Jenni

Imagine doing these numbers with your "flop" album. No one is at her level

Every year the internet comes up with a new Billie cancellation attempt. They've been trying to label her as "problematic" since she was a teenager. And lately Swifties have been on this weird obsession with her. I can't take any of this seriously, especially when they're digging up something she said as a teenager.

It hasn't aged badly for me at all. I think the people who say that probably didn't like the song that much when it first came out anyway. I like the tongue-in-cheek lyrics, they're kind of silly, but that's the point. It's not the kind of song you just throw on anytime, though. You have to be in the right mood for it.

It was actually this one

After a few listens, here are my thoughts: Drop Dead is her weakest opening track so far, but I think it works well within the context of the album. 6.5/10 Stupid Song will probably be one of the fan favorites. It has the twists and turns that feel very GUTS-like, but for some reason there's something about it that bothers me. The melodies remind me a lot of other songs, and oddly enough, the chorus made me think of Gracie Abrams. 6.5/10 Honeybee is a cute little romantic ballad. Nothing too special, but the choir adds a nice touch to the song (unfortunately, the chorus reminded me of Gracie again). 6.5/10 Maggots for Brains and u+me = <3 have really enjoyable instrumentals packed with new wave influences. They sound like the kind of songs that would play in a 2000s teen movie or romantic comedy. 8.5/10 each My Way, although it probably wasn't the inspiration, has a chorus that reminded me of a mix between Avril Lavigne and Speak Now-era Taylor Swift. The melody is very catchy, but it felt a little too teenage for me (especially because of the lyrics). 6.5/10 Purple had more potential in my opinion. It's a mid-tempo track that builds up but never really goes anywhere. I found the melody a bit dull, though I liked the lyrics in the final section. 5/10 The Cure is definitely the highlight of the album and by far the best track. 9/10 Begged was a song I liked when she performed it on SNL, and while it has a beautiful melody, it didn't connect with me that much. It's a decent ballad—better than most of her other ballads. 6.5/10 What's Wrong With Me is a really pleasant song, and in my opinion Robert Smith's voice is what gives it that extra spark (I think it would be a much more average song without him). 8/10 Less is a simple ballad, but I found it very beautiful. It's my second favorite ballad on the album after The Cure. 7.5/10 On Expectations, I thought the male voice repeating the same phrase throughout the end felt very Material Girl of her. Very '80s-inspired—I found it fun. 7.5/10 Cigarette Smoke is her best closing track so far (not that that was particularly difficult to achieve), it's like The Cure's sister (just less impressive). 7/10 If I had to give the album an overall score, I'd give it a 7.5/10. I think it's her best album. For me, the biggest issue with GUTS and SOUR is the excess of ballads, and on this album she finally got rid of most of them (there are still a few, but at least they're not as boring as the ones on her previous records). The influences from '80s new wave bands and '90s/early-2000s soft rock are very strong and obvious—sometimes so obvious that it feels like I've heard the instrumentals and melodies before (but that's something that's been present across all of her albums). Olivia isn't the kind of artist who's trying to reinvent the wheel or do something nobody has ever done before. She takes her rock influences and brings them into the present with a more pop-oriented, commercial approach, and it works really well for her. You can really see how much she has evolved since SOUR. Objectively speaking, I think it's her best album, it's very cohesive, both lyrically and sonically, but I still feel like the high moments on GUTS are stronger than the high moments on this one.

WWAFA by far. I listened to it again recently after a long time, and I was impressed by how fresh the production still sounds. It's an incredibly cohesive album, and the tracks flow together really well. It's remarkable that Billie made this album with just her brother. It's no surprise that it was so critically acclaimed when it came out. The production quality is far above what you'd normally expect from a debut album. I also think it's amazing how the album includes songs that tackle everything from depression to the climate crisis, which immediately showed us that Billie was an artist who stood out from her peers and wasn't lyrically limited. The song structures are incredibly creative as well. Anyway... a true work of art!

I think a collaboration between her and Ariana is totally possible, but I believe the photo she just posted is probably related to BE4. What seems more suspicious to me is her and Finneas being together in New York. They have their own studio in LA, so for them to have gone to NYC, there must be a pretty good reason

I liked this song. It's nothing "wow" and I don't think it's going to be a huge hit, but at least it's good.

I liked this song, I thought it was better than Drop Dead and that other song she performed on SNL. But I wish she had been bolder and kept the whole song acoustic instead of making it build up at the end. I know that for a lot of people that'll probably be the best part of the song, but she does that in several of her other songs and, to me, it already feels very overdone. Structurally, it's not a song that really breaks away from her usual formula, but I liked that she leaned more into the late 90s/early 2000s alt-rock influence. That said, it's not going to be a hit, but at least the song is good. 8/10

The U.S. doesn't appreciate her enough. She has always been bigger globally than in her own country. The film did very well, $20 million for a concert film is very impressive.

at least there's gonna be a lot of hype once she announces the new album. People are gonna be hungry for new music.

No, hmhas proved that what works best for her is releasinh the album without any prior singles. She's very unlucky with lead singles.

For now, I'd say Olivia. She seems to have a more loyal fandom, and there's a stronger connection between her fans and her songwriting. Sabrina has a more sexualized image, which in the long run could make the public grow tired of her. However, if she manages to transition to a more "safe" image and starts making more emotional albums, and if they're well received by the public, I believe she could surpass Olivia. It's undeniable that Sabrina has more star quality, more stage presence, and a better voice, I also find her more charismatic. If she plays it smart, she could build a career with a lot of longevity. Either way, neither of them is going to fade into obscurity, they've both already built a loyal fanbase.

I don't like most of her ballads, but this new song is really beautiful. The lyrics are definitely the strongest part, easily one of her best-written songs. Her vocals sound more mature on this track too. I think it's the kind of song that, even if it doesn't become a single, ends up becoming a fan favorite. Anyway… even though it's a beautiful song, I hope this album doesn't have too many ballads.

I wish, but tbh I don't think she will. She's been traveling a lot and doing a bunch of interviews to promote her concert film. The LA premiere is on the 6th too, so I feel like she might be too tired to go to the MET.