When the international, award winning, superstar Billie Eilish takes the stage, it is usually to a jam packed arena surrounded by blinding lights. But on Dec. 12, Billie chose to perform at NPR’s Tiny Desk, a more intimate setting that showed a completely different side of her artistry. For those unfamiliar, Tiny Desk concerts are unique, performed in an office environment that offers a close up experience with the artist.
Instead of a massive stage with flashy lights, Billie and her brother Finneas, along with a few band members, squeezed into NPR’s tiny office in Washington, D.C. for a special performance. She kicked things off with two songs from her new album “Hit Me Hard and Soft” namely “The Greatest” and “L’Amour de Ma Vie.” But instead of singing them with the usual energy, she gave them a much softer and gentler tone, to perfectly fit the intimate vibe of the space.
Billie Eilish: Tiny Desk Concert
At one point during the performance, Billie looked at the crowd and said, “This is nerve-racking for me. This is so cool. I’ve wanted to do this my whole life, so I’m a little shaky.” Even though she’s a huge pop star, Billie still gets nervous in front of people. Isn’t that something we can all relate to? No matter how famous someone is, we all get nervous sometimes.
But Billie didn’t stop there. She surprised everyone by singing one of her older songs, “I Love You,” from her first album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?. It was a beautiful, soft performance with just Finneas playing acoustic guitar in the background. Before singing, Billie said, “This is one of our favorite songs that we’ve ever written. It was the first time I fell in love and it was very scary. It’s funny how that fear never goes away — that fear of falling.” That’s such a real and honest thing to say, and it made the song even more powerful.
Billie Eilish – i love you (Live At The Greek Theatre)
Billie wrapped up the performance with her hit song “Birds of a Feather,” which has been topping the Billboard Global 200 chart for weeks. And guess what? It’s been nominated for three Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Solo and Song of the Year. Pretty impressive, right?
Billie is currently on her “Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour,” which started in September. After her December shows in Los Angeles, she’ll be touring in Europe and Australia starting in February. Even though she’s traveling the world, she still made time to give fans something truly special with this Tiny Desk concert.
Billie Eilish – BIRDS OF A FEATHER (Official Music Video)
What makes this performance so special is how real and down-to-earth Billie was. Even being an international superstar, she took the time to do something small and personal, showing us a different side of her. Whether she’s performing in front of thousands of fans or in a tiny office with just a few people, Billie is always true to herself, and that’s what makes her so special.
So, next time you hear about a Tiny Desk Concert, remember it’s not just about the small space — it’s about the connection between the artist and the audience. Billie Eilish proved that big stars can still have big moments in the most unexpected places.