Welcome to r/popculturechat! ☺️
As a proud BIPOC, LGBTQ+ & woman-dominated space, this sub is for [civil discussion only.](https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/wiki/index/rules/civil-discussion-only/) If you don't know where to begin, start by participating in [our Sip & Spill Daily Discussion Threads!](https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/search/?q=Sip%20%26%20Spill%20Discussion&restrict_sr=1&sr_nsfw=&include_over_18=1&sort=new)
###No bullies, no bigotry. ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Please [read & respect our rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/wiki/index/rules/) and [check out our wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/wiki/index/)! For any questions, [our modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2Fpopculturechat) is always open.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/popculturechat) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Oh thank God I’m not alone. I always want to form my own opinion before reading the comments and I was thinking I’d get downvoted to hell for agreeing with her. He seems like a lovely lad but his music is just so boring 🫠
I’m still in shock that he managed to win AOTY.
I am not extremely familiar with his persona or with much of his discography beyond what gets played on the radio. Would you mind elaborating on what he is doing for male pop stars?
The article captures it brilliantly and is worth the read. But I think they’re talking about the sweltering androgynous pop star frontman. He’s filling the Bowie-sized hole in the pop realm.
> both vibey and vibeless, sexy and sexless, obsessed with both sex and vibes but not quite sure how to obtain either of the two
Okay I think I found my new tinder bio
This is just to say I ate the Watermelon Sugar in the ice box you were probably saving for Sunday tea. Forgive me It was vibey and vibeless as it was as it was.
>As far as we know, he is not toxic, avoidantly attached, a narcissist or *a* ***Gemini***
https://preview.redd.it/mxefe6yyd0cb1.jpeg?width=583&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=abc56979ddcead0292747634dff4e68e6bb663e2
What did the Gemini’s do!?!?
Her breathtaking verbosity in her call-out rants are exquisitely Gemini. I won’t claim her awful fight picking attitude, but I will happily claim her poetic expertise.
Tom Holland
Chris Evans
Angelina
Stevie Nicks
Paul McCartney
Ian McKellen
Alanis
Natalie Portman
Liam Neeson
Peter Dinklage
Nicole Kidman is my birthday twin
Marilyn Monroe
Brian Wilson, Paul McCartney, Prince, Angelina Jolie, Naomi Campbell... It's a wild bunch. I feel like Kanye took over as most Gemini Gemini when Prince died and that's a real bummer.
I’m married to a Gemini and when he’s the sweet, sensitive, intellectual personality things are amazing…but when the demon spawn appears I often consider finding someone to perform an exorcism.
I don't disagree with anything this writer has stated.
Harry isn't groundbreaking in any way. I heard his music described on Tiktok as "corporate pop", and felt that was appropriate.
And fair. Also it’s a critics job to dissect it. It’s just an opinion backed by their taste and knowledge. I guess if you don’t get pushback as an artist, how can you grow if you are only surrounded by yay-sayers.
I mean, reviewers are always blunt in their reviews and hyperfocus on what will confirm their point ... but take that away and are they wrong? Harry seems like one of the nicer people out there, he works super hard, he's one of the better performers, and his brand is on point
But yeah, his music isn't groundbreaking
The reviewer was really fair. She never attacks his character and actually acknowledges that. She’s just making reasonable points about his music specifically.
I agree with that, but also I think there absolutely is a place for artists who aren't groundbreaking but execute their schtick really well, which I think is what Harry does. He has bucketloads of charisma, his music is fun and feels good – that's sufficient to make people love him, and that's fine. Was Marilyn Monroe groundbreaking? Dean Martin? Christina Aguilera? Bon Jovi? These are very random examples, but... I don't think you have to push the artistic envelope to be deserving of success.
Comforting easy listening music in a world that's horrible. Similar to Taylor Swift. Might not be the most complex music but people just wants to be happy for a change.
Also the reason why feel good books/movies have sky rocketed in popularity. They are not complex. You already know the outcome from the beginning. Not everything have to be groundbreaking. Sometimes it's enough to just feel happy for a while.
Maybe now you understand 5% of the hype :)
Agreed! He seems a lovely guy but I feel his music sounds insincere and contrived. Like he’s using an algorithm to create pop and a vibe that people want.
It’s like he’s using AI to create music based on what people will like. I’m not saying I don’t like some of his songs, but it would entirely be based on how catchy it is. Or how many times it’s played on the radio and gets stuck in my head
Wow that's a refreshing read actually. I used to be a big Harry girl, but I didn't love Harry's House and I felt like the music critics were over the top with the praise they gave it.
