Hit Me Hard and Soft
{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Hit Me Hard and Soft
| type = studio
| artist = Billie Eilish
| cover = Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft.png
| alt = In the dark depths underwater, a clothed Billie Eilish sinks. At the top, a white door on the surface opens downwards.
| released = {{start date|2024|5|17}}
| recorded = October 2022 – February 2024{{cite magazine |last=Avila |first=Daniela |title=Billie Eilish reveals her upcoming third album is 'mastered' |url=https://people.com/billie-eilish-says-her-new-album-is-mastered-8598329 |date=February 21, 2024 |access-date=April 4, 2024 |magazine=People |publisher=Dotdash Meredith |archive-date=March 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315093735/https://people.com/billie-eilish-says-her-new-album-is-mastered-8598329 |url-status=live }}
| studio = Finneas' home studio
(Los Angeles, California)
| genre = * Alt-pop
| length = 43:45
| label = * Darkroom
| producer = * Billie Eilish
- Finneas O'Connell
| prev_title = Guitar Songs
| prev_year = 2022
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Hit Me Hard and Soft
| type = studio
| single1 = Lunch
| single1date = May 17, 2024
| single2 = Birds of a Feather
| single2date = July 2, 2024
| single3 = Chihiro
| single3date = January 17, 2025
| single4 = Wildflower
| single4date = February 28, 2025
}}
}}
Hit Me Hard and Soft is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish, released on May 17, 2024, through Darkroom and Interscope Records. It is her first full-length album release since 2021's Happier Than Ever. Eilish co-wrote Hit Me Hard and Soft with her brother and frequent collaborator Finneas O'Connell, who also produced the album. Stylistically, it has been labeled as an alt-pop and bedroom pop record.{{cite magazine |last=Thorpe-Tracey |first=CJ |title=Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard And Soft |url=https://thequietus.com/quietus-reviews/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-album-review/ |date=May 18, 2024 |access-date=May 26, 2024 |magazine=The Quietus |url-status=live |archive-date=May 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526182351/https://thequietus.com/quietus-reviews/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-album-review/ }}
Upon release, Hit Me Hard and Soft received universal acclaim from critics, praising the production, songwriting, and vocal performances. It topped the charts in over 20 countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, Hit Me Hard and Soft debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, and charted all 10 of its songs in the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. The track "Lunch" was released as the lead single concurrently. "Birds of a Feather" was released as the second single from the album to great commercial success, peaking at number two on Billboard Hot 100 and in the top ten of several charts. At the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, the album and its songs received a total of seven nominations, including Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, Song of the Year and Record of the Year.
To support the album, Eilish has embarked on her seventh concert tour, Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour, which commenced on September 29, 2024.
Background and recording
Eilish co-wrote and recorded her second studio album, Happier Than Ever, at her brother Finneas' home recording studio, located in the basement of his Los Angeles residence.{{cite magazine |last=Collins |first=Hattie |title=Everything you need to know about Billie Eilish's new album |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/everything-you-need-to-know-billie-eilish-new-album-happier-than-ever |date=May 12, 2021 |access-date=April 4, 2024 |magazine=Vogue |archive-date=June 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623071318/https://www.vogue.com/article/everything-you-need-to-know-billie-eilish-new-album-happier-than-ever |url-status=live }} Recording took place weekly between April 2020 and February 2021, with the track listing finalized by the duo during the album's creation.{{cite magazine |last=Spanos |first=Brittany |title=Billie Eilish and the Pursuit of Happiness |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/billie-eilish-new-album-happier-than-ever-tour-1183156/ |date=June 17, 2021 |access-date=July 21, 2021 |magazine=Rolling Stone |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |archive-date=July 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719000710/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/billie-eilish-new-album-happier-than-ever-tour-1183156/ |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |last=Aswad |first=Jem |title=Billie Eilish to drop new album, 'Happier Than Ever,' on July 30 |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/billie-eilish-new-album-happier-than-ever-1234961283/ |date=April 27, 2021 |access-date=April 27, 2021 |magazine=Variety |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427170723/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/billie-eilish-new-album-happier-than-ever-1234961283/ |url-status=live }} Released on July 30, 2021,{{cite magazine |last=Jones |first=Damian |date=May 21, 2021 |title=Billie Eilish announces 'Happier Than Ever' 2022 world tour dates |url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/billie-eilish-announces-happier-than-ever-2022-world-tour-dates-2946708 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604045019/https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/billie-eilish-announces-happier-than-ever-2022-world-tour-dates-2946708 |archive-date=June 4, 2021 |access-date=June 4, 2021 |magazine=NME}} Happier Than Ever was met with critical acclaim and commercial success, topping the Billboard 200{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |title=Billie Eilish's 'Happier Than Ever' tops Billboard 200 Chart for third week |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9618188/billie-eilish-happier-than-ever-tops-billboard-200-albums-chart-third-week/ |date=August 22, 2021 |access-date=August 23, 2021 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=August 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825221735/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9618188/billie-eilish-happier-than-ever-tops-billboard-200-albums-chart-third-week/ |url-status=live }} and nominated twice at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.{{cite news |last=Cohn |first=Gabe |title=Grammy Awards 2022: The Full List of Nominees |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/23/arts/music/grammys-nominee-list.html |date=November 23, 2021 |access-date=November 23, 2021 |newspaper=The New York Times |archive-date=November 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123165418/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/23/arts/music/grammys-nominee-list.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited }} Eilish surprise-released her second extended play (EP) Guitar Songs in July 2022. The following year, she released "What Was I Made For?" for the soundtrack to the fantasy-comedy film Barbie (2023); she was inspired to write the song after seeing unfinished scenes of the film during its production.{{cite magazine |last=Aniftos |first=Rania |title=Billie Eilish shares self-directed video for 'Barbie' ballad 'What Was I Made For?' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/billie-eilish-video-barbie-song-what-was-i-made-for-1234787731/ |date=September 29, 2022 |access-date=October 26, 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-date=October 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003225410/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/billie-eilish-video-barbie-song-what-was-i-made-for-1234787731/ |url-status=live }} The song won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Song Written for Visual Media.{{cite magazine |last=Grein |first=Paul |title=Billie Eilish's 'Barbie' ballad becomes 10th song to win both Oscar & top songwriting Grammy: Full list |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-song-oscar-song-of-the-year-grammy-winners/moon-river/ |date=March 10, 2024 |access-date=March 12, 2024 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=April 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240405023014/https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-song-oscar-song-of-the-year-grammy-winners/moon-river/ |url-status=live }}
