after a shamefully long absence, new music friday is back with all the music i've been loving pre-lockdown.
1. dua lipa
when historians look back at the 2020s (?), they will no doubt categorise our existence on this planet as pre and post future nostalgia, the long-awaited second album from dua lipa (aka dula peep).
before we were blessed with this disco-tinged, pop masterpiece, the world of pop was a sad and barren place, full of "soundcloud rappers" and despacito, something i wrote about at length here. (in that post, i lamented the fact that some of the industry's biggest stars had already reached their peak, but more on that later.)
the last few years have seen me praying for a pop revival that would deliver us iconic bops on a par with bad romance and teenage dream, and it would seem dua lipa answered my prayers with don't start now, the first single from future nostalgia.
prior to this, i'd never been a huge fan of hers, halfheartedly bopping along to new rules and hotter than hell if they appeared on my spotify shuffle, but as soon as i heard don't start now, it felt like a new era for the singer, who already had a string of hit singles and a (highly underwhelming) debut album under her belt.
dua's second album was inspired by both break ups and new love, and the bops kept coming with physical, future nostalgia and break my heart.
this slew of flawless singles sent Gay Twitter into meltdown, and i found myself taking back any criticisms i may have levelled at dua over the years, but of course i still had high hopes for the full album.
my friend kindly sent me a link to the album a few days before it was released - i.e. leaked - which i did feel slightly guilty about, but there was no way i wasn't going to give it a listen. the album tracks feature that same disco-inspired sound as her singles, but for some reason they felt slightly lacklustre in comparison to those songs, which i'd taken great joy in screaming along to in Tha Club every weekend.
now i've had a few weeks to process the album and listen to it all, i do like the majority of tracks - though the less said about good in bed and boys will be boys the better - but i find myself returning back to cool, an impeccable synth-driven bop and one of the few that doesn't contain any disco elements. perhaps that's why it stands out amongst the rest, or maybe it's the work of pet shop boys producer stuart price which gives it a more refined sound. either way, i can't get enough of the track and i only wish the rest of the album measured up.
then soon after the release of future nostalgia, i saw several people tweeting about "side b" of the album, which after a quick search i discovered was a series of unreleased songs that didn't make the cut, and i hate to say it but they were all iconic, particularly if it ain't me, a collaboration with normani that should have been a lead single. again, i feel slightly bad about sharing ~leaked~ songs but if you can get access to them, i'd highly recommend love is religion - an ode to 80s-era madonna -, the euphoric i'm free, along with berlin summer, bad idea, 258 and ball and chain. it's a travesty that these songs won't see the light of day, but that won't stop me playing them on repeat.
so that brings us to post future nostalgia, and already i'm seeing more and more artists embracing a traditionally pop sound, some of which i'll discuss in this post. i'd like to think it's dua's influence seeing as she's now a global superstar, and hopefully it will herald the start of a new era of Huge Bangers from her fellow pop girls.
2. lady gaga
one of those artists is lady gaga, who made her return to the music world with stupid love in february. as i said in this post, i felt she'd hit her peak with the fame monster (though i adored artpop and still do) so this slice of pop perfection couldn't have come at a better time after the country-inspired sound of joanne. once again, Gay Twitter were unstoppable when it came to leaking the song, and i actually heard it in Tha Club several times before it was released, but unlike charli xcx, who scrapped her album xcx world when the entire project leaked, gaga embraced the situation and gave fans what they wanted with an official release. while the release of her fifth album chromatica has been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, i'll be playing this on loop while we await what will hopefully be another bop-filled masterpiece.
3. harry styles
as much as i love harry, i found it hard to really get into his second album fine line, which arrived in december last year. in an all too common phenomenon, the singles were excellent, particularly adore you, which i think is by far his best song, but the rest of the album felt slightly more subdued than his self-titled debut, despite his revelation that he'd taken magic mushrooms during the album's creation and wanted to have "more fun" with his songwriting second time around.
lacking a high energy bop like kiwi, the album centres around his most recent Break Up and finds styles in a more reflective mood, something i initially found boring. but i was determined to love the album, so i continued playing it every few days and then suddenly in february, something clicked and i found myself falling (sorry) for every song, even treat people with kindness, which i'd once found insufferable as it reminded me of something from a broadway musical.
tracks like cherry, to be so lonely and falling all deal with the aforementioned Break Up, but there are some moments of joy too, seen with the fleetwood mac inspired golden - which would make an exceptional driving song if i ever overcome my fear of getting behind the wheel and actually learn to drive - along with the super summery bops watermelon sugar and sunflower, vol. 6. there's plenty of drama too, best heard on she, a sumptuous six minute gem chock full of heady guitar solos, and closing track fine line, which never fails to make me tear up.
i can't figure out why i suddenly changed my mind about this album, but i'm glad it was able to work some kind of magic on me. sadly harry's tour has been postponed until next year, so the outfit i'd planned in homage to his look at this year's brit awards won't see the light of day until then, but at least it gives me more time to become word perfect.
4. little mix
another example of 80s-inspired brilliance comes in the form of break up song (i'm sensing a theme here), the newest single from little mix. much like dua lipa, i've always felt they've never released any major bops over the nine (!) years they've been together, and i prayed they would come through one day. that day has finally arrived and i get goosebumps every time i listen to break up song. with a Huge Chorus that pat benatar would be proud of, i'm hoping their next album will contain more of the same, and am envisioning a world tour with pat as the support, bringing her power ballads to the younger portion of the group's fan base and kick starting the 80s pop revival once and for all.
5. mel c
each member of the spice girls has had varying success with their respective solo careers, but lately i've been paying special attention to mel c and her super camp bangers. she kicked things off with high heels last november, a collaboration with drag act sink the pink that quickly became a regular fixture in my Getting Ready playlist, and her latest single who i am contains traces of robyn's club-ready sound.
typically the song was released just days before the UK went into lockdown, so i'm living for the day when the clubs will re-open and i can request the song incessantly. according to a recent guardian interview, mel c has been working on music with shura and little boots, best known for her iconic bangers new in town and remedy, so hopefully by the time we're allowed outside, she might have blessed us with some more new songs.
6. michael medrano
i first became aware of michael medrano when he released the uber dramatic love somebody else back in 2018, and he continues to produce exquisite bops such as fluids and do your thing!, his newest track that features a key change (!), something i've been hoping will return to mainstream pop music one day. but until the rest of the world catches up to his brilliance i'll be playing all these songs at full volume while dreaming of being in Tha Club.
7. breathe carolina
a few months before i stopped posting, i started a new series called throwback thursday, where i planned to discuss albums that my teenage self loved, and though i've not been writing much, i've still been re-listening to said albums.
one of those is hello fascination by pop punk/electronic duo breathe carolina, the title track of which still Goes Off. so imagine my joy when i discovered they were still making music and released an album last year. the pop punk influences have been stripped back but their new electro-pop sound is one i can't get enough of. i'd highly recommend too good, july, think about you, dead and drive, and am eagerly awaiting the day they'll tour the UK.
Showing posts with label harry styles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label harry styles. Show all posts
Friday, 17 April 2020
Friday, 18 October 2019
new (and old) music friday #45: harry styles, LIZ, miley cyrus, mabel
this week i've experienced everything from almost getting a rescue dog to yet another frustrating almost-interview, in which i arrived only to be told the digital marketing position i'd applied for had been filled and my CV had somehow been mixed up with the people who were applying for another job that involved assisting the receptionists and answering phones, i.e. my worst nightmare.
i also returned to the job centre, something that would have devastated me a few months ago, but with my new-found attitude of Not Having A Breakdown About Every Tiny Thing, i'm trying not to let it bother me. luckily i'm heading to malaga tomorrow until tuesday, and though i'm not someone who cares about going on holiday regularly, i think some time away is definitely needed.
but before that i have a backlog of bangers that need to be discussed.
