Billie Eilish‘s scorching queer new album Hit Me Exhausting and Gentle dropped right this moment, and after streaming it on my stroll to tennis this morning, I can affirm: IT’S VERY GAY. From the very first lyric of the album to the sapphic intercourse music “Lunch” (which, for the file, I’m able to declare an early contender for homosexual music of the summer time), the steamy and dreamy album is stuffed with queer storytelling and marks the primary physique of labor put out by Eilish since she began publicly speaking about being in love with women her total life and wanting her face in a vagina.

Now, as I’ve solely had time for a couple of listen-throughs to date, it’s secure to say I’m not doing the deepest textual evaluation right here. A variety of the lyrics are written in second individual, addressed to a lover or ex, so there’s some openness to interpretation there, although regardless who she’s singing to, it’s mechanically queer as a result of she is. Who she’s singing to doesn’t change that! Additionally, I’m a fairly robust believer in persona with regards to pop so whereas I believe it’s legitimate to cross-compare lyrics in opposition to a singer’s precise life, it’s not all the time my default mode of lyrics evaluation and I like to permit room for interpretations that transcend the autobiographical.

So let’s dive into the gayest lyrics featured on Hit Me Exhausting and Gentle, in line with me, a homosexual longtime fan of Billie Eilish! I used to be capable of apply a queer lens to lyrics from each single music, so right here’s a track-by-track breakdown of the Hit Me Exhausting and Gentle lyrics in addition to some extra commentary for every music.

SKINNY

Fell in love for the primary time
With a pal, it’s a very good signal

These are the opening phrases of the opening monitor of Hit Me Exhausting and Gentle, so we’re already beginning off on a homosexual foot as a result of falling in love with a pal? We all know our neighborhood invented that.

On a severe notice, I actually love the narrative of self love on this music, which is difficult right here and never just a few empty self-affirmation, Billie trustworthy and susceptible about how public discourse round her age, look, and so on. has impacted her notion of herself.

And also you mentioned I used to be your secret
And also you didn’t get to maintain it
And the web is hungry for the meanest kinda humorous
And any person’s gotta feed it

I noticed some interpretations of this being about Billie’s followers concerning her as a secret gem, however I’m selecting the extra queer interpretation of this probably being a few lover and subtly referencing Billie’s outing by the media.

LUNCH

I might eat that woman for lunch
Yeah, she dances on my tongue
Tastes like she may be the one
And I might by no means get sufficient

Soooooo I’m mainly about to repeat and paste many of the lyrics to this homosexual af music. Prepare!!!!! Like I mentioned, homosexual music of the summer time.

I might purchase her a lot stuff
It’s a craving, not a crush

I do want “it’s a craving, not a crush” merch ASAP. What a line! Additionally I really like the simplicity of “I might purchase her a lot stuff.” Liking a lady actually appears like that generally. You actually might simply purchase her a lot stuff.

Child, I believe you have been made for me
Any individual write down the recipe

THIS GAY ASS SONG!!!!!

I’ll run a bathe for you such as you need
Clothеs on the counter for you, attempt ’em on
If I’m allowеd, I’ll aid you take ’em off

Like really no room for ambiguity or various interpretations right here. It is a music about queer intercourse. I will likely be blasting it with my home windows down whereas driving by central Florida for the foreseeable future.

Oh, I simply wanna get her off

Good homosexual post-chorus, no notes.

Inform her, “Deliver that over right here”
You want a seat? I’ll volunteer
Now she’s smilin’ ear to ear
She’s the headlights, I’m the deer

Billie actually mentioned yeah I’ll be your chair.

I’ve mentioned all of it earlier than, however I’ll say it once more
I’m keen on extra than simply bein’ your pal
I don’t wanna break it, simply need it to bend
Are you aware the right way to bend?

A homosexual bridge for the ages! Although I’ve lengthy thought this, lunch is formally the gayest meal of the day due to this anthem.

CHIHIRO

They instructed me they have been solely curious
Now it’s severe

This complete music is impressed by Spirited Away which feels homosexual in and of itself. It has some breakup/finish of a relationship vibes. I’m taking this line from the third verse to have some queer curiosity undertones.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Birds of a feather, we must always stick collectively, I do know
I mentioned I’d by no means assume I wasn’t higher alone
Can’t change the climate, won’t be endlessly
But when it’s endlessly, it’s even higher

Right here we get a brilliant earnest love music, one thing I’m a sucker for! “Birds of a feather” implies some kind of sameness shared between the lovers. SAMENESS LIKE SAME-SEX LOVE? MAYBE SO.

I’ll love you ’til the day that I die
‘Til the day that I die
‘Til the sunshine leaves my eyes
‘Til the day that I die

Romantic sincerity expressed dramatically in phrases related to loss of life and dying…additionally invented by our neighborhood.

