Dark pop from Billie Ellish

When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?  is a logical question. Where indeed do we go each time we fall asleep? But despite night after night of sleeping for the duration of our lifetimes, I do not think we have ever asked, where do we do when we fall asleep? 

I myself am actually wondering, where do I go each time I sleep. Do I die to the world? Do I get afflicted with some sort of paralysis? Am I transported to another place? Well, I am sure that a lot of people are asking questions like that now. And it is all because somebody dared to ask the question about a human activity we have all been taking for granted.

That somebody is Billie Ellish of the blue hair or blonde or whatever color hair and quirky wardrobe. She is a singer and songwriter from Los Angeles, who was born on Dec. 18, 2001. That makes her only 17 years old. She has been singing and writing songs since she was 11. She collaborates all of the time with her brother Finneas, who is also making a name for himself as a solo artist.

 Ellish had her first big hit single Ocean Eyes two years ago. She next released an extended play of her originals, Don’t Smile at Me in 2018. This was followed by the album When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? which is now the No. 1 selling album in Billboard’s Hot 100. She now has seven gold and two platinum single certifications. More golds and platinums are coming up for her new album.

With her sweet voice and gothic charm, the closest comparisons that come to mind upon mention of Ellish are Lorde and Lana Del Rey. But although younger, she goes deeper and darker than any of those stars ever did. She writes lyrics like “Sittin’ all alone/ mouth full of gum in the driveway/ my friends aren’t far/ in the back of my car/ lay their bodies.”  Strange one this Ellish but in a world ablaze with hip-hop, she is pop’s brightest hope.

When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? is a collection of nightmares. It is one of the most imaginative collections I have ever heard and also one of the most unsettling. Ellish evokes more strangeness than a pack of hard metal rockers in violent mode ever could. Listen at your own risk.

Check out these titles: !!!!!!!; Xanny; You Should See Me in a Crown; All The Good Girls Go To Hell; Wish You Were Gay; When The Party’s Over, 8, My Strange Addiction; Bury A Friend; Ilomilo; Listen Before I Go; I Love You; Goodbye and the hit single Bad Guy.

And now the hit lists. The Top 20 titles in Billboard’s Top 200 Albums tabulation this week are: When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? by Billie Ellish; Victory Lap by the recently departed Nipsey Hussle; Thank You, Next by Ariana Grande; Honky Tonk Time Machine by George Strait; Death Race for Love by Juice WRLD; Bad Habits by NAV; beerbongs & bentleys by Post Malone; A Star is Born, the motion picture soundtrack by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper; Hoodie SZN by A Boogie Wit da Hoodie; Scorpion by Drake.

Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse, another movie soundtrack by Various Artists; Bohemian Rhapsody, also a movie soundtrack by Queen; This One’s For You by Luke Combs; Trauma by I Prevail; Don’t Smile at Me also by Billie Ellish; Championships by Meek Mill; Astroworld by Travis Scott; Sing To Me Instead by Ban Platt; Baby On Baby by Dababy; and The World Is Yours 2 by Rich the Kid.

The Top 20 singles in the Hot 100 are: Old Town Road by Lil Nas X; Sunflower (Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse) by Post Malone and Swae Lee; 7 Rings by Ariana Grande; Wow. by Post Malone; Without Me by Halsey; Please Me by Cardi B and Bruno Mars; Bad Guy by Billie Ellish; Sucker by the Jonas Brothers; Happier by Marshmello and Bastille; Middle Child by J. Cole.

Shallow by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper; Eastside by benny blanco, Halsey and Khalid; Thotiana by Blueface; Going Bad by Meek Mill featuring Drake; Dancing With a Stranger by Sam Smith & Normani; Better by Khalid; High Hopes by Panic! At The Disco; Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored by Ariana Grande; Sweet But Psycho by Ava Max; and Sicko Mode by Travis Scott.