Charm, humour, humility and unequivocal talent. Harry Styles once again proves he is the epitome of entertainment.
As he kicked off the UK leg of his tour in Coventry, a venue that took many locals by surprise, I was lucky enough to witness the aptly named "Love On Tour" in all its glory.
After a guest performance from Wet Leg, the show really got going when Mr Styles bounced on stage with 'Daydreaming', graciously greeting fans in every far corner of the stadium and encouraging everyone, (as he always does), to be "whoever it is [they've] always wanted to be".
He wore a yellow and brown striped cropped polo with gold sparkles, and beige trousers. Slightly more tame than his usual outfits and certainly not as exciting as his 2nd Coventry show, the following night, where he donned a turquoise and pink jacket/trouser ensemble and no shirt. (Yes, I feel robbed of the experience).
The audience were treated to a collection of songs from all 3 of Harry albums, as well as a tip of the hat to OG One Direction fans in the form of 'What Makes You Beautiful' and 'Stockholm Syndrome'. That, plus all the hip sways, air punches and dimpled smirks one could dream of, made for a delightful evening indeed.
The stage extended via platforms on both sides and met in the middle, allowing for great viewing no matter where fans were standing. The 29-year-old strutted up and down the aisles throughout his set, even performing 'Matilda' in the centre of the arena. This isn't uncommon for a Harry show, as he did the same during his first tour - ensuring the audiences at the very back of the venue felt included.
No matter where your seat's location, to hear Harry Styles singing live is to be in the presence of true talent. Despite touring the world, he is able to bring energy, personality and faultless vocals, night after night. His ability to switch from high energy bops to solemn ballads highlights what a versatile performer he really is.
Singing aside, nobody connects with an audience like Harry Styles does. Every Harry show is like a snowflake and despite following a similar format and set list, fans can look forward to off-the-cuff banter and party tricks as the star interacts with his adoring audience.
But it was Harry himself that received a heart-warming surprise on his first UK show this year. The concert on Monday 22nd May fell on the 6th anniversary of the Manchester bombing and fans organised a touching display of remembrance by holding up signs during 'Sign of the Times'. The display, which showed the well-known bee symbol that has come to represent the Manchester attack, didn't go unnoticed by the star. "Thank you for putting all those signs up. It was beautiful, thank you so much", he quietly responded as the song ended.
As expected, there came a time during the show where fans could show all manner of risqué, cute and bizarre signs for Harry to playfully engage with. Monday's show featured a hen party, a birthday and a lady who asked Harry to name her baby, whose due date was coincidentally that very day. After choosing the name 'Harry', (of course), he sincerely offered the mum-to-be some water, a blanket or a seat, if needed at any point.
He may be a multi-award winning, confident and cheeky superstar, but it's Harry's kindness, above all else, that resonates with his fans. It's easy to see why everyone is so enamoured with Harry Styles. He exudes positivity, charm and wit, and in a packed arena, his presence makes you feel like he is the only person that exists.
The atmosphere in the arena was electric yet wholesome, as fans belted out the lyrics from the tiered seats, while those in the standing areas held hands and danced in circles. It was not just a concert, it was an EVENT. It was a brief moment in time where everything was alright in the world. It was pure, unadulterated joy, confined in a small-town arena.
Of course, all good things must come to an end eventually and the show closed seemingly way too soon, even after 3 encores. The sudden return to reality sent me into a spiral of post-concert blues that would plague me for the rest of the week. But I would do it all again.
Whether it's attraction, admiration or intrigue, it's difficult not to be drawn to Harry Styles. There's no denying the man has a beautiful voice, but his charisma makes it impossible not to be entertained, should you be lucky enough to attend a highly coveted show.
The concert is best summarised by a lyric from an underrated One Direction song: Harry, "everything you do is magic"!
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