Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.
Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student assistant Susanne (class of 202*) and features Billie Eilish’s 2019 studio album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?. Thanks, Susanne!
When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?”
Billie Eilish released her debut studio album, WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?, at the age of 17 with the help of her older brother, Finneas, who co-wrote and produced the album. The album soared to the top of Billboard charts and received widespread recognition for its cohesive vision, unique sound, and relatable themes. In 2020, Billie Eilish went on to become the first woman to win the four major Grammy categories (Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist) in the same year.
I love this album because of Eilish’s impressive vocal range and the wide variety of subject matter she pulls from to engage the audience. WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? draws from the experiences of lucid dreaming and night terrors while tackling serious issues facing young people, including drug addiction, mental health, relationships, and climate change. Pop, electric, R&B, trap, and jazz music influences also allow the album to play with form and sound in really captivating ways. In “Xanny,” for example, Eilish plays with different sounds to create the intense ambience of being at a party in secondhand smoke around intoxicated people. “When the Party’s Over,” on the other hand, is more of a soulful, lyrical ballad with a piano base.
Since the release of her debut album, Eilish’s popularity has skyrocketed. Although her tour for this album was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she completed a world tour for her second album Happier Than Ever in 2023. Finneas and Billie continue to receive accolades for their musical talents, including for their song, “What Was I Made For?,” created for the record-breaking Barbie movie in the summer of 2023. WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? set a strong foundation for Eilish as a powerful album with songs that resonate with young listeners across genres.