In December 2021, Eilish began formulating ideas for her third studio album with O'Connell.{{cite magazine |last=Robinson |first=Ellie |title=Billie Eilish has already started writing her third album with brother Finneas |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/billie-eilish-has-already-started-writing-her-third-album-with-brother-finneas-3115562 |date=December 10, 2021 |access-date=October 18, 2022 |magazine=New Musical Express |archive-date=October 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018123723/https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/music/billie-eilish-has-already-started-writing-her-third-album-with-brother-finneas-3115562 |url-status=live }} In an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, she mentioned that she hoped to start writing the album in 2023.{{cite magazine |last=DeSantis |first=Rachel |title=Billie Eilish shares two-track release 'Guitar Songs': 'A little surprise' |url=https://people.com/music/billie-eilish-shares-two-track-release-guitar-songs/ |date=July 21, 2022 |access-date=August 13, 2022 |magazine=People |publisher=Dotdash Meredith |archive-date=July 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721213348/https://people.com/music/billie-eilish-shares-two-track-release-guitar-songs/ |url-status=live }} In December 2023, Eilish said on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that the album was "almost done".{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Annie |title=Billie Eilish says new album is 'almost done' |url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Music/2023/12/15/Billie-Eilish-new-album-Barbie-Tonight-Show-Jimmy-Fallon/4091702645746/ |date=December 15, 2023 |access-date=April 4, 2024 |website=United Press International |publisher=News World Communications |archive-date=December 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215135051/https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Music/2023/12/15/Billie-Eilish-new-album-Barbie-Tonight-Show-Jimmy-Fallon/4091702645746/ |url-status=live }} Three months later, she confirmed that the album had been mastered.{{cite magazine |last=Avila |first=Daniela |title=Billie Eilish reveals her upcoming third album is 'mastered' |url=https://people.com/billie-eilish-says-her-new-album-is-mastered-8598329 |date=February 21, 2024 |access-date=April 4, 2024 |magazine=People |publisher=Dotdash Meredith |archive-date=March 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315093735/https://people.com/billie-eilish-says-her-new-album-is-mastered-8598329 |url-status=live }}
The album art, which was shot by underwater photographer William Drumm,{{cite instagram |user=williamdrumm |postid=C7SjuCxA7Sz |title=It's been surreal seeing the images I created with @billieeilish literally everywhere the last week. Billie was such a trooper during this shoot and her vision was perfect, just glad I was able to help share it with the world. @colbertlateshow @finneas @interscope @universalmusicgroup @billliieupdates @capture__la @vibesandhorizons @suahuatica @tonkovision @willfsmart @chelseadodson @heyhunt @billboard @target @walmart |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C7SjuCxA7Sz/ |date=May 23, 2024 |access-date=May 25, 2024 |website=Instagram }} depicts Eilish falling through a door frame into dark blue water. Eilish described the photoshoot, which took six hours to complete and involved her being repeatedly submerged for two minutes at a time with a weight attached to her shoulders and without goggles or nose plugs,{{cite magazine |last1=Martoccio |first1=Angie |title=Billie Eilish Would Like to Reintroduce Herself |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-mental-health-fame-1235003585/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=26 June 2024 |date=24 April 2024}} as being one of the most painful experiences of her life.{{cite web |author=KIIS-FM |title=Billie Eilish Talks 'Hit Me Hard And Soft', Creating Her Album Cover, 'Lunch' & MORE! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNQMaFzGXM8 |date=May 24, 2024 |access-date=May 25, 2024 |via=YouTube |archive-date=May 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525084626/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNQMaFzGXM8 |url-status=live }}
Promotion and release
Various news articles reported billboards teasing snippets of lyrics for the album that appeared in multiple cities in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States in April 2024;{{cite magazine |last=Jones |first=Damian |title=Billie Eilish appears to tease new album on billboards around the world |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/billie-eilish-appears-to-tease-new-album-on-billboards-around-the-world-3612309 |date=April 2, 2024 |access-date=April 4, 2024 |magazine=NME |archive-date=April 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240403091542/https://www.nme.com/news/music/billie-eilish-appears-to-tease-new-album-on-billboards-around-the-world-3612309 |url-status=live }} although it does not mention the artist's name, her signature "blohsh" was recognized.{{cite magazine |last=Aswed |first=Jem |title=Billie Eilish billboards pop up, apparently teasing new album |url=https://variety.com/2024/music/news/billie-eilish-billboards-new-album-1235957723/ |date=April 2, 2024 |access-date=April 4, 2024 |magazine=Variety |archive-date=April 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240403123133/https://variety.com/2024/music/news/billie-eilish-billboards-new-album-1235957723/ |url-status=live }}{{efn|The "blohsh" symbol is a gender-neutral "stick figure person slanting to the left" design used by Eilish since 2016.{{cite magazine |last1=Maher |first1=Dani |last2=Sangster |first2=Ella |title=Billie Eilish teases third album with cryptic billboards around the globe |url=https://harpersbazaar.com.au/billie-eilish-new-album/ |date=April 2, 2024 |access-date=April 5, 2024 |magazine=Harper's Bazaar |archive-date=April 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404210402/https://harpersbazaar.com.au/billie-eilish-new-album/ |url-status=live }}}} The promotional billboards display cryptic lyrics, such as "She's the headlights I'm the deer" or "Did I cross the line?".{{cite magazine |last=Wang |first=Steffanee |title=Billie Eilish just added a bunch of fans to her Instagram close friends |url=https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/billie-eilishs-new-album-title-release-date-tracklist |date=April 2, 2024 |access-date=April 5, 2024 |magazine=Nylon |archive-date=April 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404205057/https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/billie-eilishs-new-album-title-release-date-tracklist |url-status=live }} Eilish later changed her profile picture to a "blue circle" and shared another image with the caption saying "Do you know how to bend?".{{cite web |last=Kelly |first=Dylan |title=Billie Eilish is teasing her next album on her Instagram "close friends" story |url=https://uproxx.com/pop/billie-eilish-fans-instagram-close-followers-story-reactions/ |date=April 4, 2024 |access-date=April 4, 2024 |publisher=Hypebeast |archive-date=April 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404173150/https://uproxx.com/pop/billie-eilish-fans-instagram-close-followers-story-reactions/ |url-status=live }} Eilish added her followers to an Instagram feature that lets limited accounts see exclusive stories, called "Close Friends". The post features a "lo-fi" image showcasing the artist's hand,{{cite web |last=Rossignol |first=Derrick |title=Billie Eilish has 110 million 'Close Friends,' at least according to Instagram, and followers are completely losing it |url=https://uproxx.com/pop/billie-eilish-fans-instagram-close-followers-story-reactions/ |date=April 4, 2024 |access-date=April 4, 2024 |website=Uproxx |archive-date=April 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404173150/https://uproxx.com/pop/billie-eilish-fans-instagram-close-followers-story-reactions/ |url-status=live }} and an image of her new midriff tattoo.{{cite web |last=Bonner |first=Mehera |title=Billie Eilish just revealed a giant new hip tattoo on her "close friends" Instagram |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a60407834/billie-eilish-hip-tattoo-close-friends-instagram/ |date=April 5, 2024 |access-date=April 5, 2024 |website=Cosmopolitan |publisher=Hearst Communications |archive-date=April 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240424021453/https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a60407834/billie-eilish-hip-tattoo-close-friends-instagram/ |url-status=live }}
