To promote her latest album of the same name, the tour landed at United Center for the first of two nights on Wednesday, and in the span of 100 hypnotic minutes, the electro-pop star had a feverish crowd jumping to their feet or bawling their eyes out. , depending on the song.

“It’s been a tough week for all of us,” Eilish said, launching into the incredibly moving “Your Power.” The song’s message, ‘try not to abuse it’, quickly took on new meaning this evening, just a week after the polarizing US election results. The revelers in the crowd also had many reactions; half of them sobbed during the song, while another portion shouted “f – – – Trump.”

“I’m not even going to get into it, I just want to say you’re safe in this room,” Eilish added, taking a long pause, as if she might change her mind. “I’m just going to play it.”

The song needed no additional oratorical touches, as Eilish exerted his lyrical eloquence through her heartfelt delivery, done while sitting on a stool, strumming an acoustic guitar and flanked by a pair of backup singers. The gravity of the moment was only matched when she performed the Oscar-winning “Barbie” monologue “What Was I Made For?” interpreted. later in the set when the water mains came back on.

Within minutes, however, there was a necessary release as Eilish followed up the gloom of ‘Your Power’ with a beat-blasting club overture of ‘Bury A Friend’, ‘Oxytocin’ and ‘Guess’, that steamy collaboration with Charli XCX.

If it sounds like neurotic whiplash, it isn’t. There was a higher order to the evening that prevented any sense of dullness in a 22-song set. It’s the beauty of Eilish’s dimensional talent: She can be serious when she needs to be and fun when she wants to be, and fill both roles – as good at playing the ‘Bad Guy’ as she is the Barbie.

Many of the elements of Eilish’s latest tour are familiar features from her stadium shows and Lollapalooz performances over the past five years, including a long, linear leg that she has to rush through at a fast pace. An outfit that adheres to the beauty standards of boyish baggy shorts and a sports jersey (flatteringly imitated by dozens of teenagers wearing their own Chicago Bulls paraphernalia). was complemented by a refreshing humility and a positive use of her platform for the greater good.

Before Eilish kicked off her set, a five-minute video played on the screens detailing the many sustainability efforts she has made for the tour as a way to combat the climate crisis. Including partnering with Reverb and Google Maps to give concertgoers greater access to public transportation; making its merchandise and vinyl from 100% recycled materials; offering free water bottle refill stations; and raising awareness for Support + Feed, the eco-forward, plant-based mission of Eilish’s mother Maggie Baird.

The evening also offered new takeaways. For starters, Eilish doesn’t need her brother Finneas to make her live shows special. Although the siblings form one of the greatest songwriting duos of the modern era, the fact that Finneas is busy preparing for his own headlining tour only gave Eilish more ground to own. And she did it with the confidence of someone who had just been nominated for seven Grammy Awards, whether she was going quiet on set while repeating the vocals for “When the Party’s Over” or playing with a pair of bras left on the were thrown onto the stage during ‘When the Party’s Over’. Lunch.”

Eilish even filled in Finneas’ production and musical gaps, playing some instruments himself (acoustic guitar on “Your Power”, electric on “Happier Than Ever” and piano on a medley of “Lovely/Idontwannabeyouanymore/Ocean Eyes”) and brought an exceptional live band with four instrumentalists and two backup vocalists who added a voluminous wall of sound. Their contributions brought more of a cinematic feel to Eilish’s songbook, especially on the newer hit “The Greatest.” The effect also matched perfectly with the brilliant use of mood lighting, strobe effects and Lynchian video walls that turned Eilish’s noir music into its own arthouse film.

Ending with her latest hit ‘Birds Of A Feather’, Eilish gave a farewell message of staying together during these strange times, including herself in the mix.

“I will always fight for you, stand up for you,” she said, “and be your voice for you when you feel like you don’t have a voice.”

Billie Eilish returns to United Center for a second night on November 14.

SET LIST

Chihiro

Lunch

Secrecy

That’s why I am

Wild flower

When the party is over

The dinner

Ilomilo

Bad guy

The largest

Your power

Skinny

TV

Bury a friend

Oxytocin

Guess (Charli XCX case)

Everything I wanted

Beautiful / I don’t want you anymore / Ocean Eyes

L’amour De Ma Vie

What was I made for?

Happier than ever

Birds Of A Feather