Everything to know about Billie Eilish's 2nd album 'Happier Than Ever'
It was released in 2021
After teasing us all in April 2021 with a 15-second snippet of her single 'Happier Than Ever', Billie Eilish FINALLY dropped her second album, of the same name, in July that year.
Taking to her Instagram to share a stunning snap of herself with a blonde glow up, the singer told fans: 'MY NEW ALBUM “Happier Than Ever” OUT JULY 30TH! this is my favorite thing i’ve ever created and i am so excited and nervous and EAGER for you to hear it. i can’t even tell you.' (sic)
Now from the meaning behind the title and the blonde hair, to the hilarious way Billie made herself cry for the cover photo, here's everything there is to know about 'Happier Than Ever'...
When was 'Happier Than Ever' released?
It was released on 30th July 2021.
How was the album announced?
Billie had been amping her fans up over the months leading up to the announcement, letting us all know that she had new music coming our way. Taking to her Instagram a week prior, the singer simply wrote: 'things are comingggg' (sic).
Fans jumped straight into the comments to share their excitement, with one writing: 'WHO’S CRYING WITH MEEEEE?😭😭😭😭' (sic), and another writing: 'Yesssssss 🤧🤍🤍' (sic).
When asked on a Q&A how many tracks would feature on her second album, the 'Bad Guy' singer revealed to us all that there would be 16 - simply sharing the numbers 1-16, along with the caption '👀'.
Where did it come in the charts?
'Happier Than Ever' went to Number 1 in album charts around the world, including here in the UK and over in the US. It's also been certified Platinum here.
What is the tracklist?
The tracklist for 'Happier Than Ever' is as follows:
- ‘Getting Older’
- ‘I Didn't Change My Number’
- ‘Billie Bossa Nova’
- ‘My Future’
- ‘Oxytocin’
- ‘Goldwing’
- ‘Lost Cause’
- ‘Halley's Comet’
- ‘Not My Responsibility’
- ‘Overheated’
- ‘Everybody Dies’
- ‘Your Power’
- ‘NDA’
- ‘Therefore I Am’
- ‘Happier Than Ever’
- ‘Male Fantasy’
What's the meaning behind the title?
The name of the album comes from the title track, which features the lyrics: 'When I'm away from you, I'm happier than ever.' Calling the song 'therapeutic', Billie said none of the songs on the album are particularly joyful, meaning the name 'Happier Than Ever' is quite the contrast to the album's themes.
Album artwork
In contrast to the album's title, the cover shows a newly-blonde Billie with a tear rolling down her face. Despite not originally planning to cry in the picture, Billie spontaneously asked the photographer to play sad music to help encourage the tears to flow.
She said she wanted the cover to be stripped back, while holding many different emotions. Which explains the blonde hair!
And if you're wondering what song had the desired effect, it was 'Here I Am' from the Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron soundtrack!
Did 'Happier Than Ever' win any awards?
The album was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Vocal Album at the Grammys 2022, but it didn't win either on the night.
It has, however, bagged the gong for Favourite Album at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards 2022 and Album of the Year at the People's Choice Awards 2021.
Did Billie tour the album?
Yes! Billie went on the 'Happier Than Ever World Tour' in February 2022 and toured through 'til July. Visiting Manchester, London, Glasgow, Belfast and Dublin, Billie welcomed special guests including Willow Smith, Girl in Red and Arlo Parks.
She announced the news on social media in the summer of 2021, writing: 'AHHHHHHHH I CANT WAIT 🥳🥳🥳 & I’M BRINGING MY FRIENDSSSS.'
Now check out Billie's career so far:
Early life
The US songstress was born on 18th December 2001 to Maggie Baird and Patrick O'Connell. Before Maggie Baird became Billie's momager, travelling on every tour with her, she was a ground-breaking actress and screenwriter. Coming from a famous family, Billie was always destined for fame!
2015: 'Ocen Eyes'
Releasing her first track to Soundcloud would have been a gamble for other singers, however the singer-songwriter released 'Ocean Eyes' herself, at age 14, in 2015. A definite 'bad guy' move, as it allowed her to have autonomy over her work and career.
