Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Billie Eilish, Universal Music 2021.
Billie Eilish has a new single out and an album on the way.
Her debut album, When We Fall Asleep Where Do We Go, is still a favourite of mine and the impact of that album is such that it feels like she’s been around for a long time and yet it was only released in 2019.
When We Fall Asleep… debuted atop the Billboard Top 200, reached number one in the UK, and charted in the top ten around the world collecting a string of awards along the way.
I’ve yet to hear her new album, Happier Than Ever, but if the singles released so far are true to the remainder of the tracks, then Happier Than Ever will be a paired back effort compared to her debut.
Your Power starts with an introductory recording click as something is turned on; normally these extraneous sounds are deleted but leaving it in place gives the track more intimacy.
The song is about the abuse of power and she implores us to try not to abuse our power whether that be through taking advantage of a power imbalance or giving in to our baser instincts and abusing our authority.
The abuse of power and power imbalances in general are a hot topic and so this track is particularly prescient.
Your Power is a powerful repudiation of the claim of the abuser that they didn’t know that they were abusing.
“And you swear you didn’t know, you said you thought she was your age, how dare you?”
She adds: “I thought that I was special, you made me feel like it was my fault, you were the Devil.”
Her breathless presentation adds to the feeling of helplessness and being used and abused and it’s an example of how clever Billie is as a songwriter and musician.
Your Power follows on from Therefore I am and My Future which have already been released.
The full album is slated for release in July.
