Harry Styles in 10 Songs
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The post Harry Styles in 10 Songs appeared first on Consequence.
Ever felt intimidated by a musician’s extensive back catalog? Been trying to get into a band, but you just don’t know where to begin? In 10 Songs is here to help, providing a clearcut entry point into the daunting discographies of iconic artists of all genres. This is your first step toward fandom — now all you have to do is take it.
There just aren’t that many entertainers like Harry Styles these days.
Harry is more than a pop hitmaker, and even more than the modern iteration of the charming, British rock star. He’s also more than a fashion provocateur, someone who regularly makes headlines for fairly gentle pushes against social boundaries and norms.
The thing about Harry Styles is that he’s a true renaissance man, the sort that used to exist in the era of Old Hollywood and just beyond, when someone like Frank Sinatra could be one of the best-selling artists of the time while also moving hordes of tickets at the Main Street cinema. Pop stars these days aren’t called to appear in films, tour the country, jump in for a stint hosting a late night show, co-chair a fashion gala, appear on a sketch comedy program, and then head back to the studio — and no one called upon Harry Styles to do so, either. He took it upon himself.
What’s so refreshing about Styles is that he genuinely seems to love learning about the work of being an entertainer, and does things because he wants to do them. It’s sometimes hard to believe that the nervous kid who auditioned for The X Factor and was tossed into One Direction has gone on to hone strengths in so many different areas, but Harry has also always had that indescribable It factor.
Some fans expressed mixed feelings about his budding career on the silver screen — that trailer for Don’t Worry, Darling is truly something — but Harry put any fears of moving into acting full-time to rest by confirming a third album, Harry’s House, which arrives this coming Friday, May 20th.
In preparation for Styles’ third solo effort, we’ve rounded up ten songs that speak to his story so far. Granted, they’re not the definitive top 10, nor are they the only 10 songs that paint a picture of his many strengths. What these 10 songs do demonstrate, though, is that Harry Styles isn’t afraid to try new things, and, more often than not, he ends up being great at them.
Here’s Harry Styles in 10 songs, featuring a playlist at the bottom for you to enjoy as you read along.
— Mary Siroky
Contributing Editor
Going One Direction (Up): “Olivia”
It’s indisputable that One Direction was one of the biggest and most successful boy bands of all time. It was also, undoubtedly, a difficult time for the five young men, coming of age as they tumbled into almost overnight success following their time on The X Factor. While One Direction didn’t always offer space for Harry and his bandmates to authentically express themselves or explore their individual tastes, he seems to still have a soft spot for a deep cut beloved by Directioners to this day.
Current relationship status aside, “Olivia” is a song that Harry Styles included in the pre-show playlist while touring his self-titled solo debut, as well as LOVE ON TOUR, which celebrated his Grammy-winning Fine Line. The truth is that we wouldn’t have the Harry Styles we have today, a full-fledged rockstar, without his roots in One Direction, and it’s nice to see that there’s parts of that time in his life, like this track, that he is able to remember fondly. — M.S.
His Solo Arrival: “Sign of the Times”
Just under four years after their smash debut single “What Makes You Beautiful,” and about a year after Zayn Malik left the group, One Direction formally announced their hiatus. While the boy band was careful never to use the harsh language of “breakup,” and dedicated fans continue to theorize about the band’s resurrection to this day, even just a year out from the announcement, things seemed pretty final.
Malik, having a head start, had already begun establishing his solo presence with the edgy “PILLOWTALK.” Niall Horan quickly followed, contrasting Malik’s synth-pop with the singer-songwriter aesthetics of “This Town.” Louis Tomlinson took to collaborating with Steve Aoki, and Liam Payne would be the last to the party with his Quavo-featured “Strip That Down.” Arriving in April 2017, though, Styles’ first foray into solo artistry would prove to be distinct from his former bandmate’s efforts, telling of his previously unrealized interests, and the most lasting debut of any of them.
“Sign of the Times” introduced Styles as a poppy classic rock revivalist in the spirit of (as you might have guessed from the name) Prince and early Bowie. A dramatic, building ballad, the track cemented Styles’ prowess as a performer and established him as a respected songwriting force. Even as he continued on his ascent to pop royalty, “Sign of the Times” remained an essential cut in his discography. The song silenced skeptics and reassured fans that Styles’ moment was far from over. It’s hard to imagine a more impactful hello. — Jonah Krueger
The Essential B-Side: “Kiwi”
While “Sign of the Times” officially kicked off Harry’s solo era, “Kiwi” immediately became the track to know when Harry Styles was released in full. The Brit-rock pop song is a scorcher, all sly digs at a chaotic lover, big drum fills, and hard-edged electric guitar, and it became even more essential to the Harry Styles Brand once he began performing it on tour.
Famously, Styles even performed the high-energy song three times in a row in 2018 at the Los Angeles tour stop, which happened to be the closing night of the tour. He didn’t want to leave the stage, so he just kept going, and going, and going — and who would possibly complain about that? Within his discography, now on the precipice of growing with the arrival of a third album, there are quite a few treasured, expertly-crafted b-side tracks. “Kiwi,” though, is the most important. — M.S.
Our Little Secret: “Medicine”
Maybe someday Harry will share a studio version of his treasured track “Medicine.” It’s taken on almost mythological status in the Harry Styles canon — Styles is relatively tight-lipped when it comes to labeling his sexuality, preferring to express himself through his art. “Medicine” is the most explicit way he’s ever addressed questions his listeners might have.
