Pop star and fashion icon Billie Eilish has had an eventful week. In the span of the last seven days, she has been named Variety’s Hitmaker of the Year, released her BILLIE EILLISH KIDS clothing line, and released her latest single, “everything i wanted.”
Oh, and she also managed to break Grammy nomination history for being the youngest artist nominated in all four major categories—record of the year, album of the year, song of the year and best new artist. Finneas O’Connor, Eilish’s brother has five nominations.
Her debut album, WHEN WE FALL ALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making her the youngest woman to have a number one album on the charts since 2009!
Eilish deserves the hype though—she’s been putting out quality music with her brother since 2015 and has completely changed pop. At a time where most pop music on the radio has trap/hip-hop influences, Eilish took a more dark and alternative take on a shifting genre. Her debut album is a brooding masterpiece filled with standout tracks such as “i love you” and “all the god girls go to hell.” The album’s lead single, “bad guy” holds three out of her four nominations.
This is not only a big deal because of the prestige of The Recording Academy, but because of Eilish’s young age. She’s achieved more than what many achieve in a lifetime, and this is only the beginning of her career. Billie Eilish being nominated in all four major categories of the Grammy’s is more proof to Gen Z that our goals are able to be reached. While everyone cannot be one of the world’s biggest pop stars, this is a small example of perseverance and authenticity.
In a time where everyone is concerned with political correctness and not stepping on anyone’s toes, Eilish is a refreshing face. She talks about being sexualized, makes statements about gun control, and has songs with snippets of The Office. Her “brand” is being genuine, and humble. In regards to all of her achievements, Eilish does not even like mentioning her age. In a 2017 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, she said, “That’s all I hear. ‘What’s it like being 15?’ Oh my God, I don’t know. It’s the way that I feel. I’ve never been older. Ask me every single year and I’ll give you the same answer.”
For a generation known to be “anti-millennial” and cynical, Eilish is an artist who’s existence exemplifies that in a world where family-friendly and branded content is the norm, authenticity always wins.
Photo via Billie Eilish’s Instagram.
