When Billie Eilish released her breakout hit “Ocean Eyes” at just 14, critics and fans were dumbfounded at the sheer possibility that a voice like that could come from a teenager — much less one with a persistently glazed stare, an aloof pout, and an affinity for clothing three sizes too large. Like the Taylor Swifts and Lordes before her, Eilish possesses a precocious talent that cemented her status in pop canon almost instantaneously.
But what Eilish had from the start — that most of her fellow teen idols didn’t — was her arresting presence as both a performer and a personality. Often backed by eerie, industrial stage setups, she commands rowdy live crowds with the ferocity of artists at least ten years her senior; meanwhile, her unfiltered social media persona only further solidifies her relevancy.
Billie Eilish Incorporated is also a family affair — her brother, Finneas O’Connell, co-writes and produces all her songs — which makes her all the more endearing, despite the often creepy nature of her music videos and lyrical subject matter. (Seven Grammy Awards don’t lie, either.)
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Just six or so years into an already-illustrious career, we’ve no doubt that Eilish, 19, is only getting started. As she releases her highly-anticipated sophomore album, Happier Than Ever, we’re rounding up the singer-songwriter’s 10 best songs to date.
Check them out below.
