Remember how I said that I’d written my last Her Campus article of the semester? I lied because Harry Styles released his second solo album and I’m freaking out. So, of course I had to write another one.
You all should know by now how much I love Harry Styles. I had to do an album review for Fine Line. Of course, I listened to the album straight through from start to finish. Then listened to it again and again on repeat. I do have to give a brief disclaimer: I’ve never written an album review, and I may have thought way too much into some of the lyrics, especially as a writer and a reader.
Fine Line features stunning melodies that make me want to twirl around in circles and instrumental parts that anyone can groove to. I can’t even describe how it made me feel nostalgic for something I’ve never experienced. Yet, I still get it. Styles tells a story of love and heartbreak, and he invited everyone to the party as the new king of rock n’ roll.
“Golden”
This seems like the perfect song to introduce us to Styles’ story because of its interesting melody. Also, Styles is searching for the end. He sings “I don’t wanna be alone.” He’s scared of being alone and he’s still broken, yet he’s hauntingly waiting for the end, the “golden” he might never get.
“Watermelon Sugar”
No matter how many times I’ve heard this song, it still gets me hyped. The song is sultry, and I didn’t think I’d love it as much as I do. There aren’t many lyrics, but he’s clearly alluding to a love he’s wishing for and wants more of. I couldn’t get enough of this song, and I appreciate the different melodies he’s written just to sing “watermelon sugar high.”
“Adore You”
The message of this song makes me want to melt. If you haven’t seen this music video, you need to watch it now. The lyrics, “I’d walk through fire for you / just let me adore you / it’s the only thing I ever do” speak to Styles’ own insecurities about what he has to offer for his love. It’s extremely heart wrenching, and I wish I knew someone who’d walk through fire for me.
“Lights Up”
This song is so soulful, and the music video reflects this too. Styles sings about identity and how “I’m not ever going back” to hiding who he is. It’s a beautiful anthem about finding who you are. The higher notes float above the piece beautifully, and the simpler instrumental feature his voice. No matter what I write here, I feel like this song speaks for itself.
“Cherry”
This song is an ode to someone Styles lost, and he knows he should be done with them. While it sounds like a classic breakup song, it’s not because of the way Styles kind of teases the person he’s singing about, especially with the line “I just miss your accent and your friends / Did you know I still talk to them?” It’s playful, and I really liked it. The instrumental background compliments his raspy voice, and the mix of French in the song is an interesting addition that highlighted the teasing.
“Falling”
I think this might be one of my favorites on the album. This song is extremely stripped back, and I think it’s perfect for the message of the song. Styles questions, “What am I now? / What if I’m someone I don’t want around? / I’m falling again.” Each time his voice rises when he sings “falling,” there’s a slight crack in his voice that really brings out raw emotions while Styles is questioning who he is at different points in his life. Like “Lights Up,” you just need to listen to this song to understand how incredible it is.
“To Be So Lonely”
The unique string part distracted me a bit at first, and it took me longer to get into this song. I liked the staccato nature of the verses, especially when Styles wants to emphasize words such as “and I’m just an arrogant son of a bitch who can’t admit when he’s sorry.” I also found that this song connects back to “Cherry,” where Styles told his love not to use “baby” for others, but now he’s saying, “don’t call me baby again.” I’m a sucker for seeing how things tie into each other and how the song are being woven together. The connections I found in this song are what makes me like it more.
“She”
Much like the lyrics “she lives in daydreams with me / and I don’t know why / I don’t know where she is” that describe an image a man who is older imagining a woman he can’t have, this song takes you away to a dreamland, especially with its instrumental break. Although I didn’t get to listen to Styles’ voice, the break situates us perfectly since we don’t know who she is, and we’re searching to figure it out. It’s one of the longest songs on the album, but it deserves all six minutes.
“Sunflower, Vol. 6”
This song seems so delicate, and it’s one of the sweeter songs on the album. The lyrics paint beautiful pictures like “kiss in the kitchen like it’s a dance floor” and “mouthful of toothpaste.” The whole song is an ode to a wonderful relationship where the sunflower is a metaphor, and it makes my heart soar.
“Canyon Moon”
I loved the jumpy melody of this piece, and it gave me more folky vibes. Styles sings, “I’m still thinking back to the time under the canyon moon,” reflecting back before he can finally return home. I want to go back to whatever home he’s remembering the way he sings this song.
“Treat People With Kindness”
I lied earlier because while “Lights Up” is soulful, this song tops that. This song feels like a party I wanted to be invited to. Styles sings, “feeling good in my skin / I just keep dancin’.” While it may be a cliché message, I think this song is something everyone needs to hear.
“Fine Line”
The titular song features a wonderful falsetto, and it’s also more stripped back with less production. This is another song where I feel the most vulnerability in his lyrics. The first lyrics, “put a price on emotion / I’m looking for something to buy” sucked me in right away because obviously no one should be able to buy any emotions, yet as Styles sings, “we’ll be a fine line,” There’s nothing that Styles can do anymore, and they’ll be together on the edge.
I hope I’ve inspired you all to go and listen to Fine Line. The album tells a beautiful story and Styles sounds amazing in his element.