On April 29, 2024, Eilish announced Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour, her seventh concert tour, in support of the album. The North American leg of the tour started on September 29, 2024, at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada.{{Cite web |last=Harrison |first=Scoop |date=April 29, 2024 |title=Billie Eilish Announces "Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour" |url=https://consequence.net/2024/04/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-the-tour-2024-2025/ |access-date=April 29, 2024 |website=Consequence |archive-date=April 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429135716/https://consequence.net/2024/04/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-the-tour-2024-2025/ |url-status=live }} The 2025 leg of the tour, covering Europe and Oceania, started on February 18, at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
Eilish previewed the songs "Lunch", "L'Amour de Ma Vie", and "Chihiro" during a surprise DJ set at Coachella on April 13, 2024.{{Cite magazine |last=Geraghty |first=Hollie |date=April 15, 2024 |title=Billie Eilish previews new song 'Lunch' during secret Coachella DJ set |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/billie-eilish-previews-new-song-lunch-during-secret-coachella-dj-set-3617881 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516152542/https://www.nme.com/news/music/billie-eilish-previews-new-song-lunch-during-secret-coachella-dj-set-3617881 |archive-date=May 16, 2024 |access-date=May 17, 2024 |magazine=NME}} In an interview published on April 24, she told Rolling Stone that she would not release singles prior to the album's release. She explained that she does not like singles before album releases because she "really [doesn't] like when things are out of context" and compared Hit Me Hard and Soft to "a family", adding that she "[doesn't] want one little kid in the middle of the room alone".{{Cite magazine |last=Martoccio |first=Angie |date=April 24, 2024 |title=Billie Eilish Would Like to Reintroduce Herself |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-mental-health-fame-1235003585/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240424131905/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-mental-health-fame-1235003585/ |archive-date=April 24, 2024 |access-date=May 17, 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone}} In May, a preview of "Chihiro" was featured in a Fortnite trailer revealing Eilish's second in-game outfit. The song was also made available as a "Jam Track" to use in the Fortnite Festival mode alongside "Lunch" and "The Diner".{{Cite magazine |last=Tassi |first=Paul |date=May 10, 2024 |title=Billie Eilish Teases New Song, CHIHIRO, In 'Fortnite,' Ahead Of Album Release Date |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2024/05/10/billie-eilish-debuts-new-song-chihiro-in-fortnite-ahead-of-album-release-date/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515000042/https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2024/05/10/billie-eilish-debuts-new-song-chihiro-in-fortnite-ahead-of-album-release-date/?sh=761d34822cc7 |archive-date=May 15, 2024 |access-date=May 17, 2024 |magazine=Forbes}}{{Cite web |last=Gutierrez |first=Luis Joshua |date=May 17, 2024 |title=Fortnite Festival Just Did Something It's Never Done Before |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fortnite-festival-just-did-something-its-never-done-before/1100-6523556/ |access-date=May 21, 2024 |website=GameSpot |archive-date=May 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517222042/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fortnite-festival-just-did-something-its-never-done-before/1100-6523556/ |url-status=live }} Furthermore, a snippet of "Birds of a Feather" was featured in a promotional clip for the third season of the Netflix series Heartstopper.{{cite magazine |last=Legaspi |first=Althea |date=May 13, 2024 |title='Heartstopper' Trailer Teases Season Three and Billie Eilish's 'Birds of a Feather' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/heartstopper-trailer-season-three-billie-eilish-birds-of-a-feather-1235019493/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513165618/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/heartstopper-trailer-season-three-billie-eilish-birds-of-a-feather-1235019493/ |archive-date=May 13, 2024 |access-date=May 13, 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone}} On May 15 and May 16, Eilish held a listening party events for fans respectively at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and Kia Forum in Inglewood, in both cases premiering the album in its entirety.{{cite magazine |last=Jones |first=Damian |date=May 16, 2024 |title=Watch Billie Eilish preview 'Hit Me Hard And Soft' at huge New York listening party |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-billie-eilish-preview-hit-me-hard-and-soft-at-huge-new-york-listening-party-3756835 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516120347/https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-billie-eilish-preview-hit-me-hard-and-soft-at-huge-new-york-listening-party-3756835 |archive-date=May 16, 2024 |access-date=May 16, 2024 |magazine=NME}}
Hit Me Hard and Soft was released on May 17, 2024. The album was available for cassette, CD, digital download, streaming and vinyl LP. On May 19 and May 22, Eilish released for digital download the isolated vocals, slowed & reverb and sped up editions of the album, respectively.{{Cite magazine |date=May 23, 2024 |title=Billie Eilish ha pubblicato 'Hit Me Hard and Soft' nelle versioni 'Slowed & Reverb' e 'Sped Up' |url=https://www.rollingstone.it/musica/news-musica/billie-eilish-ha-pubblicato-hit-me-hard-and-soft-in-versione-slowed-reverb-e-sped-up/910772/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524180357/https://www.rollingstone.it/musica/news-musica/billie-eilish-ha-pubblicato-hit-me-hard-and-soft-in-versione-slowed-reverb-e-sped-up/910772/ |archive-date=May 24, 2024 |access-date=May 24, 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone Italia |language=it-IT}}
= Singles and music videos =
"Lunch" was released as the lead single in tandem with the album's release, along with its self-directed music video.{{Cite web |last=Partridge |first=Ken |date=May 17, 2024 |title=Billie Eilish Celebrates Same-Sex Attraction On New Song "LUNCH" |url=https://genius.com/a/billie-eilish-celebrates-same-sex-attraction-on-new-song-lunch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517141228/https://genius.com/a/billie-eilish-celebrates-same-sex-attraction-on-new-song-lunch |archive-date=May 17, 2024 |access-date=May 17, 2024 |publisher=Genius}} The song debuted and peaked at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100.{{Cite magazine |title=Billie Eilish {{!}} Biography, Music & News |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/billie-eilish/chart-history/hsi/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} It also found international success, peaking within the top five in the UK,{{Cite web |date=2024-05-29 |title=Official Singles Chart Top 100 on 24/5/2024 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20240524/7501/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Official Charts |language=en}} Germany,{{Cite web |title=Offizielle Deutsche Charts |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/titel-details-2451974 |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=www.offiziellecharts.de}} Australia and New Zealand,{{Cite web |title=Billie Eilish - Lunch |url=https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Billie+Eilish&titel=Lunch&cat=s |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=australian-charts.com}}{{Cite web |title=Explore our 50 year history |url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/2024-05-24 |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz |language=en}} and various European countries.{{Cite web |title=Chart – Sverigetopplistan |url=https://sverigetopplistan.se/chart/41/?dspy=2024&dspp=22 |access-date=2025-03-15 |language=sv-SE}}{{Cite web |title=Billie Eilish - Lunch |url=https://portuguesecharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Billie+Eilish&titel=Lunch&cat=s |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=portuguesecharts.com}}{{Cite web |url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Billie+Eilish&titel=Lunch&cat=s |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=dutchcharts.nl |title=Billie Eilish - Lunch }}
An extended version of "L'Amour de Ma Vie", including "Over Now", was released as a promotional single on May 22, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Rossignol |first=Derrick |date=May 22, 2024 |title=Billie Eilish Shares A New 'Extended Edit' Of 'L'Amour De Ma Vie' |url=https://uproxx.com/pop/billie-eilish-lamour-de-ma-vie-extended-edit/ |access-date=May 25, 2024 |website=Uproxx |archive-date=May 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525030456/https://uproxx.com/pop/billie-eilish-lamour-de-ma-vie-extended-edit/ |url-status=live }}
