We all know singer Harry Styles from One Direction, known for his bold outfit choices. We also all know singer Benson Boone for his crazy backflips and stage presence. But have we ever realized how similar the two are? Styles became famous in 2010 when he joined the newly formed boy band One Direction. He also auditioned as a solo artist on “The X Factor” before joining One Direction. In contrast, Boone gained public attention in 2021 through his appearance on “American Idol” and his growing viral popularity on TikTok. Both male artists share similarities in music, fashion and stage presence. So, the main question is: what are the similarities between the two?
The Path to Fame
Both Styles and Boone had two varying paths to fame. Styles went from a bakery worker and local band singer in England to a global pop superstar, mainly through “The X Factor” and One Direction. Styles auditioned in 2010 for “The X Factor,“ and after being eliminated as a solo act, he was then brought back by the judges alongside contestants Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson to create One Direction. The band then released massive chart-topping albums and became one of the bestselling boy bands in history. Furthermore, Styles’ solo journey started in 2017, and he released many singles and albums that led him to eventually expand into films, including Dunkirk, and continue to grow his popularity.
Boone’s journey to fame was different from Styles’, but there are still some similarities between the two. Boone grew up in Wash., and at 18, he auditioned for “American Idol” after only singing for about a year. He gained praise from the judges, but eventually withdrew after making the Top 24. Benson Boone then moved over to TikTok, where he began posting vocal videos and small clips of him singing. He was then able to quickly build a multi-million-follower social media page. Benson Boone then went on to create music with his hit “Beautiful Things,” which topped international charts. He then followed his breakout success by releasing his debut album, opening for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, and also performing at major festival sets like Governors Ball in New York.
Stage presence
When both artists step on stage, they have a certain stage presence that draws audiences into the concerts and makes it an unforgettable night. Styles lights up the stage with a high-energy and interactive presence that turns a huge arena into an intimate, community-driven experience. He constantly dances, skips, and struts across the stage, and most of his stages are shaped in a semi-circle style, which is designed for maximum crowd interaction. He also likes to banter with fans, read signs they have made, and control massive crowd interactions.
Boone, similarly, is recognized for an energetic stage presence that combines high vocals and his signature backflips. He became famous for executing clean and crazy backflips on stage, and he usually flips off of a grand piano or directly onto the stage. He also shifts from raw a capella or piano ballads to explosive rock choruses. To add on, Boone usually speaks, tells stories, and engages with fans directly, sometimes even going straight up to their faces to interact with them in massive arenas when on tour.
The Bigger Picture
Styles and Boone represent different moments in pop music. They both started on elimination shows; however, Styles started in a boy band, whereas Boone mainly gained popularity from social media. Styles helped redefine what a modern male pop star could look and sound like. Boone is a part of a newer generation that is currently building on some of those changes while still creating his own identity. As the two keep growing into global superstars, they are positively contributing to the pop music world and are creating music for everyone to enjoy and listen to.
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