Write-up: Brianna Guinigundo
Photos: Henry Hwu / @henryhwu
(Kia Center, Orlando FL) Nearly six years have passed since Billie Eilish stood in this Kia Center in Orlando -- six years, a pandemic, numerous accolades and several albums later. Her tour, “Hit Me Hard and Soft”, showcases her third most recent album, which some may argue is her most introspective work yet. Her unique alternative genre combining indie, electro, and dark pop sets her aside from the other pop artists, but it is her lyrics’ messages on mental health and vulnerability that transformed her from bedroom pop prodigy to global voice of Gen Z. Fans have been known to use her music to help them overcome their own tough struggles, relating to Billie’s lyrics on heartbreak and depression; tonight, audience members were able to unite in singing along to the live music that may have once saved their lives.
When the lights dimmed, a massive metal cage descended -- fans roared as they got the first glimpse of Billie Eilish singing from inside. The cage transformed throughout the show, shifting from a symbol of confinement to a symbol of resilience, as it later acted as a swing that instead elevated Billie Eilish. All throughout the performance, Billie owned that stage. The stage setup was highly unique in the sense that no matter which side of the room one was in, she would have walked as close to that side as possible -- she was on the move, on a mission to include everyone in this arena. Instead of a typical stage set at simply one end of the room, her stage was similar to an inner ring in the very center of the arena. The pit was packed with enthusiastic fans on all sides of this large elevated stage, and even in the seated sections people were shoulder to shoulder, making new friends while rocking out to the laser beams flashing to a heavy bass. It was no worry no matter how far back one sat -- three large Jumbotrons projected cinematic visuals and fantastically well-done camera work that moved with our active pop star like a dance partner. No one was ever even close to bored for even a second at this concert -- not with how fluid the performance flowed and the alternation between her slower songs and more rave-like songs. During “NDA”, images of cars speeding through tunnels flashed in sync with the song’s beat, while “Therefore I Am” brought high energy as fire columns burst from all around the stage’s front. One minute she was crawling across the floor in eerie red lights and distortion to “Bad Guy”, another she was playing the piano for the slower and emotional songs “lovely” with clean transitions into “BLUE” and “ocean eyes”. This kept the night balanced - thrilling but never exhausting, emotional but never indulgent.
Her artistic ability was clearly demonstrated when she kindly asked the crowd to quiet down for one singular minute so she could create the harmonies for “when the party’s over”. Witnessing her create the harmonies live that were used for the rest of the song really spoke to her originality and confidence in cultivating her own melodies right there on the spot instead of relying on a track. On the energetic end, encouraging the lively crowd to join her, she instructed the people to “get low…and jump”, clarifying that nobody was “too cool” to participate in her performance of “Oxytocin”. Immediately after that, what really excited the crowd was how she appeared on a second stage hidden at the opposite end of the arena in rave-like green laser beams for her cover of Charli xcx’s “Guess”. However, she did not stay put there - singing “everything i wanted”, a heavier and reflective song, she walked on the ground floor from the second stage back to the main center stage, highfiving fans all the way through. It was as if it came right out of a movie, seeing all those hands that she touched on her way up to the stage, all the lives she’s impacted -- showing the symbolism of how though she may have a much more fortunate and elevated platform, at the end of the day, she was a person just like any one else in the crowd. Her humbleness was further highlighted in her active inclusion of her live band. Billie even used a GoPro-style camera to capture close-ups of her bandmates mid-song, a playful touch that blurred the line between performer and audience. Her singers Ava and Jane joined her on stage while all three artists sang sitting atop stools, a particular performance where she invited the audience to sit with her as well if they desired.
Within the stage were two pits that the band played -- allowing Billie to freely work the entire stage to herself, balancing between commanding and down-to-earth. This movement created a rare connection between her and her fans. She was strategic in selecting moments when to address the audience as these were only select occasions, making the message feel all the more thoughtful and deliberate. She expressed her gratitude for all the memories she was able to make while on tour “doing something beautiful”, but clarified and acknowledged that the world feels “completely in shambles”. Still, she hoped her music could make people “feel safe and like (they) can be (themselves)”. This preface before performing “Your Power” was significant as this particular song centers on her call for others to not abuse their power. She shares her support with the crowd, “I’ll always stand up freely to fight for you, I always got you, and that’s all. I love you”.
Her song “What Was I Made For?” was featured in the hit movie Barbie (2023), and her allusion to this with the soft pink lighting did not go unnoticed during her rendition. The second-to-last song after this was her big bang ending before she officially concluded with a wholesome performance. “Happier Than Ever” starts off with slower beginnings but ends with a more angsty, fiery passion, which was brought to life with the physical fire columns shooting out from the stage for a strong finish. Audience members were saddened that it was already the last song of the night as this concert went quickly, but were excited to hear her perform “Birds of a Feather”, the song that allowed Billie to achieve her first number-one spot on the Billboard Global 200. But what gives her fame more depth, and resonates well with the audience, are the messages behind each song. Ending with “Birds of a Feather”, a song that praises friendship, was her symbolic implicit way of telling the crowd that we are all in this together -- that despite however saddened or heartbroken one feels and may relate to in her other songs, one is never truly alone.
Billie Eilish left the stage having accomplished something rare -- she delivered on a show that was both sonically explosive and emotionally grounding. What began as a spectacle of lights, lasers, and flawless production evolved into something far more intimate: it was a shared human experience between artist and audience. Her ability to shift seamlessly between vulnerability and power, introspection and rebellion, made the night feel like a living diary -- one that every person in the room could see themselves in. Six years after first standing on this same Orlando stage, Billie Eilish proved that her evolution isn’t just musical, but deeply personal. Her message was clear and unwavering -- even in a world that feels unsteady, connection, honesty, and self-expression can still bring people together.
