Hit Me Hard and Soft | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 17, 2024 | |||
Recorded | October 2022 – February 2024 | |||
Studio | Finneas' home studio (Los Angeles, California) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 43:45 | |||
Label |
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Producer | Finneas | |||
Billie Eilish chronology | ||||
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Singles from Hit Me Hard and Soft | ||||
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Hit Me Hard and Soft is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish, released on May 17, 2024, through Darkroom and Interscope Records. It is her first full-length studio album release since 2021's Happier Than Ever . Eilish co-wrote Hit Me Hard and Soft with her brother and frequent collaborator Finneas O'Connell, who also produced the album.
The album received praise from critics, most of whom complimented the songwriting, vocals and production. It topped the charts in over 20 countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, Hit Me Hard and Soft debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, and charted all 10 of its songs in the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. The track "Lunch" was released as the lead single concurrently. To support the album, Eilish will embark on her seventh concert tour, Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour, set to commence in September 2024.
Eilish co-wrote and recorded her second studio album, Happier Than Ever , at her brother Finneas O'Connell's home recording studio, located in the basement of his Los Angeles residence. [4] Recording took place weekly between April 2020 and February 2021, with the track listing finalized by the duo during the album's creation. [5] [6] Released on July 30, 2021, [7] Happier Than Ever was met with critical acclaim and commercial success, topping the Billboard 200 [8] and nominated twice at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards. [9] Eilish surprise-released her second extended play (EP) Guitar Songs in July 2022. The following year, she released "What Was I Made For?" for the soundtrack to the fantasy-comedy film Barbie (2023); she was inspired to write the song after seeing unfinished scenes of the film during its production. [10] The song won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Song Written for Visual Media. [11]
In December 2021, Eilish began formulating ideas for her third studio album with O'Connell. [12] In an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, she mentioned that she hoped to start writing the album in 2023. [13] In December 2023, Eilish said on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that the album was "almost done". [14] Three months later, she confirmed that the album had been mastered. [15]
The album art, which was shot by underwater photographer William Drumm, [16] depicts Eilish falling through a door frame into dark blue water. Eilish described the photoshoot, which took six hours to complete and involved her being repeatedly submerged for two minutes at a time with a weight attached to her shoulders and without goggles or nose plugs, [17] as being one of the most painful experiences of her life. [18] [17]
Various news articles reported billboards teasing snippets of lyrics for the album that appeared in multiple cities in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States in April 2024; [19] although it does not mention the artist's name, her signature "blohsh" was recognized. [20] [lower-alpha 1] The promotional billboards display cryptic lyrics, such as "She's the headlights I'm the deer" or "Did I cross the line?". [22] Eilish later changed her profile picture to a "blue circle" and shared another image with the caption saying "Do you know how to bend?". [23] Eilish added her followers to an Instagram feature that lets limited accounts see exclusive stories, called "Close Friends". The post features a "lo-fi" image showcasing the artist's hand, [24] and an image of her new midriff tattoo. [25] On April 29, 2024, Eilish announced Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour, her seventh concert tour, in support of the album. The tour is set to start on September 29, 2024, at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada. [26] The 2025 leg of the tour is set to start on February 18, 2025, at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