1. harry styles
it's hard to believe that two years have gone by since harry styles released his incredible self-titled debut album, but new single lights up picks up where he left off, albeit slightly more mellow.
his "step into the light" could have many meanings. first, the literal feeling of stepping into the morning light when a party ends, still slightly drunk. secondly, it could be seen as an opportunity to tell the world who he really is after years of speculation about his sexuality.
fans took this idea and ran with it after the song and its (excellent) video were released on national coming out day, but by this point we really should know better than to expect a straightforward answer from him. either way, it's definitely helped me to be more comfortable with my own sexuality, and when he asks "do you know who you are?" i feel like i'm edging ever closer to an answer*.
(*this could also be thanks to tegan and sara's newly-released memoir high school, which i read cover to cover in just two days. it's easy to think of successful artists as just that, any struggles they've previously experienced erased once they sign their names on the dotted line of a recording contract, so reading about sara's ongoing struggles with her sexuality reassures me that Coming Out isn't a singular moment that solves all of one's problems but a lifelong process. it also lead to several revelations about my own high school experiences as i realise that i actually did have feelings for all the girls i simply "admired" and "wanted to be friends with".)
2. miley cyrus
miley cyrus has been making headlines lately thanks to her divorce from liam hemsworth and rebound relationships with both kaitlynn carter and cody simpson, all of which coincided with the release of slide away. the song was largely unmemorable, but when i saw a youtube comment about how it was like the modern equivalent of her 2008 track bottom of the ocean, i immediately felt compelled to re-listen to the accompanying album, breakout.
my 13-year-old self played this on repeat, and i'll always be of the opinion that it's miley's best work to date.
there's something for everyone, from karaoke-friendly bops such as her country take on girls just wanna have fun, title track breakout and of course the iconic 7 things. there's also a largely unchanged remix of see you again, which is undoubtedly the best song from the hannah montana 2/meet miley cyrus album, which i owned on CD (!).
forget greta thunberg, as wake up america proves that miley was the true inventor of climate change protests. the inspiration for the song came from an episode of the miley and mandy show, a youtube series created by cyrus and her friend mandy jiroux, which i vividly remember watching as a teenager and being devastated about its ending. in this particular episode, the duo encourage everyone to recycle, save and reuse plastic bottles, and use organic products with no harsh chemicals. perhaps if more people had followed their advice back in 2008, we wouldn't be in such a predicament now.
most millennials have become well acquainted with the idea of "burnout" thanks to an article by buzzfeed writer anne helen petersen, but miley was once again ahead of her time as this concept is explored on the track simple song. the constant pressure cyrus experienced during her hannah montana heyday forms the basis of this track, which also features a piano backing to rival elton john (yes, really).
there are still plenty of classic break-up songs though; highlights include these four walls, goodbye and my personal favourites, the driveway - with its avril lavigne-inspired electric guitar and fantastically dramatic chorus - and full circle, which was written about her on again/off again relationship with nick jonas.
3. SOPHIE/starrah
by far my most played this week, lock it up is yet another unreleased SOPHIE bop from 2016 which resurfaced online after being played on BBC radio 1's TNGNT show last week. why she refuses to release such bangers is beyond me, and several youtube channels have been set up as a place to find all of her unreleased songs in one place. perhaps she wants to be seen as a more ~serious~ artist as her debut album oil of every pearl's un-insides had a far more experimental feel and was nominated for a grammy this year.
it's a world away from the carefully crafted bubblegum pop that sends fans into meltdown every time she unveils a new track, and this is no exception. featuring charli xcx collaborator starrah on vocals, my favourite thing about lock it up is the fact she uses female pronouns to describe her ~love interest~, something still rarely heard in pop music despite all the progress being made. whether we'll ever be blessed with an official version of this track remains to be seen, but for now i'll be playing it on loop and keeping my fingers crossed.
4. kim petras
miss petras came THROUGH with some more spooky bops with the release of turn off the light. rather than release it as volume 2, she decided to combine the songs from volume 1 to create a full length album, and i'm living for it. it's about as much enjoyment as i'll ever get from halloween, which is also my birthday, but to most people's amazement i despise dressing up and any kind of themed party. luckily death by sex, wrong turn and my favourite track there will be blood will make the occasion slightly more bearable this year, and i'm praying they'll be played at girls night out, the unofficial after party of charli xcx's manchester gig the night before halloween.
i must also give an honourable mention to the impeccable video for icy, which is quite possibly my favourite song of the year so far, and after getting a ticket to see kim live next year i have a feeling this track will be the highlight of her set.
5. mabel
i've never paid much attention to mabel as she's been releasing incredibly mediocre songs since 2015, and am still baffled as to why she supported harry styles on tour in 2017. her rather dull mix of pop and R&B felt totally at odds with the glam rock sound of david bowie and marc bolan which he channelled on his album.
but everything changed with god is a dancer, a recent collaboration with tiesto. as soon as i heard this i knew it had potential to be a Huge Banger, and i can confirm that it Fucking Slaps, though that could have been thanks to the three (3) drinks i'd consumed before it was played in Tha Club.
it's also an excellent walking-around-town song, guaranteed to make you feel like That Bitch, so i'm praying her next album will contain more of the same.
6. LIZ
last but not least it's LIZ, who i never fully got into until i heard sunscreen a few weeks ago. it's yet another unreleased bop with SOPHIE on production, but that could be set to change as LIZ replied to charli xcx's already infamous tweet asking if anyone had a link to taxi (part of me wants to believe she could be gearing up to release it but i'm trying not to get my hopes up) saying "it’s with sunscreen in PC purgatory". she later tweeted herself that she was "just kidding" as the song is "thriving" and "getting ready for its debut". this seems like a far more sincere statement than that of miss XCX, who has always enjoyed trolling her fans, so hopefully sunscreen will actually be released soon.
in the meantime i've been loving a)lottery - which is inspired by slayyyter and blackout-era britney spears in equal measure and features a flawless cameo from drag race alumni aja - and b) her latest release laguna nights which she described as "teenage dream and the one that got away mashed up together" (anyone with taste knows teenage dream is one of the best songs from the last decade) and was inspired by "the idea of lost and rekindled love, on the beach, and for one night only", while sonically it reminds me of fame-era lady gaga.
i also returned to the job centre, something that would have devastated me a few months ago, but with my new-found attitude of Not Having A Breakdown About Every Tiny Thing, i'm trying not to let it bother me. luckily i'm heading to malaga tomorrow until tuesday, and though i'm not someone who cares about going on holiday regularly, i think some time away is definitely needed.
but before that i have a backlog of bangers that need to be discussed.
1. harry styles
it's hard to believe that two years have gone by since harry styles released his incredible self-titled debut album, but new single lights up picks up where he left off, albeit slightly more mellow.
his "step into the light" could have many meanings. first, the literal feeling of stepping into the morning light when a party ends, still slightly drunk. secondly, it could be seen as an opportunity to tell the world who he really is after years of speculation about his sexuality.
fans took this idea and ran with it after the song and its (excellent) video were released on national coming out day, but by this point we really should know better than to expect a straightforward answer from him. either way, it's definitely helped me to be more comfortable with my own sexuality, and when he asks "do you know who you are?" i feel like i'm edging ever closer to an answer*.
(*this could also be thanks to tegan and sara's newly-released memoir high school, which i read cover to cover in just two days. it's easy to think of successful artists as just that, any struggles they've previously experienced erased once they sign their names on the dotted line of a recording contract, so reading about sara's ongoing struggles with her sexuality reassures me that Coming Out isn't a singular moment that solves all of one's problems but a lifelong process. it also lead to several revelations about my own high school experiences as i realise that i actually did have feelings for all the girls i simply "admired" and "wanted to be friends with".)
