The Greatest (Billie Eilish song)

"The Greatest"
Song by Billie Eilish
from the album Hit Me Hard and Soft
Released	May 17, 2024 (2024-05-17)
Genre	Arena rock folk-pop
Length	4:53
Label	Darkroom Interscope
Songwriters	Billie O'Connell Finneas O'Connell
Producer	Finneas
Lyric video
"The Greatest" on YouTube

"The Greatest" (stylized in all uppercase) is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish, and the sixth track from her third studio album, Hit Me Hard and Soft (2024). It was released on May 17, 2024. Commercially, the song reached the top 20 in Australia, New Zealand, Portugal and Global 200, and the top 30 in Canada and the United States.

Critical reception

Tom Taylor of Far Out says that "The Greatest" may well be one of the best vocal performance of recent times. ^[1]

Music and lyrics

"The Greatest" acts as the sixth track on Hit Me Hard and Soft . The lyrics go through feelings of defeat, loneliness, anger, and mourning for what could’ve been.

Eilish uses soft string sounds in the bridge, which adds depth and emotion to the song. This kind of careful detail is a big part of how her music is changing and growing. Consequence stated this layered production style is becoming a key part of her sound. ^[2]

Strings featured behind the vocals in the bridge follow the melody of those same lyrics, and are interpolated in different keys into the outros of both the opening and closing tracks, “Skinny” and “Blue.”

An arena rock ^[3] and folk-pop song, ^[4] "The Greatest" was inspired by Eilish’s own experiences with one-sided love and feeling emotionally abandoned. In a 2024 interview with NME, she talked about how these personal feelings helped shape the song and the album. By opening up about her own struggles, she makes it easier for listeners to connect with the emotions in her music, especially those who have gone through something similar. ^[5]

"The Greatest" has been compared to Eilish’s older songs, but some critics think it sounds more grown-up and confident. It shows how much she’s changed and gotten better over time. In a 2024 review, Variety said the song is a big step forward for her as an artist. ^[6]

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "The Greatest"

Chart (2024–2025)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA) [7]	18
Belgium ( Billboard ) [8]	19
Brazil (Brasil Hot 100) [9]	72
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [10]	27
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) [11]	18
France (SNEP) [12]	50
Global 200 ( Billboard ) [13]	20
Greece International Streaming (IFPI) [14]	25
Iceland (Tónlistinn) [15]	30
Israel (Mako Hit List) [16]	76
Lithuania (AGATA) [17]	29
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [18]	16
Norway (VG-lista) [19]	38
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100) [20]	36
Portugal (AFP) [21]	12
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) [22]	31
South Africa (TOSAC) [23]	53
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [24]	89
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [25]	76
UK Singles (OCC) [26]	69
UK Streaming (OCC) [27]	22
US Billboard Hot 100 [28]	24
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [29]	9

Certifications

Certifications for "The Greatest"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [30]	Platinum	70,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [31]	3× Platinum	120,000‡
Canada (Music Canada) [32]	Platinum	80,000‡
France (SNEP) [33]	Gold	100,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ) [34]	Platinum	30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [35]	Gold	400,000‡
United States (RIAA) [36]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Taylor, Tom (May 16, 2024). "Billie Eilish – 'Hit Me Hard and Soft' album review: an honest examination of sexuality and stardom". Far Out. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
2. "Billie Eilish performs epic rendition of "The Greatest" on Colbert". Consequence. June 11, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
3. Robinson, Otis (May 17, 2024). "Billie Eilish - HIT ME HARD AND SOFT". DIY. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
4. Mitchell, Matt (May 21, 2024). "Billie Eilish Tightens Her Commanding Grip on Pop Music on HIT ME HARD AND SOFT". Paste . Retrieved March 31, 2025.
5. Duran, Anagricel (December 18, 2024). "Billie Eilish opens up about special and emotional moment of hearing fans sing 'The Greatest'". NME. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
6. Willman, Chris (May 17, 2024). "Billie Eilish Keeps Up Her Winning Streak With the Surprising and Intimate 'Hit Me Hard and Soft': Album Review". Variety. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
7. "Billie Eilish – The Greatest". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
8. "Billie Eilish Chart History (Belgium Songs)". Billboard . Retrieved February 27, 2025.
9. "Billie Eilish Chart History (Brasil Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
10. "Billie Eilish Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
11. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 21. týden 2024 in the date selector. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
12. "Billie Eilish – The Greatest" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
13. "Billie Eilish Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
14. "Official IFPI Charts — Digital Singles Chart (International) — Εβδομάδα: 21/2024" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
15. "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
16. "המצעד השבועי: היטליסט – שבוע 22, 2024 – 21.05 – 27.05.2024" [Mako Hit List: Weekly Chart – Week 22, 2024 | 21.05 – 27.05.2024]. Mako Hit List (in Hebrew). May 28, 2024. Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
17. "2024 21-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
18. "Billie Eilish – The Greatest". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
19. "Billie Eilish – The Greatest". VG-lista. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
20. "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 17.05.2024–23.05.2024.) (in Polish). OLiS . Retrieved May 29, 2024.
21. "Billie Eilish – The Greatest". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
22. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 21. týden 2024 in the date selector. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
23. "Top Release Of The Week: Local & Intl Streaming". The Official South African Charts . Recording Industry of South Africa. Archived from the original on May 31, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
24. "Billie Eilish – The Greatest" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
25. "Billie Eilish – The Greatest". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
26. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
27. "Official Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company . Retrieved February 28, 2025.
28. "Billie Eilish Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
29. "Billie Eilish Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
30. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved February 7, 2025.
31. "Brazilian single certifications – Billie Eilish – The Greatest" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved June 17, 2025.
32. "Canadian single certifications – Billie Eilish – The Greatest". Music Canada . Retrieved February 27, 2025.
33. "French single certifications – Billie Eilish – The Greatest" (in French). SNEP . Retrieved September 1, 2025.
34. "New Zealand single certifications – Billie Eilish – The Greatest". Radioscope. Retrieved August 29, 2025.Type The Greatest in the "Search:" fieldand press Enter.
35. "British single certifications – Billie Eilish – The Greatest". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved November 21, 2025.
36. "American single certifications – Billie Eilish – The Greatest". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved March 14, 2025.