Eilish previewed the songs "Lunch", "L'Amour de Ma Vie", and "Chihiro" during a surprise DJ set at Coachella on April 13, 2024. [27] In an interview published on April 24, she told Rolling Stone that she would not release singles prior to the album's release. She explained that she does not like singles from albums because she "really [doesn't] like when things are out of context" and compared Hit Me Hard and Soft to "a family", adding that she "[doesn't] want one little kid in the middle of the room alone". [28] In May, a preview of "Chihiro" was featured in a Fortnite trailer revealing Eilish's second in-game outfit. The song was also made available as a "Jam Track" to use in the Fortnite Festival mode alongside "Lunch" and "The Diner". [29] [30] Furthermore, a snippet of "Birds of a Feather" was featured in a promotional clip for the third season of the Netflix series Heartstopper . [31] On May 15 and May 16, Eilish held a listening party events for fans respectively at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and Kia Forum in Inglewood, in both cases premiering the album in its entirety. [32]
Hit Me Hard and Soft was released on May 17, 2024. The album was available for cassette, CD, digital download, streaming and vinyl LP. [33] "Lunch" was released as the lead single in tandem with the album's release. [34] An extended version of "L'Amour de Ma Vie" (Over Now) was released as a promotional single on May 22, 2024. [35] On May 19 and May 22, Eilish released for digital download the isolated vocals, slowed & reverb and sped up editions of the album, respectively. [36] [37] The music video for "Chihiro", directed by Eilish herself, was released on June 6, 2024. [38] "Birds of a Feather" impacted US contemporary hit radio as the album's second single on July 2, 2024. [39] [40]
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 8.3/10 [41] |
Metacritic | 89/100 [42] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Clash | 8/10 [44] |
The Daily Telegraph | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Independent | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Line of Best Fit | 9/10 [48] |
NME | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 6.8/10 [50] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Slant Magazine | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Hit Me Hard and Soft received critical acclaim. [52] On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized score out of 100 to ratings from professional publications, Hit Me Hard and Soft received a weighted mean score of 89, based on 22 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". [42] In a five-star review, Helen Brown of The Independent praised how the album "whispers its way through a marvelous maze of music to deliver some big emotional wallops." [47] Neil McCormick from The Daily Telegraph agreed in his own five-star assessment, opining that the "heartbreak masterpiece" is "rich, strange, smart, sad and wise enough" to stand in comparison with Joni Mitchell's Blue (1971). [45]
Writing for The Guardian , Alexis Petridis complimented Hit Me Hard and Soft's "beautiful" melodies and "distinctive" lyrical touches, but wondered if some of its elements could be "a little too opaque" for its own good. [46] NME 's Thomas Smith felt that although Eilish wrote the album for herself, she created a record that will "resonate harder" than anything she has done before. [49]
On its release day, Hit Me Hard and Soft received 72.7 million streams on Spotify globally, becoming her biggest streaming debut on the platform. It also debuted with over 500 million streams globally on its first week of release, marking Eilish's biggest streaming week ever. [53]
Hit Me Hard and Soft debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 with 339,000 album-equivalent units moved in its opening week, which contained 191,000 pure album sales. Although it is her first studio album to not debut at number one, it marked Eilish's largest first-week units in the US, as well as highest pure sales. [54] All ten of its songs debuted in the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. [55]
In the UK, Hit Me Hard and Soft debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart with 67,100 album-equivalent units, being her biggest opening week in the region surpassing her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? , which debuted with 48,400 album-equivalent units in 2019. It also marks the second-biggest opening week for any album in the UK in 2024. [56]
In Germany, the album debuted atop the German Albums Chart, becoming Eilish's second number one album in the country since Happier Than Ever topped the chart in 2021. [57] In Australia, Hit Me Hard and Soft debuted at the top spot on the ARIA Albums Chart, marking Eilish's third album in a row to accomplish this feat in the country. [58] In France, Hit Me Hard and Soft entered at the number one spot of France's SNEP albums chart with 27,710 units, becoming her second French number-one album. [59] In Spain, it debuted atop the albums chart published by Productores de Música de España, making it Eilish's second album to peak at number one in the country. [60]
In Brazil, all ten tracks from Hit Me Hard and Soft debuted on the Billboard Brasil Hot 100. [61]
All tracks are written by Billie Eilish O'Connell and Finneas O'Connell.