2. miley cyrus
miley cyrus has been making headlines lately thanks to her divorce from liam hemsworth and rebound relationships with both kaitlynn carter and cody simpson, all of which coincided with the release of slide away. the song was largely unmemorable, but when i saw a youtube comment about how it was like the modern equivalent of her 2008 track bottom of the ocean, i immediately felt compelled to re-listen to the accompanying album, breakout.
my 13-year-old self played this on repeat, and i'll always be of the opinion that it's miley's best work to date.
there's something for everyone, from karaoke-friendly bops such as her country take on girls just wanna have fun, title track breakout and of course the iconic 7 things. there's also a largely unchanged remix of see you again, which is undoubtedly the best song from the hannah montana 2/meet miley cyrus album, which i owned on CD (!).
forget greta thunberg, as wake up america proves that miley was the true inventor of climate change protests. the inspiration for the song came from an episode of the miley and mandy show, a youtube series created by cyrus and her friend mandy jiroux, which i vividly remember watching as a teenager and being devastated about its ending. in this particular episode, the duo encourage everyone to recycle, save and reuse plastic bottles, and use organic products with no harsh chemicals. perhaps if more people had followed their advice back in 2008, we wouldn't be in such a predicament now.
most millennials have become well acquainted with the idea of "burnout" thanks to an article by buzzfeed writer anne helen petersen, but miley was once again ahead of her time as this concept is explored on the track simple song. the constant pressure cyrus experienced during her hannah montana heyday forms the basis of this track, which also features a piano backing to rival elton john (yes, really).
there are still plenty of classic break-up songs though; highlights include these four walls, goodbye and my personal favourites, the driveway - with its avril lavigne-inspired electric guitar and fantastically dramatic chorus - and full circle, which was written about her on again/off again relationship with nick jonas.
3. SOPHIE/starrah
by far my most played this week, lock it up is yet another unreleased SOPHIE bop from 2016 which resurfaced online after being played on BBC radio 1's TNGNT show last week. why she refuses to release such bangers is beyond me, and several youtube channels have been set up as a place to find all of her unreleased songs in one place. perhaps she wants to be seen as a more ~serious~ artist as her debut album oil of every pearl's un-insides had a far more experimental feel and was nominated for a grammy this year.
it's a world away from the carefully crafted bubblegum pop that sends fans into meltdown every time she unveils a new track, and this is no exception. featuring charli xcx collaborator starrah on vocals, my favourite thing about lock it up is the fact she uses female pronouns to describe her ~love interest~, something still rarely heard in pop music despite all the progress being made. whether we'll ever be blessed with an official version of this track remains to be seen, but for now i'll be playing it on loop and keeping my fingers crossed.
4. kim petras
miss petras came THROUGH with some more spooky bops with the release of turn off the light. rather than release it as volume 2, she decided to combine the songs from volume 1 to create a full length album, and i'm living for it. it's about as much enjoyment as i'll ever get from halloween, which is also my birthday, but to most people's amazement i despise dressing up and any kind of themed party. luckily death by sex, wrong turn and my favourite track there will be blood will make the occasion slightly more bearable this year, and i'm praying they'll be played at girls night out, the unofficial after party of charli xcx's manchester gig the night before halloween.
i must also give an honourable mention to the impeccable video for icy, which is quite possibly my favourite song of the year so far, and after getting a ticket to see kim live next year i have a feeling this track will be the highlight of her set.
5. mabel
i've never paid much attention to mabel as she's been releasing incredibly mediocre songs since 2015, and am still baffled as to why she supported harry styles on tour in 2017. her rather dull mix of pop and R&B felt totally at odds with the glam rock sound of david bowie and marc bolan which he channelled on his album.
but everything changed with god is a dancer, a recent collaboration with tiesto. as soon as i heard this i knew it had potential to be a Huge Banger, and i can confirm that it Fucking Slaps, though that could have been thanks to the three (3) drinks i'd consumed before it was played in Tha Club.
it's also an excellent walking-around-town song, guaranteed to make you feel like That Bitch, so i'm praying her next album will contain more of the same.
6. LIZ
last but not least it's LIZ, who i never fully got into until i heard sunscreen a few weeks ago. it's yet another unreleased bop with SOPHIE on production, but that could be set to change as LIZ replied to charli xcx's already infamous tweet asking if anyone had a link to taxi (part of me wants to believe she could be gearing up to release it but i'm trying not to get my hopes up) saying "it’s with sunscreen in PC purgatory". she later tweeted herself that she was "just kidding" as the song is "thriving" and "getting ready for its debut". this seems like a far more sincere statement than that of miss XCX, who has always enjoyed trolling her fans, so hopefully sunscreen will actually be released soon.
in the meantime i've been loving a)lottery - which is inspired by slayyyter and blackout-era britney spears in equal measure and features a flawless cameo from drag race alumni aja - and b) her latest release laguna nights which she described as "teenage dream and the one that got away mashed up together" (anyone with taste knows teenage dream is one of the best songs from the last decade) and was inspired by "the idea of lost and rekindled love, on the beach, and for one night only", while sonically it reminds me of fame-era lady gaga.
Monday, 16 April 2018
give me that adrenaline: harry styles at manchester arena
it's hard to believe that it's only been a week since i was waiting for harry styles to take to the stage at manchester arena. i had a good idea of what the show would entail and wasn't sure whether to write another review after seeing him in london just a few months ago, but he added a few new songs to the setlist and i was intrigued to see how the crowds compared from london to harry's hometown of manchester.
in what turned out to be a wonderful coincidence, we had similar seats to that of the courteeners gig we'd attended at the arena just two days earlier, giving us an excellent view of the stage, though the lower part of the arena was also seated, save for a surprisingly empty standing area right near the front. (i suspect this was some kind of VIP area where tickets cost an absolute fortune, as i can't think of any other reason why it wouldn't have been full to the brim with dedicated fans.)
after some excellent pre-show songs from david bowie and elton john, capital's most played mabel took to the stage. an established act in her own right, she seemed an odd choice to support harry, as her R'n'B influenced pop couldn't be more different from his 70s inspired rock sound. nevertheless, the crowd seemed to enjoy her set, with the majority knowing the words to singles like fine line and finders keepers, which is hardly surprising when her songs are played ten times a day on mainstream radio stations.
it was then another agonising wait until harry arrived on stage, which had remained largely unchanged apart from a large screen projecting colourful, instagram-worthy illustrations throughout the show, but the joy of harry's live show is that he doesn't need to rely on a dazzling light show or too much audience participation (looking at you, thirty seconds to mars) to get the crowd going.
when he eventually opened the show with only angel, the screams across the arena were deafening, but just like in london the crowd were word perfect. i was also delighted to see that my prediction that he would wear a red suit had in fact come true, and my mother spent half the night admiring the cut of said suit, which he paired with a beetlejuice inspired striped shirt. on anyone else it would have looked ridiculous, but the boy really can do no wrong.
my favourite track woman followed, along with two ghosts and my mother's favourite carolina (a bit too country for my liking), before he launched into stockholm syndrome, which as i've mentioned many times is my favourite one direction song, and it was just as good the second time around.
one thing i was eagerly anticipating was the introduction of two unreleased tracks, anna and medicine, which has been hailed by fans as a bisexual anthem, though it would be foolish of us to ever expect harry to confirm or deny this one way or the other. the track certainly didn't disappoint though, and it's just a shame we might never get a studio version.
harry then disappeared for a second before sashaying along a walkway which stretched right across the arena, eventually stopping at a smaller stage where he performed my second favourite track sweet creature and the incredibly unexpected if i could fly, which appeared on made in the A.M. and sent larry shippers into overdrive upon its release in 2015. i spent most of the song in shock that i was actually hearing it, and sorely missing the band; here's hoping they might reunite for their tenth anniversary.
once i'd recovered from my state of shock, harry bounced back over to the main stage and performed what makes you beautiful, which had been given a slight revamp in order to align more closely with the sound of his debut album, but still retained the cheesiness we all know and love. then came sign of the times, the whole arena alight with iphones, and i had to try my hardest to hold back the tears as i still couldn't believe harry was actually there in front of me, at a venue i've loved for years (hearing him talk about attending shows there as a teenager will never not be surreal, as there's every chance i could have gone to the same gig as a pre-fame harry).
finally there was the encore, which consisted of low-key ballad from the dining table, his incredible rendition of fleetwood mac's the chain, and kiwi, which i'd totally forgotten about and ended up being one of my highlights of the night.
