Billie Eilish reacts to Grammy noms while in Cincinnati, talks 'intense' election week

USA Today

09-11-2024

One of the greatest artists in the world performed in Cincinnati on Friday.
Nine-time Grammy winner Billie Eilish brought her Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour to Heritage Bank Center, as it marked the first time she had ever hosted a show in the Queen City.
She didn't disappoint.
I went into the night with high expectations. Eilish is one of the biggest names in music, so a good show is almost guaranteed. But it was more than that. It was a phenomenal show and a reminder of Eilish's greatness.
Towa Bird rocked the stage
Because I hold Eilish in such high regard, I initially thought she should have had a bigger-named opener. I wasn't too familiar with Towa Bird, the British singer-songwriter and guitarist who rose to fame on TikTok by playing guitar riffs over popular songs.
But I can admit when I'm wrong.
Bird, who released her debut album "American Hero" in June, was a great person to open the night. Her music is a throwback to rock from a previous era, but it's mixed with messages relevant today. She commanded the stage with her guitar throughout the set, getting screams from the crowd whenever she ventured to their side of the room.
Then, she brought the house down with her rock/punky cover of "Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani.
That s--- was bananas.
Billie Eilish brought Blink black to Cincinnati
I highly doubt Eilish knows anything about Blink Cincinnati, the massive art, light and projection mapping festival that took over the Queen City and Northern Kentucky for four days last month.
However, she transported me back there Friday. The 22-year-old made her grand entrance out from a lit-up box projecting different images onto it, which took up a good chunk of the stage.
Speaking of the stage, that was a show in and of itself, as it also projected colors and images synced to the hit songs on Eilish's setlist. That's not to mention the lasers dazzling overtop the stage throughout the night, and the fire occasionally shooting up from underneath.
If any fans weren't there for Eilish's music (which would be wild), they were at least entertained by the high-value production that went along with her vocals. Everything was intentional, and you could tell Eilish's team sweats the details.
She seemingly touched on the election before supporting her fans
Eilish was vocal in her support for Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election. She urged her fans to vote for Harris during her show in Atlanta last week. Eilish has also stood up for women and reproductive rights, with lines in her song "TV" saying, "The internet's gone wild watching movie stars on trial / While they're overturning Roe v. Wade."
On Friday, the singer seemingly addressed the election results, which saw Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump win over Harris.
"Well, it's been a pretty intense week for us all," Eilish said after bringing two women background singers to center stage so they could sing her tracks "Your Power" and "Skinny" together. "I just want to make sure that you all know that in this room with me tonight, you are safe and protected."
"I don't know one single woman who doesn't have a story about abuse," she continued as she spoke about "Your Power," a song that details an abusive relationship. "It's really hard, and for those of you that have gone through something like this and felt like you were alone, and that your state didn't care for you or want to give you the resources that you need: I'm sorry, and I love you."
It's unclear whether Eilish was referring to Ohio specifically. Trump − who appointed three Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn the landmark ruling of Roe v. Wade, which ended federal protection for abortion − won the state during Tuesday's election. Last November, Ohio voters approved an amendment, protecting access to abortion, contraception and other reproductive decisions.
Billie Eilish reacted to her seven Grammy nominations
On Friday, before Eilish's Cincinnati show, she learned she received a whopping seven nominations for the 67th annual Grammy Awards.
She had a sweet moment with her fans during the concert.
"I just remembered that I got nominated for seven Grammys today," Eilish said before her fans shook the ground at Heritage Bank Center with their cheers.
"You're such a big part of that and I just − I thank you."
One of the greatest artists of her generation
If the seven Grammy nominations, on top of the nine she has already won at only 22 years old, weren't enough proof of her stardom, the show sealed the deal for me: Eilish is one of the greatest artists of her generation.
I felt lucky to be in a more intimate Heritage Bank Center venue with her, compared to a stadium show I know she could certainly sell out. From showing off her signature falsetto in slow, emotional songs "What Was I Made For?" and "When the Party's Over," among others, to getting the entire arena jumping in a rave-like atmosphere for "Guess," her Grammy-nominated song with Charli XCX, Eilish showed her inconceivable range Friday.
And her fans just wanted to breathe the same air as her. The artist, who has almost single-handedly inspired the oversized, baggy clothes back in style today, walked through the crowd toward the end of the show, high-fiving concertgoers. They all looked like changed people immediately after she passed them.
Eilish has the potential to become a cultural icon, if she hasn't reached that status already, and watching her perform in Cincinnati felt like watching history.