The track has since been certified 3x Platinum.
2017: Debut EP
'Don't Smile At Me' was released in 2017, when Billie was only 16, to critical acclaim. For her first album, the success was unprecedented. Following suit, her breakthrough hit 'When The Party's Over' entered the Official Chart as a Top 40 hit, proving that her success was only going to exceed from here.
2018: First tour
The 'lovely' singer blew up and grew up in 2018! This was the year that saw the singer-songwriter embark on her 2018 tour. Billie boasted 74.7M Instagram followers, with a fanbase of 52M monthly listeners, growing her fanbase organically after that first Soundcloud release.
The singer's young fans also see her as a role model. The 'Wish You Were Gay' singer-songwriter has paved the way for young women, as an activist for LGBTQIA+ rights, feminism and mental health.
2018
Billie has inspired her Gen Z generation of young women by standing out and speaking up! Most notably by having her own distinctive, androgynous style, which in itself is making a stance for women's empowerment.
By just being herself and resisting gender norms, Billie has done her bit to reduce the societal pressure placed on women and their appearance. She has made a stand to push against this and make the path smoother for the women breaking into the music industry after her. Inspiring fans with her cutting lyrics, cool persona and success, Billie Eilish has become the voice of this generation.
2019: Debut album 'When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?'
Unsurprisingly, the US singer-songwriter scored Number 1 with her debut album 'When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?' in April 2019. Eilish broke a Guinness World Record for being the youngest woman at Number 1 on UK album charts, and for having the most simultaneous US Hot 100 entries by a female.
The album consists of HUGE tracks such as 'Bad Guy', 'Xanny', 'You Should See Me in a Crown', 'When the Party's Over' and 'Bury a Friend'.
2019: Coachella
2019 was the year that saw Billie's iconic Coachella performance. As well as being the year she cemented herself as a fashion icon, she wore head-to-toe Louis Vuitton and burst onto our TV screens in a Calvin Klein ad 'I Speak My Truth in #MyCalvins", sporting her iconic baggy look and opening up about why, saying "I never want anyone to know everything about me. I mean, that's why I wear big, baggy clothes," she says. "Nobody can have an opinion, because they haven't seen what's underneath".
2020: The Grammy Awards milestone
In 2020, our favourite 'bad guy' became the first artist since 1981 to do a full sweep at the Grammy's, winning all four major awards. Billie won Best New Artist, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album. She was the youngest to win these. At age 18, she made history, yet again!
2020: Bond theme 'No Time To Die'
2020 was Billie's year as the star also joined the Bond hall of fame! The US singer-songwriter became the youngest artist to be chosen to lend her voice for a Bond film. Her theme song 'No Time To Die' became Number 1 as well as featuring on the 2020 Bond film.
This placed Eilish alongside worldwide superstars Adele and Sam Smith who have been initiated into the Bond elite too, though Eilish did it at only half their age. Impressive!!
2021
In 2021, at the ripe age of just 19-years-old, Billie had already performed over 450 concerts on tour.
2021: Billie continues working with her brother Finneas
Billie continued to do things differently, being produced by her brother, making her career a family affair. Billie showed how doing things your own way can pay off. Finneas O'Connell is a singer-songwriter in his own right, and has reached his own success.
2021
Working with her brother, Billie and Finneas have written songs together, directed videos and even got Billie's mum onboard to help out! A family affair that will be expecting more stunning collabs from the sibling pair. If it will be anything like 'Everything I Wanted' we are here for it...
2021: New album and tour
Billie released her second album 'Happier Than Ever' on Friday 30th July 2021, featuring singles 'My Future', 'Therefore I Am', 'Your Power', 'Lost Cause', and 'NDA'. She'll also be the subject of a Disney+ documentary - 'Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles' - which will be released in September 2021, as well as taking her new record on tour around the world in 2022.
2021: Fragrance announcement
Billie delighted her fans in October 2021, revealing she would be releasing her very own fragrance called 'Eilish' - fast forward to today, and she now has three fragrances! Billie Eilish's first perfume, called 'Eilish', officially went on sale on 10th November 2021.
