Billie Eilish sparks backlash after her not-so-favorable remarks about three-hour-long concerts are perceived as veiled criticisms towards fellow musicians like Taylor Swift and Beyonce Knowles.
- May 25, 2024
AceShowbiz - Billie Eilish isn't shy about sharing her thoughts, and her recent comments on three-hour-long concerts have stirred up some raw emotions among music fans. During a fan chat on the Stationhead app, Eilish called ultra-long shows "psychotic" and made it clear she has no intention of performing one anytime soon.
"I'm not doing a three-hour show," she said. "Nobody wants that. You guys don't want that. I don't want that. I don't even want that as a fan. My favorite artist in the world, I'm not trying to hear them for three hours."
Her remarks were seen by many as a thinly veiled dig at the marathon-length performances of Taylor Swift and Beyonce Knowles. Swift's Eras Tour, which pushes past the three-hour mark and covers her expansive discography, and Beyonce's equally lengthy Renaissance Tour, immediately came to mind for fans. Social media lit up with Swifties and Beyhive members arguing that the demand for these long shows proves that "millions of people seem to want that."
This isn't the first time Eilish has found herself at odds with Swifties. Earlier this year, she criticized the "biggest artists in the world" for releasing multiple vinyl album versions, calling the practice "wasteful" in an interview with Billboard. The backlash was swift, prompting Eilish to clarify her comments on Instagram, noting that she wasn't singling out any individual artist but addressing "industry-wide systemic issues."
Despite the perceived slights, it's essential to note that Eilish and Swift have generally been supportive of each other. Swift even presented the Woman of the Year Award to Eilish at Billboard's 2019 Women in Music event. Eilish has also praised Swift and Beyonce for their ability to captivate stadium audiences for hours, describing them as "untouchable superstars."
"Beyonce and Taylor [Swift] are untouchable superstars; the fact that they can put on a show that long, and it's filled with so many incredible moments, is really amazing," she said in a 2023 interview with the Los Angeles Times, adding that she finds it "really hard to play stadiums."
While Eilish's remarks might seem harsh to some, they highlight a more significant issue: the varying preferences of concertgoers. Some fans love an extensive experience packed with numerous hits and memorable moments, while others, like Eilish, prefer shorter, more concise performances. Ultimately, the music industry is diverse enough to cater to both audiences.