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Skinny" | 3:39 |
2. | "Lunch" | 3:00 |
3. | "Chihiro" | 5:03 |
4. | "Birds of a Feather" | 3:30 |
5. | "Wildflower" | 4:21 |
6. | "The Greatest" | 4:53 |
7. | "L'Amour de Ma Vie" | 5:33 |
8. | "The Diner" | 3:06 |
9. | "Bittersuite" | 4:58 |
10. | "Blue" | 5:43 |
Total length: | 43:45 |
Weekly charts
| Monthly charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada) [98] | Gold | 40,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [99] | Gold | 10,000‡ |
France (SNEP) [100] | Gold | 50,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [101] | Platinum | 15,000‡ |
Poland (ZPAV) [102] | Platinum | 20,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [103] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Edition(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Various | May 17, 2024 | Standard |
| [33] | |
United States | May 19, 2024 | Digital download | Isolated vocals | [36] | |
May 22, 2024 |
| [104] [105] |
"Ocean Eyes" is a single by American singer Billie Eilish and was released as the lead single from her debut EP, Don't Smile at Me, and the soundtrack album to the film Everything, Everything (2017). The song was written and produced by Eilish's older brother, Finneas O'Connell, and was originally written for his band. Finneas gave the song to Eilish for her dance performance after realizing the song suited her vocals. It was originally released on SoundCloud on November 18, 2015, but was later re-released commercially on November 18, 2016, as a single through Darkroom and Interscope Records.
Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell is an American singer and songwriter. She first gained public attention in 2015 with her debut single "Ocean Eyes", written and produced by her brother Finneas O'Connell, with whom she collaborates on music and live shows. In 2017, she released her debut extended play (EP), Don't Smile at Me. Commercially successful, it reached the top 15 of record charts in numerous countries, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.
Don't Smile at Me is the debut extended play by American singer Billie Eilish, released on August 11, 2017, via Darkroom and Interscope Records. Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell wrote most of the material on the EP and were solely responsible for its production. It is an electropop and bedroom pop record with elements of R&B and jazz.
Finneas Baird O'Connell, also known mononymously as Finneas, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor. A recipient of numerous accolades, he has written and produced music for various artists, most notably his younger sister, Billie Eilish. He has won 10 Grammy Awards among 18 total nominations, including nominations for the Big Four categories. He has made history as the youngest act to win the Producer of the Year, Non-Classical category. For his work with Eilish, he has won Record of the Year twice in a row, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical. He was also nominated for Best New Artist for his solo work. Their song "No Time to Die" from the film of the same name earned him an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and another Grammy. Two years later, for their song "What Was I Made For?", they won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year, along with the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe for Best Original Song. They became the youngest 2-time Academy Awards winners ever.
"When the Party's Over" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and the second single from her debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019). It was released on October 17, 2018, through Darkroom and Interscope Records. It was written and produced by Finneas O'Connell.
American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish has released 3 studio albums, 1 live album, 1 video album, 2 extended plays (EPs), 34 singles, 1 promotional single, and 30 music videos. According to RIAA, she has sold 45.5 million digital singles and 5 million albums. IFPI crowned "Bad Guy" as 2019's biggest selling single globally, selling 19.5 million units in a year span. Eilish is regarded by various media outlets as the "Queen of Gen-Z Pop". At age 17, she became the youngest female artist in UK chart history to score a number-one album. As of October 2021, Eilish has accumulated 76.7 billion career streams worldwide. According to IFPI, Eilish was the 4th best-selling artist of 2019 and 5th best-selling artist of 2020.
When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish. It was released on March 29, 2019, by Darkroom and Interscope Records in the US and Polydor Records in the UK. Eilish, aged 17 at the time of release, largely wrote the album with her brother Finneas O'Connell, who produced it at his small bedroom studio in Highland Park, Los Angeles.
"Bury a Friend" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and the third single from her debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019). It was released on January 30, 2019, and serviced to US alternative radio stations on February 19, 2019, through Darkroom and Interscope Records. The song was described as synth-pop, electronica, electropop and industrial in press reviews, for which hip hop beats, percussion, and a synthesizer provide minimalist instrumentation. Within the dark and violent lyrics, Eilish sings from the perspective of a monster under someone's bed. Her vocals are subtle and treated with layers of vocal effects. Eilish wrote the song with its producer, Finneas O'Connell.
