Should a teenaged pop star know anything about an ’80s rock band? What should a 17-year-old know? These are the hard questions after pop superstar Billie Eilish told talk show host Jimmy Kimmel that she didn’t know anything about the popular hard-rock act Van Halen.
Van Halen, which peaked commercially during the early to mid-’80s, ranks among the best-selling artists in the United States. The “Jump” and “Hot for Teacher” band has sold 56 million albums in the U.S., and more than 80 million worldwide.
The “Bad Guy” singer is the youngest artist to ever be nominated in the four major Grammy Awards: record of the year, song of the year, album of the year, and best new artist. However, she was only born in 2001.
On the Nov. 22 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the host told the singer that he was 17 in 1984 and proceeded to quiz her on famous artists of the ’80s. Madonna and Cyndi Lauper? Check and check. Van Halen or legendary hip-hop trio Run DMC? No dice.
Kimmel defended her lack of knowledge during the interview: “If you asked me questions about 1943, I probably wouldn’t know the answers either.”
Almost a week later, her response began going viral via Twitter.
https://twitter.com/_Kenziepuff/status/1200239735438008320?s=20
Once the video hit social media—throwing Kimmel’s defense to the side—opinions arrived from all directions on what exactly she should and shouldn’t know, given her age and profession.
Some have commented from the premise that Van Halen should be something constant, or near-universal, to the point that a 17-year-old singer should have a broad awareness of the band. This notion, or rather a rejection of it, might’ve caused hurt feelings.
https://twitter.com/RayTakesPix/status/1201518967422103554?s=20
When I see Van Halen trending, I’m just glad it’s not bad news about Eddie. And who is Billie Eilish anyway?😜 pic.twitter.com/1KIR47sYAz
— KK Garrett 💎 🐶 🐕🍫 🎶 (@SpazzyKK) December 2, 2019
https://twitter.com/KendrianaSpeaks/status/1201503917814751232?s=20
Some “stay off my lawn” types have even taken to directly bashing her, her music, even Interscope, her record label.
https://twitter.com/Wit_recycler/status/1200561236766642177?s=20
That’s what’s wrong with many people of today’s generation, they’re like fast food consumers, only care about what’s “at their peak” to follow the trend, but have no musical background, I’m not saying she has to know all VH’s discography, but at least know the name!
— Alejandro* (@AlejVillalobos) December 2, 2019
Then, you have a more reasonable reaction based on the realities for today’s teenagers. Why would she know who Van Halen is?
Any time a young celebrity says they don’t like/don’t know who a certain artist from before their time is, people flip out
— Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) December 2, 2019
Billie Eilish was born in 2001. How the fuck would she be expected to know who Van Halen is?
Let’s get mad because she never watched Dawson’s Creek, either https://t.co/cQx4izRDdN
To fellow Gen Xers upset Billie Eilish never heard of Van Halen — if boomers didn’t shove their garbage music down our throats throughout the 80s, how many geezer bands could you name? I envy her!
— Paul McLeary (@paulmcleary) December 2, 2019
https://twitter.com/Greeblehaus/status/1201527106800250880?s=20
https://twitter.com/laurendane/status/1201530062845046784?s=20
Journalist Drew Magary noted the greatest of ironies related to Van Halen bandleader and guitarist Eddie Van Halen—he probably has never heard of Billie Eilish either, or anyone else for that matter.
If you’re surprised Billie Eilish has never heard of Van Halen, well then you might be a LOT more surprised by the shit Eddie Van Halen himself is oblivious to. (via @CKlosterman) https://t.co/4yeJMj2ngQ pic.twitter.com/HGmpCkxYal
— Drew Magary (@drewmagary) December 2, 2019
Here’s the whole segment for full context:
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