Billie Eilish should have won album of the year. Despite being nominated in seven categories at the 2025 Grammys, Eilish received no Grammy’s and was seen in tears, sad over the lack of recognition for her new album “Hit Me Hard and Soft.” Instead, Beyoncé received the award for her album “Cowboy Carter.”
Eilish’s album’s superiority is not only evident in her streaming numbers but also her music style. Her album features ghoulish beats and breathy vocals, highlighting themes of love, insecurity, lust and obsession. Especially found in her song “BLUE,” she sings the chilling lyrics, “I try to live in black and white, but I’m so blue” which showcases infatuation and dangers of love—a constant message underscored throughout Eilish’s album.
Eilish’s strong but delicate vocals strengthen her lyrics, allowing listeners to submerge themselves into the emotional depths of her music. Beyond being a strong lyricist, Eilish’s album also excels in structure. “Hit Me Hard and Soft” is designed in a way that progressively reveals the phases of pain and love that relationships have, creating a more immersive and saturated experience to a point where it feels as if you’re underwater, surrounded by Eilish’s heartbreak, longing and self-discovery.
Beyoncé’s album, on the other hand, is a lot different than Eilish’s. Specifically, the opening of her song “AMERIICAN REQUIEM” contains layered vocals that are practically dripping with over-the-top patriotism. The top hit of the album “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” is catchy but lacks the depth and emotion that Eilish’s album possesses. Her lyrics “This ain’t Texas (woo), ain’t no hold ’em (hey)/So lay your cards down, down, down, down,” hold a similar story of love like Eilish, except the shallow lyrics portray a passionless fling.
“Cowboy Carters” superficial lyrics are likely a result of the album’s lack of individuality as it has over 70 credited songwriters. While Eilish, in contrast, primarily collaborates with just one: her brother Finneas Eilish. This seems to be effective as the album’s top song has 1.78 billion streams, while “Cowboy Carter” only has 600 million.
Despite these downfalls in her album, Beyoncé remains one of the most celebrated figures in music, known for her cultural influence and entertainment ability.
“Beyoncé represents a powerful woman in a space dominated by men,” said Jacob Swinn, Summit swim coach and Beyoncé fan.
Her win is historic, making her the first black woman to receive this award since Lauryn Hill won in 1999.
It’s great to see representation and diversity within the Grammys, as people of color have made some of the most significant contributions to music history. Where would the industry be without artists like Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder and Bob Marley? Without them, we wouldn’t have the groundbreaking innovations in R&B and soul or the global influence of reggae that reshaped music and activism.
However, the Grammys have long faced criticism for failing to recognize people of color in major categories with Kendrick Lamar’s and Beyoncé’s past losses being a notable examples of this issue
While Beyoncé’s win is a step toward change, Eilish’s album was the stronger choice artistically, leading many to criticize whether the Grammys are judging the music itself or instead battling past allegations of underrepresentation—and in doing so making questionable nominations that many disagree with.
“The Grammy’s should give awards to the best music that was impactful to the most people,” said Summit junior Isaiah Crossman.
While Beyoncé’s win is an important milestone for diversity and representation, it should not overshadow the artistic achievements of other deserving artists like Billie Eilish. The Grammys must strive to recognize music for its quality and impact, instead of allowing past mistakes to dictate the future. By focusing on fairness and merit, the Recording Academy should ensure that music awards remain a true reflection of the talent that shapes the music industry.
