Billie Eilish’s highly anticipated third studio album, “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT,” marks her bold exploration of music, pushing far beyond the confines of what listeners have previously heard in a single album. Showcasing her vocal metamorphosis and adept world-building skills, Eilish constructs an immersive sonic landscape that I resonate with deeply. Prior to its release, she teased the body of work on billboards adorned with head-turning lyrics from the album, including standout lines like “Did I cross the line?”, “I tried to live in black and white but I’m so blue,” and “She’s the headlights, I’m the deer,” teasing the album’s thematic depth. Opting not to release any singles beforehand, Eilish aimed to encourage fans to embrace the album as a cohesive body of work.
“I really don’t like when things are out of context,” Eilish told Rolling Stone. “This album is like a family, I don’t want one little kid to be in the middle of the room alone.”
“SKINNY” is the opening track to Eilish’s sound-bending album. The song details the perils of fame alongside a youthful excitement about love. The singer described “SKINNY” as Oscar and Grammy-winning “What Was I Made For’s” older sister in and Apple Music special interview with Zane Lowe. The song jumps right into a blunt “people say I look happy, just because I got skinny,” offering a nosedive into the hardships of fame. This unvarnished lyricism is carried throughout the track, with following lyrics like, “the internet is hungry for the meanest kind of funny and somebody’s gotta feed it.”
The next track, ‘LUNCH’ marks a stark departure from the nihilistic tone of the previous song. In this upbeat and straightforward love song, Eilish revisits the subject of ‘SKINNY’ with a happier and youthful perspective. Filled with catchy melodies and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, ‘LUNCH’ stands out as a quintessential Billie Eilish track and one of the most popular songs from the album.
Much like ‘LUNCH,’ ‘CHIHIRO’ is a standout track on ‘HIT ME HARD AND SOFT.’ Eilish showcases her talent for crafting catchy choruses with the repetitive line ‘open up the door’ leaving listeners wanting more—I found myself figuratively opening every door at her command. This song pays homage to her favorite movie, ‘Spirited Away,’ with direct nods to elements of the story. “CHIHIRO’ has a lot of tonal switches throughout the track, notably switching from a dance-inducing chorus to a yearning post-chorus leading into the climax of the song, which occurs twice. While the track in its entirety is a masterpiece, the part that stands out the most nears the end, where Eilish sings with the Kubrick Stare and a sultry undertone, marking an unnerving yet absolutely necessary sonic aspect this album upholds.
“BIRDS OF A FEATHER” is the most pop you’ll get from Eilish. The song is yet another love song detailing a euphoric love story, set in tone by the opening lyrics, “I want you to stay, ‘til I’m in the grave.” With every cursive letter, Eilish conveys to her lover that her love is neither fleeting nor simple, but eternal and profound. In a candid conversation with Zane Lowe, Eilish revealed that ‘BIRDS OF A FEATHER’ showcases some of her most remarkable vocal moments, highlighting the breathtaking climax of the song as the highest note she has ever hit. In writing this song, Eilish shows her mastery in blending heartfelt emotion with vocal prowess in a way that leaves a lasting impression.
‘WILDFLOWER’ reveals that love isn’t always the picture-perfect fairytale Eilish sang about earlier in the album. Instead, it dives into a juicy tale from her past, where she helped a friend through a breakup only to end up entangled with their ex. Eilish navigates the murky waters of shame and complicated emotions, laying bare the messier side of love with a touch of guilty honesty. At first, I wasn’t sure “WILDFLOWER” would stick with me, but as the song climbed towards it’s bridge, I knew it was destined to become a favorite.
In ‘THE GREATEST,’ Eilish delves into the complexities of fame from a young age, specifically, navigating the murky waters of the internet. She paints a vivid picture of the highs of winning every award imaginable and the emotions that follow, contrasted with the crushing weight of being told she didn’t deserve it. The emotionally-scattered, confused and heartfelt belts in the song strike a tender chord in my heart as Eilish seemingly pleads to be recognized as a person with emotions just like everyone else.