then it was all over and we were back outside in the drizzle - a permanent fixture of manchester weather - and on the bus home again, singing harry's praises the whole way. though the stage and setlist remained largely unchanged, its harry's charm and charisma that sees him filling arenas across the world, and i can't help but smile every time i remember his initial hesitation that nobody would come to his smaller gigs or buy his new album. then i remember that curly haired sixteen year old who stood on stage as a solo artist at the x factor all those years ago, marvelling at how far he's come and where he'll go next.
in what turned out to be a wonderful coincidence, we had similar seats to that of the courteeners gig we'd attended at the arena just two days earlier, giving us an excellent view of the stage, though the lower part of the arena was also seated, save for a surprisingly empty standing area right near the front. (i suspect this was some kind of VIP area where tickets cost an absolute fortune, as i can't think of any other reason why it wouldn't have been full to the brim with dedicated fans.)
after some excellent pre-show songs from david bowie and elton john, capital's most played mabel took to the stage. an established act in her own right, she seemed an odd choice to support harry, as her R'n'B influenced pop couldn't be more different from his 70s inspired rock sound. nevertheless, the crowd seemed to enjoy her set, with the majority knowing the words to singles like fine line and finders keepers, which is hardly surprising when her songs are played ten times a day on mainstream radio stations.
it was then another agonising wait until harry arrived on stage, which had remained largely unchanged apart from a large screen projecting colourful, instagram-worthy illustrations throughout the show, but the joy of harry's live show is that he doesn't need to rely on a dazzling light show or too much audience participation (looking at you, thirty seconds to mars) to get the crowd going.
when he eventually opened the show with only angel, the screams across the arena were deafening, but just like in london the crowd were word perfect. i was also delighted to see that my prediction that he would wear a red suit had in fact come true, and my mother spent half the night admiring the cut of said suit, which he paired with a beetlejuice inspired striped shirt. on anyone else it would have looked ridiculous, but the boy really can do no wrong.
my favourite track woman followed, along with two ghosts and my mother's favourite carolina (a bit too country for my liking), before he launched into stockholm syndrome, which as i've mentioned many times is my favourite one direction song, and it was just as good the second time around.
one thing i was eagerly anticipating was the introduction of two unreleased tracks, anna and medicine, which has been hailed by fans as a bisexual anthem, though it would be foolish of us to ever expect harry to confirm or deny this one way or the other. the track certainly didn't disappoint though, and it's just a shame we might never get a studio version.
harry then disappeared for a second before sashaying along a walkway which stretched right across the arena, eventually stopping at a smaller stage where he performed my second favourite track sweet creature and the incredibly unexpected if i could fly, which appeared on made in the A.M. and sent larry shippers into overdrive upon its release in 2015. i spent most of the song in shock that i was actually hearing it, and sorely missing the band; here's hoping they might reunite for their tenth anniversary.
once i'd recovered from my state of shock, harry bounced back over to the main stage and performed what makes you beautiful, which had been given a slight revamp in order to align more closely with the sound of his debut album, but still retained the cheesiness we all know and love. then came sign of the times, the whole arena alight with iphones, and i had to try my hardest to hold back the tears as i still couldn't believe harry was actually there in front of me, at a venue i've loved for years (hearing him talk about attending shows there as a teenager will never not be surreal, as there's every chance i could have gone to the same gig as a pre-fame harry).
finally there was the encore, which consisted of low-key ballad from the dining table, his incredible rendition of fleetwood mac's the chain, and kiwi, which i'd totally forgotten about and ended up being one of my highlights of the night.
then it was all over and we were back outside in the drizzle - a permanent fixture of manchester weather - and on the bus home again, singing harry's praises the whole way. though the stage and setlist remained largely unchanged, its harry's charm and charisma that sees him filling arenas across the world, and i can't help but smile every time i remember his initial hesitation that nobody would come to his smaller gigs or buy his new album. then i remember that curly haired sixteen year old who stood on stage as a solo artist at the x factor all those years ago, marvelling at how far he's come and where he'll go next.
Thursday, 28 December 2017
2017: year in review
"nostalgia is strange. it’s a pleasant ache" - JP brammer, the girl i loved while in the closet
it's amazing how much can happen in a month; since my last post i left my job at gap for a christmas temp position at new look and will be starting an internship at a fashion showroom in january. part of me is still in disbelief after being rejected from so many other jobs and internships, and i was hesitant to even talk about it online for fear of somehow jinxing it, but on the other hand it feels like the triumphant result of months of searching, putting an end to the uncertainty i felt after graduating, at least for the next three months. i've also been horrendously ill, having spent christmas eve in bed with an ear infection that i'm still trying to get rid of. still it could have been worse as i was supposed to work that day; suddenly staying in bed all day didn't sound so bad.
the last few weeks have been difficult and something about this time of year makes me feel even worse. for me christmas is just another day as we don't see any extended family or do anything out of the ordinary, and working in retail is enough to put a dampener on anyone's festive spirits. still, i have (somewhat) high hopes for the new year and if my visit to the showroom was anything to go by, it should be an exciting time after a depressing few months. i'm also glad to see the back of another year in which men (and some women) have continued to be terrible, but at least conversations about said men are finally being had in the mainstream media.
personally i feel like i've ~realised~ so many things about myself this year and been forced to reassess the way i was living while away at uni, and on the whole i don't miss spending 70% of my time drunk and/or hungover. i'm also trying to live in The Present from now on; when i had my bedroom done up a few weeks ago i banished all my diaries to the loft to avoid re-reading them at 3am and feeling nostalgic for a time that really wasn't as good as my memories would have me believe.
musically, i've come to accept that nothing will ever make me as happy as pop and have found so many new artists as well as rediscovering some old favourites. there were a couple of disappointments though; having been a long time fan of lana del rey her latest album didn't thrill me, and though halsey came though with strangers, her full length effort fell foul to overproduction. perhaps the most devastating was gone now by bleachers. while don't take the money - a euphoric ode to True Love - was arguably my favourite song of the year, the rest of the album just didn't measure up, and i still can't get into it after repeated listens.
but enough negativity; in no particular order, these are my favourite releases of the year:
1. the chainsmokers - memories...do not open
though i'm now fully open about my love of pop music, i was still mildly ashamed to admit that i loved the debut album from the chainsmokers, but according to spotify they were one of my top played artists this year. part of me struggles to understand how the chainsmokers have amassed such great success this year - they’ve certainly come along way since the release of that god awful selfie song back in 2014 - then i remember that they are two fairly mediocre white boys from new york and it all makes sense. reviews of their debut album were largely negative apart from this piece by noisey and though most tracks are largely forgettable, there’s a few i’ve had on repeat all year as they follow the magic formula for all good pop songs; simultaneously breaking my heart and making me want to dance at the same time. unpacking the reasons why i love said songs isn’t difficult; a combination of uber catchy electronic hooks and lyrics that deal deeply with nostalgia and The Past means the duo have become one of my go to artists when i feel like reminiscing.
if you’re in a similarly reflective mood as the year draws to a close, i highly recommend the one, young, break up every night and my beloved paris, which i wrote about in more depth here. an honourable mention must also go to non-album track something just like this, featuring coldplay’s chris martin, which quickly became one of my favourite collaborations this year, though not everyone felt the same.
2. the xx - i see you
i was a Big Fan of jamie xx's album in colour, which was included in my end of year review back in 2015, and the latest release from the xx didn't disappoint either. retaining that dreamy quality jamie xx is known for, this is an album that can be played all the way through, quietly in the background while you do something else, or taking centre stage at full volume. for somewhere deeply uncool, i often heard i dare you (probably my favourite track) and a violent noise being played during my shifts at gap, though sadly it didn't make my time there any more bearable. other highlights include lips, replica and on hold.
3. lorde - melodrama
albums like this don't come around every day, and as soon as i heard green light back in march i knew this would be one of my Forever Albums, i.e. one of those releases that i'll still listen to twenty years from now and feel exactly the same as i did the first time i heard it. i can't explain how accurately the lyrics sum up my feelings towards my university experience, particularly the last few months when it was all coming to an end, though i did my best in this post. it's no match for this review by caitlin white however, which is possibly the best thing i've ever read. if there's anything i've become an expert at this year it's crying in public while listening to this album, a ritual that began when i heard lorde perform liability back in september. perhaps the biggest lesson learned this year is that it's okay to fall apart as long as you pick up the pieces and move on, something i'm trying to do as the new year begins, and i know songs like perfect places, supercut, homemade dynamite, writer in the dark and sober will soundtrack my every move.
