There is no doubt Harry Styles has come a long way since his early solo days. Even if you weren’t around to see it, you know how much he improved. But from someone who saw him in 2017 and again in 2022, let me tell you, the shift is insane.
As a graduation present, I decided to visit London and experience one of the very first Harry Styles concerts back in 2017. The trip was incredibly fun, but of course the highlight of the week was Harry. Since it was my first time seeing him, I decided to camp the night with some friends and try to get as close as I could to the stage. I’ve never seen One Direction when they were still active (loss of my life) and so this was my first time ever seeing one of the members. After long hours of queuing and camping, we finally got inside. Harry was amazing from the very first second. The venue was small, cozy and intimate. The perfect way to start a solo career, but seeing him there, I couldn’t help but feel he was made to perform for big crowds.
His talent was undeniable, the energy for Kiwi was through the roof and he was such an amazing performer. He was already able to convey so many emotions with his voice and for the slowest songs, I just closed my eyes and listened. There was something magical about hearing his voice in such a small space.
Despite all of this though, you could tell how shy he really was to perform solo. It was so strange seeing him standing alone when I was used to seeing him being silly on stage with One Direction.
In 2022 though, the concert was like a brand new experience. The energy, the interactions, the iconic satellite stomps, his voice, his stage presence – everything was like seeing a whole different artist.
There is one big change that stands out to me, and that’s the incredible confidence he brought to the stage in 2022. Of course, he was much more experienced by now, but in 2022 Harry ran throughout the stage, made creative vocal changes in his songs, was more himself, and made different jokes. It was a palpable change.
The fan interactions have always been iconic since his 1D days, and even when he was shy and not as confident as a solo act, he still made an effort to interact with the crowd. Let’s not forget the iconic gay vodka moment!
In 2022 though, the interactions got bigger and more iconic. At my July 26 show in Italy, he got us all singing “Se Telefonando” by Mina – a very beautiful song from a popular and beloved Italian artist – and said “Il mio preferito è Mina” which means “Mina is my favorite”. He also gave us a monologue in Italian and, throughout the show, he kept saying Italian words.
He also shared with us his struggle with learning Italian, confessing he had trouble distinguishing “cappello” (hat) from “cappella” (bellend). Which of course, made the whole arena scream with laughter.
He was a never-ending ball of energy, jumping and laughing and talking without resting for the whole concert. And of course we can’t forget how proud he was to display a ridiculous amount of rainbows at each show. From flags, to the rainbow fans, to boas, and to his very sparkly and colorful outfits, Harry’s performance on stage is a reminder of how much work and energy he puts into each show.
He created this little relationship with us. An incredible addition that really enriches the experience. I can’t help but feel like he knows we’re giving him a safe place for him to just be silly if he wants to. He can be just Harry on stage and he finally knows it. He’s no longer the shy boy in 2017 who sang his slow songs with shyness.
Don’t get me wrong. I loved the 2017 concert. It was my first time seeing him, the album was incredible, Kiwi live is an otherworldly experience. Both concerts were amazing in their own way. However, there is something so special about seeing him so confident on stage and that makes for a better experience. If only from the POV of a long-time fan who sees his growth and knows it can only get better from here. I truly cannot wait for Harry to become even more confident in the future.