“Take my medicine/ Treat you like a gentleman,” he sings towards the opening of the song, but things really kick into gear in the second verse: “The boys and the girls are in/ I mess around with them/ And I’m okay with it.” (So are we, Mr. Styles.) The song is raunchy, it’s playful, and it’s just plain sexy. He might as well have just sent a video of him performing this live, along with the rapturous reactions, as his audition tape for the seductive MCU role of Eros. — M.S.
The Sweetest of Summer Smashes: “Watermelon Sugar”
The music video for “Watermelon Sugar” opens with an almost chilling warning: “THIS VIDEO IS DEDICATED TO TOUCHING,” the yellow text reads. Harry, for that matter, makes good on the premise. What begins with a grinning Harry enjoying the titular fruit on the beach eventually descends into a party we’d love to score an invite to, with bodies writhing indiscriminately against one another in the golden hour light. “Watermelon Sugar” is also noteworthy as Styles’ first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song can also be enjoyed surface-level as a summertime jam, one that demands the windows down or a shady spot to tie up a hammock. Follow it up with “Golden,” “Cherry,” and “Sweet Creature” and you’ve got the makings of a perfect mid-summer, sun-dappled playlist. — M.S.
Cover King: “Girl Crush”
When Harry made an appearance on BBC back in 2017, no one expected him to whip out a cover of a Little Big Town song. The track, originally popularized by the country music foursome, took on a different — but no less impactful — feeling in Harry’s hands. It’s an affecting song on its own, and Styles’ desperate, octave-jumping rendition is a killer. Thankfully, Harry’s take on the song also lives on on streaming sites with a version recorded at Metropolis Studios in London.
What’s more, this is a perfect jumping-off point for many of Harry’s other covers and duets — it’s the ideal gateway drug to “Juice” with Lizzo herself, “Landslide” with the iconic Stevie Nicks, and “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” with queen Shania Twain. — M.S.
More Than A One-Album Wonder: “Lights Up”
If there was any doubt left, the lead single off Fine Line proved that Styles wasn’t a one-trick pony, or that his self-titled debut was a flash in the pan. The introduction to his second era layered piano, guitar, and a plethora of gospel-like vocals, to great effect.
“Lights off and you know who you are/ Do you know who you are?” he asks. There’s a slow but steady build to the song that provides a sneakily cathartic experience, and the balance between more stylized aspects of the production against the organic, analog instruments and vocals lands perfectly.
Despite the moments of dazed ecstasy in the music video, which features the singer shirtless among a jostling crowd of equally sweaty strangers, there’s a bit of an air of melancholy around the song, especially the cliffhanger-like ending on a minor chord. It only makes sense, seeing as Harry described the album to Rolling Stone as a collection of songs about “having sex and feeling sad.” The music video is about both, and the song can be, too, when left open to interpretation. — M.S.
Proof That Romance Isn’t Dead: “Adore You”
POV: Harry Styles is your boyfriend and wakes you up with breakfast in bed, eyes grazing lovingly over your ocean blue eyes and hair tossed carelessly into a messy bun.
I mean, just look at the thumbnail of the video and say that’s wrong. “Adore You” is almost painfully romantic, a love letter to the listener, whoever they may be. While sonically it’s one of the more gentle, easy listens in an often rock-tinged canon, the lyrics capture the desperation and passion of enormous love. “You don’t have to say you love me,” he insists. “I’d walk through fire for you/ Just let me adore you.”
On top of that, it serves as a great window into the warm moments built into Harry’s discography. He offers many places to just get lost, be swept away by a tune, enter a dreamy period of nostalgia, or yield to moments of yearning. “Adore You” is one of the best. — M.S.
Capturing His Brand: “Treat People with Kindness”
“Treat People With Kindness,” or “TPWK” as it’s known in the fandom, is perhaps the best song to recommend to someone who has never listened to Harry Styles and will only take one request. It’s transcended its status as a ’70s-esque bop and is now a concise thesis of Harry’s entire brand as a performer and as a human.
This is due in part to the explosion of joy that took place every time this song came on during LOVE ON TOUR. From conga lines to banana suits to rainbow flags and fans, “TPWK” is the pinnacle of everything people love about listening to Harry Styles and attending one of his live shows. It’s the perfect way to let go and unleash any pent up frustrations, whether in a packed arena or the safety of your bedroom.
The accompanying music video is also a warm hug of its own, featuring a fellow multi-hyphenate from across the pond, Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Mr. Styles even put on a sparkly suit and his dancing shoes for this one. — M.S.
Ushering Us into the New Era: “As It Was”
It’s synthpop, it’s bedroom pop, it’s indie rock, it’s “As It Was.” Harry Styles was still reaping the rewards of the biggest songs on Fine Line nearly two years later when he announced that his third album, Harry’s House, was on the way this year, signaling that there was no rest needed for England’s biggest star. With that announcement came “As It Was,” which is already gearing up to be one of Styles’ biggest songs yet.
What’s so striking about “As It Was” is how little he has to do to make a bold impression. There are no signature tenor wails, no flashy ’70s guitar solos, not even a vague euphemism for… well, just listen to “Watermelon Sugar” again. Harry is calm, personal, slightly introverted, and incredibly sincere on “As It Was” — a close read of the lyrics suggests that Harry is pondering the trappings of fame beyond his boyband origins, the way in which his need for privacy is in direct opposition with his public persona, and the way the past (yes, even his One Direction days) serves as a reminder of now-unattainable simplicity and peace.
It’s the perfect introduction to a new era of the star, one that’s grounded in earnestness but soars with spirit, and one that reminds us of just how much he’s capable of. — Paolo Ragusa
Harry Styles In 10 Songs Playlist:
Harry Styles in 10 Songs
Mary Siroky, Jonah Krueger and Paolo Ragusa
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