4. harry styles - harry styles
this album was a long time coming; as my favourite member of one direction, harry's album was one i had high hopes for and thank god he didn't disappoint. pressing play on sign of the times cemented its status as another Forever Song reminiscent of life on mars, which is my favourite david bowie song; again i wrote about it in more detail here. seeing harry live in october was an experience like no other. having missed out on seeing one direction perform pre-hiatus, i would imagine it was a similar experience. the devotion of his fans was on full display as everyone was word perfect, and each song was brought to life, filling my heart to the brim with pride and adoration for that curly haired boy who got his start on the x factor seven years ago, and how comfortable he is in his own skin, a sentiment i hope to echo in 2018.
5. MUNA - about u
harry's gig also allowed me to discover MUNA, his support act who captivated me with their huge 80s-inspired sound. i didn't know it at the time, but i know a place would go on to be one of my most played songs this year, and i tear up every time i think about its powerful message. this is a band with stories to tell and scores to settle, and their album about u sees them come to terms with their experiences past and present. picking a highlight is hard, and i would honestly recommend listening to it from start to finish, though if i really had to choose, i'd say end of desire, loudspeaker, everything, promise and if u love me now.
6. steps - tears on the dancefloor
it's amazing how much can happen in a month; since my last post i left my job at gap for a christmas temp position at new look and will be starting an internship at a fashion showroom in january. part of me is still in disbelief after being rejected from so many other jobs and internships, and i was hesitant to even talk about it online for fear of somehow jinxing it, but on the other hand it feels like the triumphant result of months of searching, putting an end to the uncertainty i felt after graduating, at least for the next three months. i've also been horrendously ill, having spent christmas eve in bed with an ear infection that i'm still trying to get rid of. still it could have been worse as i was supposed to work that day; suddenly staying in bed all day didn't sound so bad.
the last few weeks have been difficult and something about this time of year makes me feel even worse. for me christmas is just another day as we don't see any extended family or do anything out of the ordinary, and working in retail is enough to put a dampener on anyone's festive spirits. still, i have (somewhat) high hopes for the new year and if my visit to the showroom was anything to go by, it should be an exciting time after a depressing few months. i'm also glad to see the back of another year in which men (and some women) have continued to be terrible, but at least conversations about said men are finally being had in the mainstream media.
personally i feel like i've ~realised~ so many things about myself this year and been forced to reassess the way i was living while away at uni, and on the whole i don't miss spending 70% of my time drunk and/or hungover. i'm also trying to live in The Present from now on; when i had my bedroom done up a few weeks ago i banished all my diaries to the loft to avoid re-reading them at 3am and feeling nostalgic for a time that really wasn't as good as my memories would have me believe.
musically, i've come to accept that nothing will ever make me as happy as pop and have found so many new artists as well as rediscovering some old favourites. there were a couple of disappointments though; having been a long time fan of lana del rey her latest album didn't thrill me, and though halsey came though with strangers, her full length effort fell foul to overproduction. perhaps the most devastating was gone now by bleachers. while don't take the money - a euphoric ode to True Love - was arguably my favourite song of the year, the rest of the album just didn't measure up, and i still can't get into it after repeated listens.
but enough negativity; in no particular order, these are my favourite releases of the year:
1. the chainsmokers - memories...do not open
though i'm now fully open about my love of pop music, i was still mildly ashamed to admit that i loved the debut album from the chainsmokers, but according to spotify they were one of my top played artists this year. part of me struggles to understand how the chainsmokers have amassed such great success this year - they’ve certainly come along way since the release of that god awful selfie song back in 2014 - then i remember that they are two fairly mediocre white boys from new york and it all makes sense. reviews of their debut album were largely negative apart from this piece by noisey and though most tracks are largely forgettable, there’s a few i’ve had on repeat all year as they follow the magic formula for all good pop songs; simultaneously breaking my heart and making me want to dance at the same time. unpacking the reasons why i love said songs isn’t difficult; a combination of uber catchy electronic hooks and lyrics that deal deeply with nostalgia and The Past means the duo have become one of my go to artists when i feel like reminiscing.
if you’re in a similarly reflective mood as the year draws to a close, i highly recommend the one, young, break up every night and my beloved paris, which i wrote about in more depth here. an honourable mention must also go to non-album track something just like this, featuring coldplay’s chris martin, which quickly became one of my favourite collaborations this year, though not everyone felt the same.
2. the xx - i see you
i was a Big Fan of jamie xx's album in colour, which was included in my end of year review back in 2015, and the latest release from the xx didn't disappoint either. retaining that dreamy quality jamie xx is known for, this is an album that can be played all the way through, quietly in the background while you do something else, or taking centre stage at full volume. for somewhere deeply uncool, i often heard i dare you (probably my favourite track) and a violent noise being played during my shifts at gap, though sadly it didn't make my time there any more bearable. other highlights include lips, replica and on hold.
3. lorde - melodrama
albums like this don't come around every day, and as soon as i heard green light back in march i knew this would be one of my Forever Albums, i.e. one of those releases that i'll still listen to twenty years from now and feel exactly the same as i did the first time i heard it. i can't explain how accurately the lyrics sum up my feelings towards my university experience, particularly the last few months when it was all coming to an end, though i did my best in this post. it's no match for this review by caitlin white however, which is possibly the best thing i've ever read. if there's anything i've become an expert at this year it's crying in public while listening to this album, a ritual that began when i heard lorde perform liability back in september. perhaps the biggest lesson learned this year is that it's okay to fall apart as long as you pick up the pieces and move on, something i'm trying to do as the new year begins, and i know songs like perfect places, supercut, homemade dynamite, writer in the dark and sober will soundtrack my every move.
4. harry styles - harry styles
this album was a long time coming; as my favourite member of one direction, harry's album was one i had high hopes for and thank god he didn't disappoint. pressing play on sign of the times cemented its status as another Forever Song reminiscent of life on mars, which is my favourite david bowie song; again i wrote about it in more detail here. seeing harry live in october was an experience like no other. having missed out on seeing one direction perform pre-hiatus, i would imagine it was a similar experience. the devotion of his fans was on full display as everyone was word perfect, and each song was brought to life, filling my heart to the brim with pride and adoration for that curly haired boy who got his start on the x factor seven years ago, and how comfortable he is in his own skin, a sentiment i hope to echo in 2018.
5. MUNA - about u
harry's gig also allowed me to discover MUNA, his support act who captivated me with their huge 80s-inspired sound. i didn't know it at the time, but i know a place would go on to be one of my most played songs this year, and i tear up every time i think about its powerful message. this is a band with stories to tell and scores to settle, and their album about u sees them come to terms with their experiences past and present. picking a highlight is hard, and i would honestly recommend listening to it from start to finish, though if i really had to choose, i'd say end of desire, loudspeaker, everything, promise and if u love me now.
6. steps - tears on the dancefloor
this year steps shocked everyone with their comeback track scared of the dark, which contained an iconic key change and claire being super extra with her vocals as always. the rest of the album however, was just as strong. not a single Sad Piano Ballad could be heard and instead they blessed us with a ton of perfect party ready songs, even if your only plans for the weekend include drinking wine alone and laughing at vine compilations (totally not speaking from experience). picking my favourites is hard but my most played tracks have been you make me whole, neon blue, space between us and i will love again.
7. rupaul - american
never did i think an album released by a 57 year old drag queen would be included in my end of year review, but there's no denying rupaul can produce some Serious Bangers. of course we all know sissy that walk and supermodel - one of my favourite moments of this year was drunkenly walking back to my best friend's house after a night out in york, staging our own runway with rupaul's tracks blasting from crappy phone speakers - but this year he released american, a pop lover's dream with stupidly catchy hooks and whip smart lyrics to match. i've listened to kitty girl, american, hey doll and charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent more times than i care to admit, but i have no regrets when it makes a dreary walk to work feel like i'm serving a Look on the drag race runway. (side note: i am SO EXCITED for this!!!)