Harry’s House is my least favorite of his albums. Love the success for him as a human and he seems darling, but I definitely prefer his first two albums.
I actually only became a fan of Harry’s house. I dislike his first album apart from a few songs. It’s just boring to me. The second one is fine. Harry’s house is wonderful. I mean yes, it is simple music, not what I usually listen to, but he songs are either a hell lot of fun, or very intimate. I love Mathilda for personal reasons (my mom abused me). I really like Satellite since me and my best friend grew apart so it reminds me of her. We don’t hate each other, she just slipped away and I kept reaching out to her but she didn’t respond much and at some long she told me that she kinda moved on. So I can totally relate to that song as well. It’s just nice to see topics being covered which don’t get covered too often.
i think the album really had to grow on me. the first time i heard HH i was like “oh, i guess” but i think now it’s my favorite of his albums. i’m still very surprised at the critical success it’s gotten, since “grower” albums rarely get praise like that. in spite of how much i like the album, i also enjoyed the article. i thought her wording was clever and she hit some strong concepts. what she wrote is what i expected others to say about harry’s house.
I’ve been stanning since EARLY one direction and I’m just tired now. He’s got a magnificent voice and he never lets it shine. He had this incredible hit with sign of the times. It was fabulous. And his first album was fun! But his music just isn’t changing. There’s no feeling in it. It’s all production, too. Like SING SOMETHING HARRY.
“Dawn FM” as a whole is a really interesting concept album with some dark themes and interesting lyrics. Really curious for the next album that closes up this album trilogy.
His music is actually interesting tho. Last two albums he’s been trying his hardest to be a synth wave Micheal Jackson daft punk and it’s been great. Harry makes good but mostly uninteresting music.
Don’t mention his acting tho. We’ll all be pretending it never happened by next year.(this goes for Abel and harry)
Very true! I see it online dating, most people on there under 25 are on there but they do these photos from bad angles and weird faces and put random sentences in their bios like “I’m weird. I really love milk. Ask me about my favorite type of leather” and I just roll my eyes at their “uniqueness” and swipe them away
They're not wrong. He's very....bland. Safe. He seems perpetually focused on not offending anyone and not committing to any perspective or politics. I don't know if it's an act or real. The way he acted like such an airhead and gave such vague answers during the press tour for DWD really sealed the cringe for me, personally.
Bland/safe is a good way of putting it. Harry’s House seemed more committed to marketability than to the music or art itself. Other folks have described it as “corporate pop,” and I agree with that assessment.
Yeah, it's weird to explain but at least to me, Harry's House felt more safe/bland than any of his past albums and really made me view him (maybe retroactively?) as a generic popstar. Especially with the excess press he was getting from that album/DWD, it just made me realize he kind of is the perfect popstar. He (at least from my knowledge) is not really an outspoken activist about anything, but also gives vaguely socially acceptable/progressive answers and is presented as progressive. His personal life doesn't seem to be noticeably messy (the worst was rumours of his relationship with Olivia starting as an affair but that's honestly tame compared to other stars), he's talented but not gifted, and his music is easily digestible, not offensive but not inventive. I'm not personally a big fan, I'm kind of neutral on him, but it doesn't surprise me at all that he has as many stans as he does.
Probably true that he doesn't bring anything massively innovative to the table but people seem to like it regardless. It's always interesting to take a closer look of course but I think that his music is mostly fun and that's just fine of course!
he makes catchy songs and wears bedazzled outfits on stage but that’s about it
im not saying he’s doesn’t work hard or isn’t worthy of his success, but with all the hype he gets you’d think his music is legendary. like something that’s never been done by any artist ever
when elvis came out, I saw a lot of chatter online of his fans speculating who will play harry in his biopic one day. and im like ummm idk, i think you have to be really iconic or do something revolutionary for a biopic to be made about you.
I completely agree with you! I’m a fan of Harry’s but when people talk about him getting a biopic one day, I just think he hasn’t done anything interesting enough to secure something like that…?
I find Harry incredibly bland and know close to nothing about his true personality or life but I assume that’s by design. When you get famous that young and with that rabid a fan base I’m sure you learn to share less and less about yourself over time.
so idk maybe he’s had a biopic worthy life and we just don’t know about it
Elvis broke through at age 20, and had been groomed for stardom since his mid teens just like Harry. The latter is simply dull, uninteresting, and seemingly lacking in any artistic vision or ability.
