Harry Styles is the most fascinating pop star today. He's not the most talented. He's not the most innovative. But he's certainly the most fascinating.
For starters, he is an almost insatiably likable man. The former One Direction marketing team once described young Harry as "cheeky," "beautiful," and "adorably slow," and this description was not only spot-on in his boyband days, but it has become even more accurate as he's aged and grown into his celebrity. His endlessly warm, sexually ambiguous, and effortlessly charming personality has carved an outsized footprint for him in the public consciousness, and he seems remarkably comfortable within that ever-growing fame.
But I say "outsized footprint" because, in all honesty, I don't find his current musical output to be nearly as interesting as the person performing it. I think all three of his solo records are really strong outings. "Fine Line" is one of the most consistent pop records of the last decade, and "Harry's House" is if nothing else a clear sign that Harry's best days are likely still ahead of him. But compared to the eccentric, eye-popping personality behind the mic, all of his songs are pretty safe and conventional. It's hard for me to imagine someone listening to his most recent record and thinking, "Wow, this is the sound of someone commanding the space he occupies." Once again, this is not to say any of his discography is bad, and I think part of the charm of "Harry's House" is how understated most of it is. But I still feel a disconnect between Harry the celebrity and Harry the musician.
Except for in one song. Every time I hear "Music For a Sushi Restaurant," every neuron in my brain fires saying, "This...this is his future." The dazzling brass riffs, the subdued pulse of the verses, the explosive instrumental breaks...to me, it's the only song of his that actually mirrors the free-spirited, energetic atmosphere he creates in his live shows. It's his "Let's Dance": a song with a groove so infectious that it's defined not by what he's saying or singing but how he's moving. In fact, I would take this "Let's Dance" comparison a step further and say this song proves to me Harry could ultimately become the David Bowie of our generation. Harry's definitely got the artistic credibility and carries the same captivating, enigmatic persona Bowie did. And while Harry hasn't been nearly as daring as Bowie, he has still proven himself to be a pretty versatile genre-hopper. I think the stage is set for Harry to fill this role. Now he just has to start taking the risks.
And so that's where I guess I sit on Harry Styles: I love the man, am somewhat underwhelmed by the musician, but am still ultimately very excited at the prospect of someone with his talent and potential someday commanding the outsized space he occupies.
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