SWEET HARRY STYLES
Watermelon Sugar, His Ode To Physical Touch
Fine Line, Harry Styles’ second album, is built on the firm foundation of his 2017 debut. Drawing inspiration from rock, folk and country artists, he wasn’t afraid to throw some of his old pop sensibilities into the mix.
The result is a record that stands apart from Styles’ time in One Direction and his earlier, British Invasion-style solo work. Singles like “Adore You” and now “Watermelon Sugar” have dominated both the pop and alternative airwaves — it seems the 26-year-old singer-songwriter can do no wrong.
The music video for “Watermelon Sugar” further proves that Harry Styles is something special. It opens with a dedication to touching, something sorely missed by many due to COVID-19. While across the country protesters work themselves up over not being able to do things like eating out, Styles’ ode to eating out begins with him sitting down at a table on the beach with a slice of watermelon. Of course, there’s more than enough watermelon to go around and soon he’s sharing the refreshing snack with a whole bunch of beach-going girls — and one or two guys as well.
The color palette is soft pastel juxtaposed against the bright blue sky. Filters reminiscent of old film are applied selectively for a faux-vintage feel that fits the fun, beachy tone of the song. Directors Bradley & Pablo have a knack for capturing the essence of the artists in their videos and here they’ve leaned heavily into Styles’ new image.
With his loose, vibrant designer clothes, more Gucci than his old signature SLP ensembles, Styles is a rock and pop star for a new era. In “Watermelon Sugar,” he shows off his fun side.
