting with it in a way that’s almost personal.
Moreover, it was announced that Tilly Birds will be part of the official artist lineup for the ASEAN•KOREA Music Festival: 2026 ROUND in Philippines, happening on April 18–19, 2026, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Follow Round Festival and National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for further announcements.
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Which track from Tilly Birds’ I’ll Remember to Forget You made you resonate the most?
Source: Tilly Birds, Round Festival
