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Billie Eilish review – pop’s sharpest commentator plays with fame’s power dynamics
There’s nowhere for Eilish to hide as she balances intimacy and spectacle, filming her screaming fans as she paces a stage akin to a boxing ring
It’s unfortunate but perhaps inevitable that the intricate production quirks of tracks such as Lunch and Wildflower get lost in the mix tonight, with just the drums pounding through, but she compensates with astute theatrics; at still just 23, Eilish offers some of pop’s sharpest commentary on the push and pull of fame. Seizing control of the big screens for her teen-villain breakthrough single Bad Guy, Eilish dodges the limelight of its infamous “might seduce your dad” brag by turning a handheld camera first on her band and then on her screaming fans, focusing more on the song’s reception than its delivery. Photograph: Henry HwuShe casually goes full superstar on Happier Than Ever, showcasing all she does best – a whispery intro, a bittersweet slow-build with lacy vocals, and a stormy, demolition-grade payoff – before a final whiplash in tone for closer Birds of a Feather, last year’s omnipresent, soft-rock romance.
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