Billie Eilish's New Album

Upon hitting play to Billie Eilish’s latest album, the first words heard between giggles and mouth-like slurps are “I have taken out my Invisalign, and this is the album!” The 13 second opening track called “!!!!!!” on WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? dissolves into loud cackles between Eilish and her producer FINNEAS. And just like that, the first track of Billie Eilish’s debut album is over.

As a somewhat-fan, this caught me off guard in the most unsurprising way. Eilish’s odd demeanor is a major reason, if not the biggest reason, why she has become such a staple among teenagers. You never know what’s coming, and this album demonstrates this perfectly.

The second song on the record, WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP WHERE DO WE GO?, titled “bad guy” plays with heavy bass and the concept of acting tough but staying seductive. Specifically, the lyrics “I'm that bad type; Make your mama sad type; Make your girlfriend mad tight; Might seduce your dad type” caught my attention. Interestingly, it’s seems unlikely Eilish has a love interest currently, or if she does, it’s very private. Knowing Eilish as being an odd, playful figure, it’s intriguing to hear her throw in intimate lyrics.

Throughout the album, the seventeen-year-old does a fantastic job of singing about topics her fanbase can identify with. The track xanny, for instance, tackles how the use of Xanax and other substances is so apparent everywhere she travels. The chorus gives insight to Eilish’s views and past experiences with the topic by stating “I'm in their second hand smoke; Still just drinking canned Coke; I don't need a Xanny to feel better.”

Throughout the album, Eilish remains honest and true to her brand with quirky laughs, squeeks, and other sounds layered with deep lyrics and sincere vocals. Billboard claims that Eilish could be in the running for the Album of the Year award at the 2020 Grammys.

There’s something fascinating about Eilish’s willingness to say and do the opposite of the pop music norm and she’s found so much success from her uniqueness. It seems likely that Eilish’s different take on the world around her has the potential to change the face of music. With WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? being her debut album, she’s just getting started.

By Annie Levy