8. charli xcx - number 1 angel/pop 2
i know i said this was in no particular order - as i do every year - but this has truly been the year of charli xcx. everyone was obsessed with the video she released for boys but for me that song doesn't showcase the best of her musical ability. enter number 1 angel and latest mixtape pop 2, which i haven't stopped listening to the last few days. i wasn't sure how to feel at first as with A.G. cook on production, this was the most experimental charli has ever been. featuring a wide range of collaborators including estonian rapper tommy cash, brooke candy, tove lo and mykki blanco, charli has pushed the boundaries of conventional pop music, refusing to be confined to a singular album cycle and allowing fans to discover new artists along the way. (however i have to admit that i wasn't thrilled with backseat, which featured the queen of everything carly rae jepsen. with the two purveyors of pop at the helm, i expected a supercharged version of run away with me, complete with SOPHIE's sugary sweet sound, but instead we got a fairly minimal track heavy with autotune and a monotonous refrain masquerading as a chorus. it's not bad... but it's not the greatest thing i've ever heard either.)
i'm sick of talking about streaming as it's clear how it's changed the way we listen to music, but charli's approach is perhaps the direction pop stars should go in if they desire a greater level of creative freedom. this pitchfork review sums it up more eloquently than i ever could, so i'll just leave you with my recommendations: heartbreaking lucky, with its super distorted vocals, delicious and its chorus that bangs Super Hard, mid tempo bop out of my head with rising star ALMA, and unlock it, a dreamy ode to a new lover with a shimmering synth laden chorus.
i also have to mention this cover of wolf alice's don't delete the kisses charli did for triple j; it manages to sound like something that would have topped the charts in 2002 while still being completely new. though the comments were awash with people complaining about her use of autotune, this for me is what makes the track unique to her and it wouldn't look out of place on pop 2 (she also added her own lyrics!). one commenter said it "would've sounded better if it was done in a more lush, harmonized, bon-iver-esque style" - totally not charli's sound and hints at a possible double standard; why is autotune only acceptable when used by a male "indie" artist? - and another lamented "autotune? why i thought we were past this" when the irony is she's only just beginning to push the boundaries of what pop music can be. i would say that i hope her next release contains a similar sound, but knowing charli she'll throw something completely new into the mix and i'll be just as obsessed with it. her gig at the jazz cafe was also one of my favourites this year, and hearing no angel live was something i'll never forget, though i really would love a studio version someday.
honourable mentions:
the killers - wonderful wonderful
findlay - forgotten pleasures
aly & aj - ten years
wham! - the final
prides - a mind like the tide (part 1)
Monday, 6 November 2017
treat people with kindness: harry styles at eventim apollo
this time last week i was crammed into my friend's tiny bedroom getting ready for what would turn into a spontaneous Night Out, still processing the evening before in which we witnessed harry styles live. at midnight that tuesday i turned twenty two, and a week later and i'm still trying to process both events.
but first, some background. last month i went to see pale waves at a tiny venue called sound control in manchester. i'd not been for a few years and was reminded of its minuscule size as we descended down the steps to the "basement bar" where the gig was being held. i was incredibly excited for this gig, having become a fan of the band through my obsession with the 1975. along with wolf alice and the japanese house, they are signed to dirty hit, the label founded by jamie oborne, who manages the 1975. this means pale waves have had quite the year; i still remember hearing their first release heavenly and reading early interviews from when they'd only just formed, and now their singles regularly receive air time on radio one. the price of the tickets still suggested they have a long way to go before they're selling out the o2 though - like matt healy and co. did last december - as they were only £8.
despite this, i couldn't help feeling disappointed that their set was only half an hour long. i know their album isn't out yet, but i left wanting more than the eight tracks they performed. that's not to say they weren't incredible - highlights include the aforementioned heavenly, latest single television romance, as yet unreleased tracks my obsession and new year's eve, and of course there's a honey - and seeing lead singer heather in the flesh was mesmerising; i'm not sure if i want to be her, or be with her. however my view was obscured by a cluster of the tallest boys i've ever seen in my life, just minutes before they took to the stage, so i hardly saw the group in all their gothic-inspired glory.
this, coupled with the frustration i felt while watching lorde a few weeks before, meant that i was seriously fed up with going to gigs and i was worried the same feelings would follow me to the eventim apollo in hammersmith for harry's first show there.
i needn't have worried though; upon arrival the first thing we saw was a sea of primark duvets and hordes of devoted fans huddled under them. according to i-D magazine, some of them had been there for six days, queuing to try and secure a front row spot. i've had my fair share of queuing in the freezing cold for a few hours to get close to various artists, but there's no way i could have subjected myself to that after my horrific experience(s) at leeds festival last summer. however, this simply proved to me that the love and dedication of one direction's fans had crossed over into harry's fan base, and this was reflected further once we got inside the venue.
we arrived just in time to see support act MUNA, who i was familiar with but had never listened to, and my friend accurately described them as "the girl version of the 1975". with an 80s-inspired sound, their music borrows the same euphoric hooks, re framed through a female perspective, my favourite song being i know a place, which i've had on repeat for the last few days. i didn't know any of the songs but i had them playing on loop in my head for days after the gig and have since fallen in love with their album, about u. a quick google search of the group reveals that they all identify as queer but use gender-neutral pronouns in their songs, allowing everyone to relate. lyrically their songs discuss themes of empowerment, freedom and sexual assault, earning them a devoted following without the support of harry styles.
but before this turns into a review of their album, let us get on to the main event. when the pink, floral patterned curtain fell away to reveal harry standing on stage in a glorious sky blue suit emblazoned with pink metallic flowers, the crowd erupted into a deafening cheer, and i got that sense of belonging i'd sorely missed at lorde and pale waves. the sea of pride flags also made me feel at home, and after harry's heart-warming speech the other night, i honestly couldn't love him more. his unwillingness to label himself, while being so vocal about his support for various communities makes him a powerful force in the world of pop, and i hope other artists will follow suit.
the set started off with low-key ballad ever since new york, before slipping gracefully into two ghosts, and i think it was during this song that i teared up, my eyes fixed firmly on harry as i tried to take in the fact that after months of excitedly poring over pictures from his live shows, i was actually attending one. it never properly sunk in, and i didn't really have time to process it as he took it up a gear with carolina, my friends and i enthusiastically yelling along. then came sweet creature, one of my favourite songs from the album and a phrase i'm seriously considering getting tattooed on me, followed by only angel and another favourite, the bowie-esque woman. i left for a bathroom break during just a little bit of your heart, a song written for ariana grande, and arrived back just in time for my favourite part of the whole show.
as soon as i heard the opening to stockholm syndrome, i Lost My Shit. this was another pinch-me moment; months earlier my friend had tagged me in a video of him performing it on the today show, and now we were watching him perform it for ourselves. though i'm still undecided on which one direction album is my favourite (four vs made in the a.m.), stockholm syndrome has always been my favourite song of theirs, and i took great pleasure in screaming every single word at the top of my lungs.
next was my personal highlight of the show; harry's version of what makes you beautiful - which remained largely unchanged - and he donned a stream of pink tinsel for the occasion. seeing him be so unapologetically himself and singing their uber-cheesy first single without a hint of irony was probably the peak of my whole existence, and he kept the energy up with kiwi, another standout as it's such a crowd-pleaser, so much so that he performed it again during the encore. he also treated us to his cover of the chain by fleetwood mac, another song i've played endlessly since he covered it in the live lounge, and it was even better live.
by this point i was a sweaty mess with hardly any voice left, and i feared i wouldn't have it in me to yell along to his first single, the glorious sign of the times, which closed the show. i just about held it together, though i could hardly speak by the time we made it back out into the cold night air. ears ringing, i looked around at all the fans stood chatting in the foyer, some clutching their newly-purchased posters and t-shirts, others contemplating buying the cheap knock-offs outside the venue, as security ushered us out, and felt an incredible surge of love for all the girls - and they were all girls, bar the odd boyfriend who'd been dragged along against his own free will - i'd stood shoulder to shoulder with. (it was also a blessing to not have a single six foot man stand in front of me the whole time; i had a perfect view for most of the concert, and wasn't pushed or shoved once.)
