Critic Rating: 9.4/10
Edited by Valencia Li, Mahi Sehgal, and Samia Orva
On May 17 of this year, Billie Eilish released her ten-track album, Hit Me Hard and Soft. Despite it being a few years since her last full-length studio album release, Billie and her brother Finneas, have once again shocked the music industry with talent and nostalgia.
“SKINNY” (9/10)
Billie starts off the album with a mellow song that entails many internal conflicts that she personally went through, and what viewers may also feel. As I was listening to the song and reading the lyrics, a lot of the phrases resonated with me. She articulates the deep feelings that surround topics like hate from others, getting older, and body image insecurities. Billie sang this song very beautifully, and I believe her singing and emotion are what highlighted the message behind the track. Not only that, but the last 30 seconds of the song were strategically only instrumentals, and I believe this was intentional as it built the beat for the next track, “LUNCH.”
“LUNCH” (9.5/10)
Without a doubt, this song will be stuck in your head. I can attest to that because throughout the song, I was bopping my head to some of the catchy lyrics like, “I could eat that girl for lunch / Yeah, she dances on my tongue.” She perfectly utilizes beats and the acoustic guitar to achieve a funky and appealing song. In a deeper sense, though, she clearly shows the sexual desire she has grown to have, and showcases her journey of coming out as queer.
“CHIHIRO” (10/10)
This was the song that introduced me to the album. It was so beautiful and brought out so many feelings within me. Billie and Finneas creatively include a beat and guitar chord that is played in a loop, which manages to deliver countless emotions: nostalgia, hope, desperation, anxiety, seduction, uneasiness, and lastly, emptiness. When I watched the music video, the visuals and the scenery really portrayed the conflicting feelings behind toxic relationships: the need to run away, but also stay with a supposed lover.
“BIRDS OF A FEATHER” (10/10)
Billie and Finneas skillfully use bass, drums, guitar, keyboards, and vocals to produce one of the most vulnerable and romantic songs yet. A pattern that I have discovered, which I assume many others have as well, is that Billie tends to write songs that have a sad and melancholic undertone. However, “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” expresses the idea of how like-minded people tend to become closer faster and stick together. I honestly think this is one of those songs that everyone will think of when they think about their closest friends, and that makes this song even more beautiful to me.
“WILDFLOWER” (10/10)
The fifth track of the album presents a very different vibe from the previous one. The lyrics of the song hold a very clear message about how it hurts to comfort a girl through a breakup, only to have a relationship with the ex. It portrays the guilt and moral dilemma of the situation, and the song puts into words what many people may have gone through. I find it one of the most honest songs that Billie has created as she addresses one of her own experiences, and an act that is so often seen on television and other types of media.
“THE GREATEST” (9.5/10)
This song truly encapsulates the emotions behind loving someone who doesn’t reciprocate. It shows how someone can give themselves wholeheartedly to another person only to be left with less in return, hence making them question their “greatness.” When I heard this song, it reminded me of loving my family members so much even though they may not be as loving to me. Due to the duality of the song, I would say this is a song many can relate to not just in a romantic way, but even in friendships and familial relationships.
“L’AMOUR DE MA VIE” (8/10)
The title is in French and directly translates to “the love of my life.” The song takes a deeper dive into the emotional chaos behind loving someone greatly and the heartbreak that follows. I personally found this song to be mediocre compared to the other songs on the track as it describes something I have never experienced. However, I also found this song to be a way for Billie to express that she doesn’t need this so-called “love of her life,” and in turn, this message only rings true for people who have gone through a breakup and are in the process of healing.
“THE DINER” (7.5/10)
When I heard this song, I immediately thought that it was a very dark song, containing themes like obsession and desperation. It follows the story of a fan, who is more like a stalker, and how they cross the boundaries of a person. It sounds very catchy and has a great groove to it, but the dark meaning behind it puts into perspective the scary people in the world. I found this song to be a little creepy since the lyrics directly relate to the mindset of a stalker.
“BITTERSUITE” (10/10)
I would say this is one of the most dynamic songs created by Billie and Finneas. “BITTERSUITE” uses different parts, each with a different chorus, which act as a medium to portray the rollercoaster and versatility of emotions that Billie feels as she is left wanting for someone who is not coming. It shows the feelings behind unrequited love, and the duo does this by implementing different soundscapes that constantly change throughout the song. I especially love the polarity between the pre-chorus lines, “But I gotta be careful / Gotta watch what I say / God, I hope it all goes way,” which uses bass and deep beats, while the chorus of Part II sounds whimsical and dream-like. I truly find this song to be something worth listening to as it really showcases the different surfaces a single song can cover. Something I also love about this song is that it includes the melody and tune of a popular leaked song called “True Blue,” which is also next on the tracklist.
“BLUE” (10/10)
Before the release of the album, there was a leaked song in February of 2022, which was named “True Blue.” The leaked song had melancholic undertones that brought out a sense of awe and sadness at the same time. It was created using the guitar, piano played by Finneas, and vocals. The song “True Blue” would later be regarded as the unreleased song that many fans wished to hear. With the release of her new album and the track “BLUE,” there is a new wave of emotion that occurs when listening to this song. It entails heartbreak like “True Blue,” but unlike the original from 2022, it includes lines like, “You were born bluer than a butterfly / Beautiful and so deprived of oxygen / Colder than your father’s eyes / He never learned to sympathize with anyone.” These lines express new emotions by sharing the experiences of her ex-lover, which contrasts with how she only expresses her own feelings of hurt and sadness in the beginning. It’s so intricately done that I believe anyone who listens will have their heart moved.
Hit Me Hard and Soft is a beautiful work of art that truly showcases the growth of the artist both musically and emotionally. Billie’s latest album has a new level of maturity to it, and I can’t help but think this will be the talk of the music industry for a while.
