Halfway through the first night of his world tour, Harry Styles asks the crowd at the Johan Cruijff Arena where they’re from. Based on their response, locals from Amsterdam are far outnumbered by fans who traveled long distances to be there. The singer digs a little deeper and finds audience members from Switzerland and Ireland.
This shows just how big a deal the Together, Together tour really is—to use a modern term, it’s a huge flex. There are probably good reasons for playing long runs at single venues instead of dragging yourself around the world. Styles’ 10 shows in Amsterdam are his only gigs in mainland Europe, followed by similar extended stays in London, São Paulo, Mexico City, New York City, Melbourne, and Sydney. But it also highlights just how massive the former One Direction star’s solo success has become. Playing 12 nights in a row at Wembley is something even Taylor Swift’s Eras tour couldn’t pull off. It suggests that here’s a guy who not only managed one of pop’s toughest tricks—going from a manufactured boyband member to a respected solo artist is notoriously tricky—but did it with almost unmatched style. You’d have to look back to George Michael’s post-Wham! career to find anything close.
‘[Tickets have become status symbols’: from Harry Styles to Taylor Swift, why is live music bigger and more expensive than ever?](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jun/01/tickets-have-become-status-symbols-from-harry-styles-to-taylor-swift-why-is-live-music-bigger-and-more-expensive-than-ever)
But Styles’ dominance has looked a bit shakier since the release of his fourth album, the poorly titled Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally. It got very lukewarm reviews from critics unimpressed by its understated music and lyrics so vague they seemed almost meaningless. That doesn’t really matter—if the public cared what critics think, Ed Sheeran would still be busking—but the similarly weak commercial response is a different story. In the UK, singles Aperture and American Girls each spent just a week at number one. In contrast, the big hit from his previous album Harry’s House, As It Was, stayed at number one for 10 weeks.
That said, you wouldn’t know it from the reception Styles gets in Amsterdam. The crowd is so devoted that even seeing him sip water between songs gets a reaction that would seem over the top if he’d performed a miracle with loaves and fishes. They greet songs from Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally with just as much enthusiasm as his biggest hits.
At least in a live setting, you can see why. Tracks from that album that sounded flat on record feel much punchier on stage. Sometimes they’ve been clearly spiced up—Taste Back now includes a big sample from Underworld’s Born Slippy—and sometimes they just feel more powerful when performed live. Ready, Steady Go! seems more vibrant and alive when Styles performs it in the middle of the audience, surrounded by dancers throwing themselves around in a way that looks carefree, even if it’s probably choreographed to the last detail.
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‘[Tracks that sounded flat on record feel noticeably punchier on stage.’](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jun/01/tickets-have-become-status-symbols-from-harry-styles-to-taylor-swift-why-is-live-music-bigger-and-more-expensive-than-ever) Photograph: Anthony Pham/Getty Images for HS
It hints at the strange tension at the heart of Harry Styles’ solo career: a mix of straightforward pop moves—like the irresistible brass on Music For A Sushi Restaurant, the catchy hooks of Watermelon Sugar and As It Was—and leaps toward something more unconventional. At one point, the audience is treated to the unexpected sight of a man who first found fame charming Simon Cowell on The X Factor shouting into a distorted microphone, not unlike late Fall frontman Mark E Smith. The live version of 2019’s Treat People With Kindness owes a lot to…This is especially true of “This Must Be The Place” by Talking Heads. It doesn’t always work—even the crowd’s loud reaction can’t stop “Season 2 Weight Loss” from sounding bland and aimless—but it often does, helped by the fact that Styles, aside from his well-known good looks, is a genuinely charismatic performer. In a world where pop stars are encouraged to take no risks at all, there’s something appealing about watching a pop star who’s willing to push boundaries at least a little.
Harry Styles’ Together, Together tour runs until December 13.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about Harry Styles and his unique career pivot written in a natural conversational tone
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What do you mean by the toughest move in pop music
It means successfully leaving a massively famous boy band and becoming an even bigger solo superstar on your own terms without fading away
2 How did Harry Styles manage to do that
He took risks Instead of making safe pop music he embraced a classic rock sound wore bold genderfluid fashion and built a reputation as a genuinely kind and charismatic performer
3 Why is he considered such a charismatic performer
He has incredible stage presence He connects with the audience by making eye contact dancing freely telling funny stories and making every fan feel like theyre part of a private joyful party
4 Whats the difference between One Direction Harry and solo Harry
One Direction Harry was the charming cheeky boy next door Solo Harry is a confident artistic rock star who writes deeply personal songs and isnt afraid to be vulnerable or flamboyant
AdvancedLevel Questions
5 What specific risks did he take that other boy band members havent
He ditched the pop formula entirely His debut album was heavily influenced by 70s rock and glam not radiofriendly pop He also leaned into highfashion androgyny which was a bold move for a male pop star with a massive young female fanbase
6 How did his fashion choices help his career pivot
They signaled that he was an artist not just a product By wearing ruffles pearls and colorful suits he challenged traditional masculinity and created a unique visual identity that made him stand out from every other pop star
7 Whats the Harry Styles effect on his audience
Its the feeling of radical acceptance and joy at his concerts Fans often describe it as a safe judgmentfree space where they can be their true selveswhether thats crying dancing or dressing up His charisma makes that atmosphere possible
8 How did his album Fine Line cement his success where others failed
It proved he wasnt a onehit wonder