Billie later revealed in September 2022 that she would be releasing her second perfume Eilish No. 2. It was then on 28th September 2023 that she announced Eilish No. 3 - a limited edition perfume that served as the last of the Eilish collection. Similar to its predecessors, the bottle features a bust, however this time round the colour-scheme was dark red.
2022: Billie headlines the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival
Not only did Billie headline the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival in 2022, she became the youngest female to ever do so. The exciting news was announced by Emily Eavis in October 2021, with her writing on X: 'We couldn't be happier to announce that the wondrous @billieeilish is headlining the Pyramid on the Friday at next year's Glastonbury Festival, becoming the youngest solo headliner in our history.
'This feels like the perfect way for us to return and I cannot wait!'
2022: Billie live streams her first European concert
In May 2022, Billie Eilish announced that she will be live streaming her first ever European concert. The singer was on her 'Happier Than Ever' Tour, and headed to Deutsche Telekom headquarters in Germany on 1st June. The show marked her first ever show in Europe.
Announcing the live stream, Billie said on Instagram: "Hi it's Billie! Telekom and I would like to invite you to a very special stripped-down show this summer in Europe. For everyone who can't make it, there will be a live stream by Telekom, so make sure to sign up to be notified."
2022: 'Happier Than Ever, The World Tour'
Billie Eilish kicked off her world tour in the US and brought her amazing shows to the UK and Ireland in June.
She played 13 dates across Belfast, London, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, and Dublin.
2023: 'What Was I Made For?'
In July 2023, Billie released a new track called 'What Was I Made For?', which features on the soundtrack of the Barbie movie. It was later nominated for a Golden Globe. The song also won the Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Song Written For Visual Media at the 2024 ceremony.
2023: 'bad guy' gains Diamond certification
In July 2023, Billie's smash hit single 'bad guy' became Diamond certified. Diamond certified songs are those which have exceeded 10 million sales. Announcing the news on Instagram, Billie wrote: 'bad guy went diamond………………………. HUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?????????? forever and ever grateful for this silly little song man. love you guys so much its stupid @finneas.' (sic)
2023: Billie releases the final perfume in the Eilish collection
In September 2023, Billie announced the third and final fragrance from her first collection. Called Eilish 3.0, the bottle resembles the two fragrances before it, however is dark red.
Revealing the perfume would be available from November 2023, the singer wrote: 'aaaaaaaaaaaand introducing Eilish No. 3 !! ;)) my first limited edition fragrance & the last in this collection!!🍒🍒out this november💋💋💋💋💋💋💋'. (sic)
2024: Billie wins two Grammy awards
At the 2024 Grammy Awards, Billie took home the Song of the Year and Best Song Written For Visual Media gongs, both for 'What Was I Made For?'
2024: Billie released her third album 'Hit Me Hard and Soft'
Billie Eilish took to Instagram to reveal that her third studio album is now finished. Sharing a series of photos, Billie wrote: ''my album is mastered.'
The singer later confirmed it would be called 'Hit Me Hard and Soft'. It has now been released, going Platinum just six months later.
2024: Billie performed at the Olympics Closing Ceremony
On 11th August, Billie Eilish performed at the Closing Ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Before the event, there were several rumours circulating that the singer would be performing, along with The Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Snoop Dogg. Despite the rumours, nothing was confirmed until the day that it took place.
2025: Billie performed at the 67th Grammy Awards
On 2nd February 2025, Billie took to the stage at the 67th annual Grammy Awards to entertain the star-studded audience. She performed 2024 single 'Birds of a Feather'.
2025: Billie brought her tour to the UK
Billie brought her 'Hit Me Hard and Soft' tour to the UK and Ireland in July 2025, visiting Glasgow, London, Manchester and Dublin.
2025: Billie announced 'Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour' would be coming to cienemas
Billie Eilish announced she would be bringing her tour to cinemas in 2026, with James Cameron co-directing the movie. It will be released on 20th March 2026.
Now read:
Billie Eilish: A brief intro to the 'Bad Guy' singer 🎶
Billie Eilish's career story so far 🎶
Billie Eilish's best songs: What's the meaning behind the lyrics?