Photos: Henry Hwu / @henryhwu
(Kia Center, Orlando FL) Nearly six years have passed since Billie Eilish stood in this Kia Center in Orlando -- six years, a pandemic, numerous accolades and several albums later. Her tour, “Hit Me Hard and Soft”, showcases her third most recent album, which some may argue is her most introspective work yet. Her unique alternative genre combining indie, electro, and dark pop sets her aside from the other pop artists, but it is her lyrics’ messages on mental health and vulnerability that transformed her from bedroom pop prodigy to global voice of Gen Z. Fans have been known to use her music to help them overcome their own tough struggles, relating to Billie’s lyrics on heartbreak and depression; tonight, audience members were able to unite in singing along to the live music that may have once saved their lives.
When the lights dimmed, a massive metal cage descended -- fans roared as they got the first glimpse of Billie Eilish singing from inside. The cage transformed throughout the show, shifting from a symbol of confinement to a symbol of resilience, as it later acted as a swing that instead elevated Billie Eilish. All throughout the performance, Billie owned that stage. The stage setup was highly unique in the sense that no matter which side of the room one was in, she would have walked as close to that side as possible -- she was on the move, on a mission to include everyone in this arena. Instead of a typical stage set at simply one end of the room, her stage was similar to an inner ring in the very center of the arena. The pit was packed with enthusiastic fans on all sides of this large elevated stage, and even in the seated sections people were shoulder to shoulder, making new friends while rocking out to the laser beams flashing to a heavy bass. It was no worry no matter how far back one sat -- three large Jumbotrons projected cinematic visuals and fantastically well-done camera work that moved with our active pop star like a dance partner. No one was ever even close to bored for even a second at this concert -- not with how fluid the performance flowed and the alternation between her slower songs and more rave-like songs. During “NDA”, images of cars speeding through tunnels flashed in sync with the song’s beat, while “Therefore I Am” brought high energy as fire columns burst from all around the stage’s front. One minute she was crawling across the floor in eerie red lights and distortion to “Bad Guy”, another she was playing the piano for the slower and emotional songs “lovely” with clean transitions into “BLUE” and “ocean eyes”. This kept the night balanced - thrilling but never exhausting, emotional but never indulgent.
Her artistic ability was clearly demonstrated when she kindly asked the crowd to quiet down for one singular minute so she could create the harmonies for “when the party’s over”. Witnessing her create the harmonies live that were used for the rest of the song really spoke to her originality and confidence in cultivating her own melodies right there on the spot instead of relying on a track. On the energetic end, encouraging the lively crowd to join her, she instructed the people to “get low…and jump”, clarifying that nobody was “too cool” to participate in her performance of “Oxytocin”. Immediately after that, what really excited the crowd was how she appeared on a second stage hidden at the opposite end of the arena in rave-like green laser beams for her cover of Charli xcx’s “Guess”. However, she did not stay put there - singing “everything i wanted”, a heavier and reflective song, she walked on the ground floor from the second stage back to the main center stage, highfiving fans all the way through. It was as if it came right out of a movie, seeing all those hands that she touched on her way up to the stage, all the lives she’s impacted -- showing the symbolism of how though she may have a much more fortunate and elevated platform, at the end of the day, she was a person just like any one else in the crowd. Her humbleness was further highlighted in her active inclusion of her live band. Billie even used a GoPro-style camera to capture close-ups of her bandmates mid-song, a playful touch that blurred the line between performer and audience. Her singers Ava and Jane joined her on stage while all three artists sang sitting atop stools, a particular performance where she invited the audience to sit with her as well if they desired.
Within the stage were two pits that the band played -- allowing Billie to freely work the entire stage to herself, balancing between commanding and down-to-earth. This movement created a rare connection between her and her fans. She was strategic in selecting moments when to address the audience as these were only select occasions, making the message feel all the more thoughtful and deliberate. She expressed her gratitude for all the memories she was able to make while on tour “doing something beautiful”, but clarified and acknowledged that the world feels “completely in shambles”. Still, she hoped her music could make people “feel safe and like (they) can be (themselves)”. This preface before performing “Your Power” was significant as this particular song centers on her call for others to not abuse their power. She shares her support with the crowd, “I’ll always stand up freely to fight for you, I always got you, and that’s all. I love you”.
Her song “What Was I Made For?” was featured in the hit movie Barbie (2023), and her allusion to this with the soft pink lighting did not go unnoticed during her rendition. The second-to-last song after this was her big bang ending before she officially concluded with a wholesome performance. “Happier Than Ever” starts off with slower beginnings but ends with a more angsty, fiery passion, which was brought to life with the physical fire columns shooting out from the stage for a strong finish. Audience members were saddened that it was already the last song of the night as this concert went quickly, but were excited to hear her perform “Birds of a Feather”, the song that allowed Billie to achieve her first number-one spot on the Billboard Global 200. But what gives her fame more depth, and resonates well with the audience, are the messages behind each song. Ending with “Birds of a Feather”, a song that praises friendship, was her symbolic implicit way of telling the crowd that we are all in this together -- that despite however saddened or heartbroken one feels and may relate to in her other songs, one is never truly alone.
Billie Eilish left the stage having accomplished something rare -- she delivered on a show that was both sonically explosive and emotionally grounding. What began as a spectacle of lights, lasers, and flawless production evolved into something far more intimate: it was a shared human experience between artist and audience. Her ability to shift seamlessly between vulnerability and power, introspection and rebellion, made the night feel like a living diary -- one that every person in the room could see themselves in. Six years after first standing on this same Orlando stage, Billie Eilish proved that her evolution isn’t just musical, but deeply personal. Her message was clear and unwavering -- even in a world that feels unsteady, connection, honesty, and self-expression can still bring people together.
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