Billie Eilish was 13 years old when she released her first hit single, “ocean eyes.” Almost overnight, her success catapulted her into one of the biggest popstars in the world. At 22, she’s won Academy Awards, swept the GRAMMYs, and recently performed three sold-out shows at the iconic Madison Square Garden. 

Her third album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, is another awards show shoo-in. Introspective, a sign of her growth and maturity over time as both an artist and a human, and almost sonically perfect. Crafted mostly by Eilish alongside her brother, Finneas – a production genius – Eilish’s latest era is exquisite. 

Finneas has firmly established himself in music history alongside his sister. A producer on all of her albums with a discography of his own, Finneas often joins Billie on tour. But this tour is a bit more Billie-centric. 

I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the brother-sister-duo at festivals like Coachella and Firefly…but although I’m a longtime fan of Billie’s, I’ve never seen a solo show. 

As I head to night one of Billie Eilish’s Madison Square Garden shows, I sensed that I was in for a treat. Anyone who’s seen their favorite artist at a festival knows that the solo shows provide a more intimate feel. 

It brings a sense of community. There’s no doubt in your mind that everyone in that room is there for the same reason. You’re all there to hear your favorite artist. And only their favorite artist. 

When you walk into any concert, there’s an immediately buzz of excitement surrounding you. It’s super exciting that we’re all experiencing something different. 

For some, they’ve waited years to see Billie in person. They’ve begged their parents for tickets,  saved up, and bartered that they’d do their chores if they can go. 

For others, they may have no idea who Billie Eilish is. Maybe their significant other is a fan, maybe they’re there on account of their kid, maybe they’re just here to see what all the fuss is about. 

But one thing was for certain, the minute the lights went down in Madison Square Garden, hysteria flowed through the crowd. The HIT ME HARD AND SOFT tour was about to kick off.

I’ve seen this with male acts time and time again. When I see Harry Styles live, the screams are feral and animalistic. However, when a female has that same power over a crowd, it’s so much more moving. 

Because at 22, Billie Eilish is still just a girl. There’s so much of her life left and yet here she is, controlling tens of thousands who are there just to see her. 

And not only does the crowd love her, they need her. The anticipation builds and she launches into a high-energy start. There are songs off her most recent album. “CHIHIRO” is followed by the homoerotic “LUNCH,” and the massive crowd goes wild. 

She strolls around the stage, taking in the crowd hauling adulation at her. She doesn’t even need to speak, a Michael Jackson-esque moment that is well-deserved. 

Eilish is one of the most famous musicians in pop music for a reason. This summer, she was the most streamed artist in the world on Spotify – dethroning Queen Taylor Swift and The Weeknd.

Her star continuously soars with each release. Every one of her albums has charted upon its debut. Her concerts are sold-out, she’s got the “G” and the “O” in EGOT status at the age of 22, and she’s an advocate for our environment.

As I scream along to Billie lyrics, I’m struck by an odd thought for a moment…something I almost feel guilty thinking: is she actually singing live?

At that exact moment, Eilish peppers in a subtle note change that differs from the original track. I don’t think people realize how genuinely rare it is for an artist to do this without lip syncing. But at the HIT ME HARD AND SOFT Tour, anything is possible.

I’ve gone to hundreds of concerts in my life. The artist can sing in a different key, skip over sections, add in ad-libs, and forget the lyrics entirely. Except for the occasional intentional word skip or note change, Eilish remained vocally impeccable the entire time. 

She glides effortlessly from heartbreaking ballads like “THE GREATEST” to smash club hits like her collaboration with Charli XCX for brat, “Guess.” She has the crowd in the palm of her hand, with the ability to make them scream or cry at any given moment. 

Finally, as she’s winding down for the night, we come to the encore. For this moment, Finneas joins her onstage and the pair rock out on the guitar to their hit, “Happier Than Ever.” 

Finneas – who had taken a step back from this tour to focus on his own endeavors and shows – was a welcome surprise. This song stands out as one of the show’s climaxes, but having Finneas involved made the night even more special.

The HIT ME HARD AND SOFT tour just reinforced everything I knew about Billie Eilish. It’s a concert experience of a lifetime, and I’m not the only one saying that. When you pair awesome stage craft and spectacular lighting design with the best-of-the-best when it comes to vocals, you get a hit show every time.