i've written about the incredible fan base of one direction so many times, but i'll continue to do so as long as i'm alive because they've helped me though so many difficult times. i'd worried about being one of the oldest in the crowd, but there were plenty of other people in their 20s, as well as mums who'd come along with their daughters but left fully fledged fans, a true testament to harry's widespread appeal.
case in point: my mother and i are going to see him again in april, and i can't wait for her to experience his album in a live setting, so much so that i've mentioned how good he was at least once a day since i got back from london. it's safe to say that my faith in gigs has been restored, though i just wish every crowd could be as considerate, compassionate and loyal as those at the apollo.
but first, some background. last month i went to see pale waves at a tiny venue called sound control in manchester. i'd not been for a few years and was reminded of its minuscule size as we descended down the steps to the "basement bar" where the gig was being held. i was incredibly excited for this gig, having become a fan of the band through my obsession with the 1975. along with wolf alice and the japanese house, they are signed to dirty hit, the label founded by jamie oborne, who manages the 1975. this means pale waves have had quite the year; i still remember hearing their first release heavenly and reading early interviews from when they'd only just formed, and now their singles regularly receive air time on radio one. the price of the tickets still suggested they have a long way to go before they're selling out the o2 though - like matt healy and co. did last december - as they were only £8.
despite this, i couldn't help feeling disappointed that their set was only half an hour long. i know their album isn't out yet, but i left wanting more than the eight tracks they performed. that's not to say they weren't incredible - highlights include the aforementioned heavenly, latest single television romance, as yet unreleased tracks my obsession and new year's eve, and of course there's a honey - and seeing lead singer heather in the flesh was mesmerising; i'm not sure if i want to be her, or be with her. however my view was obscured by a cluster of the tallest boys i've ever seen in my life, just minutes before they took to the stage, so i hardly saw the group in all their gothic-inspired glory.
this, coupled with the frustration i felt while watching lorde a few weeks before, meant that i was seriously fed up with going to gigs and i was worried the same feelings would follow me to the eventim apollo in hammersmith for harry's first show there.
i needn't have worried though; upon arrival the first thing we saw was a sea of primark duvets and hordes of devoted fans huddled under them. according to i-D magazine, some of them had been there for six days, queuing to try and secure a front row spot. i've had my fair share of queuing in the freezing cold for a few hours to get close to various artists, but there's no way i could have subjected myself to that after my horrific experience(s) at leeds festival last summer. however, this simply proved to me that the love and dedication of one direction's fans had crossed over into harry's fan base, and this was reflected further once we got inside the venue.
we arrived just in time to see support act MUNA, who i was familiar with but had never listened to, and my friend accurately described them as "the girl version of the 1975". with an 80s-inspired sound, their music borrows the same euphoric hooks, re framed through a female perspective, my favourite song being i know a place, which i've had on repeat for the last few days. i didn't know any of the songs but i had them playing on loop in my head for days after the gig and have since fallen in love with their album, about u. a quick google search of the group reveals that they all identify as queer but use gender-neutral pronouns in their songs, allowing everyone to relate. lyrically their songs discuss themes of empowerment, freedom and sexual assault, earning them a devoted following without the support of harry styles.
but before this turns into a review of their album, let us get on to the main event. when the pink, floral patterned curtain fell away to reveal harry standing on stage in a glorious sky blue suit emblazoned with pink metallic flowers, the crowd erupted into a deafening cheer, and i got that sense of belonging i'd sorely missed at lorde and pale waves. the sea of pride flags also made me feel at home, and after harry's heart-warming speech the other night, i honestly couldn't love him more. his unwillingness to label himself, while being so vocal about his support for various communities makes him a powerful force in the world of pop, and i hope other artists will follow suit.
the set started off with low-key ballad ever since new york, before slipping gracefully into two ghosts, and i think it was during this song that i teared up, my eyes fixed firmly on harry as i tried to take in the fact that after months of excitedly poring over pictures from his live shows, i was actually attending one. it never properly sunk in, and i didn't really have time to process it as he took it up a gear with carolina, my friends and i enthusiastically yelling along. then came sweet creature, one of my favourite songs from the album and a phrase i'm seriously considering getting tattooed on me, followed by only angel and another favourite, the bowie-esque woman. i left for a bathroom break during just a little bit of your heart, a song written for ariana grande, and arrived back just in time for my favourite part of the whole show.
as soon as i heard the opening to stockholm syndrome, i Lost My Shit. this was another pinch-me moment; months earlier my friend had tagged me in a video of him performing it on the today show, and now we were watching him perform it for ourselves. though i'm still undecided on which one direction album is my favourite (four vs made in the a.m.), stockholm syndrome has always been my favourite song of theirs, and i took great pleasure in screaming every single word at the top of my lungs.
next was my personal highlight of the show; harry's version of what makes you beautiful - which remained largely unchanged - and he donned a stream of pink tinsel for the occasion. seeing him be so unapologetically himself and singing their uber-cheesy first single without a hint of irony was probably the peak of my whole existence, and he kept the energy up with kiwi, another standout as it's such a crowd-pleaser, so much so that he performed it again during the encore. he also treated us to his cover of the chain by fleetwood mac, another song i've played endlessly since he covered it in the live lounge, and it was even better live.
by this point i was a sweaty mess with hardly any voice left, and i feared i wouldn't have it in me to yell along to his first single, the glorious sign of the times, which closed the show. i just about held it together, though i could hardly speak by the time we made it back out into the cold night air. ears ringing, i looked around at all the fans stood chatting in the foyer, some clutching their newly-purchased posters and t-shirts, others contemplating buying the cheap knock-offs outside the venue, as security ushered us out, and felt an incredible surge of love for all the girls - and they were all girls, bar the odd boyfriend who'd been dragged along against his own free will - i'd stood shoulder to shoulder with. (it was also a blessing to not have a single six foot man stand in front of me the whole time; i had a perfect view for most of the concert, and wasn't pushed or shoved once.)
i've written about the incredible fan base of one direction so many times, but i'll continue to do so as long as i'm alive because they've helped me though so many difficult times. i'd worried about being one of the oldest in the crowd, but there were plenty of other people in their 20s, as well as mums who'd come along with their daughters but left fully fledged fans, a true testament to harry's widespread appeal.
case in point: my mother and i are going to see him again in april, and i can't wait for her to experience his album in a live setting, so much so that i've mentioned how good he was at least once a day since i got back from london. it's safe to say that my faith in gigs has been restored, though i just wish every crowd could be as considerate, compassionate and loyal as those at the apollo.
Monday, 15 May 2017
we're not who we used to be: harry styles goes it alone on self-titled debut
last friday, two momentous things happened. first: i finally finished uni and moved back to manchester, though unpacking and finding a place for all the things i've accumulated over the last three years is an ongoing process. secondly: harry styles released his self-titled album, a day myself and millions of fans worldwide have been eagerly anticipating for what seems like forever.
having travelled for five hours on friday, my only priority was sleeping, so it wasn't until sunday that i was able to listen to the album all the way through, but it was definitely worth the wait. surprisingly, his sweeping lead single sign of the times wasn't the opening track. instead the album opens with a laid-back acoustic track that reminded me of hunky dory-era bowie and sees harry begging for an ex-lover to take him back. just let me know / i'll be at the door, he pleads in the chorus, and i can't imagine there's many people who would turn him down and leave him stranded in the hallway.
the aforementioned sign of the times and crowd-pleasing carolina follow, which some speculate is a metaphor for cocaine, though it's hard to imagine the veggie-loving styles indulging in the drug. ever ambiguous, he told radio one it was "potentially about someone from carolina". next up is one of my favourite tracks, another acoustic number titled two ghosts, which took me straight back to made in the AM, my favourite one direction album that i still play regularly. it also reminds me of early 2000s robbie williams with its clever songwriting, detailing the demise of a relationship and how both parties have changed since its ending. we're not who we used to be / we're just two ghosts standing in the place of you and me he sings on the chorus, lyrics that could easily be applied to the end of a friendship as well as a romantic partner.
