It’s hard to fathom a record this year that can challenge the anticipation for Billie Eilish’s sophomore LP Happier Than Ever. The singer’s second album chronicles new challenges for Billie. Some of which include turning 18, self-acceptance, self-assurance, and aiming to be Happier Than Ever. These new challenges bring Eilish a new sound, look, and sense of freedom as well. The era began with her viral article and photoshoot in June’s edition of British Vogue. The “Bad Guy” singer rocked a new blonde hairdo and expressed new confidence in her body and image. Following the breakthrough cover story, She announced her new record as well as released the single “Your Power”. Though Billie’s sultry and silk vocals didn’t change, listeners noticed her sound becoming more acoustic. This change in sound was met by many with the initial shock. After some time with the record, let’s dissect and figure out truly what Billie is saying and sounding like in her newest record. Here is a track-by-track rundown of Billie’s latest record Happier Than Ever:

Getting Older

There can be an argument that the opening song to an album is the most important song on the album. If that rings true to you, Billie will not disappoint with this synth-ballad. In this track, Eilish reflects on her current stage in life. Her recent wishes, desires, and failures all make an appearance on this track. It hints at everything you will hear expounded upon in the further tracks, and isn’t that what an opening track is supposed to do?

I Didn’t Change My Number

Don’t let the abrupt dog growl scare you, this song will both soothe the soul. Billie takes this bouncing yet smooth instrumental to make note of how confident she is in herself. The staggered processed organ sounds right out of a baseball game but in a good way. You can even go as far as to say that it goes with the narrative, crafted by Billie, that her lover is treating the relationship like it’s a so-called game. This anthem is sure to make even the most submissive feel dominant in their relationship and the world.

Billie Bossa Nova

The more acoustic sound of “Your Power” is in full force on track 3 “Billie Bossa Nova”. As you will see throughout this album, Billie likes to put songs with contrasting themes next to each other. This is a fault of the album, however. If anything, Eilish and her brother Finneas do it to draw the listener in and encompass how a human heart and mind can change with seasons of life. In this instance, Billie sees herself as submissive to the draw of a romantic interest. This, as hinted at, is in stark difference to the message of track 2 “I Didn’t Change My Number”. The guitar riff sounds straight out of a coffee shop setlist. That intimate feeling carries itself throughout the song and it fits the singer like a glove.

my future

It seems like forever since we first heard “my future”. The song, which premiered back in July of 2020, serves as the lead single for the album. When the song was first released, it sounded as if it was a one-off. This was proven to be false however when Billie announced the tracklist for the record. Release date aside, “my future” gets better with every listen. The track is at its strongest when the latter half of the song adds some drums to put the song in motion. Looking back, this song is a good representation of all the themes that run in Happier Than Ever. With that being said, this representation of course fits best within the album so give it a relisten.

Oxytocin

Billie has said that this song was created to be performed live and after a listen you can see why. The percussion drives the tension and dangerous seductive message of the song to new heights. After listening to the whole LP, this song serves as the album’s energizer with its sharp pulsating synth. This is the first track on the album that Billie pulls some tools from her debut album. This action by the artist makes Oxytocin a for sure stand-out not only on the album but in her overall discography.

GOLDWING

Where do you even begin to describe the magic of the track “GOLDWING”? Billie creates an ambient and breath-taking intro which is somewhat reminiscent of some slower Christmas hymns. Surprisingly enough, that is because it is a hymn. The intro features lyrics from “Gustav Holst – Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda, 3rd Group, Op. 26: No. 3. Hymn to Vena” with an altered arrangement. The sample is beautifully incorporated as well to contrast when the song breaks into a more upbeat anthem. The track also equips another familiar melody when she mentions the word “down” in the song. Undoubtedly, this track will be deemed one of the album’s best.

Lost Cause

After the non-stop motion of “Oxytocin” and “GOLDWING”, the album gives listeners the jazz and r&b influenced single “Lost Cause”. The sharp contrast from the prior two songs draws much attention to the track. The song was also met with a different kind of attention as well through criticism of alleged queerbaiting from the artist. Some said the music video for the song made the songstress look to be experimenting with women simply cause she was tired of cis-gendered men. Controversy aside, the track is rest assured a unique track for Billie. A brief pause to embolden the rest of the album one could say.

Halley’s Comet

“Halley’s Comet” houses some of the best lyrical work of Eilish’s career. Fitting with the song’s title, the singer brings an atmospheric sound to the track with her longing message and silky vocals. The chorus showcases the best of what Billie Eilish has to offer.

