I wasn’t a Billie Eilish fan until her London gig completely changed my mind
'I have gone from a sceptic to a full convert into the cult of Billie.'
It’s funny how something as simple as moving the stage can completely transform an arena into an intimate venue, but Billie Eilish did just that.
Two years on from being the youngest ever Glastonbury headliner, my expectations were high for the opening night of a five-night run at London’s O2 Arena.
After that one gig, I have gone from a sceptic to a full convert into the cult of Billie.
I’m unsure why the magnitude of her stardom has passed me by for so many years, but her Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour managed to reignite my love for forgotten tracks and emotionally connected me to others, which I never paid enough attention to.
That’s what good live music should do.
Hard and soft couldn’t be a more perfect name for this tour as she opened with huge hits CHIHIRO and LUNCH, immediately getting the energy up and everyone dancing.
The singer sang all of her major hits (Picture: Danni Scott)While she has plenty of big dance hits, it was the soft core of the show that really stood out, with those undeniably incredible vocals taking centre stage.
By placing said stage in the middle of the O2 — with no viewing restrictions other than the occasional floating speaker — the 23-year-old star made a 20,000-person venue feel downright cosy.
Fans were within touching distance without even trying, and coupled with her selfie camera streamed onto the screens, it felt like Billie was reaching back out.
It’s impossible not to warm to her with her beaming smile and emotional message to the audience that this was a ‘safe space’ for everyone.
The stage was placed in the middle of the O2 (Picture: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Live Nation)Such a stripped-back show is not what I expected from a former Glastonbury headliner’s entire tour, but it all feels effortless. Billie was made for this.
While her rendition of her Barbie hit, What Was I Made For?, was a particular highlight, the standout moment was by far When The Party’s Over.
Created by looping vocals, Billie boldly asked the audience for complete silence for one minute.
Having seen Beyoncé’s mute challenge, I was apprehensive, but the crowd obliged, resulting in a haunting moment with Billie’s harmonising filling the O2 arena.
It’s no surprise her show was a hot ticket, with ticket exchange and resale platform, Viagogo, revealing the number of searches for her shows could have filled Wembley Stadium 12 times over.
