From Ed Sheeran’s famous loop pedal to Ariana Grande’s Mi.Mu gloves – courtesy of OG Imogen Heap’s live vocal layering – recording and layering vocals live isn’t necessarily a new technique for pop shows. Few artists make the process feel as inclusive and intimate as Billie Eilish.

Before beginning the process, she kindly asked the audience to remain completely silent for just one song, emphasizing that she wanted to hear them scream as loud as possible and “do what they do best” after the song was over. She then sat in the center of the stage – which was completely illuminated in white light – and proceeded to record the basic vocal stacks of the intro to “When the Party’s Over,” her No. 29-peaking Hot 100 hit . Miraculously, New York was able to remain (almost) completely silent during the live staple moment, which showcased both Billie’s ear for harmony and her ability to captivate a sold-out arena with literally nothing but her voice.

Before the first ballad section of the show, Billie joked that a number of sections – especially the suites on the 100 level – “really like to sit.” But she let that happen, allowing the audience to feel comfortable as she introduced her backup singers.

Billie introduced Ava and Jane Horner as not only her backup singers, but also her good friends from high school age who she had been singing with for fun for years. In their beautiful, moving renditions of ‘Male Fantasy’, ‘Skinny’ and ‘TV’, their vocal chemistry was palpable. The sisters’ slightly more robust timbres beautifully complemented Billie’s whispery delivery, as the band expertly played each song’s compelling arrangement. Bi

Llie is undoubtedly a larger-than-life figure, but this was one of many moments during the show where all pretense of celebrity seemed to disappear; MSG was simply Billie’s bedroom, and we were there to enjoy a simple jam session with friends.

On the Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour, every seat was a good seat. Why? Billie opted for a 360° stage design that placed the main stage in the center of the arena, rather than at the far end of the venue. Not only did that make for a viewing experience with less obstruction than normal, but it also made for a special fan experience – as you could see entire sections overcome with emotion as Billie walked to their side of the stage.

The band was spread across two pits on stage, keeping them both visible and out of Billie’s warpath as she sprinted across the stage. For the show’s quieter moments, certain band members took the stage with acoustic guitars – to soften, if only for a moment, the innate grandeur of an arena show. On the other hand, Billie’s pyro and lighting design were absolutely beautiful – and clever additions to a show that doesn’t have much of a presence on the stage itself. Between the lasers timed to various beat drops, the animated projections that made up the mobile structure at the center of the stage, and the swinging platform that served as home base for a winning rendition of “The Greatest,” Billie provided a visual feast that left the aesthetic of the show without completely overwhelming her presence.

One fear fans have with certain stage designs is where the artist will spend the most time during the actual show. To her credit, Billie was very aware of how much time she spent in different parts of the show, so the short sides of the rectangular stage served as different stations for ballads, while during more uptempo moments she walked around the entire stage . Of course, there was also a raised B-stage, adjacent to the main stage, where she could live her own life Brat moment.

When Billie guested on Charli An undeniable dance-pop banger, “Guess” was a standout moment during Billie’s set, especially for the way she contextualized it with the rest of her catalog.

On the surface, “Guess” is a world away from the sound Billie usually resides in, but when played after somber, industrial synth-pop hits like “Bury a Friend,” “Oxytocin” and “You Should See Me in a Crown,” it feels like a natural extension of the sounds she played with on her debut LP, which topped the Billboard 200. With the B-stage illuminated in a Brat-nodding shades of green and the crowd going wild when the first second of the song dropped (they also reacted wildly when Charli’s “360” played before Billie took the stage), “Guess” was without a doubt one of the most unforgettable moments of the show.

Many Billie fans first encountered the otherworldly talent through “Ocean Eyes,” a lush, somber ballad that peaked at No. 84 on the Hot 100 in 2019.

In the back half of the show, Billie parked herself in front of a keyboard and sang “Ocean Eyes” and “I Don’t Wanna Be You Anymore,” two cuts from her debut EP that immediately took the audience back to the beginning of her career. . Those two songs felt like we were in Billie and FINNEAS’s childhood home, watching them create a work of art that would change their lives forever – while also charting a new path forward for pop music. Few could have predicted (at least with absolute certainty) where Billie would end up six years after “Ocean Eyes,” so it was a beautiful moment to see her still giving that song so much love and reverence.

Billie not only layered her voice live, but she also played multiple instruments during the show. She played keys for “Ocean Eyes” and “I Don’t Wanna Be You Anymore,” pulled out her acoustic guitar for “Male Fantasy” and “TV” and shredded an electric guitar for “Happier Than Ever,” the penultimate track. on the set list.

From writing to acting, the world has been learning about Billie’s myriad talents for years, but it never gets old seeing her show off most of them in one setting.

Before Billie gave a moving rendition of her Oscar-winning “What Was I Made For,” she gave a routine thank-you speech that ended with a thank you to every parent in the room, including her own. It was a moment that really showed off Billie’s talent for world-building.

Her two-time Grammy-winning Barbie The song means a lot to hundreds of thousands of people for a plethora of reasons: the song’s emotional placement in the billion-dollar grossing film, its message of finding your life’s purpose, and the quiet, bouncy note it ends on. As soon as the opening piano keys began to twinkle, the arena lit up with telephone lights and all the young girls in the audience immediately stood up and excitedly tugged on their parents’ sleeves. It’s not often that an artist sees the impact of a single song to this extent in real time, and the moment resonated deeply with Billie, her voice dodging a few cracks as she fought to keep her emotions in check throughout the duration of the song.

FINNEAS has been an important part of Billie’s creative process and show for years, so it wasn’t much of a surprise when he stopped by to help his sister close the show.

Playing guitar for both “Happier Than Ever” and “Birds of a Feather,” FINNEAS served as a marker of the times more than anything else. In her recent Fashion Cover interview confirmed to Billie that the Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour is her first without FINNEAS supporting her on guitar every night, and also her first trek without her parents. Watching Billie absolutely dominate MSG on her own and choose to cap off such a career-defining moment with her closest collaborator was like watching a scene from a Disney Channel original movie – that’s how precious it really was!

At once a recognition of a new era in the brother-sister duo’s relationship and a full-circle moment to commemorate all they have already achieved together, the Hit Me Hard and Soft tour finale was a perfect ending to one of the best pop shows of the year. .