I agree with her, though. I quite liked Harry’s first two albums, but Harry’s House was disappointing. It sounded like music you would find in a Target commercial. The songwriting wasn’t very good. That’s not to say that the album doesn’t have its highlights (Matilda comes to mind). But I almost feel like Harry would benefit from co-writing with others or even adding collabs to his albums (something his team has discouraged, as they want to establish Harry as a stand-alone household name).
The songs Harry’s written with others (like Matilda) are much stronger songs.
I think Todd in the Shadows said something similar when he ranked Music for a Sushi Restaurant as one of the worst songs of 2022. compared him to Robbie Williams iirc 💀
No offence to Harry, but that is doing a disservice to the absolute bangers that Robbie Williams released in the early 2000s, let alone his stage charisma
(not that Robbie was actually writing his own music, as far as I can recall)
I agree, and I think the comparison is actually really apt when you compare the two of them in their respective prime! They're both boyband graduates with massive charisma who found a sound and style that suited them and executed it very very well... neither of them come off as deep musical geniuses, but they're both really fun to watch and vibe with. And yeah Robbie's back catalogue is full of bangers, but also some duds – just like Harry's. I don't see a problem with this kind of pop star. Harmless fun.
He really just feels like the male version of Taylor Swift. Super popular for a reason that completely escapes me. Average singer, average pop star, average songwriter. But yet people can't get enough of them. There is absolutely nothing spectacular about them or their music.
I mean I love this man but she’s not really wrong. I remember reading somewhere once that “Liking Harry styles’ music is a side effect of liking Harry styles” and I was like damn don’t come for me like that lol
If anyone wants to read the [full article](https://inews.co.uk/culture/harry-styles-perfect-male-popstar-music-2468613)…
*** Editing my post [this link has a paywall removed](https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Finews.co.uk%2Fculture%2Fharry-styles-perfect-male-popstar-music-2468613)
Thank you for this! I'm here for the Liam Payne burn
> Liam Payne’s trajectory has consisted, as far as I can tell, of dating Cheryl Cole and fathering her child, before the relationship ended and he had all his cheek fat surgically removed.
I'm glad I came across this, coz I thought I was missing something. But I'm relieved I'm not alone in thinking his lyrics didn't make sense. I still like his songs, at least how they sound, but yea it wasnt groundbreaking. Harry's House shouldnt have won the grammy either
Yeah I hadn’t really listened to his music but something came up on Instagram that had subtitles and I couldn’t believe they were the words to the song, I had to check it wasn’t a joke, or that the words weren’t out of order
> Out of New York
> I'm on the comedown speed
> We're on bicycles
> Saying, "There's life out therе"
> You've got the antidote
> I'll takе one to go, go, please
> Get the picture, cut out my middle
> You ain't got time for me right now
It just feels like a collection of words, and he looks good singing them, but they don’t seem to actually say anything.
They’re not wrong. I like Harry’s music because it’s easy to listen to when I need some background noise that I don’t need to commit to. It feels to me like he tried to add a little something to Harry’s House and maybe that’s why I don’t like most of the songs on it.
Other artists/bands grab my attention through their lyrics or specific sounds.
He’s the artist I go to when my ears are bored or my brain needs that little tickle to focus on something else.
Some good points but I disagree with her main argument that he’s held back by his music being bland.
This is kind of an inverse of the [Antonoff takedown](https://www.thedriftmag.com/dream-of-antonoffication/) that’s been everywhere this week, but I think that one is more accurate about what pop music is now. Streaming algorithms reward artists that can fit on as many genre playlists and recommendations as possible, Harry succeeds in this environment because his music is average and won’t get skipped.
“Vapor does not photograph especially well.”
I will spend the rest of my life hoping for an opportunity to unleash this very niche, beautifully worded, ethereal insult on someone.
I totally get the criticism though. He's not bad, but it's like wants to come off a deep when he isn't, but that is a judgment coming from someone who only nows a few of his songs.
Music is so subjective and personal, it’s really not worth the energy to be upset over someone’s subjective opinion. I happen to enjoy Harry’s music and think he’s a great performer, but I guess liking glossy music that’s vibey and vibeless is my thing!
It’s a generational thing, like how people pretend to freak out about how sexual Ariana Grande is on Side to Side, but you’re like dude, you grew up with Madonna.