“Halley’s comet comes around more than I do,” She confesses.

The song truly marks itself as one of the most special on the album with its metaphorical analogies and an undeniable vocal performance from Eilish.

Not My Responsibility

“Not My Responsibility” serves as a body-positive interlude and preface to OverHeated. This track’s instrumental, which will reoccur in the next track, enhances the strength of Billie’s yearn to keep body image and personality separate as they should be. Though it’s unlikely it was recorded after the British Vogue cover, the message of this interlude ties itself to the conversation that happened around that June magazine.

OverHeated

Though this song also addresses body image, “OverHeated” is a more personal tale of the artist’s own body image. The song explores the strange but relatable flux of feeling body-positive one moment and being self-conscious the other. This feeling mixed with the added pressures of fame brings Eilish to pour out much honesty on “OverHeated”. Though the message is impactful, the song isn’t the most special in comparison to others on the album.

Everybody Dies

If you wanted to showcase to someone what Eilish’s sound is like on her sophomore record, this would be the song to play. This song is hands-down the most emotionally charged track on the record. The message of knowing that pain will follow you undeniably throughout your life is made much more heartbreaking when it’s told by Billie.

“It’s just a lot to think about. The world I’m used to. The one I can’t get back.”

This ballad seems to be her “when the party’s over” for the Happier Than Ever era. It’s Billie contemplating life’s most negative thoughts through the most somber but beautiful harmonies. Easily a top-tier track and the most tear-jerking on the album.

Your Power

“With great power comes great responsibility.”

Yes, that saying may be from the Spiderman franchise, but it’s the perfect summary of the song “Your Power”. The song correlates the power that others, especially men, use on others. This lesson is formatted in a tale of a male abusing his power to belittle and discourage a woman in a relationship. The track perfectly fits in with the album and sounds better when in context with the rest of the album. This is especially true with its placement after the Everybody Dies where Billie ponders the bounds by which her power cannot extend.

NDA

Similar to “Oxytocin”, “NDA” sees Billie somewhat channeling her old sound to conquer new problems. Battling with fame and its repercussions on her dating life and privacy, the singer sings with irony in her tone and lyrics. The track’s crashing bass compliments Billie’s layered vocals and emboldens her to cry for help from fame. The song also explores and dives into how the singer uses irony as a coping mechanism.

“Maybe I should think about a new career,” Eilish sings on the track, “Somewhere in Kauai where I can disappear.”

The song is also thankfully tied with an incredible music video directed by the artist herself that brings the track to life.

 

 

Therefore I Am

“Therefore I Am” may be the perfect blend of the styles of both her debut and sophomore albums. The track, which served as the second single, was released in the last quarter of 2020 and served as a signal to fans that a new album was nearby. The track is comprised of a tight rap-inspired beat with the highly ironic lyrism that the singer is known for. As well as this, it serves as a great follow-up to the lyrics of fame in “NDA”. Fame is seen in a new light here in comparison to its precursor. She names all the ways in which she could and will use her power to outweigh those that wish her ill will. It’s delightful and a needed track on the album.

Happier Than Ever

Ah, the title track that almost all the fans have been waiting for since the preview of the song was posted the same day the album was announced. Fans will be pleased to know that if features Billie at her most Billie. That includes crisp vocals, a welcome sound switch mid-song, and a plea to be “Happier Than Ever”. The switch-up in the middle of the song is reminiscent of Olivia Rodrigo’s “Good 4 U” and taps into that same audience successfully. It begins the conclusion of the album with Billie accepting her position in life and pursues to be the best she can be with what she has. That includes leaving problems such as body image issues, relationship problems, and shame being left by the wayside (at least for now). Similar to “NDA”, This track is also paired with a fantastic music video that truly visualizes this awakening perfectly.

 

 

Male Fantasy

Unlike the argument for “Getting Older”, there can be an argument that the closing song to an album is the most important song on the album. If this rings true to you, Billie again does not disappoint. This song showcases her life now. Her temporary freedom from the troubles that burdened her before the awakening in the track “Happier Than Ever”. She acknowledges her past dilemmas and sings them a bittersweet lullaby. The reoccurring want to love oneself hints to be given to her here. Though she is sad about letting go, she acknowledges that she can’t hold on to the past while fighting things in the present. “Male Fantasy” may also give listeners clues on what her next projects will be about and wraps of this chapter of her life neatly and emotionally.