Album Review: ‘HIT ME HARD AND SOFT’ by Billie Eilish

How Eilish is Coming to Terms With Herself

Billie Eilish, once an overnight teen sensation, has become a household name across the world. The 22-year-old artist has hit some of the highest of highs in her almost-decade-long career, most notably receiving nine Grammy Awards, seven MTV Video Music Awards, three Billboard Music Awards, and two Academy Awards, among many others. On top of that, she has set countless records for young, female artists in history, becoming the first person born in the 21st century to win an Oscar and being honored in the BBC 100 Women in December 2022. With high mountains, however, come low valleys. For years she has dealt with sexism, hate, and pressure within and outside of the music industry to fit a certain image. Pushing back on what it means to be a musician, artist, woman, and celebrity, she is not only a successful artist, but an empowering leader. 

Her music has, in many ways, been a documentation of her life through expressing her own heartfelt emotions. Yet, she makes the songs accessible to audiences by removing specific names, locations, etc. Her latest and third studio album, “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT,” is no different from that trend. Looking back at her first two albums, I quote this summary of the album by Apple Music: “This project feels more like that album’s [‘When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?’] sequel than 2021’s jazzy ‘Happier Than Ever,’ which Eilish has said was recorded during a confusing, depressive pandemic haze.”  In an interview with DJ Zane Lowe, Eilish discusses how this album is “the most ‘me’ thing I’ve ever made,” diving into how her process of creating music has shifted over the years. She’s tried teenage angst, quarantine-induced self-reflection, and even storytelling for other people in her own music and for the cinema. But finally, after years of trial and error and fear and acceptance, she has decided to lean into her own story, sharing her most authentic self with the global audience. 

After listening to her album for a few months, I have noticed one thing in particular that stands out about this piece. This is a love story: for fame and fans, lovers and friends. Love is hard to grasp and understand. This album is a collection of her processing and coming to terms with different paths in the world of love. Part of falling in and out of love with someone else is discovering who you are. Finding comfort in oneself is something that happens after the chaotic and messy years of adolescence, rising from the ashes of embarrassment, drama, and immaturity. Starting off the album with a soft bass, we are invited to sit with Eilish as she opens up to us, reflecting on who she was, is, and wants to be. She illustrates the past few years in many different ways, ranging from gut-wrenching belts to whisper-like confessions, ’80s synthesizers to acoustic guitar. Apple Music described it as such: “The project never feels zigzaggy thanks to, well, the Eilish of it all: her glassy vocals, her knowing lyrics, her unique ability to make softness sound so huge.” Each song on its own brings something unique to audiences. But when listening to the album fully and intentionally, there is a coherence and almost uniformity between them. Let’s take a look at how these ten songs create a masterpiece.

Rather than “starting off strong,” “SKINNY” begins with a jazzy tone, relying on the bass and airy vocals. Eilish begins, “Fell in love for the first time, with a friend it’s a good sign / Feeling off now I feel fine, 21 took a lifetime,” setting up some of the themes of this album immediately. Quickly, she moves to the main message of this song: body image. As stated earlier, she has a notable history of breaking boundaries and ideals of femininity and bodily autonomy. She has often been subject to criticism and hate for pushing back on norms. But, in the wake of the pandemic, she visually led “Happier Than Ever” with blonde bangs, soft neutral colors, and glamorous gowns. This stark contrast from her signature style sent a clear message back to haters. Though she has gone back to long black hair and baggy clothing for “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT,” she carries herself more confidently, leaning into the maturity she wanted to show the world in 2021. With that being said, fame is not as easy as it appears, especially for young artists. Standing in a spotlight, burdened by the weight of approval and dissatisfaction, takes its toll on artists. 

Other songs towards the end of the album, like “THE DINER” and “BITTERSUITE,” reflect on negative aspects of fame. “THE DINER” is unique, not only for its sound but also its use of storytelling. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she explains, “I really kinda thrive when I write from some perspective that isn’t my own kinda first person perspective. Like it can be about my life but if I think about it from just a different angle, it’s a lot easier…” Based on her personal experience with stalkers, Eilish leans into her comfort zone, embodying the stalker. Her voice echoes throughout. I felt like someone was close to me, but never fully there, like the feeling of someone else present in an empty house. She also addresses the lack of personal space in fame, ending the song with “I memorized your number now I call you when I please” and a number on repeat, fading out into eerie silence. Similarly, “BITTERSUITE” brings back the synths from earlier in the album, in which she belts “I can’t fall in love with you,” then shifts to distant, almost radio-like vocals. This song, I believe, is meant to build up to the finale, but quietly reminds the audience of the struggle of fame. Playing on the term, “bittersweet,” she considers the duality of what fame looks like versus the reality of it. “I see the way you want me, I wanna be the one / But I gotta be careful, God I hope it all goes away,” connects her fears of falling in love as an individual but also as someone in the spotlight. 

This album also explores the complex emotional landscape of love for a specific person. Some of her most popular tracks, “WILDFLOWER,” “L’AMOUR DE MA VIE,” “LUNCH,” and “BIRDS OF A FEATHER,” dive into the multifaceted nature of love, the joy, the sadness, the grief, and moving forward. 

