Billie Eilish hits hard in newest release

By: Abigail Olear

May 17, 2024

Billie Eilish in the “LUNCH” music video // Screenshot via Youtube

From making tear-jerking music about plastic dolls to winning armfuls of Grammys or letting spiders crawl into her mouth, Billie Eilish has become a pop culture phenomenon in the past several years. Now, the singer has more music to add to her resume. 

On Friday May 17, Eilish released “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT," her first new album since “Happier Than Ever” in 2021. The singer did not release any singles ahead of the album’s release, only short snippets of some songs, so there were little to no expectations of this new era’s sound.

Coming hot off of two Grammys and a Golden Globe for “What Was I Made For?,” Eilish has become even more of a household name in within the past year. However, some new listeners may not be familiar with the fact that Eilish’s typical sound is different from that in “Barbie.” “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” explores the ‘old’ Eilish, while still evolving and maturing her sound.

A soft guitar riff and Eilish’s sweeping, airy vocals welcome listeners to the album in “SKINNY.”

The lyrics are reminiscent of her previous album’s first track, “Getting Older.” Eilish explores changes that have happened throughout her life while growing up in the limelight. She touches on body image, a theme that has been prevalent throughout all  of her music.

“SKINNY” closes with a soft, violin outro. Eilish includes outros on many other of her songs in this album. Each song is long, at least for current pop music standards, with an average song length of 4:22. I applaud Eilish for not falling victim to the typical “three minute or less” and “get right to the chorus” formula of pop songs in the era of streaming and Tik Tok.

The next track “LUNCH” went viral after Eilish released a snippet of it on social media. She sings about attraction and lust over a funky guitar riff.

Speculations over Eilish’s sexuality have been picked over in the media year after year. She first publicly discussed being attracted to women in
Variety’s November 2023 cover story, stating, “I love them [girls] so much. I love them as people. I’m attracted to them as people. I’m attracted to them for real.” When later asked on a red carpet if she meant to come out in that interview, she said not really, but she had assumed it was obvious. Eilish then expressed her frustration with all of the publicity surrounding her coming out both on her Instagram and with Rolling Stone, stating she was frustrated not having control over what the media published.

With “LUNCH” Eilish is able to take the conversation over her sexuality into her own hands. "That song was actually part of what helped me become who I am, to be real,” Eilish said to Rolling Stone.

Track four, “BIRDS OF A FEATHER,” is a perfect ‘windows down at sunset’ summer jam and is in the running for my new favorite Billie Eilish track.

While Eilish has written love songs, many of them are tainted in some way. “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” is refreshing for the singer, centered around a love that will last “‘til the light leaves my eyes.” 

“I knew you in another life / You had that same look in your eyes,” she sings in a breezy tone in the post-chorus. The lyrics can apply to any kind of love, whether romantic or platonic. 

After “Happier Than Ever,” Eilish and FINNEAS have seemed to take on the challenge of creating songs that sound completely different in their first and second half, but are one cohesive piece that take the listener on a journey. Track 7, “L’AMOUR DE MA VIE,” does just that.

What seems like a simple guitar tune about a break up builds with a drumbeat and layered vocals at the second chorus and changes into an modern 80’s synth track halfway through. Eilish uses voice modulation, something that she has done many times in the past. The first half is breezy while the second half could be featured in a Charli XCX album.

Cover art for “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” // Spotify

“THE DINER” reflects Eilish's eerie vibe from her first full album, “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?” The singer has been open about her experiences with stalkers in the past. This track is written from the perspective of an over-obsessed fan and sung in a creepy, echoey voice.

“I’m waiting on your block / But please don’t call the cops / They’ll make me stop / And I just wanna talk,” Eilish sings in the first verse. 

As someone who has an irrational fear of someone breaking into my house, I don’t think I will be able to listen to this song alone or at night. But, I guess this means Eilish achieved the correct tone within her song!

The album closes out with “BLUE,.” an unreleased track Eilish has been teasing since 2020. The song is centered around denial, then eventual acceptance of a breakup.

“I wanna live in black and white but I’m so blue,” Eilish opens the song with, seemingly saying that she would rather be numb than be sad. 

Additionally, the concept connects with the singer’s synesthesia, a condition in which the brain connects information to things like colors or numbers. Eilish has said in the past that the condition has had a massive impact on everything she has released. In this song, she compares stages of her ex’s life to different shades of blue.

Violins in the song’s outro mimic those in the first track, creating a complete listening experience.

Overall “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT,” is a great addition to Eilish’s discography, especially for any new fans just getting into the singer after her blockbuster “Barbie” success. Each song is distinct, yet they all blend nicely for a cohesive end product.

Eilish continues to cement herself among the greats of pop music at just 22 years old, taking back her own narrative and maturing with each new release.