The music video for "Chihiro", directed by Eilish herself, was released on June 6, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Abby |date=June 6, 2024 |title=Billie Eilish Shares Self-Directed "Chihiro" Video |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2266770/billie-eilish-channels-studio-ghibli-in-self-directed-chihiro-video/music/ |access-date=July 4, 2024 |website=Stereogum}} The song debuted at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and charted for 20 weeks due to its streaming success, despite not receiving an official single release in the United States.{{Cite magazine |title=Billie Eilish {{!}} Biography, Music & News |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/billie-eilish/chart-history/hsi/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} It was sent to Italian radio on January 16, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Vitali |first=Giacomo |date=January 13, 2025 |title=Chihiro – Billie Eilish |url=https://earone.com/post/85de0dbf7b28 |access-date=January 13, 2025 |work=EarOne |language=it}}
"Birds of a Feather" impacted US contemporary hit radio as the album's second official single on July 2, 2024.{{Cite web |date=July 2, 2024 |title=Chart Roundup: "Espresso" Leads At Pop/CHR |url=https://mcusercontent.com/cb3ab121510fa0c4bdebdd057/files/a25438cf-d4f0-f2d1-4c89-b5de964feb25/US_Radio_Updater_July_2_2024.pdf |access-date=July 4, 2024 |publisher=US Radio Updater}}{{Cite magazine |date=July 2, 2024 |title=Your Radio Add Recaps |url=https://m.hitsdailydouble.com/pop_mart&id=341795&title=YOUR-RADIO-ADD-RECAPS |access-date=July 4, 2024 |magazine=Hits Daily Double}} The music video for the song, directed by Aidan Zamiri, was released on September 27, 2024.{{Cite magazine |last=Mier |first=Tomás |date=2024-09-27 |title=Billie Eilish Relinquishes Control in 'Birds of a Feather' Video |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/billie-eilish-drops-birds-of-a-feather-video-1235114370/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} The song was initially a fan favorite, debuting at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and organically rising into the top ten in subsequent weeks.{{Cite magazine |last=tolsen |date=2013-01-02 |title=Billboard Hot 100™ |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2024-06-01/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine |last=tolsen |date=2013-01-02 |title=Billboard Hot 100™ |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2024-06-22/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} It eventually grew into a worldwide success, peaking at number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Global 200.{{Cite magazine |title=Billie Eilish {{!}} Biography, Music & News |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/billie-eilish/chart-history/hsi/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine |title=Billie Eilish {{!}} Biography, Music & News |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/billie-eilish/chart-history/glo/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} The song also became the most-streamed song in a calendar year on Spotify in 2024, surpassing Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso".{{Cite web |last=Horowitz |first=Steven J. |date=2025-01-02 |title=Billie Eilish's 'Birds of a Feather' Slips Past Sabrina Carpenter's 'Espresso' as Most-Streamed Spotify Song in 2024 |url=https://variety.com/2025/music/news/billie-eilish-birds-of-a-feather-spotify-most-streamed-song-2024-1236263521/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} It was nominated for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in 2025.{{Cite web |title=Billie Eilish {{!}} Artist {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/billie-eilish/251741 |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=grammy.com}}
"Wildflower" impacted US contemporary hit radio as the album's fourth single on February 28, 2025.{{Cite magazine |date=February 28, 2025 |title=Hot New Releases |url=https://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/radio/hot-new-releases-2025-02-28|access-date=March 1, 2025|magazine=Hits Daily Double |archive-date=March 1, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250301073047/https://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/radio/hot-new-releases-2025-02-28|url-status=live }}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| MC = 89/100{{cite web |title=Hit Me Hard and Soft by Billie Eilish |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/hit-me-hard-and-soft/billie-eilish |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=May 22, 2024 |archive-date=May 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515224601/https://www.metacritic.com/music/hit-me-hard-and-soft/billie-eilish |url-status=live }}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/hit-me-hard-and-soft-mw0004265561|title=Hit Me Hard and Soft by Billie Eilish|publisher=AllMusic|last=Yeung|first=Neil Z.|access-date=May 24, 2024}}
| rev2 = Clash
| rev2score = 8/10{{Cite magazine |last=Virdi |first=Amrit |date=May 17, 2024 |title=Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard And Soft |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft/ |access-date=May 17, 2024 |magazine=Clash |archive-date=May 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517210138/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft/ |url-status=live }}
| rev3 = The Daily Telegraph
| rev4 = The Guardian
| rev5 = The Independent
| rev6 = The Line of Best Fit
| rev6score = 9/10{{Cite magazine |last=Khuttapan |first=Tanatat |date=May 17, 2024 |title=Billie Eilish's Hit Me Hard and Soft is a luminous treasure |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-luminous-treasure |url-status=live |access-date=May 17, 2024 |magazine=The Line of Best Fit |archive-date=May 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517163500/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-luminous-treasure }}
| rev7 = NME
| rev8 = Pitchfork
| rev8score = 6.8/10{{cite web |last=Jocelyn |first=Hannah |date=May 21, 2024 |title=Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft Album Review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft/ |access-date=May 21, 2024 |website=Pitchfork |archive-date=May 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521041252/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft/ |url-status=live }}
| rev9 = Rolling Stone
| rev9score = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite magazine |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |date=May 17, 2024 |title=Billie Eilish Is More Playful, More Pissed, and as Brilliant as Ever on Hit Me Hard and Soft |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-review-1235022854/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |access-date=May 17, 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-date=May 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517135606/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-review-1235022854/ }}
| rev10 = Slant Magazine
| rev10score = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-album-review/|title=Billie Eilish Hit Me Hard and Soft Review: Pop's Anti-Princess Gets Playful and Profound|last=Seip|first=Nick|date=May 17, 2024|magazine=Slant Magazine|access-date=May 18, 2024|archive-date=May 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518103132/https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-album-review/|url-status=live}}
}}
Hit Me Hard and Soft received widespread critical acclaim.{{Cite web |last=Bushby |first=Helen |date=May 17, 2024 |title=Billie Eilish: Rave reviews for 'brilliant' Hit Me Hard and Soft |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8vzd111r3lo |access-date=May 21, 2024 |publisher=BBC}} On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized score out of 100 to ratings from professional publications, Hit Me Hard and Soft received a weighted mean score of 89, based on 22 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". In a five-star review, Helen Brown of The Independent praised how the album "whispers its way through a marvelous maze of music to deliver some big emotional wallops."{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Helen |date=May 16, 2024 |title=Billie Eilish review, Hit Me Hard and Soft: Softly whispers its way to big emotional wallops |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-review-b2546074.html |access-date=May 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Independent |archive-date=May 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516121645/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-review-b2546074.html |url-status=live }} Neil McCormick from The Daily Telegraph agreed in his own five-star assessment, opining that the "heartbreak masterpiece" is "rich, strange, smart, sad and wise enough" to stand in comparison with Joni Mitchell's Blue (1971).{{Cite news |last=McCormick |first=Neil |author-link=Neil McCormick |date=May 16, 2024 |title=Billie Eilish, Hit Me Hard and Soft: explicit, sapphic and her best work yet |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-review/ |access-date=May 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=May 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516121501/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-review/ |url-status=live }}