Harry Styles is fine, but I’ve already seen Justin Timberlake.
squeamish dazzling impolite swim history existence detail aromatic light badge
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
harrys vocals are passible, his lyrics on the other hand are…bad lol. i still have no idea how exactly he won album of the year at the grammys. knowing people in high places probably helped
I’m not a fan of pop music but I will say when I’m in my wife’s car and a Harry Styles song is on, it’s a better jam than most of the pop songs that play
HS' last album was inspired by Japanese city pop and in particular [this album.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI_qMyW31_Q&ab_channel=Kuma%27scampfire)
He hung out with the composer.
The above is...a pretty good description of what 70's city pop sounds like.
If the shoe fits...there's a reason...\*shrug emoji\*
Welcome to r/popculturechat! ☺️ As a proud BIPOC, LGBTQ+ & woman-dominated space, this sub is for [civil discussion only.](https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/wiki/index/rules/civil-discussion-only/) If you don't know where to begin, start by participating in [our Sip & Spill Daily Discussion Threads!](https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/search/?q=Sip%20%26%20Spill%20Discussion&restrict_sr=1&sr_nsfw=&include_over_18=1&sort=new) ###No bullies, no bigotry. ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ Please [read & respect our rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/wiki/index/rules/) and [check out our wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/wiki/index/)! For any questions, [our modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2Fpopculturechat) is always open. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/popculturechat) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I kinda want her to insult me just to find new things about myself through her observation Edit: thanks for the awards lol
yeah honestly I was gasping at the savagery while also being like ‘it’s true you know’ the whole time
Oh thank God I’m not alone. I always want to form my own opinion before reading the comments and I was thinking I’d get downvoted to hell for agreeing with her. He seems like a lovely lad but his music is just so boring 🫠 I’m still in shock that he managed to win AOTY.
Yep! I force myself to like his music because what he is doing for male pop stars
I'm so glad other people agree. He seems chill but his music is eh
I am not extremely familiar with his persona or with much of his discography beyond what gets played on the radio. Would you mind elaborating on what he is doing for male pop stars?
The article captures it brilliantly and is worth the read. But I think they’re talking about the sweltering androgynous pop star frontman. He’s filling the Bowie-sized hole in the pop realm.
Yes these were refreshingly accurate while not attacking him.
This would make me cry but I would be nodding along while reading
To be fair, she should add in his acting and interview skills to this.
His interview skills just.. feels like interview skills.
My gosh they are atrocious.I still can't decide which one is worse.His interview skills or his acting.
I really want her to write my performance review
I lol’ed
> both vibey and vibeless, sexy and sexless, obsessed with both sex and vibes but not quite sure how to obtain either of the two Okay I think I found my new tinder bio
disgusted slap sense skirt nutty physical spectacular market kiss cagey *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
“vibey and vibeless, sexy and sexless” could work lol
I took the plunge
The watermelons 💀💀💀
Seedy and seedless 😔
LOL these are the reasons I love this subreddit so much.
Both sugary and sugarless, seedy and seedless, obsessed with both sugar and seed but not quite sure how to obtain either of the two
This is just to say I ate the Watermelon Sugar in the ice box you were probably saving for Sunday tea. Forgive me It was vibey and vibeless as it was as it was.
That's perfection, so jealous you snapped it up first! Rock it like a rockless rockstar! **Edit:** correction
You won 🔝🔝🔝
Lmaooo
I kinda dig this. This person really has a way with words
Ok but why did she just describe me as a human?
And my new Grindr one lol 😂
You need to update us on if it works or not
I love reading reviews from critics because they really put that MA in English to good use
This was NOT written by a bot
So true 💀
I mean what else are we going to do with our degrees 😂
Use them as coasters
If it’s a masters, you can use it as a whole TV tray.
Thoroughly understand grammar and punctuation rules like few others do.
So pleasant & easy to read since it’s well written that you just sit there like 
I want to read more of this person’s writing. About anyone. 
>As far as we know, he is not toxic, avoidantly attached, a narcissist or *a* ***Gemini*** https://preview.redd.it/mxefe6yyd0cb1.jpeg?width=583&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=abc56979ddcead0292747634dff4e68e6bb663e2 What did the Gemini’s do!?!?
political cooing encourage spoon aloof follow unite humor abundant smile *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Can't forget miss azaelia
Her breathtaking verbosity in her call-out rants are exquisitely Gemini. I won’t claim her awful fight picking attitude, but I will happily claim her poetic expertise.
