EachOne Directionmember made their way in the music industry after the band went on a hiatus, butHarry Stylesproved to be one of the biggest stars that emerged from the boy band. Styles had a successful debut with his self-titled album, and was also anex-boyband member who jumped into a world of actingwhen he starred in movies such asDon’t Worry DarlingandDunkirk. However, it was one single, “As It Was,” that catapulted him into the spotlight.
“As It Was” was released in 2022 as the lead single for his Grammy-winning albumHarry’s House. Upon release, the song was in rotation on radio stations, Spotify playlists, and TikTok, and also broke one of the most prestigious world records. The song became a global success very quickly and made hima global superstar.
“As It Was” Nails That Rare Mix of Vulnerability and Pop Perfection
Many listeners resonated with the songdue to its lyrics about living in the past, longing, moving on, and metamorphosis. Also, the chorus where Styles sings, “I know it’s not the same as it was”, is catchy and memorable. Another reason why “As It Was” became Styles’ biggest hit is his ability to convey his vulnerability with an upbeat melody, revealing loneliness, moving on, and change.
When Styles released the single, he spoke about the context and background of the song toAudacy. “It’s about metamorphosis,about losing oneself and finding oneself,” he said. “It’s about accepting the fact thatlife hits you at different timesand not when you expect it. It’s wonderful, but with these things comes a very complex emotional journey.”
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Before releasing “As It Was,” Styles experimented in pop and soft rock, with tracks such as “Kiwi,” “Watermelon Sugar,” and “Adore You.” “As It Was” was his introduction to the synth-pop genre, andHarry’s Housefurtherplunged into the genre. As Styles experiments with synth-pop in “As It Was,”the single shows Styles’ versatility as an artist.
Another reason for the song’s success is the music video, which now hasover 800 million viewson YouTube. The music video is symbolic, as Styles is seen wearing colorful clothes while everyone is wearing dark clothes, and walking backwards in the opening sequence. He is also often seen walking and running the opposite way from others and being separated, which also portrayshis vulnerability and his loneliness.
Harry Styles Scored a Massive Hit With “As It Was”
Upon release, “As It Was” became an immediate success. Not only did it peak at number 1 on the Billboard Global 200, butit had the greatest global streaming week of 2022. The song was also imported into the Guinness World Records for the most-streamed track on Spotify within 24 hours by a male artist, and broke the Apple Music streaming record for the most first-day streams for a 2022 release.
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“As It Was” topped the charts in the UK, Canada, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Croatia, Lithuania, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Slovakia, Germany, Switzerland, and Sweden. In the UK,it became the longest-running number 1 single in 2022. In the US, “As It Was” spent 15 weeks at number one on theBillboard Hot 100.
The single was also praised by many artists, includingElton John, who believed that “As It Was” deserved to win Song of the Year at the Grammy Awards. Nominated for four Grammys, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year, the album took home the coveted Album of the Year award. In 2024,Rolling Stoneincluded “As It Was” on its500 Greatest Songs of All Timelist.
This Song Cemented Harry Styles as One of the Greatest Musicians of the 21st Century
The success of Styles’ “As It Was” is not surprising because of the song’s arrangements and portrayal of its themes. The vivid music videos’ symbolism and metaphors support the poignant message of the song and also display Styles’ vulnerability and emotions to the listeners, who resonate with the song’s message.This demonstrates Styles’ ability to be relatable with his listenersand in his music.
“As It Was” worldwide success also displays how Styles’ music is resonating globally, which places him as one of the most successful artists in the 21st Century and in this decade. By releasing “As It Was,” Styles proved that he can carve his own sound and image away from the boy band that released pop music for a much younger audience. “As It Was” showed thatStyles can experiment with different genres, metamorphose into different personas and emotions, and tell a vivid story within his music.