Writing for The Guardian, Alexis Petridis complimented Hit Me Hard and Soft{{'}}s "beautiful" melodies and "distinctive" lyrical touches, but wondered if some of its elements could be "a little too opaque" for its own good.{{Cite news |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |author-link=Alexis Petridis |date=May 16, 2024 |title=Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft review – still the great outlier of American pop |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/may/16/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-review |access-date=May 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=May 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517021151/https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/may/16/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-review |url-status=live }} NME{{'}}s Thomas Smith felt that although Eilish wrote the album for herself, she created a record that will "resonate harder" than anything she has done before.{{Cite magazine |last=Smith |first=Thomas |date=May 16, 2024 |title=Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft review: bold, brilliant and somewhat brighter |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-review-tracklist-lyrics-3756826 |access-date=May 16, 2024 |magazine=NME |archive-date=May 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516121713/https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-review-tracklist-lyrics-3756826 |url-status=live }}
=Year-end rankings=
Hit Me Hard and Soft appeared on several publications' rankings of the best albums of 2024. It was placed second by Mesfin Fekadu of The Hollywood Reporter{{Cite web |last=Fekadu |first=Mesfin |date=2024-12-17 |title=The 10 Best Albums of 2024 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/best-albums-of-2024-ranked-1236087681/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217161203/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/best-albums-of-2024-ranked-1236087681/ |archive-date=2024-12-17 |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} and Page Six.{{cite web|url=https://pagesix.com/2024/12/31/entertainment/best-albums-and-songs-of-2024-beyonce-charli-xcx-more/|title=Best albums and songs of 2024: Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Charli XCX and more|work=Page Six|date=December 31, 2024|access-date=December 31, 2024}} Top five by BBC,{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c33d66n7p8ko|title=Best albums of 2024: Charli XCX, Beyonce, The Cure and more|date=December 21, 2024|work=BBC News|access-date=December 22, 2024}} Billboard, Entertainment Weekly,{{Cite magazine |last= |date=December 11, 2024 |title=The 10 best albums of 2024 |url=https://ew.com/the-best-albums-of-2024-8676285 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211183030/https://ew.com/the-best-albums-of-2024-8676285 |archive-date=2024-12-11 |access-date=2024-12-12 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}} Rolling Stone, Complex,{{Cite web |date=2024-12-09 |title=The 50 Best Albums of 2024 |url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/dimassanfiorenzo/best-albums-of-2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241212155003/https://www.complex.com/music/a/dimassanfiorenzo/best-albums-of-2024 |archive-date=2024-12-12 |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=Complex}} DIY,{{Cite web |date=2024-12-13 |title=The 20 Best Albums of 2024 |url=https://diymag.com/feature/albums-of-the-year-2024 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=DIY}} FLOOD,{{Cite web |last=FLOOD |date=December 10, 2024 |title=The Best Albums of 2024
|url=https://floodmagazine.com/182615/the-best-albums-of-2024/ |access-date=December 10, 2024 |website=floodmagazine.com}} Hot Press,{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/50-best-albums-of-2024-23063902|title=50 Best Albums of 2024|date=December 20, 2024|work=Hot Press|access-date=December 20, 2024}} The Boston Globe,{{Cite web |date=December 17, 2024 |title=The 50 Best Albums of 2024 |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/12/17/arts/best-albums-of-the-year/ |access-date=December 18, 2024 |url-access=subscription|website=The Boston Globe}} The Guardian,{{Cite web |last=Zaleski |first=Annie |date=December 16, 2024 |title=The 50 best albums of 2024 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/dec/16/the-50-best-albums-of-2024-no-5-beyonce-cowboy-carter |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241216203619/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/dec/16/the-50-best-albums-of-2024-no-5-beyonce-cowboy-carter |archive-date=2024-12-16 |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=The Guardian}} Slant,{{Cite web |date=2024-12-12 |title=The 50 Best Albums of 2024 |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/the-50-best-albums-of-2024/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212163055/https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/the-50-best-albums-of-2024/ |archive-date=2024-12-12 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Slant Magazine |language=en-US}} and The Forty Five,{{cite web|url=https://thefortyfive.com/opinion/reviews/best-albums-2024/|title=The best albums of 2024 as voted by The Forty-Five's music critics2|work=The Forty Five|date=December 4, 2024|access-date=December 4, 2024}} and within the top ten by The New Yorker,{{Cite magazine |last=Petrusich |first=Amanda |date=December 2, 2024 |title=The Best Albums of 2024 |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/2024-in-review/the-best-albums-of-2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202142616/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/2024-in-review/the-best-albums-of-2024 |archive-date=2024-12-02 |access-date=December 2, 2024 |magazine=The New Yorker}} NME,{{Cite web |last=Gwee |first=Karen |date=2024-12-06 |title=THE 50 BEST ALBUMS OF 2024 |url=https://www.nme.com/lists/end-of-year/best-albums-2024-3818995#7 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241209205455/https://www.nme.com/lists/end-of-year/best-albums-2024-3818995#7 |archive-date=2024-12-09 |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=NME |language=en}}
Los Angeles Times,{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Mikael |date=2024-12-11 |title=The 20 best albums of 2024 |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2024-12-11/best-albums-2024-sabrina-carpenter-taylor-swift-mkgee |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211113453/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2024-12-11/best-albums-2024-sabrina-carpenter-taylor-swift-mkgee |archive-date=2024-12-11 |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Mondo Sonoro,{{Cite web |last= Mondo Sonoro |date=December 4, 2024 |title=Los mejores discos internacionales de 2024|url=https://www.mondosonoro.com/blog-musica/mejores-discos-2024-internacionales/ |access-date=December 4, 2024 |website=mondosonoro.com}} The Sunday Times,{{Cite web |date=December 7, 2024 |title=25 Best Albums of 2024 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/best-albums-2024-0g659vwpj |access-date=December 7, 2024 |url-access=subscription|website=The Sunday Times}} KCRW,{{Cite web|last=KCRW|date=December 5, 2024 |title=The 30 Best Albums of 2024 |url=https://www.kcrw.com/best-of-2024/best-albums|access-date=December 7, 2024 |website=KCRW}} People{{Cite web |last=People |date=December 4, 2024 |title=PEOPLE Picks the Top 10 Albums of 2024, from Beyoncé and Taylor Swift to Billie Eilish|url=https://people.com/people-picks-top-10-best-albums-2024-8754835 |access-date=December 4, 2024 |website=www.people.com}} Esquire{{Cite web |last=Light |first=Alan |date=2024-12-13 |title=The 10 Best Albums of 2024 |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/g46410632/best-albums-2024/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214023327/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/g46410632/best-albums-2024/ |archive-date=2024-12-14 |access-date=2024-12-14 |website=Esquire |language=en}} Les Inrocks,{{cite web|url=https://www.lesinrocks.com/musique/decouvrez-nos-100-meilleurs-albums-de-2024-partie-1-4-635087-05-12-2024/|title=Découvrez nos 100 meilleurs albums de 2024 (partie 1/4)|work=Les Inrockuptibles|date=December 5, 2024|access-date=December 22, 2024}} and Dork.