Harry's House album cover. (Harry Styles, Columbia Records)
Harry Styles has come a long way since his early days in One Direction. After branching out into a solo career, he has been able to achieve high celebrity status in multiple different areas. We all knew that Harry could rock any song thrown his way, but he has become a veritable fashion figure in pop culture. Harry’s gender-fluid outfits and expressions have flipped the traditional narrative of ‘heartthrob.’ He’s breaking out of his shell left and right as he adds ‘actor’ to his long list of talents.
Although his music career looks very different from his younger days in One Direction, Harry is adamant that he loved his time in the band. We knew Harry Styles as a playful, silly, witty and lighthearted teenager that danced across the stage with pride flags and long curly hair. As his solo career started, we saw a different side of Harry. Although still playful, he was exploring a darker more melancholy and serious side of himself in his first solo album, Harry Styles. After this album’s release it was clear that the Harry we once knew and loved was changing; leaving his boy band pop roots for a more indie-rock sound that not only made multiple chart-toppers but stole the hearts of former One Direction fans and soon-to-be-new ‘Harry fans.’
Yes, we loved both Harry Styles and Fine Line for their innovative sound and lyrics but nothing has quite compared to the versatile and unique overall vibe of Harry’s House. In this album we see him leaving that serious tone for a new playful and witty sound; dare I say it even reminds me of the old ‘One Direction Harry’ we knew and loved… (just a little). Harry’s House is definitely his best album to date and that could be a testament to the fact that he’s found a sound a little closer to his roots, while still creating new and unique energy that’s unlike any other artist on the radio right now.
An interesting aspect of this new album is that although the sound is different, the lyrics are very relatable… Well, some lyrics are just plain odd but what else can we expect from Mr. Styles? Anyway, he includes many serious and heart-wrenching themes in this album behind playful-sounding music. Here are a couple soul-hitting lyrics Harry’s House offers,
“You showed me a power that is strong enough to bring the sun to the darkest days” – Matilda, Harry’s House.
“Maybe you don’t know it’s lost until you find it” – Love Of My Life, Harry’s House.
“I know they won’t hurt you anymore as long as you can let them go – You can let them go” – Matilda, Harry’s House.
Harry’s House is full of personality. It’s fun, rebellious, sincere and vulnerable in all of the right places. This album feels like a coming-of-age movie, where Harry is starting to understand who he is not only as an artist but as a person. These songs offer life lessons that everyone in their twenties learns – and usually the hard way. While Harry speaks a lot about falling in love, falling out of love and continuous heartbreaks, he mentions themes of loneliness, drug use and aiding sadness with substances. This is definitely not a side of Harry Styles we are accustomed to.
Although some may be saddened by these harsh realities that Harry may face, he continues to be real with his listeners. I can only imagine how many millions of people Harry inspired and comforted with the raw, authentic-ness of Harry’s House. From start to finish, this whole album will send you through a rollercoaster of emotions. You’ll want to walk down a desolate street at night, dance in an empty field, move to New York, and fall in love on the streets of London.
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