If you haven't been jamming out to Billie within the past year or so, face it, you are living under a rock. The teenager shocked the public with her dark, different look and her contrastingly high, soft and soothing voice. "Ocean Eyes" is one of the most amazing songs and should be at the top of the list of your favorite songs.
First off, let's talk about the Grammys. On January 26th, the 62nd annual Grammys were held (AKA the year of Billie). Billie Eilish took home the big 4 awards that every artist comes to bring home: Best Album, Best New Record, Song of the Year and Best New Artist. She is the second person in history to take home all 4 (the past record holder doing so 39 years ago) and the first woman ever to do so.
The 18-year-old is set to be one of the most influential people in our culture as music is one of the most important ways we as humans express feelings and interact with each other. Musicians become so much more than just music makers when they reach the level of fame that Billie has already obtained.
Billie is projected to be the female role model in 2020, and I am not mad about it. The young artist is different than most. She does not conform to our traditionally sexist music industry. Since most of the Grammy nominations were given to women, it is no secret that women are in the power seat of the music industry, but Billie has the crown.
From a young age, Billie decided to wear baggy, non-gender conforming clothes so that her teenage body would not be scrutinized or exploited by the media. This is much different than what we have seen teen stars doing in the past, do I need to bring up Paris Hilton or Bella Thorne?
Not only in dress but also in demeanor does she challenge society's expectations of teenage girls. She is rarely seen dancing seductively and has yet to release a music video of her performing any explicit acts, and she is totally respected for it. She is a calm, collected, and serious artist. Anyone can listen to her music or watch the music videos and gather that she did not cheat to get to the top. She worked from the bottom up. She dedicated herself to her art and never forgot her family (and we can't forget about her sidekick producer/writer brother, Finneas).
Since following Billie's humble beginnings when she wrote the song Ocean Eyes in 2016 in her bedroom, I could've told you to keep an eye out for what to expect amazing things from her. With various heartbreaking tragedies striking us in the first few weeks of the new year, she is the kind of star we need leading us into 2020.
