“Hit Me Hard and Soft” is the latest hit album from indie-pop artist, Billie Eilish. When nominated against Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, and Beyonce at this year’s Grammy awards, she lost in all seven categories. Fans feel as if she was robbed at the Grammys, considering all of the heights this album reached and the various records it surpassed. This is her third studio album that she’s made alongside her brother, Finneas O’Connell. This project tackles themes such as self-image, sexual orientation, love, and toxic relationships. Contrary to her earlier work, Eilish chose to make this more of a pop album. Usually, people would describe her music as “dark” or “alternative.” With this project, she did a 180 and took a more upbeat route.
The album starts off strong with “Skinny.” This song tackles body issues and speaks about how she used to be treated as a young woman in the public eye. It is similar to her song, “Not My Responsibility,” from her second album, “Happier Than Ever.” Eilish has had comments being made on her body for years. Her fame grew as people saw her wearing baggy clothes and dressing “less feminine” than other women in the music scene, it was unique. The media projected a lot of negativity towards her because of her style. This song was essentially her telling herself that she has always been “pretty” and that she is done listening to what other people have to say.
The second song, “Lunch” was one of the three snippets she put out before the album’s anticipated release. This was the most popular song, accumulating 32.8 million streams in its first week after release. Notably, this song also marks Eilish’s first public statement regarding her sexuality. She has been accused of queerbaiting in the past, which is a marketing technique in which creators hit at, but do not depict, LGBTQ+ themes for views or commentary. This track was her final answer to the “gay rumors.”
“I really enjoy ‘Lunch’ due to its upbeat nature as well as the positive vibes it brings to the LGBTQ+ community,” Emma Waddell, a Davie High senior, said. “This song was very brave and beautiful.”
“Birds of a Feather” is the fourth track and now the most popular on the album. With its own TikTok trends and over one billion streams, it has become one of the many lyrical anthems of 2024. This song has been portrayed in many different ways; some see it as a love song, and some see it as a song about a toxic romance. Eilish herself said this song is definitely not as happy as it sounds. According to her, it is about loving someone unhealthily and being obsessed with your partner.
People’s opinions are very different for this track, some love it and others are tired of hearing it. Most can appreciate it for what it is though.
“It’s my least favorite song because it’s very overplayed,” McKenzie Fulwood, a Davie High junior, said. “Keep in mind though, overplayed songs are overplayed for a reason!”
As the album ages, people’s love for “Birds of a Feather” continues to grow.
“I found out about “Birds of a Feather” through one of my friends that loves Billie Elish,” Sage Keaton, a junior at Davidson-Davie Community College, said. “To me, the song is basically about two people who should stick together and that love could be found in many different ways and expressing how they feel.”
An underrated favorite of mine is the eighth track, “The Diner.” Eilish has yet to publicly make a statement about what this song means, although speculations have surfaced. Many TikTok videos have been posted saying that this is about a stalker experience Eilish previously faced, one of the many struggles that come attached to today’s fame. In 2023, an alleged stalker broke into her childhood home and sent threats to her friends and family. She later got a restraining order and hired private security guards to ensure her and her loved one’s safety.
For the song itself, the sound is very unique for her. It starts off with a violin before transitioning to a fast-paced beat. Many love this track, but a lot of people don’t care for it.
“I wasn’t a fan of how “The Diner” sounded at all,” Noah Harper, a Davie High junior, said. “It felt way less appealing and a bit boring compared to the other songs.”
The album’s last track was quite an anticipated release. Fans were over the moon when they heard this song on Eilish’s 2024 project. “Blue” is a song that has been in the works for years. First created by Eilish and O’Connell years ago, this previously leaked and unreleased song features the heartache of trying to move on from a formerly attached lover. It has had its own TikTok trends before “Hit Me Hard and Soft” was even in the works, but it was reworked into “Blue” to serve as a finale to the album, with lyrics including references to the other songs scattered throughout the tracklist.
It is a lovely ending to her album. Similar to “Goodbye” from her 2019 album, “When We All Fall Asleep Where Do We Go?,” this song incorporates aspects from all the other songs on this project. This song is very gloomy sounding and feels very personal to Eilish. Due to its dark tone, it can invoke a lot of emotions when listening to it.
“It’s not my favorite,” said Emma Waddell, Senior at Davie High, “I still absolutely love this song but I feel like I have to be in the mood to listen to it.”
Overall, “Hit Me Hard and Soft” is an amazing album in more ways than one. It feels like this album was more personal to her and she was very authentic. 2024 was definitely a better year for music, due to Eilish and O’Connell.
“I thought that “Hit Me Hard and Soft” was one of her best albums vocally and lyrically,” Fulwood said. “It’s more mature than her previous work.”
With this era, she’s switched up her clothes, aesthetic, and sound. With the help of her brother, this album was easily one of the best projects of 2024.
Final Rating: 5/5
