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Everyone remembers When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? Billie Eilish’s breakout debut that exploded when she was just 17.
It was edgy, raw, emotional, and a perfect reflection of what growing up in a chaotic world can sound like.
But that’s not the album I’m here to talk about.
I want to talk about her second studio album, Happier Than Ever, the one that felt like a true evolution.
A Shift in Sound and Spirit
Released in 2021 when Billie was 19, Happier Than Ever shows a noticeable shift in both style and maturity.
There’s a softness to it. A sense of reflection. A clear step forward in growth, not just artistically, but emotionally.
Genres shift between pop, jazz, and electro, creating a blend that still feels like Billie, but in a new light.
This was one of the first albums I ever listened to fully, intentionally. Not just random songs, but the whole thing.
And that’s why it became the first vinyl I ever bought.
I wanted to experience it the way I feel it was meant to be, start to finish, no skips, full immersion.
My Track Ranking (Best to Least Favorite)
Everyone will have their own take, but this is mine — based on how the songs made me feel and how often I revisit them:
- Happier Than Ever – The title track. Starts slow, almost fragile… and then explodes. That transition is so raw.
- Your Power – A message that’s hard to hear but important to listen to. Vulnerable and sharp.
- GOLDWING – Something about this one is just addicting. Ethereal, layered, so well done.
- Halley’s Comet – A soft, romantic lullaby. It’s sweet in the way a crush feels sweet.
- My Future – Hopeful and grounding. A love letter to who you’re becoming.
- Billie Bossa Nova – It was really hard to not put this one in my top five. Very honorable mention.
- Everybody Dies
- Getting Older
- Male Fantasy
- Therefore I Am
- I Didn’t Change My Number
- Lost Cause
- NDA
- OverHeated
- Oxytocin – A little too chaotic for me, but I get the point.
Not My Responsibility, I’m not ranking this one. It’s an interlude of her viral speech about body image and societal expectations, and it deserves its own space. It’s not a song, it’s a statement.
Final Thoughts
This album holds a lot of meaning for me. It marked the beginning of something, not just for Billie, but for me too.
Happier Than Ever is first album I chose to listen to with intention. The first album I bought on vinyl.
It made me see the value in storytelling through music, not just through lyrics, but through structure, flow, and feeling.
Rating: 7.4/10
Strong, reflective, and beautifully produced.
It paved the way for Billie’s next album, which, spoiler: is her most mature work yet (and probably my favorite).
But we’ll get to that in the next post: Hit Me Hard and Soft — Billie's Best Yet.