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Reality TV has produced some of the best musicians of our generation. American Idol, X-Factor, and America’s Got Talent have unearthed some incredible musical talent who have been massive successes in their respective musical genres. Harry Styles began as a solo contestant in the British X Factor back in 2010, before he was recalled to join the boy band One Direction following his elimination from the competition earlier in the season.
Harry Styles went on to pursue his solo musical career after One Direction took a hiatus in 2015. Like all other boys in the band, he has had a successful musical career in his own right. The first sign of big things to come for Harry Styles came after releasing “Sign of the Times,” which was his first number-one single. His self-titled debut album, Harry Styles, which was released in May 2018, was followed by a second album dubbed Fine Line, which catapulted him to icon status in the music and fashion industry.
The album contained several hits that surprised many people since nobody knew what to expect from the album. Songs such as “Kiwi” and “Only Angel” gave the fans a glimpse of what to expect from him in terms of style and delivery. However, it was clear that his voice had evolved to something that we had never heard before. With sales of over 1 million copies in 2017, his album, Harry Styles, was named by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry as the ninth best-selling album of 2017.
Several tours, including a theatre tour that sold out in a few seconds, followed. Harry Styles also did a large arena tour where he sang his solo music and even some One Direction songs. In the 2021 Grammy Awards, Harry Styles performed his hit song “Watermelon Sugar,” which also won him his first Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance. In the last decade, we have seen Harry Styles’ musical career evolve from a young boy with big dreams to a Grammy Award winner. His evolution from only doing cover songs to co-writing some of One Direction’s greatest hits and also writing great solo music is incredible to see. Here are the top 10 Harry Styles songs.
# 10 – Sweet Creature
There has been much speculation about who the “Sweet Creature” in this song referred to. According to Harry Styles, this song was about someone he loved, although he could not reveal who it was since it could ruin the listening experience. “Sweet Creature” contains an incredible sound, and most critics praise Harry Styles’ vocal performance in the song. The song was a significant milestone in Harry Styles’s career since it showed his strengths and maturity in his musical direction.
# 9 – Adore You
“Adore You” has one of the most meaningful videos you will ever see for a song. Like most other Harry Styles songs, fans were itching to know the meaning behind the song’s cryptic lyrics immediately after it dropped. The song is about the excitement we have when we start seeing someone. “Adore You” was a commercial success and certified platinum in Britain, Australia, and the USA.
# 8 – Only Angel
When this song was released, many Harry Styles fans were speculating that the song was referencing one of his former flames. Although Harry Styles never confirmed who it was, the word “angel” left many clues on who it could be. The song was released on the album entitled Harry Styles. The album was released in 2017. The song was only released as a single in the UK where it hit number 80 on the UK pop charts.
# 7 – Cherry
It’s incredible how Harry Styles could tell a story of heartbreak flawlessly in just under four minutes. In this song, Harry talks about how he felt during the breakup and what he wishes he should have done differently. “Cherry” is a beautiful song and is one of my favorites from his album Fine Line. The album was released in 2019.
# 6 – She
At sixth place is another song from his 2019 album, Fine Line. Even if you are not a Harry Styles fan, listening to this song will make you want to listen to more of his songs. “She” is a masterpiece that is full of nostalgia, and Harry Styles sings it with a lot of passion. Although we still haven’t figured out who “she” is, many people have interpreted it to be Harry accepting his feminine side.
# 5 – Kiwi
“Kiwi” is one of Harry Styles’ most liked songs ever. The song comes from his self-titled debut album, Harry Styles, which was released in 2017. “Kiwi” is Harry Styles’ most favorite song from the album. The track peaked at position 40 in the US Mainstream Top 40 and has been certified platinum in the US and Australia.
# 4 – Falling
“Falling” is a masterpiece that shows how talented Harry Styles is. “Falling” is the third song from Harry Styles’ 2019 album, Fine Line, which was co-written alongside Kid Harpoon. The song, which runs for about four minutes, is about slipping back into old ways even though you are trying to get rid of the old version of yourself. The song’s video features Harry Styles playing the piano in a room as it slowly fills with water till he is fully submerged and drowning.
# 3 – Golden
Harry Styles doesn’t get enough credit for his all-around creativity and talent. “Golden” has one of the best melodies and will cheer you any day you have a bad day. The song is contained in his 2019 album, Fine Line. The song was composed by Mitch Rowland, Tyler Johnson and Kid Harpoon,
# 2 – Sign of The Times
Some of you may think this is a cover of the famous Prince song. It is not “Sign of The Times” is written from the perspective of a mother who is having complications during childbirth. The mother is told that the child will be fine, but she is not going to make it herself, and she, therefore, has five minutes to tell her child to go and conquer the world. The song has been used as a soundtrack in the second season of Riverdale, a popular drama series. It has also been nominated for various awards and has reached number one in the UK charts.
# 1- Watermelon Sugar
The number one song on our list of the best Harry Styles songs is the Grammy Award-winning single, “Watermelon Sugar.” The song was initially dropped in 2019 as a promotional song for his hit album, Fine Line. However, it was later included as the fourth track from the same album. Apart from earning Harry Styles a much-coveted Grammy Award, “Watermelon Sugar” became Harry Styles’s first number-one single. The song’s video features a 1970’s summer vibe and is Harry Styles’ best song to date.
Top 10 Harry Styles Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2021
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![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