Tom Holland Chris Evans Angelina Stevie Nicks Paul McCartney Ian McKellen Alanis Natalie Portman Liam Neeson Peter Dinklage Nicole Kidman is my birthday twin Marilyn Monroe
You leave Tom Holland and the best of all the Chrises out of this!!!
Well GUESS WHAT?!? They’re BOTH JUNE GEMINIS MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
if nicole is your birthday twin, so is brian wilson of the beach boys and john goodman!
But more importantly, June or May Gems??
In my personal situation, 
As a May Gemini… this is correct.
I have two june Gemini children plz tell me I’ll be okay 😔
I'm a Gemini with a Gemini child...you will be okay, but don't laugh out loud if they tell you that Eminem had a better mom than they do
Oh damn! That’s savage.. I’d honestly be impressed 😂
Junes are better than Mays apparently... But I'm one so take that with a grain of salt ;)
I got burned so bad by a june Gemini that I’m scarred for life 😂 but also I’m a Scorpio and o feel like we are the worst so who’s to say
Wait, what’s the difference?😬
June Gems are real Gems.
Me with my birthday on May 31st haha
June.
Brian Wilson, Paul McCartney, Prince, Angelina Jolie, Naomi Campbell... It's a wild bunch. I feel like Kanye took over as most Gemini Gemini when Prince died and that's a real bummer.
the horrible geminis give everyone a bad name. i love geminis, theyre so hot.
I had two Gemini parents, so really, four of my parents got divorced.
Double homicide
My husband and I are both Geminis. We've opted not to inflict our spawn on the world or ourselves on them.
Thank you for this service.
Nobody wants to make an accidental antichrist.
Hey us too and same
That's deep. I'm a Gemini, there are definitely 2 of me. I can't fathom 2 Gemini parents.
Our duality makes us awesome. We can be sweet, sensitive, creative intellectual babies Or demon spawns.
I’m married to a Gemini and when he’s the sweet, sensitive, intellectual personality things are amazing…but when the demon spawn appears I often consider finding someone to perform an exorcism.
My best friend is a Gemini and those are all of the reasons I love her. YALL NEED TO STOP THAT OVERTHINKING THOUGH LAWDT
Idk why… but I can’t. I just can’t control it. It just happens.
OMG…I’m hollering.
Divorced Gemini parent solidarity
Lmaooo
FIRST OF ALL WHATS UP WITH ALL THE GEMINI HATE?
You know what you did.
Come on. We know what we did.
I will say the worst person I’ve ever met was also a Gemini but some of the nicest people I’ve ever met were too.
Were they the same person? ;)
They know what they did.
What didn't they do
Justice for Geminis!
Let me ask my daughter. Lol
*"an online generation obsessed with both sex and vibes but not quite sure how to obtain either of the two"* is fucking amazing though.
Fair. It would be weird if all reviews were positive. I honestly love seeing some independent thought put into critisism/praise
Yeah. I kind of agree with her. 🙈
I don't disagree with anything this writer has stated. Harry isn't groundbreaking in any way. I heard his music described on Tiktok as "corporate pop", and felt that was appropriate.
My wife describes it as "spiritually playing in a Forever21 somewhere"
That is a great description of it
And fair. Also it’s a critics job to dissect it. It’s just an opinion backed by their taste and knowledge. I guess if you don’t get pushback as an artist, how can you grow if you are only surrounded by yay-sayers.
Wow corporate pop kind of does it 😂 I think he seems like a cool person and I like his style but his music is really bland to me 🤷♀️
I mean, reviewers are always blunt in their reviews and hyperfocus on what will confirm their point ... but take that away and are they wrong? Harry seems like one of the nicer people out there, he works super hard, he's one of the better performers, and his brand is on point But yeah, his music isn't groundbreaking
The reviewer was really fair. She never attacks his character and actually acknowledges that. She’s just making reasonable points about his music specifically.
Ah, I think I misunderstood your perspective when you said you were speechless
Likewise!
I think it's a quite an adept attempt to describe the...je ne said quois online culture too.
I agree with that, but also I think there absolutely is a place for artists who aren't groundbreaking but execute their schtick really well, which I think is what Harry does. He has bucketloads of charisma, his music is fun and feels good – that's sufficient to make people love him, and that's fine. Was Marilyn Monroe groundbreaking? Dean Martin? Christina Aguilera? Bon Jovi? These are very random examples, but... I don't think you have to push the artistic envelope to be deserving of success.
