After three years of anticipation, fans were finally treated to Billie Eilish’s highly anticipated third album, “Hit Me Hard and Soft.” The album beautifully showcases a mix of Eilish’s haunting vocals and thought-provoking lyrics, highlighting her growth as an artist. It features a diverse range of tracks, from powerful anthems to personal ballads, taking listeners on an emotional rollercoaster.
The opening track, “Skinny,” begins with the sweet falsetto of her award-winning “Barbie” ballad, “What Was I Made For?” The song’s message also resonates similarly. She addresses body image, singing, “People say I look happy / Just because I got skinny.” She sings that people believed she felt better due to her losing weight, which is not true. Furthermore, she exposes how people perceive others differently by their appearance and social norms. The main theme of this song revolves around her past encounters with body shaming and heartbreak. In the very last few seconds of the song, the beat slowly fades and starts picking up at the end to transition seamlessly to her next song, “Lunch.”
The second track, “Lunch,” dives into a different vibe as it describes her insatiable desire for a woman. This song is playful and reveals a more vibrant side of Ellish that fans do not always see. Throughout it, she explores the themes of queerness and sexuality. “She’s takin’ pictures in the mirror / Oh my God, her skin’s so clear / Tell her, ‘Bring that over here.’” In these lyrics, she is singing about a woman who captured her attention and her interest in her. By opening up about her sexuality, she reveals how she is free and comfortable with who she is. Throughout Ellish’s career, many have drawn conclusions about her sexuality due to her fashion choices and music videos. However, now with this song, she confirms her attraction to women and openly expresses it; “ I could eat that girl for lunch / Yeah, she dances on my tongue.”
The last song on the album is called “Blue.” Fans have been waiting for Eilish to release this song after a snippet of it was revealed years ago and blew up on TikTok. The wait was worth it for this masterpiece. In this song, she explores themes of sadness, disillusionment, and the search for originality. She sings, “I try / To live in black and white, but I’m so blue.” Although she wants to be perfect and like other people, her sadness takes control of her life. She sings about her struggle to overcome her depression and move on from the past.
Overall, “Hit Me Hard and Soft” is relatable and targeted toward teenagers and women. With the help of her brother, Finneas O’Connell, who co-writes and produces her albums, she hasn’t missed once with her albums. This album is unforgettable as it shows a new side of Ellish and has a song for every emotion. The lyrics and production reveal how much thought was put into this incredible album.
