Fans overcome with emotion as American pop star Billie Eilish performs side show
It was the hottest event in town. More than 5000 Billie Eilish fans showed why the American singer is the biggest pop artist in the world right now during her concert on Tuesday night.
Confidential
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They knew every word — phones in the air to capture every moment, Billie Eilish fans showed why the American teen is the biggest pop artist in the world right now.
Starting with her global number one hit Bad Guy, the 17-year-old appeared overwhelmed by the emotional reaction from the 5000 plus fans that packed Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion.
“You ready to turn up?” she questioned.
“Alright listen, I need everybody in this room to jump on this bitch okay. Tonight is going to be f***ing fantastic. Whether or not this is the worst night of your life or the best, I want you to be in it. I am right here, let’s be in the moment.”
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Eilish stopped mid way through the fourth song — You Should See Me In A Crown — to soak up the atmosphere.
“Scream as loud as you possibly can,” she told the crowd. “I love you.”
From a punters perspective, the only downside was the venue in that acoustics were terrible and the open dance floor and lack of seating make it hard to navigate.
Medical staff had their hands full at the all ages gig, handing out water and assisting the many young fans overcome with tears and emotion at seeing their idol.
“Are you all okay, like 20 people have fainted,” she said.
Eilish is in the country headlining the Groovin The Moo Festival and played the Hordern as a solo side show.
From high energy Bad Guy, she moved into My Strange Addiction, Lovely and You Should See My Crown, making her way through her debut album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Wearing streetwear — a long sleeve top, shorts and sneakers — Eilish had her hair in pigtails.
She is adored and admired for breaking the stereotypical cookie cutter pop star mould both aesthetically and with her emotive lyrics, sharing her troubles overcoming depression and anxiety.
The teenager could have sold out an arena but tour promoter Chugg Entertainment opted for the more intimate show.
The gig sold out in minutes, as did the rest of Eilish’s Australian tour dates that coincided with the release of her album.
Eilish was supported by her brother, FINNEAS.
Chugg Entertainment’s Susan Heymann said: “We’ve been planning this tour since Billie played Laneway Festival last February, where she was playing in 500-capacity clubs, that’s a little over a year ago.
“The growth of her profile since then has been phenomenal, here and around the globe. As the tour rolls around this week, Billie certainly could have filled much bigger rooms, but we’re excited that fans will have the opportunity to experience her show in the venues she is playing on the Australian leg of her When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? World Tour.”
She told Sydney Confidential she was someone who didn’t feel comfortable not being herself.
“There were times in my life where I was just so completely not confident in who I was. The only reason is that I wasn’t who I actually was, I was trying to be something else because I thought that was what people would care about.
“Nobody’s opinion is going to change the way that you feel about yourself unless you think it and unless you feel it. It is kind of difficult to realise it is up to you but it is. That shouldn’t make you feel bad. It should make you feel better.”
Originally published as Fans overcome with emotion as American pop star Billie Eilish performs side show