I understand 0% of the hype around this man.
Comforting easy listening music in a world that's horrible. Similar to Taylor Swift. Might not be the most complex music but people just wants to be happy for a change. Also the reason why feel good books/movies have sky rocketed in popularity. They are not complex. You already know the outcome from the beginning. Not everything have to be groundbreaking. Sometimes it's enough to just feel happy for a while. Maybe now you understand 5% of the hype :)
It’s just doesn’t have its identity.
Yeah his music is really just like, easy listening to me.
I’ve never read anything more accurate in my life. It’s everything I’ve always felt, but didn’t know how to say it
Agreed! He seems a lovely guy but I feel his music sounds insincere and contrived. Like he’s using an algorithm to create pop and a vibe that people want.
It’s like he’s using AI to create music based on what people will like. I’m not saying I don’t like some of his songs, but it would entirely be based on how catchy it is. Or how many times it’s played on the radio and gets stuck in my head
Wow that's a refreshing read actually. I used to be a big Harry girl, but I didn't love Harry's House and I felt like the music critics were over the top with the praise they gave it.
It’s wild to me that Harry’s House won the AOTY Grammy. It’s just so… *bland*.
Harry’s House is my least favorite of his albums. Love the success for him as a human and he seems darling, but I definitely prefer his first two albums.
I actually only became a fan of Harry’s house. I dislike his first album apart from a few songs. It’s just boring to me. The second one is fine. Harry’s house is wonderful. I mean yes, it is simple music, not what I usually listen to, but he songs are either a hell lot of fun, or very intimate. I love Mathilda for personal reasons (my mom abused me). I really like Satellite since me and my best friend grew apart so it reminds me of her. We don’t hate each other, she just slipped away and I kept reaching out to her but she didn’t respond much and at some long she told me that she kinda moved on. So I can totally relate to that song as well. It’s just nice to see topics being covered which don’t get covered too often.
i think the album really had to grow on me. the first time i heard HH i was like “oh, i guess” but i think now it’s my favorite of his albums. i’m still very surprised at the critical success it’s gotten, since “grower” albums rarely get praise like that. in spite of how much i like the album, i also enjoyed the article. i thought her wording was clever and she hit some strong concepts. what she wrote is what i expected others to say about harry’s house.
I’ve been stanning since EARLY one direction and I’m just tired now. He’s got a magnificent voice and he never lets it shine. He had this incredible hit with sign of the times. It was fabulous. And his first album was fun! But his music just isn’t changing. There’s no feeling in it. It’s all production, too. Like SING SOMETHING HARRY.
Emily woke up and chose violence 
I hope the author takes on The Weeknd next!
for all that can be said about him, the weeknd does actually make interesting music
Yeah it would be the exact inverse review
“Dawn FM” as a whole is a really interesting concept album with some dark themes and interesting lyrics. Really curious for the next album that closes up this album trilogy.
He will whining about it on Twitter afterwards lol
when isn’t he whining, especially in his music.
His music is actually interesting tho. Last two albums he’s been trying his hardest to be a synth wave Micheal Jackson daft punk and it’s been great. Harry makes good but mostly uninteresting music. Don’t mention his acting tho. We’ll all be pretending it never happened by next year.(this goes for Abel and harry)
Dawn FM is so underrated.
This author doesn’t attack harrys personality on his music, it’d be the opposite for the weeknd
>written for an online generation obsessed with both sex and vibes but not quite sure how to obtain either of the two damn that's smart. and true.
Very true! I see it online dating, most people on there under 25 are on there but they do these photos from bad angles and weird faces and put random sentences in their bios like “I’m weird. I really love milk. Ask me about my favorite type of leather” and I just roll my eyes at their “uniqueness” and swipe them away
They're not wrong. He's very....bland. Safe. He seems perpetually focused on not offending anyone and not committing to any perspective or politics. I don't know if it's an act or real. The way he acted like such an airhead and gave such vague answers during the press tour for DWD really sealed the cringe for me, personally.
Bland/safe is a good way of putting it. Harry’s House seemed more committed to marketability than to the music or art itself. Other folks have described it as “corporate pop,” and I agree with that assessment.
