Column: The Man You Thought You Knew
Some may know Harry Styles as an ex-member of the British boy band One Direction. Others may know him as a solo artist with two chart topping albums and an eccentric sense in fashion. But, did you know that Harry Styles likes to base his music off of classic rock and pop stars?
Growing up, Harry Styles was influenced by classics like Queen, Elton John, and the Beatles. This caused Styles’ solo material to take a more rock-based approach, rather than his previously known pop songs that he sang when he was a part of One Direction.
This new approach to music caused Harry Styles to gain more popularity from adults who grew up with classic rock from the 70s and 80s. It also caused his younger audience to be more in tune with classic rock bands and musicians.
Because of the more rock influenced music that Harry Styles produces, it has caused many former rock stars to perform with him. For example, the lead singer of Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks, performed live with Harry Styles at the Troubadour. They both sang a duet to the famous Fleetwood Mac song “Landslide.”
Harry Styles has also done many covers of classic rock and pop songs as well. Some popular classic songs that Harry Styles has covered are “Big Yellow Taxi” by Joni Mitchell, “You’re Still The One” by Shania Twain, and “Sledgehammer” by Peter Gabriel.
While Harry Styles still produces some music that sounds very Pop, there are a few songs that he has produced that reflect some classic oldies like “She,” “Treat People With Kindness,” “Sign of the Times,” “Carolina,” “Only Angel,” and “Kiwi.”
This move to a more classic rock type of music that Harry Styles began, led him to success in all ways. It allowed him to stick to producing music that everyone enjoyed, while paying tribute to some of the great classic rock musicians that Harry Styles grew up with.