‘L’AMOUR DE MA VIE’ is a sharp, almost cynical reflection on a troubled relationship. Eilish captures the universal guilt of leaving someone out of concern they’ll crumble without you. The song begins with a nonchalant, hand-on-shoulder conversation where she blatantly tells her ex it’s time to let go. Through her largely satirical lyrics, Eilish presents a biting and relatable commentary on the complexities of modern romance. As the track progresses, it transforms into a 90s club-inspired hyper-pop anthem, celebrating her liberation from the confines of that toxic relationship. Just four days after the album’s release, she dropped ‘L’AMOUR DE MA VIE [OVER NOW EXTENDED EDIT],’ adding roughly three minutes to the original track. This extended version is a pure celebration of finally being free, perfectly capturing the euphoria of newfound freedom.
‘THE DINER’ marks a chilling return to Eilish’s eerie, Kubrick-esque gaze, this time from the perspective of a stalker. The song is steeped in a blood-red and tar-black obsession, with each lyric peeling back the layers of a disturbed mind infatuated with someone from a magazine. Lines like “I’ll go back to the diner, I’ll write another letter, I hope you’ll read it this time, you better,” and “the cops around the corner stopped me when I tried to leave, they told me I was crazy and they knocked me off my feet,” paint a vivid, unsettling picture. My personal favorite, “I memorized your number, now I call you when I please. I tried to end it all but now I’m back up on my feet, I saw you in the car with someone else, I couldn’t sleep. If somethin’ happens to him, you can bet that it was me,’ ‘ delves into the depths of possessive madness in the best way possible. The track ends with a whispered phone number: 310-807-3956. Fans who texted it received a pre-recorded phone call from Eilish herself, along with updates about her album’s release, blurring the lines between infatuation and obsession in a truly haunting manner.
‘BITTERSUITE’ follows ‘THE DINER’ seamlessly, continuing Eilish’s haunting narrative style with a chilling, almost visceral vocal delivery. In this song, Eilish shifts roles, becoming the obsessed lover herself. She paints a vivid scene where she is so enraptured by her partner that she feels detached, as if observing their relationship from a distance. As the song progresses, it transforms into a water-damaged reflection of her deep affection, gradually distorting as she confronts the harsh reality of her one-sided devotion. Eilish then explores the realization that she was fully committed while her partner remained indifferent, later taunting them with the stark contrast in their feelings. The track resonates with metaphorical depth and emotional intensity, capturing the complexities of love and longing in a truly evocative and provocative manner.
I was most excited for the closing track ‘BLUE,’ as lyrics from a previously unreleased song, ‘True Blue,’ were plastered on billboards across the globe. Walking into the song, I was transported back to Eilish’s early days, performing for intimate crowds in her hometown at just 15. The nostalgic sound genuinely brought me to tears. ‘BLUE’ begins with the chorus of ‘True Blue,’ now with Eilish’s matured style and the distinctive ‘HIT ME HARD AND SOFT,’ flair. Initially, this song was an upbeat and candid ode to regretful love, however the song takes an unexpected turn, shifting both lyrically and sonically. This part is reminiscent of her earlier tracks like ‘listen before i go’ and ‘goodbye,’ before evolving into a darker, spoken-word segment with a raw, vulnerable edge. Echoes of her debut album, ‘WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?’, shine through in this track, where minimal production—bass and sampled screams—accentuates the intensity and proves less is more. The song then blossoms into a beautiful, angelic ballad, accompanied by soft harmonies. It concludes with a cheeky “But when can I hear the next one?”, leaving a lingering anticipation for what comes next in her musical journey.
“HIT ME HARD AND SOFT,” is a love-letter to her artistic evolution and fearless exploration of music. From the haunting narratives of ‘THE DINER’ and ‘BITTERSUITE,’ to the ethereal beauty of ‘BLUE,’ Eilish captivates listeners with her emotive storytelling and genre-bending soundscapes. Her refusal to release singles beforehand encourages listeners to experience it as a cohesive journey, where each track unfolds like a chapter in a deeply personal narrative. With nods to her influences and a bold embrace of new sonic territories, Eilish continues to push boundaries and defy expectations. “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” not only solidifies Eilish’s place as a visionary artist,, but also leaves us eagerly awaiting the next chapter in her musical evolution.
Tracklist
SKINNY
LUNCH
CHIHIRO
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
WILDFLOWER
THE GREATEST
L’AMOUR DE MA VIE
THE DINER
BITTERSUITE
BLUE
