Has any solo artist achieved as much success at as young an age as Billie Eilish? She is the youngest artist ever to win the Album of the Year Grammy, and the youngest ever to win Record of the Year (which she has won twice, making her also the second-youngest behind only herself).
She is one of only eight people to sweep the Grammys top three awards (Album, Record, Song) in one ceremony, and by far the youngest to do that. She is one of only two to add Best New Artist to that tally, joining Christopher Cross, who was 30 when he did it.
That’s just the Grammys. Looking at the charts, her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? reached #1 in 24 countries and has certified sales of more than 6.3 million worldwide.
All at or before the tender age of 19.
With one album, written and recorded before she was old enough to vote, Eilish has achieved milestones unmatched by many of the greats.
The crazy thing is, that album wasn’t very good. I much preferred Eilish’s EP, 2017’s Don’t Smile At Me. But clearly the record struck a nerve with audiences and critics alike.
Now Eilish is ramping up to release her anticipated follow-up, a 16-track album titled Happier Than Ever that’s due late next month. She has dropped four singles so far, with the latest — ‘Lost Cause’ — featured today.
I don’t love any of these songs, but I admire that she is sticking to her guns and putting out sleepy tracks without obvious hooks, chasing her muse rather than the Top 10. I’m curious to see if continued runaway success finds her anyway.
Something’s in the—
[Verse 1]
Something’s in the air right now
Like I’m losin’ track of time (Time, time)
Like I don’t really care right now
But maybe that’s fine
You weren’t even there that day
I was waitin’ on you (You, you)
I wonder if you were aware that day
Was the last straw for me and I knew
[Pre-Chorus]
I sent you flowers
Did you even care?
You ran the shower
And left them by the stairs
Ooh-ooh-ooh, a-a-a-ayy
Thought you had your shit together, but damn, I was wrong (Wrong)
[Chorus]
You ain’t nothin’ but a lost cause (Cause, cause)
And this ain’t nothin’ like it oncе was (Was, was)
I know you think you’re such an outlaw
But you got no job (Job)
You ain’t nothin’ but a lost cause (Cause)
And this ain’t nothin’ likе it once was (Was)
I know you think you’re such an outlaw
But you got no job
[Verse 2]
I used to think you were shy (Shy)
But maybe you just had nothing on your mind
Maybe you were thinkin’ ’bout yourself all the time
I used to wish you were mine (Mine)
But that was way before I realized
Someone like you would always be so easy to find
(So) So easy (So, so)
Hee, mm-mm-mm, mm
[Pre-Chorus]
Gave me no flowers
Wish I didn’t care
You’d be gone for hours
Could be anywhere
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Thought you would’ve grown eventually, but you proved me wrong (Wrong)
[Chorus]
You ain’t nothing but a lost cause (Cause)
And this ain’t nothing like it once was (Was)
I know you think you’re such an outlaw (Yeah)
But you got no job (No job)
You ain’t nothing but a lost cause (Cause)
And this ain’t nothing like it once was (Was)
I know you think you’re such an outlaw (Think you’re such a lost cause)
But you got no job
[Outro]
(What did I tell you?)
(Don’t get complacent)
(It’s time to face it now, na-na, na-na, na-na)
(What did I tell you?)
(Don’t get complacent)
(It’s time to face it now, na-na, na-na, na-na)
Meet Me In Montauk 
I’m surprised to hear you describe Eilish’s debut album as not very good. Clearly, that is not a shared opinion of the vast majority of fans or critics.
Anyway, I look forward to hearing more from this talented young artist.
Have you listened to it? I think it’s fine, and has a couple of very good songs, but it’s largely forgettable. And certainly not an album I would expect to sweep the Grammys.
I’ve listened to some of it, including the four or so singles, all of which I think are quite good.
Gotta say, I agree with Clay here. The first EP is far stronger and I think, after watching the documentary, the pressure of creating for everyone else creeped into the making of that album. Not to say it didn’t work out, but I think the work in the brother/sister creative bubble was a lot more free and strong.
Maybe it was seeing her on Hot Ones early on in my listening journey, but I adore everything about this young woman. Not sure when an album or an artist receives almost universal adoration that some can’t respond with a resounding “meh.” I say it couldn’t have happened to a lovelier human being.