Earlier this year, on May 17, Billie Eilish released her third studio album titled “Hit Me Hard and Soft.” Just weeks prior, Eilish had announced “Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour”, which includes 81 stops across North America, Australia, and Europe and would officially begin on Sept. 29 in Quebec, Canada. Eilish’s setlist is roughly around an hour and a half, and includes songs spanning from several of her albums, EP’s, and singles. Her setlist also includes “TV”, from her EP “Guitar Songs,” released on July 21, 2022, which hits close to home for many fans, following the results of the 2024 Presidential Election.
Throughout her career, Eilish has always been outspoken about women’s rights and has served as a beacon of feminism and femininity for fans all over the world. Seen in her lyrical prowess, as well as her stylistic choices in the media, Eilish has consistently advocated for women having the right to simply be women, without the stress of society telling them how to live, act, sing,dress, etc. As she was thrust into the limelight from the young age of 13 years old, she has had to deal with the over sexualization, questioning, and blatant harassment from the media. Many of her songs reference those struggles and expose some of the cruelty that has burdened her over the course of her career. Eilish has turned her music into a statement, calling out the injustices that she faces as an artist, daughter, sister, lover, and most importantly, a woman.
In the weeks leading up to the 2024 Presidential Election, Eilish has done a lot of press with several magazines, entertainment channels, and music-focused media outlets. “Vogue” magazine picked Billie Eilish to be the cover of their November issue, and during her interview with them, she spoke about her album and her tour, and some things that are transpiring in her personal life. Being someone who has received such a paralyzing amount of criticism from the media for her femininity, she spoke about how that has affected her throughout her entire career, and how she has been able to overcome it. Nearly a decade after her rise to fame, she has learned to deal with the criticism, and has repeatedly expressed her gratitude for being a woman.
One of the most important issues during this election has been the fight for reproductive freedom and women’s rights. When asked about her thoughts on the most important issues of the election, Eilish stated, “Really big fan of human rights. Really big fan of women’s rights and women’s reproductive rights and social justice and gun laws. I would love to feel safe as a woman in my country.” During her Vogue interview, she urged her fans, many of them being first time voters, to vote for the chance to make a change. Weeks after her Vogue interview, she would go on to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris and Governer Tim Walz.
Unfortunately, the results of the 2024 Presidential Election were not what Eilish and some others wanted. Nov. 6 was a particularly heavy day for some women across the nation, as they felt like their country had failed them. On that Wednesday, Eilish took to the stage in Nashville, Tennessee to perform the 15th show of her Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour. During her performance of “TV”, which states the iconic line: “The internet’s gone wild watching movie stars on trial while they’re overturning Roe v. Wade”, she cuts the song short, making a statement that echoes the painful result of the election. Later on during her show, she pays homage to all the women who are feeling disheartened, frustrated, and scared for their future, telling them: “And I want you to know that you’re safe with me, and you’re protected here, and you are safe in this room.”
During a difficult time, not just for some women, but for those that cannot speak up for themselves, Eilish provides them with a sanctuary. A place to be free, to smile and laugh, and to be safe, at least for a few hours. In a time where our nation has never been so divided, the only thing we can do is find community amongst each other through music. No matter what party you stand with, music is something that can unite us all.
