hOr Can an artist who has achieved superstar status maintain the intimacy of their lives? For Billie Eilish it's a complicated dance and a song I've seen performed live. At the beginning of 2016, I received an invitation to an artist exhibition in my email. “Hello dear,” the message said. “Just like, did you get a chance to see 14-year-old Billie Eilish?” That said, I went to a basement in the Lower East Side of New York City and found one of his first collections. It was an impressive display of playing and songwriting. How can this girl be 14 years old? It's good?
In many ways, what Eilish has done over the past eight years makes her a ruthless and mind-blowing exception. Today is here, today is gone. In business, everything invites people into your mind and your home. I don't need to tell you about his successes and ubiquity, nor do I need to tell you about his string of awards. What did I create? You've probably heard witty opening lines in the form of “when I'm done…” from; A culturally defining song from a culturally defining movie, more times than you can count. The talent is obvious and gets into our collective heads on a regular basis.
You also know that earlier this year he released an album where he went from sounding emo to fluffy birds of a feather. Changing one's sound is a death trap for any artist, but not for Eilish; It brought him even more success. She won me over with her seemingly cheerful personality; Birds of a feather fit perfectly at a pool party; Much funnier music than their previous hits about darker topics like depression. In many ways, her three-night week at Madison Square Garden, along with her fourth appearance on Saturday Night Live later this week, feels like a well-deserved victory lap.
Eilish's story is that she is the best artist in the bedroom; He shared it with his parents when he became a household name, making noise like a mad scientist in their modest Highland Park home. In doing so, he translated that intimacy to the arena stage, which featured two musician pits and some extravagant projections (including crashing waves while he performed Ocean Ice). If you were surprised that the arena had the green light for her sensual and somewhat immature performance, you'd be right.
I remember walking down a dark, silent staircase in 2016 to attend their first night at the Garden, taking at least four escalators to enter. On the way I noticed that the crowd was made up of Elisha's allies; Most were women her age who had grown up with her; Many rocked their baggy, retro vibes well. (For better or worse, EIlish is a style icon for these women.) Fittingly, even The Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour merchandise reflected this same sentiment: bright yellow T-shirts (retail, $50) and oversized hoodies ($125) featuring the likes of Beastie Boys and NWA in bold designs and over-the-tops derived from early '90s hip hop acts.
Dressed in a knit hat, an olive green jacket with large buttons, loose black shorts, and thick black boots, she was ready for battle; A large digital rectangle will appear at the top. Right off the bat, he made a series of hits; One quick rope-to-drug sequence after another keeps the crowd on their feet. She waved her hand at the audience as pyrotechnics flashed. Then the fury of a song like I Am (with a chorus that screams “I'm not your friend…”) is filled with fireballs exploding around her as her obliging audience sings along every syllable. Eilish is a master of playful confidence, a quality throughout the scene.
“Hello friends…” he said with the same emotion as someone who meets a couple of friends; Whether the attitude was friendly or not, it worked, before launching into exciting bursts of music, he was welcomed with open arms and given one more command. I can't help but be reminded of Eilish's recent comments that making the audience sit through a three-hour show is “really psychotic.” He was in and out quickly. But if you were hoping to be brief, Eilish doesn't deliver either: the current tracklist consists of 26 songs, enough to keep things moving for the TikTok generation; The concert is full of energy. He moved fast and furious.
At one point, after a long time, he lay down on the floor of his room; Once the party is over, he tells the audience to remain silent while he records and overlays looped voices with the harmony of the aforementioned music. I felt like I should be on a nearby couch. Then she ordered absolute silence and, naturally, except for a false wow, the public did not abandon her. It was another intimate moment, showing off her vocal prowess; A low quality of a great talent.
Like inviting some friends over for a quiet Friday night at home, he does it with a duet he introduces as Ava and Jane to sing Male Fantasy; Guys, she decided to come on tour. Another special guest arrived in the form of Phineas; Eilish brought out her brother (who recently released his second solo album, For Cryin' Out Loud) for What Was I Made For as her millionaire? It was like watching someone sing Jingle Bells at a Christmas show. Maybe it's necessary, but after hearing it so many times, it almost becomes overwhelming; A bitter pit all around.
How grateful Eilish was to her fans (“You are so deep in my heart”). She knows very well that these are the people who helped her go from her parents' house and small clubs to the modern, world-famous form. It's an intimacy that somehow successfully translates to the most famous stage in the world. Some people get lost in it, but Elisha saw it as his living room. Needless to say, it was fun to come and talk.