“WILDFLOWER” depicts love through the lens of vulnerability and freedom, which is highlighted by the acoustic guitar and her harmonizing vocals. In her interview with Apple Music, she comments, “It’s a girl code song. It’s about breaking girl code, which is one of the most challenging places. And it isn’t about cheating. It isn’t about anything even bad. It was just something I couldn’t get out of my head.” Eilish contrasts the beauty of love with the challenges of emotional exposure, emphasizing how love can lead to both joy and pain. The song encapsulates the idea that love, while freeing, can also feel overwhelming, mirroring the experience of navigating a deep emotional connection. 

Translating to “the love of my life,” “L’AMOUR DE MA VIE” offers a reaction to ending intense and passionate romantic relationships. Described by Finneas, her brother, producer, and co-musician, as the “antibody” to “THE GREATEST,” the song captures the euphoric feeling of finding someone who profoundly impacts one’s life, positively and negatively. Lyrics like “It isn’t asking for a lot for an apology, for making me feel like it’d kill you if I tried to leave” suggest a blend of longing and devotion, underscoring the transformative power of love. Her delivery adds a layer of sincerity, making the listener feel the weight of fearing the loss of deep connections, but also the freedom of moving forward, exemplified in her repeatedly belting “it’s over now.”

In her third song, “LUNCH,” love is approached with a sense of playfulness and intimacy. The imagery associated with sharing a meal represents the nurturing aspects of love, suggesting that relationships thrive on shared experiences. The song captures the everyday moments that build connection, emphasizing how love can be found in the mundane. This portrayal contrasts with more idealized depictions of romance, grounding love in the reality of life’s small joys and the comfort of companionship. 

Reaching over a billion streams on Spotify, “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” also explores love in a playful way, bringing lightheartedness to the album. Expanding on the idea of unity and connection within relationships, this song highlights the importance of finding someone who resonates with one’s identity, reinforcing the idea that love is as much about friendship as it is about passion. From its whimsical, neo-wave keyboard to one of Eilish’s highest belts ever sung, this song captures the bright feelings of nostalgia, even more so for the ones you love. In essence, this song has a “Ride or Die” message, meant for the person, whether it be your partner or best friend, who you want to go through life with. Lyrics like “Till the light leaves my eyes, Till the day that I die” encapsulate this declaration.

The core of this album rests on the shoulders of “THE GREATEST” and “BLUE,” serving as the central theme and summarizing conclusion of “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT.” Both have profound reflections on the complexities of fame and adulthood, highlighting the allure and burdens accompanying fame and the everyday dreams of young adults. These two songs are about accepting her life as a celebrity and a maturing adult. This connects to her love for fame and others, but also accepts the hardships that come with fame and adulthood.

From her interview with Apple Music, Eilish comments “To us, this is the heart of the album. It completes the whole thing. Making it was sort of a turning point.” “THE GREATEST” builds from a simple guitar strum to a full band, climaxing to her belting the lyrics, “I loved you, and I still do / Just wanted passion from you, just wanted what I gave you / I waited and waited.” The repeated refrain of being “the greatest” serves as both a declaration of her achievements and a longing for what could have been in a relationship. She acknowledges the highs of fame — like success, recognition, and artistic freedom — while also hinting at the pressures and expectations that come with it. Eilish recognizes that fame can be both exhilarating and isolating, prompting her to reflect on the importance of genuine connections, and letting go of those that are not.

“BLUE,” the final track of the album, explores feelings of melancholy and introspection. The song captures the emotional weight of fame, portraying a sense of vulnerability often masked by public personas. Eilish uses vivid imagery to illustrate the contrast between her glamorous life and the inner turmoil that can accompany it. Lines that evoke loneliness amidst the crowd, such as “I thought we were the same, birds of a feather, now I’m ashamed,” underscore her struggle to reconcile her identity as a celebrity. This song in particular utilizes colors to tell the story, opening with,“I try to live in black and white, but I’m so blue.” The color blue itself symbolizes sadness, but it also evokes a sense of calmness and acceptance. This acceptance is not merely resignation; it’s an embrace of her journey, recognizing that with fame comes a spectrum of emotions that shape her as an artist and an individual, that you can love it and hate it at the same time.

“HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” encapsulates Eilish’s journey toward accepting her life as a celebrity and young adult. She conveys a nuanced understanding of fame, acknowledging both its privileges and its pitfalls. The lyrical themes of love — for herself, her art, and her community — showcase her growth into adulthood. Her exploration of love in these tracks reveals its intricate nature, blending joy, longing, and the comfort of connection, inviting listeners to reflect on their own experiences with love. Simultaneously, she grapples with the idea that while fame can bring joy, it also requires navigating challenges, such as public scrutiny and the loneliness that can accompany success. In essence, her music reflects a maturation process where Eilish embraces her multifaceted identity. She acknowledges her struggles while celebrating her achievements, ultimately portraying a realistic and relatable perspective on what it means to grow up in the spotlight. This balance between acceptance of the good and the bad is what makes her artistry resonate so deeply with her audience, inviting listeners to join her in the journey of self-discovery and acceptance amidst the chaos of fame.