“HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” is the newest release by 7-time Grammy-Winner Billie Eilish. Ellish is a twenty-two-year-old pop singer who began her career at the young age of 13. Despite many of her older songs flourishing over the years, four tracks from her new album have reached a high amount of popularity which caused it to make it onto her most popular tracks page on Spotify and Apple Music. Controversy among Billie Eilish’s fans has surfaced regarding whether or not this record is better or worse than her previous releases. To settle this debate, I will be reviewing and summarizing the meanings of 3 of my favorite tracks from this new album.
Track 1: SKINNY
“Skinny” is the opening track that introduces listeners to HIT ME HARD AND SOFT with a somber and sorrowful approach. This song’s duration lands just below four minutes, landing at 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Lyrics such as,
“People say I look happy just because I got skinny
But the old me is still me and maybe the real me
And I think she’s pretty”
This song highlights deep topics like body imagery or insecurities, a theme the singer has briefly touched on in songs like “I Don’t Want To Be You Anymore,” even though Eilish has never specifically stated her insecurities, fans have done many deep dives into her lyrics which point to it. Many fans were very shocked and excited by this opener and Saugus Student Michelle Vang states, “I was surprised by how her music had changed, I’ve listened to her since 2018, so it was like my first time hearing her music again.”
Track 2: LUNCH
“Lunch” is the next song introduced in HIT ME HARD AND SOFT. This song has a more upbeat tone compared to Skinny. Lunch’s duration is 3 minutes and features topics exploring her sexuality/love toward girls. “That song was part of what helped me become what I am,” Billie had revealed to Rolling Stone in April of this year. However, many others had different opinions. Aesch Tunes said, “Musically, I thought that “Lunch” was quite catchy, and its bassline sounds like something that was inspired by the music of the 1980s. Admittedly, the musical arrangement doesn’t deviate a whole lot during the track’s nearly three-minute runtime.”
Track 6: THE GREATEST
“The Greatest” is the sixth track listed on this album, it explores themes of love that went sour or was unreturned. The duration of this song is 4 minutes and 53 seconds. This song starts slow with only a guitar playing a slow melody but as the song progresses it adds a different instrument at the start of every new verse before picking up to a faster pace that ends the song with a beautiful high note and drums in the background. Stayfreradioip.com calls it a “standout track” on their website, saying, “It’s a testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit, even in the face of heartbreak and disappointment. The song’s raw emotionality and honest lyrics resonate with listeners who have experienced the challenges of love and loss..”
While these three tracks have many different opinions, it remains a remarkable, life-changing album to many, including me. While I can’t relate to all these songs, I find them beautiful. It is very inspirational how Billie and her brother Finneas were able to create such groundbreaking tracks. Her songs convert her thoughts and emotions into catchy tunes that gain millions of listeners and supporters. It takes a lot of courage, determination, and creativity. While listening to this album it has opened my eyes and many others to what Billie may be experiencing behind closed doors. Many people have stated how close to their hearts and relatable this album is due to its vulnerability. Billie Eilish will continue to be a revolutionary artist with amazing music that will last a lifetime.
