This X Factor hopeful went on to become one of the most famous young men in the world. Granted, he was one of the five One Directioners who took the teen world by storm, but as an individual he was definitely the most sought-after with fashion houses such as Burberry calling on him long before there was talk of a hiatus for the group.
Harry Styles has been a busy man over the last year. After leaving the band he went straight into his first ever serious acting role – in the historical war epic Dunkirk directed by the highly acclaimed Christopher Nolan. Not only that, but he launches his first ever full-length solo album – just long enough to allow his hair to grow back, as some have joked.
Fun jibes aside, this is a coming-of-age project that alludes to a more jaded individual than his poppy boy group days. The first single – Sign of the Times – is a dirge-like song with a chorus that could have been written by the pop-convert Taylor Swift, but holds a Southern Rock style that sets it apart. Check it out below:
Weeks before the album launch, however, controversy has already hit the project – with many saying his second single Sweet Creature is too similar to The Beatles’ Blackbird. It is very hard to find anything different in the lead instrumentation and the chord structure is only marginally different. The lyrics are good enough to hold their own, but it is unfortunate that it was one of his pre-launched singles. Maybe judge it for yourself:
It is his SNL performance of Ever Since New York that shapes Styles’ maturity. The songs Americana edge could have been performed by The Eagles without anyone batting an eyelid. This lazy rock-like ease is pulling attention to a genre that has recently been reserved to the forty-somethings whose youths were shaped by Brian Adams. But now a whole new lease of life could be brought to the guitar-heavy idiom – that’s if Harry’s stardom is strong enough to draw the diehard fans into such a different style. In many circles, I think he could simple sneeze and get a standing ovation – so it shouldn’t be much of a problem.
In a world scared to let go of a good thing, Harry has reinvented himself rather successfully – and people are still listening. It will be interesting to see how this album fares. If it does as well as he hopes, he could just be a heavyweight industry player that changes the game.