Oh, Billie Eilish, America’s twenty-first century sweetheart. How we love her. How we try our darndest to understand her trailblazing sense of style and artsy Instagram posts.
Eilish released her second studio album, entitled Happier Than Ever, on July 30. First off, we need to acknowledge the vocal powerhouse that Eilish is. Always tight, controlled, and conservative, her vocals have a way of getting so under your skin they make goosebumps appear. The album contains a balance of popy, bassy radio friendly tracks such as “Happier Than Ever” and “GOLDWING” and heavier, more thoughtful tracks in “Halley’s Comet” and “Your Power.”
Happier Than Ever is a snapshot of Gen-Z coming-of-age-culture: issues of relationships, body shaming, self-esteem, and sexual assault are explored heavily while Eilish also celebrates self-development and joy. Eilish opens with “Getting Older,” making her coming-of-age themes with the album abundantly clear with lyrics: “I’m gettin’ older, I’ve got more on my shoulders / But I’m gettin’ better at admitting when I’m wrong / I’m happier than ever, at least, that’s my endeavor.”
Instrumentally, Eilish brings classic vibes to the forefront once again, reminiscent of powerful artists such as Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, and Aretha Franklin. Contrast between classic sounding instrumentals — such as those on “Billie Bossa Nova” — and modern sounding, bassy tracks like “OverHeated” brings diversity and a sense of completeness to the album. From start to finish it is a raw, honest, and beautiful representation of Eilish’s present reality — and, to note, an impressively mature and self-aware reality at that.
The moody, angsty, and ethereal vibes of the album are overall powerful, but the classic and catchy sounds leave it appealing to a wide-audience. Production is of course on point (with a net-worth of an estimated $53 million in 2020 I would hope she has the best producers in the business behind her) with a crisp, well-rounded sound on each track, leaving the rawness of Eilish’s voice crystal clear.
According to Vulture, this is one of the top albums of 2021, and it is for sure a new personal favourite. The mix of thematic content and also the catchiness and classiness of some of the tracks make it an absolute banger. For a 19-year old, her insight into self is inspiring and she does nothing but blaze new trails and lead a younger generation — especially women-identifying individuals — into an era where we love and develop ourselves. Eilish is the face of twenty-first century feminism.
Darien Johnsen is a UFV alumni who obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree with double extended minors in Global Development Studies and Sociology in 2020. She started writing for The Cascade in 2018, taking on the role of features editor shortly after.
She’s passionate about justice, sustainable development, and education.