Title: Happier Than Ever
Performed by Billie Eilish
Written by Finneas O'Connell and Billie Eilish O'Connell
Produced by Finneas O'Connell
Released July 30, 2021 by Darkroom and Interscope Records
Interest Level: Ages 14+ (due to the Parent Advisory label for explicit lyrics) Genre/Format: Pop, Electro-pop/Music Album
Awards or Honors: Happier Than Ever has received a 90/100 rating on Metacritic.com.
Singer-Songwriter Background: Happier Than Ever is 20-year old Billie Eilish's highly anticipated second album. It follows her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? which earned her three Grammy Awards in 2020. She is known for her unique vocal style which is soft, lyrical and often barely above a whisper. She collaborates with her older brother, Finneas O'Connell, on all of her music. They were born and raised in Los Angeles.
Album Description: 16 songs make up Happier Than Ever including five hit singles released earlier this year: "My Future", "Therefore I Am", "Your Power", "Lost Cause", and "NDA." Her songs are primarily about a young woman contending with the realities of adulthood and staking a claim to her independence. She addresses break ups, misogyny, abuse of power, dealing with fame, friendships, and falling in love all while not spiraling out of control. The songs are slow-tempo and have a melodic quality that is mesmerizing.
Critical Evaluation: Though the album was released only a few days prior to writing this post, the five songs mentioned above that came out in the past year have all made Billboard's Top 40 list. Often artists face substantial pressure with their second album, wanting to prove that the first album wasn't simply a one-hit wonder. With Happier Than Ever, Billie Eilish and her brother have crafted beautiful and unique songs that show they are still creating at the top of their game.
Creative Use for a Library Program: This album inspires the library to host a songwriting workshop. We'll engage a local musician who can guide and teach the teens about music composition and lyric writing. If successful, the workshop could be held monthly giving the teens a chance to share their work.
Potential Challenge Issues: Happier Than Ever has an explicit warning label, which means that some might find it offensive. My response is that teenagers have already heard this type of language and pretending that they must maintain their innocence will only make them rebel and act out in healthy ways.
Speed-Round Table Talk: Billie Eilish's second album, Happier Than Ever, is out and it's even better than her first. You'll love listening to her soft voice as she sings about real-life problems.
Reason For Inclusion: Billie Eilish is highly regarded and extremely popular which means that Happier Than Ever will be a sought after selection in the library. Omitting it from the library's collection would be a snub to the teens and would show that the library is not up to date.
References
Biography.com Editors. (2021). Billie Eilish Biography. Biography.com (A&E Television
Eilish, B. (2021). Billie Eilish - Happier Than Ever (Official Music Video). You Tube.
Metacritic. (nd). Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish.
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