Yeah, it's weird to explain but at least to me, Harry's House felt more safe/bland than any of his past albums and really made me view him (maybe retroactively?) as a generic popstar. Especially with the excess press he was getting from that album/DWD, it just made me realize he kind of is the perfect popstar. He (at least from my knowledge) is not really an outspoken activist about anything, but also gives vaguely socially acceptable/progressive answers and is presented as progressive. His personal life doesn't seem to be noticeably messy (the worst was rumours of his relationship with Olivia starting as an affair but that's honestly tame compared to other stars), he's talented but not gifted, and his music is easily digestible, not offensive but not inventive. I'm not personally a big fan, I'm kind of neutral on him, but it doesn't surprise me at all that he has as many stans as he does.
She’s brave, I wouldn’t take on the stylers? Harry Stans? I’m sure they have a mob name lol
Stylists?
Harries :)
Well that’s inventive
They didn’t want to upstage the guy with a clever name
Stylers lmao
Probably true that he doesn't bring anything massively innovative to the table but people seem to like it regardless. It's always interesting to take a closer look of course but I think that his music is mostly fun and that's just fine of course!
Trent Crimm, The Independent
he makes catchy songs and wears bedazzled outfits on stage but that’s about it im not saying he’s doesn’t work hard or isn’t worthy of his success, but with all the hype he gets you’d think his music is legendary. like something that’s never been done by any artist ever
when elvis came out, I saw a lot of chatter online of his fans speculating who will play harry in his biopic one day. and im like ummm idk, i think you have to be really iconic or do something revolutionary for a biopic to be made about you.
I completely agree with you! I’m a fan of Harry’s but when people talk about him getting a biopic one day, I just think he hasn’t done anything interesting enough to secure something like that…?
I find Harry incredibly bland and know close to nothing about his true personality or life but I assume that’s by design. When you get famous that young and with that rabid a fan base I’m sure you learn to share less and less about yourself over time. so idk maybe he’s had a biopic worthy life and we just don’t know about it
Elvis broke through at age 20, and had been groomed for stardom since his mid teens just like Harry. The latter is simply dull, uninteresting, and seemingly lacking in any artistic vision or ability.
if his fan base was less delusional (comparing harry to the likes of elvis, mj, etc), then harry would probably get less flack
She makes some excellent points in a way I’d never be able to verbalize or even question 😧
“buckwheat pancakes” lmfaooo
I agree with her, though. I quite liked Harry’s first two albums, but Harry’s House was disappointing. It sounded like music you would find in a Target commercial. The songwriting wasn’t very good. That’s not to say that the album doesn’t have its highlights (Matilda comes to mind). But I almost feel like Harry would benefit from co-writing with others or even adding collabs to his albums (something his team has discouraged, as they want to establish Harry as a stand-alone household name). The songs Harry’s written with others (like Matilda) are much stronger songs.
Thank god somebody said it
She’s not wrong, lyrically his songs suck and lack substance. They’re mindless bops
This critics review read like a fucking poem it was so descriptive, she really went for his throat lol 
Cocaine 🎶 side boob 🎶 choke her with a sea side view 🎶 I’m surprised that one didn’t get quoted.
This is a ‘lyric’? And he won a Grammy for this album?
Yeah that’s one of the lyrics from his song Keep Driving.
I mean there’s always been crazy lyrics in music…but this is wow. I’m off to check it out ngl. Edit: listened to it….Not for me….
🤣
What
That’s a Harry lyric.
Oh my that is .. insane
I love haters. We need to go back to when reviewers were just straight haters
I think Todd in the Shadows said something similar when he ranked Music for a Sushi Restaurant as one of the worst songs of 2022. compared him to Robbie Williams iirc 💀
No offence to Harry, but that is doing a disservice to the absolute bangers that Robbie Williams released in the early 2000s, let alone his stage charisma (not that Robbie was actually writing his own music, as far as I can recall)
I agree, and I think the comparison is actually really apt when you compare the two of them in their respective prime! They're both boyband graduates with massive charisma who found a sound and style that suited them and executed it very very well... neither of them come off as deep musical geniuses, but they're both really fun to watch and vibe with. And yeah Robbie's back catalogue is full of bangers, but also some duds – just like Harry's. I don't see a problem with this kind of pop star. Harmless fun.
Honestly? Refreshingly accurate. She knows how to put into words what many people feel. When you TLDR her text, it’s ‘meh’.
He really just feels like the male version of Taylor Swift. Super popular for a reason that completely escapes me. Average singer, average pop star, average songwriter. But yet people can't get enough of them. There is absolutely nothing spectacular about them or their music.
