TRACK BY TRACK: Billie Eilish's 'Happier Than Ever'

Billie Eilish has just released her much-anticipated second studio album, Happier Than Ever, and boy are we over the moon about it! Fans are seeing a completely new side to Billie on this album, and there are already some early standout tracks, one of them being the title track. Working with her brother and consistent collaborator, Finneas, this album tells the story of heartbreak, struggles with fame, and so much more. Buckle up because we are about to do a deep dive into every track on the album!

1. “Getting Older”

This song is SO vulnerable and relatable. The track opens the album in a place of extreme honesty as Billie covers various topics like feeling bored, having stalkers, and the heavy responsibility of adulthood. The production is a quite simple synthy beat that perfectly highlights Billie’s vocals and the emotion of the song. 

Favorite Lyrics: “But next week, I hope I'm somewhere laughin' / For anybody asking, I promise I'll be fine / I've had some trauma, did things I didn't wanna / Was too afraid to tell ya, but now, I think it's time...”

2. “I Didn’t Change My Number”

This song is so good for numerous reasons, BUT I think we have to discuss how cute it is that BIllie and Finneas used different barks and growls from Billie’s pitbull Shark. That dog really has the coolest family. Aside from that cuteness, this song oozes cool. It has a perfect synth-pop beat throughout that perfectly accompanies the attitude and grit of the song.

Favorite Lyrics: “I love a "You mad at me?" text / Shoulda guessed / That you would think I was upset (Haha) / You're obsessed...”

3. “Billie Bossa Nova”

This is a personal favorite of mine. The song is complete with a sultry guitar strum as Billie sings about a fake secret love affair that uses aliases in hotels and sneaks around when nobody is watching. Both Billie and Finneas told Genius that the song is born from a fantasy dream world where Billie has a secret lover that she’s hiding from the paparazzi. They did such a good job making this song come to life and capturing that dreamy essence.

Favorite Lyrics: “I'm not sentimental / But there's somethin' 'bout the way you look tonight, mm / Makes me wanna take a picture...”

4. “my future”

After taking time away from social media, this was Billie’s first song released in the midst of quarantine. It’s a beautifully poignant song filled with loads of self-reflection and a hopeful look at what Billie’s future will be. 

Favorite Lyrics: “And I (I), I'm in love / But not with anybody else / Just wanna get to know myself...”

5. “Oxytocin”

This upbeat love saga is one of the songs on the album that feels most reminiscent of Billie’s debut album. Driven by a super upbeat bass production, this song is just out of this world fun. The musicality of it all perfectly describes the feelings being portrayed about the “love hormone” that is oxytocin. 

Favorite Lyrics: “If you only pray on Sunday, could you come my way on Monday? / 'Cause I like to do things God doesn't approve of if She saw us...”

6. “GOLDWING”

Billie sounds angelic as ever on “Goldwing”. The song centers around the idea of a young woman who has yet to be exploited or traumatized by anything in life – sort of a forewarning to Billie’s fans, but also herself. The vocals and harmonies on this song are absolutely beautiful too!

Favorite Lyrics: “Gonna claim you like a souvenir / Just to sell you in a year...”

7. “Lost Cause”

This earlier single off the album was released with an accompanying music video in June of this year. The groovy song has the catchiest bass guitar and feels very early-2000s R&B. I’m obsessed with the attitude of this song, and of course Billie sounds amazing.

Favorite Lyrics: “I know you think you're such an outlaw (Yeah) / But you got no job (No job)...”

8. “Halley’s Comet”

One of the most romantic songs Billie has written, “Halley’s Comet” describes the feeling of euphoria and oftentimes confusion when falling deeply in love. It’s a calm, slow melody that highlights the lyrics of the song and feels very dreamy to listen to.

Favorite Lyrics: “I've been loved before, but right now, in this moment / I feel more and more like I was madе for you...”

9. “Not My Responsibility”

OG Billie fans will know that this spoken word piece was released on tour before the pandemic. It is one of the most moving things Billie has ever released and gives me chills every single time I listen. The piece centers around taking back ownership of our own bodies and feeling comfortable within our own selves, even when the world will try to tear us apart. 

Favorite Lyrics: “So while I feel your stares, your disapproval or your sigh of relief / If I lived by them, I'd never be able to move...”

10. “OverHeated”

This song is an expansion on “Not My Responsibility”. Using the same beat track, the song expands on Billie’s commentary of the press and the pressures from society that she has had to face about how she looks. It’s a very personal look inside her mind and a reminder that, at the end of the day, she is a person with feelings just like the rest of us. 

Favorite Lyrics: “Man, I'm overheated, can't be defeated / Can't be deleted, can't un-believe it...”

11. “Everybody Dies”

The 11th track off the album is a very melancholy ballad about the realization that everyone dies, yet this does not have to be a scary thing. It’s a moving song, and one that will make you think (or cry like me).

Favorite Lyrics: “But it's okay to cry and it's alright to fold / But you are not alone / You are not unknown...”

12. “Your Power”

This is another one of my favorites. Billie is so vulnerable as she sings about the abuse of power we see in relationships every single day. Sadly, almost everyone can either relate to the song or know someone who can. It’s a super important topic, and one that Billie lays out beautifully. 

Favorite Lyrics: “I thought that I was special / You made me feel / Like it was my fault, you were the devil...”

13. “NDA”

This is one of the coolest productions of a song on the album. There is a driving kick beat and this super weird plucky guitar heard throughout that makes the song feel so different than anything I’ve ever heard. Structurally it’s very different as well, and Billie has told Spotify that she loves that about "NDA". It is a bit chaotic, in the best way.

Favorite Lyrics: “Didn't change my number, made him shut his mouth (Shut his mouth, yeah) / At least I gave him somethin' he can cry about...”

14. “Therefore I Am”

This song feels like “Bad Guy 2.0". It’s a big energy song that captures Billie’s attitude and sass perfectly. This is probably the most catchy song off the album, as I have found it to be stuck in my head multiple times. 

Favorite Lyrics: “Rather you remain unremarkable (Got a lotta) / Interviews, interviews, interviews / When they say your name, I just act confused...”

15. “Happier Than Ever”

I can NOT stop listening to this song. Everything Billie and Finneas touch turns to gold, but this one is off the charts. Billie sings about being happier away from her relationship than she is when she’s deep in it. The song starts like a slow 1940s tune and then slowly builds into an epic release of emotions at the end. If you choose to listen to any one song off this album, this should be it.

Favorite Lyrics: “Never paid any mind to my mother or friends / So I shut 'em all out for you 'cause I was a kid...”

16. “Male Fantasy”

This song rounds out the album in such a poetically sad, but lovely way. The lyrics reflect on a heartbreak and what it means to really get over that. To everyone else, this relationship might look picture perfect, but that’s just a male fantasy as Bille can’t even recognize herself. I think this was the perfect way to end the album and is such a beautiful song.

Favorite Lyrics: “Guess it's hard to know when nobody else comes around / If I'm getting over you / Or just pretending to...”

What is your favorite song off the new album?!