Why I'm Fine With My Teen Loving Billie Eilish

 

A few years ago, my daughter discovered an artist by the name of Billie Eilish. She didn't bother me. But I realized she bothered other parents.

"She sings that all good girls go to hell," one mother stage whispered to me, and I had to stifle my laughter. 

"I think she's a positive influence," I answered. "It probably helps that I'm not religious though."

The mother did a small shudder, as if this were contagious. "She has a bit of a filthy mouth though. My daughter played me one of her videos on Instagram, and you wouldn't believe the words that she used." If she had been wearing pearls, I imagine she would have clutched them. 

I chewed on my lower lip. I nearly said, "You wouldn't believe the words that fly out of my mouth when I drive." But I swallowed it down.  

I can understand why some parents are wary about Billie. She does have a filthy mouth. But so do a lot of people. She did sing that all good girls go to hell. But. 

She also encouraged people to vote. 

She encourages people to stay in but if you need to go out, wear masks. 

She uses her platform for good. Maybe her advice is laced with the s-word, but you know, I consider them sentence enhancers. 

She isn't stick thin as so many other artists out there are. Not that being skinny is a BAD thing, but it can sometimes send confusing messages to other kids. Billie is unapologetically herself and sadly, when she does go out and show skin, the media jumps on it and people call her fat.

Hence why she normally looks like this with layers of clothes:

Source

Or when she does videos on social media, you only see her face.

My daughter has learned to stick up for others because of what happens to Billie. A friend of hers was mocked for wearing a shirt that appeared to be too small. But her friend felt confident in it--until she was called fat. Natalie was there for that friend and defended her both in person and online. 

Billie is also talented. I mean, duh. Did you SEE all the awards she has won? You know the newest James Bond ballad? That was from Billie and her brother Finneas, who is also a singer. (Yup, Natalie loves him too!) They write all their songs together, so Billie comes from a tight family. Another plus in my eyes. (Also, she's vegan. We are not. We like meat. However, Natalie is a big fan of veggies and healthier foods. She did not get that from me.)

So yes. My daughter is allowed to listen to Billie Eilish. Honestly, I like her. I watch her videos on Instagram, and they make me chuckle. Also, her mother seems like a nice woman. She homeschooled her children which means she probably has more patience than I do, because when my kids were distance learning, it wasn't pleasant. I would ask her all sorts of questions about having patience. 

Also, that lopsided stick figure on most of Natalie's clothes? Yup, Billie designed that. It's her logo. Natalie has many, many, MANY items with this logo on it. (I feel like Billie should offer a rewards program for her website Blohsh, where you can buy her merch, and let me tell you, I've bought a lot of her merch for birthdays, holidays, etc..)

Anyway, do you know who Billie Eilish is?