12 reasons why we love Harry Styles

Get to know the wildly beloved Harry Styles before his Love On Tour hits San Diego

San Diego Union-Tribune

Nov. 12, 2021 7:10 AM PT

IT’S HAPPENING.

After two different COVID postponements, Harry Styles will finally bring his Love On Tour concert to San Diego. And we are ready. We’ve been ready. We can’t handle how ready we are.

We have our best outfits (hopefully they still fit after lockdown). We’ve made signs to hold up during the show (hopefully he can see all the way up to the balcony). And we’ve memorized every single set list (hopefully he’ll do a San Diego-centric cover — Andra Day? Switchfoot?).

If you’re reading this and are confused by all the enthusiasm, perhaps you are not aware of the greatness that is Harry Styles. Here’s a bit of background: Born in 1994, Styles grew up in Holmes Chapel, England (not too far from Liverpool, actually). In 2010, he auditioned for Simon Cowell on the seventh season of “The X Factor,” performing Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely.” That’s when the world was introduced to the musician, songwriter and actor that consumes so many hours of our days.

If that isn’t enough to win you over to Team Harry, here are 12 more reasons why we love him:

1. He put in the work

Though Styles didn’t make it as a solo artist on “The X Factor,” he was placed in the boy band One Direction with fellow promising singers Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan. (At 16, Styles was the youngest). The band signed to Cowell’s Syco Music and released five chart-topping albums: “Up All Night,” “Take Me Home,” “Midnight Memories,” “Four” and “Made in the A.M.”

2. He’s loyal

Styles stayed in One Direction even after Malik left in early 2015, continuing with the band until it officially went on hiatus in December 2015.

3. But he’s also independent

In 2017, Styles released “Harry Styles” — a record that Rolling Stone called “a superb solo debut.” His follow-up, 2019’s “Fine Line,” was a global success thanks to songs like “Watermelon Sugar” and “Adore You.” That Grammy-nominated album is essentially why the world is in its current state of Harrymania.

4. He’s a star of stage and screen

Along with being a full-time rock star, Styles also takes on unexpected movie roles: like playing a soldier in Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk,” and it was recently announced that he’s joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Eros, brother of Thanos.

5. He ‘Treats People With Kindness’

“Treat People With Kindness” is a song from “Fine Line,” but it’s also the slogan he uses to raise money for charity. Styles has raised over $1 million for local charities through merchandise and ticket sales — causes around the world include The North Texas Food Bank, Munich Refugee Council and the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund.

A man smiling in a yellow plaid jacket and purple boa

6. He’s funny

Styles has been doing skits on “The Late Late Show with James Corden” since his One Direction days, including some “Carpool Karaoke” drives and a “Crosswalk Concert.” He also did a memorable Mick Jagger impression on “SNL” a few years ago. In 2019, Styles was both the host and musical guest on “SNL,” and — bonus to local fans — in the sketch “Airline Pilots,” he actually says “San Diego” (squee!!).

7. He’s fashionable

Styles made headlines in December 2020 for being the first man to be on the cover of Vogue, and he did it wearing a dress. But even before that cover, Styles has always dressed provocatively and androgynously, with looks that include a pearl necklace with a frilly collar, a pink pantsuit and a custom Gucci leather suit with accompanying feather boa. Yes, queer icons like Billy Porter have been dressing this way for ages without the same attention and adulation, but in mainstream circles Styles is also helping to change the dialogue around what’s acceptable in men’s fashion.

8. He keeps good company

Which is your favorite friendship? Styles and Lizzo? The two have covered each other’s songs and famously flirted on camera at the 2020 Brit Awards. Styles and Stevie Nicks? Clearly inspired by her 1970s rock vibe, Styles befriended the Fleetwood Mac singer-songwriter (Nicks has referred to Styles as the son she never had). In 2020, Styles inducted her into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. What about Styles and Ed Sheeran? The two British pop singers have been friends for ages and even have matching tattoos.

9. Speaking of tattoos ...

The 27-year-old musicians has over 50 of them — from the oversized butterfly just above his stomach to the tiny guitar on his shoulder.

10. The gift of ‘Sign of the Times’

This one’s very specific, but anyone who watches dance in real life or on TV has seen an interpretation of Style’s intense and moving song, “Sign of the Times” — it usually involves a lot of floor work and stomping. It’s a staple at dance competitions around the world and has been performed on “So You Think You Can Dance.” One of the best versions is by Korea’s G.NI Dance Company.

11. He appreciates his fans

Usually when you dress up for a concert, you don’t actually expect to get noticed by the performer. But Styles is extremely attentive, treating his fans more like friends and joking with them throughout his performances. He reads and reacts to homemade signs, offers relationship advice, and even did a baby gender reveal for fans during a show.

12. The spirit of Harryween

The best thing about Styles is the level and enthusiasm and commitment he brings to anything he does, exemplified recently over Halloween weekend. He threw not one, but two costume parties/concerts at New York’s Madison Square Garden. On Oct. 30, he and the band dressed up as characters from “The Wizard of Oz” (Styles as Dorothy, obviously) and sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” then on Halloween night he wore a vintage-inspired clown costume and performed Britney Spears’ “Toxic.” We can’t wait to see what he’ll do in San Diego.