{{cite web|url=https://readdork.com/features/dorks-albums-of-the-year-2024-10-1/|title=Albums of the Year 2024|work=Dork|date=December 27, 2024|access-date=December 31, 2024}} Publications that featured Hit Me Hard and Soft in the top fifteenth of their lists include Dazed,{{Cite web |date=December 9, 2024 |title=The 20 Best Albums of 2024 |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/65665/1/the-best-albums-of-2024-charli-xcx-brat-kendrick-lamar-mk-gee-clairo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241209214256/https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/65665/1/the-best-albums-of-2024-charli-xcx-brat-kendrick-lamar-mk-gee-clairo |archive-date=2024-12-09 |access-date=December 9, 2024 |website=Dazed}} and The Independent{{Cite web |date=November 30, 2024 |title=The best albums of 2024 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/best-albums-2024-taylor-swift-fontaines-dc-b2653867.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241130070112/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/best-albums-2024-taylor-swift-fontaines-dc-b2653867.html |archive-date=2024-11-30 |access-date=November 30, 2024 |website=The Independent}} The record was also mentioned in unranked lists by AllMusic,{{Cite web |date=2024-12-06 |title=AllMusic Best of 2024 {{!}} AllMusic 2024 in Review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/year-in-review/2024/allmusic-best-of-2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241210010755/https://www.allmusic.com/year-in-review/2024/allmusic-best-of-2024 |archive-date=2024-12-10 |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}The Associated Press,{{Cite news |last=Sherman |first=Maria |date=2024-12-05 |title=AP's top albums of 2024: Beyoncé, Charli XCX, Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Mk.gee and more |url=https://apnews.com/article/best-albums-2024-cc1c5c3690daebf29601ca4392801c7b |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207091147/https://apnews.com/article/best-albums-2024-cc1c5c3690daebf29601ca4392801c7b |archive-date=2024-12-07 |access-date=2024-12-05 |language=en |work=Associated Press News}} Cosmopolitan,{{Cite web |last=Olson |first=Samantha |date=December 3, 2024 |title=The Best Albums of 2024, From Beyoncé to Billie Eilish |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/music/g61075925/best-albums-2024/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204033501/https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/music/g61075925/best-albums-2024/ |archive-date=2024-12-04 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |website=Cosmopolitan}} HuffPost,{{Cite web |date=2024-12-11 |title=The Best Albums This Year To Listen To Immediately |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/best-albums-of-2024_n_675892b6e4b063b52a9a0dd1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211121713/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/best-albums-of-2024_n_675892b6e4b063b52a9a0dd1 |archive-date=2024-12-11 |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=HuffPost |language=en}} Uproxx,{{Cite web |date=December 3, 2024 |title=The Best Albums Of 2024 |url=https://uproxx.com/music/best-albums-2024-list/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204180945/https://uproxx.com/music/best-albums-2024-list/ |archive-date=2024-12-04 |access-date=December 4, 2024 |website=Uproxx}} Hypebeast,{{Cite web|url=https://hypebeast.com/2024/12/the-10-best-albums-of-2024|title=The 10 Best Albums of 2024|date=December 5, 2024|access-date=December 5, 2024 |website=hypebeast.com}} Vogue,{{Cite web |date=2024-12-20 |title=The 36 Best Albums of 2024 |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/best-albums-of-2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241221155455/https://www.vogue.com/article/best-albums-of-2024 |archive-date=2024-12-21 |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}} Evening Standard,{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/best-albums-2024-charli-xcx-taylor-swift-beyonce-b1201681.html|title=Ten best albums of 2024: Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX dominated|date=December 29, 2024|access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=standard.co.uk}} and Toronto Star.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/best-music-of-2024-the-stars-experts-share-their-favourite-albums-of-the-year/article_9bec1ace-b72c-11ef-af24-fbf1f8bcbbb8.html|title=Best music of 2024: The Star's experts share their favourite albums of the year|date=December 24, 2024|access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=www.thestar.com}}
On individual critics' lists, while The Philadelphia Inquirer
Accolades
Commercial performance
= Streaming =
On its release day, Hit Me Hard and Soft received 72.7 million streams on Spotify globally, becoming her biggest streaming debut on the platform. It also debuted with over 500 million streams globally on its first week of release, marking Eilish's biggest streaming week ever.{{cite magazine |last=Brandle |first=Lars |date=May 27, 2024 |title=Billie Eilish's Hit Me Hard And Soft Debuts With 500M Streams |url=https://au.variety.com/2024/music/news/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-debut-500m-streams-14249/ |magazine=Variety |access-date=May 29, 2024}} Upon release, the album soared to No. 1 on Apple Music’s all-genre albums chart in 138 countries worldwide. Eilish was also named Artist of the Year for 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/11/billie-eilish-is-apple-musics-artist-of-the-year-for-2024/|title=Billie Eilish is Apple Music’s Artist of the Year for 2024|date=November 21, 2024|website=apple.com|access-date=June 6, 2025}} In less than two months it surpassed 2 billion streams, becoming Eilish's fastest project to cross that mark.{{Cite web |last=Sepe |first=Alexandra |date=2024-07-17 |title=Glitter Magazine {{!}} Billie Eilish's New Album Surpasses 2 Billion Streams on Spotify |url=https://glittermagazine.co/2024/07/17/billie-eilishs-new-album-surpasses-2-billion-streams-on-spotify/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=glittermagazine.co |language=en-US}} It was the second most-played album on Spotify globally in 2024, only behind Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department.{{cite web|url=https://newsroom.spotify.com/2024-12-04/top-songs-artists-podcasts-audiobooks-albums-trends-2024/|title=Spotify most streamed artists of 2024|date=December 4, 2024|website=newsroom.spotify.com|access-date=December 4, 2024|archive-date=December 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204131742/https://newsroom.spotify.com/2024-12-04/top-songs-artists-podcasts-audiobooks-albums-trends-2024/|url-status=live}} On Deezer, Hit Me Hard and Soft was the most streamed album worldwide in 2024, the French music streaming service added that her latest album has proven that massive popularity and daring experimentation can coexist while pushing boundaries sonically and thematically, delivering an album that feels both raw and refreshingly unconventional, bridging the gap between artistic risk and mainstream appeal.{{cite web|url=https://newsroom-deezer.com/2024/11/my-deezer-year-2024-en/|title=My Deezer Year 2024: The biggest sounds of the year and a personal review of your own taste in music|date=November 19, 2024|website=newsroom-deezer.com|access-date=April 14, 2025}}
= United States =
