Hey Hope!
How’s quarantine going for you? For me, pretty boring to say the least. I’ve had the itch to go to the beach so badly just because I’m not able to, and all this week for my 3 o’clock nap I’ve been falling asleep to beach wave sounds on Spotify. Yeah, sad. Anyways, to the post!
During this crazy and confusing time, I decided to put more effort to listen to artists that really lift my spirits. I’ve realized that the main artist that does this for me is Harry Styles and his new album Fine Line. This is Harry’s second solo album, and was released December 13, 2019. I can still remember the album dropping on Spotify at midnight, laying in my door room bed and smiling so hard, trying not to make noise to wake up my roommate in my excitement because the songs were amazing. I listened to every song in order that night for the first time, and thinking about how happy I was in that moment still makes me smile today. The album has twelve songs, and dare I say, no skips! Harry’s message of “Treat People With Kindness” really comes through in this album, and I think that is something we should all be doing a bit more in these times.
My top five favorite songs on the album are:
5. “Lights Up”
Whenever I need to give myself a pep talk, I listen to this song. “Lights Up,” while one of the first singles released for the album, remains one that I think really shines. Its lyrics and pop-like beat helps you loosen up and take time to think about who you are and who you want to be. The lyrics at the end give me the chills every time. “All the lights couldn’t put out the dark… lights up and they know who you are, do you know
who you are?”
4. “Sunflower Vol. 6”
This song has a lot of funky and off-the-wall sounds for lack of better words. But somehow, it really works and adds to the fun aspect that I feel like the song is going for. This feels like a song you’d sing in your kitchen in the morning to perk up your spirits. It has a very sweet vibe that I think brings a playful side to
this album. The last thirty seconds is just Harry doing random noises into the mic and truthfully, while it is odd the first time listening, it kind of grows on you.
3. “Golden”
While “Golden” is my third favorite song on the album, it is one that really makes me happy whenever I think of it. This is the first song on the album, and I remember that first night in my dorm, I anxiously put my headphones on, not knowing what to expect, and this song instantly put me at ease. I got major Fleetwood Mac vibes from the beginning of this song, so it was automatically a hit for me.
2. “Fine Line”
This is a long song. Six minutes and seventeen seconds to be exact. But to me, it feels like two songs mashed together, both equally powerful and emotional. Unlike “Golden,” “Fine Line” is actually the last track on the album. The song starts out just with Harry singing and a guitar to back him up. The first half starts off a bit sad and reflective, like something good has just come to an end and he isn’t sure how to handle it. Around the four minute mark, you hear some drums and a trumpet in the background. Harry begins to sing a phrase over and over again, but then the music stops and he sings/shouts “We’ll be alright” and it feels like time itself stops. After this, the music picks up and the last two minutes of the song are some of the most passionate and powerful music lyrics and notesI think I might’ve ever heard. Harry repeating this phrase “We’ll be alright” with the music blaring is something I think everyone needs to hear at least once.
1. “Canyon Moon”
Any way you slice and dice it, I think “Canyon Moon” is the most dance worthy and fun filled song on the album. Some have said it reminds them of a country song, and while country usually isn’t my cup of tea, I really enjoy how free spirited this song feels. I feel like this is a song you could dance to outside during the summertime. Or maybe any time. This short song always is able to lift up my spirits and get my toe tapping, and it's one of those songs I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing.
-maddie :)
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