another track reminiscent of made in the AM is sweet creature, which sent larry shippers (including myself) into meltdown with the lyric no we started / two hearts in one home, and his confusing reply to these rumours was that "if you really listen to the lyrics, i think you can work out if it's really about that or not, and i would lean towards no"; another vague answer that had me baffled and did little to quell the suspicions that they've been a couple ever since they lived together in the early days of the x factor. either way, it's a sentimental ode to a testing relationship.
only angel sees harry experiment with a more instrumental style, opening with a glorious, almost reverential chorus of synths and strings, before launching into a stomping guitar riff complete with cow bells and a stupidly catchy chorus reminiscent of ELO, specifically their track don't bring me down. recorded at harry's home in london, the lyrics detail his infatuation with a girl he couldn't take home to mother in a skirt that short, who also happens to be a devil in between the sheets.
another favourite of mine comes next; kiwi wouldn't look out of place on any arctic monkeys album, with its references to cheap cigarettes, hard liquor and of course, cocaine, as his girl has a nose like the backed-up holland tunnel. he also pokes fun at some of the ridiculous rumours that have surrounded him ever since he stepped into the spotlight nearly seven years ago; i think she said "i'm having your baby, it's none of your business" he croons on the chorus.
while fans continue to speculate about whether the slow-burning ballad ever since new york is about styles' relationship with taylor swift, i'm much more interested in woman, a track reminiscent of the soul sound explored by bowie during his young americans era which sees harry display his jealous side; i hope you can see the shape i've been in / while he's touching your skin goes the pre-chorus.
closing track from the dining table is a more low-key affair, featuring nothing more than an acoustic guitar and styles' softly spoken vocal as he laments a lover who's clearly moved on. why won't you ever say what you want to say / even my phone misses your call, by the way he sings on the chorus, while the bridge builds to a spectacular crescendo with a series of strings reminiscent of hey angel; another track from made in the AM.
as a lover of high energy pop, i worried i'd be bored with an album centred around acoustic guitars, but harry's ability to take the past - paul simon, david bowie, fleetwood mac - and meld it with the present - arctic monkeys and even one direction themselves, coupled with his songwriting; personal but still open to interpretation, ensures there's something for everyone. i'm also hopeful that it will introduce new fans to the artists mentioned above that they might not have heard was it not for their influence on harry's album. his beginnings on the x factor could prove to be either a help or hindrance; those who aren't already devoted fans may listen out of curiosity or steer clear of it altogether. i'm hoping the sceptics will give it a chance though, as i think they'll be pleasantly surprised with the direction (i had to) harry has chosen to go in. that's not to say that early one direction tracks don't still bang, but harry's grown up and so have we, and this album provides an excellent introduction to his new sound.
i'm a firm believer that seeing an album in a live setting brings it to life, which i'll be doing in october when my friends and i go to see harry live (!!) at the eventim apollo in london. i'm still in disbelief that we even managed to get tickets, and i'm not sure it will really kick in until we're standing in front of harry himself. saturday saw him play a secret show in london, which included a rock and roll take on kanye west's track ultralight beam, and i'm hoping he'll make this a more permanent part of his setlist. my friend also alerted me to a video of him performing stockholm syndrome during his appearance on the today show, and if he incorporates that into his live show, i will truly lose my shit, as it's (probably) my favourite 1D track.
until then, i'll have his album on repeat, and whether you're a fan of harry or not, i highly suggest you do the same.
having travelled for five hours on friday, my only priority was sleeping, so it wasn't until sunday that i was able to listen to the album all the way through, but it was definitely worth the wait. surprisingly, his sweeping lead single sign of the times wasn't the opening track. instead the album opens with a laid-back acoustic track that reminded me of hunky dory-era bowie and sees harry begging for an ex-lover to take him back. just let me know / i'll be at the door, he pleads in the chorus, and i can't imagine there's many people who would turn him down and leave him stranded in the hallway.
the aforementioned sign of the times and crowd-pleasing carolina follow, which some speculate is a metaphor for cocaine, though it's hard to imagine the veggie-loving styles indulging in the drug. ever ambiguous, he told radio one it was "potentially about someone from carolina". next up is one of my favourite tracks, another acoustic number titled two ghosts, which took me straight back to made in the AM, my favourite one direction album that i still play regularly. it also reminds me of early 2000s robbie williams with its clever songwriting, detailing the demise of a relationship and how both parties have changed since its ending. we're not who we used to be / we're just two ghosts standing in the place of you and me he sings on the chorus, lyrics that could easily be applied to the end of a friendship as well as a romantic partner.
another track reminiscent of made in the AM is sweet creature, which sent larry shippers (including myself) into meltdown with the lyric no we started / two hearts in one home, and his confusing reply to these rumours was that "if you really listen to the lyrics, i think you can work out if it's really about that or not, and i would lean towards no"; another vague answer that had me baffled and did little to quell the suspicions that they've been a couple ever since they lived together in the early days of the x factor. either way, it's a sentimental ode to a testing relationship.
only angel sees harry experiment with a more instrumental style, opening with a glorious, almost reverential chorus of synths and strings, before launching into a stomping guitar riff complete with cow bells and a stupidly catchy chorus reminiscent of ELO, specifically their track don't bring me down. recorded at harry's home in london, the lyrics detail his infatuation with a girl he couldn't take home to mother in a skirt that short, who also happens to be a devil in between the sheets.
another favourite of mine comes next; kiwi wouldn't look out of place on any arctic monkeys album, with its references to cheap cigarettes, hard liquor and of course, cocaine, as his girl has a nose like the backed-up holland tunnel. he also pokes fun at some of the ridiculous rumours that have surrounded him ever since he stepped into the spotlight nearly seven years ago; i think she said "i'm having your baby, it's none of your business" he croons on the chorus.
while fans continue to speculate about whether the slow-burning ballad ever since new york is about styles' relationship with taylor swift, i'm much more interested in woman, a track reminiscent of the soul sound explored by bowie during his young americans era which sees harry display his jealous side; i hope you can see the shape i've been in / while he's touching your skin goes the pre-chorus.
closing track from the dining table is a more low-key affair, featuring nothing more than an acoustic guitar and styles' softly spoken vocal as he laments a lover who's clearly moved on. why won't you ever say what you want to say / even my phone misses your call, by the way he sings on the chorus, while the bridge builds to a spectacular crescendo with a series of strings reminiscent of hey angel; another track from made in the AM.
as a lover of high energy pop, i worried i'd be bored with an album centred around acoustic guitars, but harry's ability to take the past - paul simon, david bowie, fleetwood mac - and meld it with the present - arctic monkeys and even one direction themselves, coupled with his songwriting; personal but still open to interpretation, ensures there's something for everyone. i'm also hopeful that it will introduce new fans to the artists mentioned above that they might not have heard was it not for their influence on harry's album. his beginnings on the x factor could prove to be either a help or hindrance; those who aren't already devoted fans may listen out of curiosity or steer clear of it altogether. i'm hoping the sceptics will give it a chance though, as i think they'll be pleasantly surprised with the direction (i had to) harry has chosen to go in. that's not to say that early one direction tracks don't still bang, but harry's grown up and so have we, and this album provides an excellent introduction to his new sound.
i'm a firm believer that seeing an album in a live setting brings it to life, which i'll be doing in october when my friends and i go to see harry live (!!) at the eventim apollo in london. i'm still in disbelief that we even managed to get tickets, and i'm not sure it will really kick in until we're standing in front of harry himself. saturday saw him play a secret show in london, which included a rock and roll take on kanye west's track ultralight beam, and i'm hoping he'll make this a more permanent part of his setlist. my friend also alerted me to a video of him performing stockholm syndrome during his appearance on the today show, and if he incorporates that into his live show, i will truly lose my shit, as it's (probably) my favourite 1D track.
until then, i'll have his album on repeat, and whether you're a fan of harry or not, i highly suggest you do the same.
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