Hit Me Hard and Soft debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 with 339,000 album-equivalent units moved in its opening week, including 193.93 million on-demand streams and 191,000 album sales in its first week. Although it is her first studio album to not debut at number one, it marked Eilish's largest first-week units in the US, as well as highest pure sales.{{cite web |last=Evans |first=Greg |date=May 27, 2024 |title=Billie Eilish Album Hit Me Hard And Soft Debuts At #2 On Billboard 200 |url=https://deadline.com/2024/05/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-2-1235941819/ |access-date=May 28, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood |archive-date=May 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528013823/https://deadline.com/2024/05/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-2-1235941819/ |url-status=live }} Notably, 90,000 units of the first-week sum for Hit Me Hard and Soft were in vinyl sales, as it debuted atop the Billboard Vinyl Albums chart. Eilish earned her fifth total and consecutive No. 1 on the list, following Happier Than Ever (2021), Live at Third Man Records (2020), When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? and Don't Smile at Me (both 2019).{{cite magazine|date=March 20, 2024|title=Billie Eilish: Vinyl Albums (Chart History)|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/billie-eilish/chart-history/vnl/|access-date=December 7, 2024|magazine=Billboard|url-status=live }} She passed Lana Del Rey for the second-most No. 1s among solo women, after Taylor Swift, who leads all acts with 13, dating to the list's launch in 2011. Eilish has now spent 27 total weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Vinyl Albums chart, second only to Swift's 52.{{cite web |last=Zellner |first=Xander |title=All 10 Songs From Billie Eilish's 'Hit Me Hard and Soft' Debut in Hot 100's Top 40 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-all-songs-hot-100-top-40-1235694294/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=May 31, 2024 |date=May 28, 2024 |archive-date=May 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240529225257/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/billie-eilish-hit-me-hard-and-soft-all-songs-hot-100-top-40-1235694294/ |url-status=live }} Aside of that, all ten of its songs debuted in the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. On March 14, 2025, Hit Me Hard and Soft was certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA, for moving two million album-equivalent units in the US.{{Cite magazine |last=McIntyre |first=Hugh |date=September 10, 2024 |title=Ariana Grande Ties Billie Eilish As Her New Album Scores A Special Honor |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2024/09/10/ariana-grande-ties-billie-eilish-as-her-new-album-scores-a-special-honor/ |access-date=December 7, 2024 |magazine=Forbes}} It finished as the fifth best-selling album of 2024 in the US with 2,259,000 equivalent album units, of which 570,000 are pure sales and also the second biggest selling vinyl album of the year with 340,000 copies. On top of that, Billie Eilish was the second-biggest selling act on vinyl in 2024, with 520,000 sold.{{Cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=January 15, 2025 |title=Taylor Swift's 'Tortured Poets Department' Is Luminate's Top Album of 2024 in U.S. |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/luminate-2024-year-end-music-report-taylor-swift-shaboozey-teddy-swims/|access-date=January 15, 2025 |magazine=Billboard}}
= Internationally =
In the UK, Hit Me Hard and Soft debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart with 67,100 album-equivalent units, being her biggest opening week in the region surpassing her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, which debuted with 48,400 album-equivalent units in 2019.{{Cite web |date=May 24, 2024 |title=Billie Eilish scores biggest opening week of her career with third Number 1 album HIT ME HARD AND SOFT |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/billie-eilish-number-1-album-hit-me-hard-and-soft-zayn/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525082421/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/billie-eilish-number-1-album-hit-me-hard-and-soft-zayn/ |archive-date=May 25, 2024 |access-date=May 27, 2024 |publisher=Official Charts Company}} It also marks the second-biggest opening week for any album in the UK in 2024 and it was certified Platinum by the BPI.
In Germany, the album debuted atop the German Albums Chart, becoming Eilish's second number one album in the country since Happier Than Ever topped the chart in 2021 and was certified Platinum by the BVMI.{{Cite web |title=Album-Charts: Billie Eilish gewinnt Superstar-Duell gegen Slash |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/news/item/1392-album-charts-billie-eilish-gewinnt-superstar-duell-gegen-slash |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528102316/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/news/item/1392-album-charts-billie-eilish-gewinnt-superstar-duell-gegen-slash |archive-date=May 28, 2024 |access-date=May 28, 2024 |publisher=Offizielle Deutsche Charts |language=de-de}} In Australia, Hit Me Hard and Soft debuted at the top spot on the ARIA Albums Chart, marking Eilish's third album in a row to accomplish this feat in the country.,{{Cite magazine |last=Brandle |first=Lars |date=May 24, 2024 |title=Billie Eilish Powers to No. 1 In Australia With 'Hit Me Hard And Soft' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/billie-eilish-no-1-australia-aria-hit-me-hard-and-soft-1235692160/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525015200/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/billie-eilish-no-1-australia-aria-hit-me-hard-and-soft-1235692160/ |archive-date=May 25, 2024 |access-date=May 27, 2024 |magazine=Billboard}} whereas three of its songs reaching the top ten on the ARIA Singles Chart; "Lunch", "Chihiro" and "Birds of a Feather" charted at numbers five, seven and nine, respectively.{{Cite web|date=May 27, 2024|title=ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/singles-chart/2024-05-27|access-date=December 6, 2024|agency=Australian Recording Industry Association}} Hit Me Hard and Soft topped the ARIA Albums Chart for five non-consecutive weeks in 2024.{{Cite web|date=July 12, 2024|title=Billie's back on top
|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/news/billies-back-on-top|access-date=December 6, 2024|agency=Australian Recording Industry Association}} Following the sold out Australian shows of the Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour, the album returned to the #1 spot on the ARIA Albums Chart for a sixth non-consecutive week on top, marking the first time since 2024's mid-July.{{Cite web|date=March 7, 2025|title=Billie hits back|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/news/billie-hits-back|access-date=March 13, 2025|agency=Australian Recording Industry Association}} In France, Hit Me Hard and Soft entered at the number one spot on the SNEP albums chart with 27,710 units, becoming her second French number-one album. It has since been certified 2x Platinum.{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/snep/status/1793996498197520697 |title=À la première place du Top Albums de la semaine, " HIT ME HARD AND SOFT " de Billie Eilish avec 27 710 équivalents ventes |publisher=SNEP |access-date=May 27, 2024 |archive-date=May 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527165427/https://twitter.com/snep/status/1793996498197520697 |url-status=live }} Hit Me Hard and Soft became the biggest selling international album and fourth overall in France, selling 172,965 units in 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnews.fr/culture/2025-01-02/musique-quel-est-ce-rappeur-francais-qui-vendu-plus-dalbums-que-taylor-swift-en|title=Musique : quel est ce rappeur français qui a vendu plus d'albums que Taylor Swift en 2024 ?|date=January 2, 2025 |publisher=CNews|access-date=January 2, 2025}} The album was also the biggest selling vinyl of the year in France with 42,085 copies.{{Cite web|date=January 9, 2025|title=100 Vinyles Cumul YTD (29/12/2023 - 26/12/2024)|url=https://snepmusique.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2024-100-Albums-Vinyles-YTD-SNEP.pdf|access-date=January 9, 2025|agency=SNEP}}{{Cite web|date=January 11, 2025|title=EXCLU - Voici les 10 vinyles les plus vendus en France en 2024!|url=https://www.chartsinfrance.net/actualite/news-131192.html|access-date=January 11, 2025|website=chartsinfrance.net}} In Spain, it debuted atop the albums chart published by Productores de Música de España, making it Eilish's second album to peak at number one in the country and was certified Platinum.{{Cite web |last=Bardají |first=Jordi |title=Billie Eilish, número 1 de álbumes en España |trans-title=Billie Eilish, number 1 on albums chart in Spain |url=https://jenesaispop.com/2024/05/28/476240/billie-album-espana/ |date=May 28, 2024 |access-date=June 11, 2024 |website=Jenesaispop |language=es }}
On the New Zealand Albums Chart, Hit Me Hard and Soft arrived at number one,{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/albums/2024-05-24|title=NZ Top 40 Albums Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=December 6, 2024}} aside four of its songs reaching the top ten of the New Zealand Singles Chart; "Lunch", "Chihiro", "Birds of a Feather" and "Skinny" charted at numbers three, six, nine and ten, respectively.{{Cite web|date=May 24, 2024|title=NZ Top 40 Singles Chart|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/2024-05-24|access-date=December 6, 2024|agency=Official New Zealand Music Chart}} Hit Me Hard and Soft spent ten non-consecutive weeks atop the chart and was certified 3× Platinum by the RMNZ.