"I Love You" is a song by American singer Billie Eilish from her debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019). Eilish co-wrote the song with her brother Finneas O'Connell, who also handled production. As the 13th track on the album, "I Love You" is an acoustic guitar-based ballad accompanied by various plane-related noises, where Eilish's lyrics describe the resistance to falling in love with someone.
"Everything I Wanted" is a song by American singer and songwriter Billie Eilish, and co-written by Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell, who also produced it. Darkroom and Interscope Records released the track as a standalone single on November 13, 2019, and later added it to the deluxe edition of Eilish's debut studio album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019) in December that year. It is a house and electronica-influenced pop and alternative pop track with minimal piano and downtempo bass guitar instrumentation. Inspired by a nightmare she experienced, the song is about Eilish's strong relationship with O'Connell and his protectiveness of her from harm.
"Happier Than Ever" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish from her 2021 second studio album of the same name. It was released as the album's sixth single on July 30, 2021, through Darkroom and Interscope Records. An emo and pop-punk song with elements of jazz, it is about Eilish's anger towards a former partner due to a toxic relationship. It opens with soft vocals backed by classical and bass guitars, and transitions into a distorted pop-punk and rock production with electric guitars and snare drums midway. She wrote the song with its producer, Finneas O'Connell, after completing the American leg of her When We All Fall Asleep Tour (2019).
Happier Than Ever is the second studio album by American singer Billie Eilish, released by Darkroom and Interscope Records on July 30, 2021. Eilish co-wrote the album with her brother and frequent collaborator Finneas O'Connell, who also produced the album and played every instrument. Eilish cited self-reflection during the COVID-19 pandemic as the biggest inspiration for the record.
"Your Power" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and the third single from her second studio album, Happier Than Ever (2021). It was released on April 29, 2021, through Darkroom and Interscope Records. A folk ballad backed by an acoustic guitar, the song is a plea for people to stop abusing their authority, and it mainly addresses men who exploit vulnerable women. Its lyrics narrate a damaging sexual relationship between a female high school student and an older man, exploring the topics of domestic abuse, sexual harassment, and statutory rape. Eilish wrote "Your Power" with its producer and her brother, Finneas O'Connell.
Optimist is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Finneas, released on October 15, 2021, through his record label OYOY, distributed by Interscope Records. The album was entirely produced and written by Finneas. It was preceded by the singles "What They'll Say About Us", "A Concert Six Months from Now", and "The 90s".
Guitar Songs is the second extended play (EP) by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish. It was released through download and streaming services on July 21, 2022, by Darkroom and Interscope Records. The EP marks Eilish's first body of work since Happier Than Ever (2021), her second studio album. Its release came as a surprise, a decision she made because she wanted to share new music to her fans as soon as she could. The track list contains two songs Eilish considered for inclusion in her third album, Hit Me Hard and Soft (2024), but decided not to due to the lyrics' immediacy. She wrote the EP with her brother Finneas O'Connell, who produced both songs.
"Lunch" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and the lead single from her third studio album, Hit Me Hard and Soft (2024). It was released on May 17, 2024. The song features a heavy bassline and lyrics that detail Eilish's same-gender sexual attraction, following her public confirmation that she liked both men and women. In the lyrics, which she wrote after realizing that she wanted to try cunnilingus, she describes that desire, saying she "could eat that girl for lunch".
"Blue" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and the closer from her third studio album, Hit Me Hard and Soft (2024). It was released on May 17, 2024.
"L'Amour de Ma Vie" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish from her third studio album Hit Me Hard and Soft, released through Darkroom and Interscope Records on May 17, 2024. Written by Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell, who also produced the track, it is a breakup song composed of two distinct parts. It begins as a jazz and soft rock tune supported by guitar and singing style compared to Icelandic singer-songwriter Laufey, before transitioning to an electronic section based on club beats, 1980s synths and Auto Tuned vocals. An extended version of the song's second part subtitled "Over Now" was released on May 22, 2024, as a promotional single.
"Chihiro" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish from her third studio album Hit Me Hard and Soft. It was released on May 17, 2024, through Darkroom and Interscope Records. Written by Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell, who also produced the track, it is the third song on the album.
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