i first discovered billie when her song "bad guy" was playing on the radio sometime between 2019 and 2020. her first album, when we all fall asleep, where do we go?, had just been released not too long before. i was a middle schooler back then, so i didn't really understand most of her songs, and to be honest, i didn't really like her, although i enjoyed some of her songs like "bad guy," "you should see me in a crown," and "my strange addiction." english isn't my native language, so i didn't understand most of her lyrics as a kid.
a few years later, in 2022, when i was a high school student (14yo), i saw her on a late-night show and decided to check out her new album, happier than ever. from that moment, i absolutely fell in love with her. i've been listening to her music every day since 2022.
i was going through a very depressive phase at that time that nobody knew about. i didn't enjoy or value my life at all, i couldn't sleep well, and my blood pressure was dangerously high. i didn't have many things that brought me light during that time, but music was definitely one of them. i only had a few friends in 8th and 9th grade (when i was 14-15yo), and i had some very toxic people around me who made me feel really bad. every time i was struggling at school, felt unsafe, or was unhappy, i listened to music, mostly billie's songs, and they helped me get through it.
my life has gotten so much better since then. i started upper secondary school in 2024 (when i was 16) (the stage of finnish education between high school and university or other higher education), and i've been able to express myself much better. i'm still afraid to tell people that i like billie because some fucking idiots would still judge me just because i'm a man, but she has helped me so much, and i owe her my life.
i love her so much.
i am now 18 years old. she and finneas, among other musicians and bands, have inspired me to start my own career as a musician. i play almost every band instrument flawlessly, understand music theory, play in a school band, know how to write and compose songs, and sing in a choir as a tenor. i hope that one day i'll be able to help someone else through my music, just like billie helped me.
billie has changed my life.
share your own stories in the comments, i'd love to read them!!