In Brazil, all ten tracks from Hit Me Hard and Soft debuted on the Billboard Brasil Hot 100.{{Cite magazine |last=Pacilio |first=Isabela |date=May 28, 2024 |title=Billie Eilish 'almoça' sertanejos e estreia 10 músicas do novo álbum no Hot 100 |trans-title=Billie Eilish 'lunchs' sertanejos and debuts 10 songs from her new album on the Hot 100 |url=https://billboard.com.br/billie-eilish-almoca-sertanejos-e-estreia-10-musicas-do-novo-album-no-hot-100/ |access-date=May 28, 2024 |magazine=Billboard Brasil |language=pt-BR}} In additional, Eilish became the first international artist to top the Artistas 25.{{cite magazine |title=Billboard Brasil Artistas 25 - Semana de 27 de maio, 2024 |trans-title=Billboard Brasil Artistas 25 - Week of May 27, 2024 |url=https://billboard.com.br/billboard-brasil-artistas-25/ |url-status=dead |magazine=Billboard Brasil |language=pt-BR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240531152846/https://billboard.com.br/billboard-brasil-artistas-25/ |archive-date=May 31, 2024 |access-date=May 28, 2024}} The album was certified Diamond by the Pro-Música Brasil.{{Cite web|date=April 29, 2025|title=Certificados|url=https://pro-musicabr.org.br/home/certificados/?busca_artista=Billie+Eilish&busca_tipo_produto=%C3%81LBUM|access-date=April 29, 2025|agency=Pro-Música Brasil}}
According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), Hit Me Hard and Soft was the second most consumed album of 2024 worldwide; It also ranked second in vinyl sales with 612,000 sold and fifth in streams.{{cite web|url=https://www.ifpi.org/taylor-swift-makes-music-history-as-ifpis-biggest-selling-global-recording-artist-of-the-year-for-the-fifth-time/|title=Taylor Swift makes music history as IFPI's Biggest-Selling Global Recording Artist of the Year for the fifth time|date=February 18, 2025 |publisher=International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|access-date=18 February 2025}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Hit Me Hard and Soft track listing
| all_writing = Billie Eilish O'Connell and Finneas O'Connell
| title1 = Skinny
| length1 = 3:39
| title2 = Lunch
| length2 = 3:00
| title3 = Chihiro
| length3 = 5:03
| title4 = Birds of a Feather
| length4 = 3:30
| title5 = Wildflower
| length5 = 4:21
| title6 = The Greatest
| length6 = 4:53
| title7 = L'Amour de Ma Vie
| length7 = 5:33
| title8 = The Diner
| length8 = 3:06
| title9 = Bittersuite
| length9 = 4:58
| title10 = Blue
| length10 = 5:43
| total_length = 43:45
}}
Personnel
- Attacca Quartet – strings
- Amy Schroeder – violin
- Domenic Salerni – violin
- Nathan Schram – viola
- Andrew Yee – cello
- Dale Becker – mastering
- Thom Beemer – string engineering
- David Campbell – string orchestration
- Jon Castelli – mixing
- Billie Eilish – vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, glockenspiel, vocal editing, engineering
- Finneas – vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, glockenspiel, drums, guitar, bass, programming, arrangement, orchestration, production, engineering, vocal editing, string arrangements, scoring
- Aron Forbes – mixing, engineering
- Katie Harvey – mastering assistance
- Brad Lauchert – mix engineering
- Andrew Marshall – drums, percussion
- Noah McCorkle – mastering assistance
- Chaz Sexton – drum engineering
- Sharif Shannon — mix engineering
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Monthly charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Monthly chart performance for Hit Me Hard and Soft ! scope="col"| Chart (2024) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite web |title=Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2024-05 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2024-05/p/4/ |publisher=Oricon |access-date=June 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240612053845/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2024-05/p/4/ |archive-date=June 12, 2024 |language=ja}}
| 40 |
|---|
=Year-end charts=
{{col-end}}
Certifications and sales
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for Hit Me Hard and Soft}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Hit Me Hard and Soft|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2024|certyear=2024|access-date=February 7, 2025|refname="ARIA"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Hit Me Hard and Soft|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2024|certyear=2024|access-date=December 17, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Hit Me Hard and Soft|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|relyear=2024|certyear=2024|access-date=June 7, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=album|award=Diamond|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Hit Me Hard and Soft|access-date=April 29, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Hit Me Hard and Soft|award=Platinum|number=3|type=album|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|access-date=May 29, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Hit Me Hard and Soft|award=Platinum|number=2|id=14795|type=album|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|access-date=January 9, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Hit Me Hard and Soft|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|access-date=February 17, 2025|refname="SNEP"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Hit Me Hard and Soft|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|access-date=February 26, 2025|refname="BVMI"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Iceland (FHF)|nocert=true|salesamount=3,606|salesref={{cite web|url=https://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn-plotur-2024/|title=Tónlistinn – Plötur – 2024|publisher=Plötutíðindi|access-date=January 28, 2025|language=is|archive-date=January 28, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250128103101/https://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn-plotur-2024/|url-status=live}}}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Hit Me Hard and Soft|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2024|certyear=2024|id=13850|access-date=December 31, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Hit Me Hard and Soft|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|access-date=May 18, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Hit Me Hard and Soft|award=Platinum|number=3|type=album|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|id=2025-03-28|access-date=March 28, 2025|source=newchart|refname="RMNZ"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Hit Me Hard and Soft|award=Platinum|number=3|type=album|relyear=2024|certyear=2024|access-date=December 23, 2024}}
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{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Hit Me Hard and Soft|access-date=April 14, 2025|refname="PROMUSICAE"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Hit Me Hard and Soft|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|source=artist|access-date=April 11, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Hit Me Hard and Soft|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2024|certyear=2024|access-date=September 10, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Hit Me Hard and Soft|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2024|certyear=2024|id=20008-4807-2|access-date=November 18, 2024|refname="BPI"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Hit Me Hard and Soft|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|access-date=March 14, 2025|refname="RIAA"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
Release history
See also
- List of 2024 albums
- List of number-one albums from the 2020s (New Zealand)
- List of number-one albums of 2024 (Australia)
- List of number-one albums of 2024 (Belgium)
- List of number-one albums of 2024 (Canada)
- List of number-one albums of 2024 (Finland)
- List of number-one albums of 2024 (Ireland)
- List of number-one albums of 2024 (Poland)
- List of number-one albums of 2024 (Portugal)
- List of number-one albums of 2024 (Spain)
- List of UK Albums Chart number ones of the 2020s
References
=Citations=
{{reflist}}
=Footnotes=
{{notelist}}
{{Billie Eilish}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Albums produced by Finneas O'Connell
Category:Albums recorded in a home studio