"The Greatest" (stylized in all uppercase) is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish, and the sixth track from her third studio album, Hit Me Hard and Soft (2024). It was released on May 17, 2024. Commercially, the song reached the top 20 in Australia, New Zealand, Portugal and Global 200, and the top 30 in Canada and the United States.
"The Greatest" acts as the sixth track on Hit Me Hard and Soft. The lyrics go through feelings of defeat, loneliness, anger, and mourning for what couldâÂÂve been.
Eilish uses soft string sounds in the bridge, which adds depth and emotion to the song. This kind of careful detail is a big part of how her music is changing and growing. Consequence stated this layered production style is becoming a key part of her sound.
Strings featured behind the vocals in the bridge follow the melody of those same lyrics, and are interpolated in different keys into the outros of both the opening and closing tracks, âÂÂSkinnyâ and âÂÂBlue.âÂÂ
An arena rock and folk-pop song, "The Greatest" was inspired by Eilish's own experiences with one-sided love and feeling emotionally abandoned. In a 2024 interview with NME, she talked about how these personal feelings helped shape the song and the album. By opening up about her own struggles, she makes it easier for listeners to connect with the emotions in her music, especially those who have gone through something similar.
"The Greatest" has been compared to Eilish's older songs, but some critics think it sounds more grown-up and confident. It shows how much she's changed and gotten better over time. In a 2024 review, Variety said the song is a big step forward for her as an artist.