WILDFLOWER

She was cryin’ on my shoulder
All I might do was maintain her
Solely made us nearer till July
Now I do know that you just love me
You don’t have to remind me
I ought to put all of it behind me, shouldn’t I?

This music seemingly has a love triangle scenario happening, and I’m selecting to interpret it bisexually. It seemingly has an analogous narrative to “Obsessed” by Olivia Rodrigo (additionally a homosexual music in the event you ask me), about obsessing over a present lover’s ex, albeit Billie’s model is instructed with extra nuance and ache. The story right here can also be difficult by the truth that Billie comforted a lady going by a breakup after which received together with her ex. Messy messy! However Billie doesn’t tackle the kind of caustic, sneering, flippant perspective a number of messy queer pop delivers proper now and as a substitute delivers one thing rather more anguished and fascinating.

THE GREATEST

All my love and endurance
All my admiration
All of the instances I waited
So that you can need me bare

This complete music is about giving far more in a relationship than one receives again. It’s giving lesbian mattress loss of life. “Sapphic craving” songs typically concern unrequited crushes, however right here Billie offers us sapphic craving from inside a relationship. Or, no less than, that’s my interpretation!

L’AMOUR DE MA VIE

I want you one of the best for the remainder of your life
Felt sorry for you once I regarded in your eyes
However I have to confess, I instructed you a lie
I mentioned you
You have been the love of my life
The love of my life

Oooo breakup music alert! There’s one thing so satisfying about “I want you one of the best for the remainder of your life” right here. It’s technically a pleasant sentiment, but it surely additionally actually hammers house the finality of the breakup, reminding the ex that this relationship is over for the remainder of their life. Once more, whereas a number of latest queer pop strikes a really sharp and caustic, in-your-face tone about revenge and karma within the wake of a breakup, Billie opts for one thing quieter. In flip, it’s virtually extra brutal. Like this lyric: “I used to be the love of your life / However you weren’t mine” …DEVASTATING.

Additionally, it have to be mentioned, Billie Eilish has one of the best outros within the sport.

THE DINER

Wager I might change your life
You could possibly be my spouse (Spouse, spouse)

Okay, I’m dishonest a bit with this one. Sure, these lyrics when decontextualized appear merely homosexual. However this music is definitely much more complicated than initially meets the attention. It’s seemingly written from the viewpoint of one in all Billie’s stalkers, a captivating songwriting alternative that finally offers Billie company over her narrative whereas successfully crafting the horror of a stalker scenario for the listener. It’s arguably rather more terrifying than if she have been to sing from her personal viewpoint because the individual being stalked, forcing us to be in her perspective by listening to the scary shit the stalker is saying instantly LIKE THE ABOVE. Anyway, a standout music on an awesome album.

BITTERSUITE

I’ve been abroad
I’ve been havin goals
You have been within the lobby
I used to be on my knees
Exterior of my physique
Watchin from above
I see the way in which you need me
I wanna be the one

It’s too early to declare a arms down favourite monitor (and let’s be actual, I’m most likely gonna stick to “Lunch”), however “BITTERSUITE” is no less than one of the vital intriguing and musically bold tracks on the file, virtually shapeshifting all through however not in a method that makes the music really feel disjointed. That is the way it opens, with Billie imagining herself outdoors of her physique seeing herself with a lover, seeing how a lot she’s wished. The entire thing feels dripping with dreamy queer erotics. The music devolves right into a metatext that references lyrics from earlier songs, smashing them collectively to create one thing new. It’s extraordinarily cool! And its penultimate placement on the album feels appropriate.

BLUE

I attempt to reside in black and white, however I’m so blue
I’d prefer to imply it once I say I’m over you
However that’s nonetheless not true (blue)
And I’m nonetheless so blue

Right here we’ve got one other music that refers again to lyrics from the tracks that precede it and to nice impact. It’s one other breakup music, this one a bit sadder tonally than “L’AMOUR DE MA VIE.”

Total, this album is a queer marvel, lyrically and musically extra complicated than a number of the queer pop on the market proper now, which I don’t imply as a dig towards different artists however somewhat simply to emphasise that Billie has all the time felt like a uncommon gem in her style. She’s honest with out being corny, and whereas her songs are sometimes about messy conditions, they’re not cynical or performatively chaotic. There’s simply one thing actual about her work, and that’s very true for Hit Me Exhausting and Gentle. I hesitate to say uncooked, as I really feel that generally implies artwork that’s tough or unrefined in its craft however emotionally intense, however right here we get each side of that: work that’s wealthy with feelings but in addition actually deliberately and punctiliously crafted, the intertextuality of the final two tracks demonstrating that splendidly.

Hit Me Exhausting and Gentle is accessible to stream now.