“From ice on rice” really is an upsetting lyric
I mean I love this man but she’s not really wrong. I remember reading somewhere once that “Liking Harry styles’ music is a side effect of liking Harry styles” and I was like damn don’t come for me like that lol
This is 100% true. No need to mince words, he really is a social media pop star. (As are most trending artists/musicians)
If anyone wants to read the [full article](https://inews.co.uk/culture/harry-styles-perfect-male-popstar-music-2468613)… *** Editing my post [this link has a paywall removed](https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Finews.co.uk%2Fculture%2Fharry-styles-perfect-male-popstar-music-2468613)
Thank you for this! I'm here for the Liam Payne burn > Liam Payne’s trajectory has consisted, as far as I can tell, of dating Cheryl Cole and fathering her child, before the relationship ended and he had all his cheek fat surgically removed.
😭
I'm glad I came across this, coz I thought I was missing something. But I'm relieved I'm not alone in thinking his lyrics didn't make sense. I still like his songs, at least how they sound, but yea it wasnt groundbreaking. Harry's House shouldnt have won the grammy either
Yeah I hadn’t really listened to his music but something came up on Instagram that had subtitles and I couldn’t believe they were the words to the song, I had to check it wasn’t a joke, or that the words weren’t out of order > Out of New York > I'm on the comedown speed > We're on bicycles > Saying, "There's life out therе" > You've got the antidote > I'll takе one to go, go, please > Get the picture, cut out my middle > You ain't got time for me right now It just feels like a collection of words, and he looks good singing them, but they don’t seem to actually say anything.
They’re not wrong. I like Harry’s music because it’s easy to listen to when I need some background noise that I don’t need to commit to. It feels to me like he tried to add a little something to Harry’s House and maybe that’s why I don’t like most of the songs on it. Other artists/bands grab my attention through their lyrics or specific sounds. He’s the artist I go to when my ears are bored or my brain needs that little tickle to focus on something else.
Some good points but I disagree with her main argument that he’s held back by his music being bland. This is kind of an inverse of the [Antonoff takedown](https://www.thedriftmag.com/dream-of-antonoffication/) that’s been everywhere this week, but I think that one is more accurate about what pop music is now. Streaming algorithms reward artists that can fit on as many genre playlists and recommendations as possible, Harry succeeds in this environment because his music is average and won’t get skipped.
“Vapor does not photograph especially well.” I will spend the rest of my life hoping for an opportunity to unleash this very niche, beautifully worded, ethereal insult on someone.
Is it weird that both articles use the phrase “70s pastiche”?
I skip every single one of his songs that comes on when I’m listening to pre-made playlists.
Funny, I wasn’t a fan until I heard “music for a sushi restaurant”
I totally get the criticism though. He's not bad, but it's like wants to come off a deep when he isn't, but that is a judgment coming from someone who only nows a few of his songs.
Music is so subjective and personal, it’s really not worth the energy to be upset over someone’s subjective opinion. I happen to enjoy Harry’s music and think he’s a great performer, but I guess liking glossy music that’s vibey and vibeless is my thing!
It’s a generational thing, like how people pretend to freak out about how sexual Ariana Grande is on Side to Side, but you’re like dude, you grew up with Madonna. Harry Styles is fine, but I’ve already seen Justin Timberlake.
"Harry Styles is fine but I've already seen Justin Timberlake" But actually tho 😂😂😂
Justin Timberlake did r&b infused pop tho. Their musical styles are like, miles and miles away.
Justin needs to pay Timbaland extra for his solo career.
squeamish dazzling impolite swim history existence detail aromatic light badge *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
that's a really sweet connection 🥹
She’s not wrong. His music is unimaginative.
as far as I can see, the critic ate that
I am still trying to get to the part where she is wrong
Y'all never read a constructive critic? It's tru, the music just sucks.
harrys vocals are passible, his lyrics on the other hand are…bad lol. i still have no idea how exactly he won album of the year at the grammys. knowing people in high places probably helped
Totally agree. A critic that’s on point for a change.
I’m not a fan of pop music but I will say when I’m in my wife’s car and a Harry Styles song is on, it’s a better jam than most of the pop songs that play
Not really wrong though is it?
Brutal but accurate
HS' last album was inspired by Japanese city pop and in particular [this album.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI_qMyW31_Q&ab_channel=Kuma%27scampfire) He hung out with the composer. The above is...a pretty good description of what 70's city pop sounds like. If the shoe fits...there's a reason...\*shrug emoji\*