Billie Eilish may still be a teenager, but she's achieved a level of success that many middle-aged musicians can only hope for. With the release of her sophomore album Happier Than Ever, Eilish is riding a wave of critical and commercial popularity that doesn't appear to be waning any time soon. The album went to number 1 in multiple countries across the world, including the US, UK, and Canada.
But how do Eilish's hardcore fans feel about her new music? A number of fans have argued that the album lacks a special something, while others have enthused that it's her best offering yet. Never ones to suppress their opinions, here's how Billie Eilish's fans really feel about her new music.
10 She's Taking Risks And Fans Love it
Happier Than Ever has attracted many fans, including Kendall Jenner, who thinks the record is pretty perfect. Accordingly, the album has proven to be extremely popular, which is in no small part due to the lengthy build-up to its release, as well as Eilish's much publicized new look.
On the Billie Eilish subreddit, user enigma7x gushed over the album: "I think this album is fantastic. I haven't stopped listening to it. It's eclectic, it takes risks musically."
9 A Rollercoaster Of An Album
Many have noted the emotional impact that the album has left on them. In fact, Twitter user she_needshelp was so overwhelmed by the record that she started crying. "Billie really put me on a roller coaster with #HappierThanEver gurl knows what she's doin' lol bye I'm going to cry again don't talk to me," the fan wrote.
8 Some Think The Fanbase Is Deluded
Certain fans have taken aim at members of the Eilish fanbase who revere the songstress whether her music is great or mediocre. On Reddit, some have argued that those who fail to see the faults in her music are deluded.
Reddit user dearlybeloved998 wrote of the new album, "I think there's about 4 good songs on the album, you might stretch it to 6, but the rest is very mediocre. If the album was made by any other artist, no one would listen to it... But the songwriting (in the second half that's upbeat) is so mediocre and forgettable. It's not good at all. It's style over substance. I would like for her to use that style more, but write good songs with it like Taylor Swift."
7 But Others Argued That People Simply Don't Get It
However, other Billie stans are vehemently defending her, as well as the new album. Critiquing suggestions that the songstress is simply rehashing her debut album, Rate Your Music user zxcv1337x wrote, "Detractors of Billie's sound may be disappointed to find that Happier Than Ever largely features the same ideas found on her debut. However, this time around Billie's vocals are much more present and commanding... Many of the tracks are absolutely gorgeous ballads, and Billie's voice manages to carry so much passion while still being restrained."
6 Did Billie Play It Safe?
Aside from her risqué TikTok videos, many fans think that Billie Eilish has resorted to playing it safe on her new album.
Redditer GreyRainbowDust argued, "her style is getting very repetitive. mumbling over ambient production or beats. yea there are amazing moments in the album but those are very few. .... nothing out of the ordinary. its same old. was highly eager for this album. ..it didnt [sic] meet my expectations.... sophomore albums are supposed to be in the left field creatively. she played it tooooo safe."
5 A Mixed Bag
A common argument among fans is that Happier than Ever is patchy and uneven, with a hefty amount of filler tracks that lessen the impact of the more momentous and solid songs. As Rate Your Music user EyeSock argued, "The album is like a sine graph, with emotional highs and lows. One minute you get an absolute banger like Oxycotin, the next you get a mellow song like Your Power... Of course, there are still some disappointing moments."
The fan continued, "Therefore I Am is just as mediocre and forgettable as it was when it was released as a single, NDA has some production issues, and Lost Cause which, even though it sounds better in the context of the album, is still a weak song. However, the positives far outweigh the negatives here."
4 The Frustrations Of Being A Billie Eilish Fan
Similarly, Rate Your Music user clokwerk wrote, "At it's [sic] worst, the album is boring, acting better as a sedative than a record, but when hitting its stride with Hailey's Comet or the title track, the record shows so much promise and room for growth."
"I can't help but wonder why Eilish insists on making simple, throwaway songs that won't stay in the mind for more than 5 minutes when she's playing with heavy aggression and an actual sense of passion behind her voice for once. In a word, Happier Than Ever is frustrating," they continued.
3 The All Caps Don't Lie
An excitable fan on Twitter took the time to press caps lock to enthuse about Happier Than Ever. For hardcore Billie stan Ameera, the musician has released an album that appears to have been spawned by the goddesses themselves.
"WHAT WAS THAT ? THAT WAS HEAVENLY . BILLIE SNAPPED WITH HAPPIER THAN EVER , EVERYTHING IS PERFECT ; THE BEAT THE LYRICS THE INSTRUMENTS THE PRODUCTION AND THE VOCALS , DID Y'ALL HEAR HER VOCALS ? THEY'RE ANGELIC," Ameera Tweeted.
2 This Song In Particular Is A Hit Among Fans
While Eilish's fans may not agree on everything, one thing is certain: the track "Oxytocin" is pretty close to perfect. Well, at least that's what Reddit user Guilty _Maintenance74 thinks, and they won't have anyone saying the contrary.
"I know music is subjective and people can like what they want but what we not gonna do is say that 'Oxytocin' is anything less than amazing," they wrote. "And if you have a differing opinion, you don't idc idc."
1 Older Fans Think The Haters Are Immature
Perhaps the mixed reaction with which Eilish's new music has been met lies in the average age of her fanbase. Eilish primarily attracts fans from Generation Z, which has led older Billie stans to argue that these youngsters' immaturity is the reason they dislike her new music so much.
Redditer ClumpOfCheese wrote, "38 year old dude here and this whole album is straight [fire] I would not have appreciated this when I was younger, it’s that good. This is the kind of music I crave and spend a ton of time looking for on Spotify. I guarantee this will be a fan favorite in a few years, it’s just gonna take them a while to understand how good this is."
