In Harry Styles’ ‘house,’ everyone is welcome

Toward the end of his performance of the pop-funk midtempo “Adore You,” Harry Styles stopped singing, turned his back to the crowd and danced as if no one was watching.

With a wailing guitar solo in the background, Harry twirled and sauntered down the runway, waving and blowing kisses every which way. And then, with a hand over his heart, he bowed down, as if in deference to the fans who helped him become the pop superstar that he is today.

After all, his ongoing series of concerts is dubbed, “Love on Tour.” And Harry made sure to express his gratitude and appreciation for the Filipino audience every chance he got—through words, gestures and music.

“Kumusta, Philippines? It’s an absolute pleasure to be here with you tonight. Thank you so so much for having us all. It has been five years since I was here last, so it has been a long time,” he told the packed crowd at the Philippine Arena last March 14. “Thank you for the warm welcome. Thank you to every single one of you.”

For one and a half hours, the British singer-songwriter made the cavernous venue feel more intimate—you could call it Harry’s House, if you will. And in this space, there were only a few simple rules: “To sing and dance” and “have as much fun as you possibly can.”

Harry’s “job,” on the other hand, was to give his “absolute best to entertain you.” He kept his end of the bargain.

The last time Harry visited the Philippines was in 2018 for his first self-titled maiden world tour. Back then, he was almost apologetic about the fact that he had only 10 original songs to his name. This time, he returned with a stronger, more comprehensive catalog—bolstered by his critically acclaimed third album, “Harry’s House,” which won album of the year at the recent Grammy Awards.

Revisiting old songs

While most of the songs in his 20-song set were culled from that album, Harry spiced things up with a sprinkling of well-loved tracks from his self-titled debut album and his second one, “Fine Line.” It was also refreshing to see that Harry—unlike other former boy band members who went solo—had no qualms revisiting material from his past career.

Sporting a sequined, gold and navy blue raglan shirt, he worked the stage with unbridled exuberance, racing around, pumping his fists and stomping his feet. Every so often, in more upbeat or hard-edged songs, like “Satellite” and “Music for a Sushi Restaurant,” Harry would lose himself in the music, dancing with his head up and arms outstretched.

He shimmied, tousled his hair and cast flirtatious glances at the feverish fans as he sang sultry midtempos, like “Cinema” and “Watermelon Sugar.” He ventured into the funky side of his discography with “Woman,” a track laced with sultry guitar licks and basslines.

Meanwhile, the bouncy beats of “Late Night Talking” and “As It Was” proved to be irresistible, prompting fans to get up from their seats, dance, sing along and let loose. And for a little kick of nostalgia, Harry delivered a rambunctious rendition of “What Makes You Beautiful,” one of the biggest hits of his former group, the 2010s pop phenom One Direction.

While his vocals were solid throughout the concert, Harry tended to shy away from the high notes by tweaking the melodies of some of the choruses and bridges. But perhaps it was only prudent that he avoided overworking his voice given the extent of his tour, which has been running since September 2021. There are 169 shows overall. And Harry has more than 30 to go.

Still, his earnest, slightly husky baritone shone in the quieter acoustic numbers, like the haunting “Little Freak” and “Matilda.” The latter is a composition that Harry holds dear to his heart, and his moving performance had not a few fans wiping away tears. He also sounded strong and confident in the sweeping, pop-rock ballad, “Sign of the Times.”

Sense of belongingness

Harry put the fans—many of whom arrived in feather boas and flamboyant outfits—at ease by bantering with them. In the occasional lulls, the charismatic singer-actor read out fan signs, including that of a woman who proposed marriage to him. “Very sneaky! But I feel like we should perhaps get to know each other first,” he quipped.

Another woman held a sign that read, “My boyfriend said he will propose if you duet with him.” And now that couple is probably—or hopefully—engaged, after Harry regaled their request and sang snippets of “Sign of the Times” with the boyfriend.

In the festive, gospel-inspired ditty “Treat People with Kindness,” Harry, a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ community, unfurled a pride flag and waved it onstage. On the floor, joyous fans draped in pride flags danced and shuffled in a conga line. In “Love of My Life,” he stressed his love for his Filipino fans, saying “Mahal ko kayo!” Deafening screams ensued.

The words “house” or “home” suggest the concept of family, a sense of belongingness. And Harry saw to it that he created an environment where everyone felt loved and welcome. “Please feel free to be whoever it is you always wanted to be in this room tonight,” said Harry, who described the opportunity to perform in the Philippines a “privilege.”

“You have been absolutely wonderful. Thank you for the warm welcome. It has been so nice here,” Harry said. “You have changed my life. It has been a privilege being with you tonight.” INQ

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