When we all fall asleep, where do we go?
It’s a philosophical question Billie Eilish fans are surely familiar with — being the title of the American pop superstar’s 2019 debut album, said to be inspired by her “lucid dreams” and “night terror.”
For the past two years, the world has been seeing an extended nightmare in the form of sickness and deaths caused by Covid-19.
The virus has also forced concerts to pause — cancelling Eilish’s world tour which included a stop in Manila.
But the 20-year-old singer-songwriter continued creating, co-writing and performing the song “No Time to Die” for the James Bond movie of the same name.
It topped the UK singles chart and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2022.
A succession of singles, “Everything I Wanted,” “My Future,” “Therefore I Am” and “Your Power” all went to the Top 10 in the US and UK.
Her second studio album, 2021’s Happier Than Ever, shot to No. 1 in 25 countries and won an astounding seven Grammy Awards.
Best of all, especially for her Filipino fans, Eilish’s scrapped Manila concert was rescheduled and pushed through on 13 August at SM Mall of Asia Arena.
At the concert, the socially conscious artist — who counts body positivity, animal welfare, and the LGBTQ community among her concerns — raised a pride flag while singing “Billie Bossa Nova.”
The Arena was filled with fans from all walks of life, who came in the Eilish colors of black, white, neon green and beige.
Eilish’s songs, her fans said, have helped them grow into who they are today. Her music has resonated with a sense of belonging — that they were not alone in whatever they were going through.
“I first found out about her five years ago… in August 2017 a few months after the release of ‘Bellyache.’ I began to listen to more songs like ‘Ocean Eyes.’ Her music started growing on me,” said Rachelle from the fan group Billie Eilish PH.
It’s something everyone who has been following her career and keeping her songs close to their ears agree on. They’ve all fallen for her. She has captured their hearts.
It’s called the Billie Effect.