Feathers of every color covered 34th Street in New York City Saturday night. Groups of girls in boas, crop tops, ripped jeans and exuberant makeup stood outside Madison Square Garden, waiting for doors to open to the 360 degree stage inside. It was the ninth night of a total of 15 shows at Madison Square Garden for Harry Styles鈥檚 Love on Tour 2022 residency.聽
Saturday鈥檚 show comprised mostly of songs from Styles鈥檚 most recent album, 鈥淗arry鈥檚 House,鈥� which was released this past May. Styles opened with 鈥淒aydreaming,鈥� one of the rockier, feel-good songs on the album. Styles rose up from the center of the stage decked out in a red Gucci jumpsuit with a green and white striped t-shirt underneath. The audience鈥檚 screams were so loud that it was almost difficult to hear Styles鈥檚 voice, but the energy was so exhilarating no one seemed to care.聽
鈥淕olden,鈥� featuring Styles on the guitar, and 鈥淎dore You,鈥� both hits from Styles鈥檚 2019 album 鈥淔ine Line,鈥� followed. In the latter song, Styles encouraged fans to sing the line 鈥淛ust let me adore you,鈥� to which Styles cheekily responded 鈥淥h, alright then,鈥� with a large smile on his face.聽
Some of the stronger songs off of 鈥淗arry鈥檚 House鈥� followed, such as聽 鈥淒aylight鈥� and 鈥淜eep Driving.鈥� The crowd eagerly screamed along to the iconic 鈥淜eep Driving鈥� bridge: 鈥淐ocaine, side boob / Choke her with a sea view.鈥澛�
Styles performed the ballads 鈥淢atilda鈥� and 鈥淟ittle Freak鈥� with such emotion and conviction that it was almost hard to remember that he was smiling and bouncing around the stage only moments prior. The variance of tone and energy suggested the depth of Styles鈥檚 starpower and emotional intelligence.聽
In between 鈥淐inema鈥� and 鈥淢usic for a Sushi Restaurant,鈥� Styles incorporated a transition with horn instrumentalists playing the introduction to the Village People鈥檚 鈥淵MCA,鈥� a surprisingly effective way to tie the two songs together. The addition of the live horn players also added an increased level of fun and excitement to the already extravagant show.聽
The only song on the setlist from Styles鈥檚 five year-stint in the boyband One Direction was their , 鈥淲hat Makes You Beautiful.鈥� Styles added a rockier flair to the tune, which made it sound more mature. The audience was dancing and screaming so much that the floor of Madison Square Garden actually began to shake.聽
Styles鈥檚 latest single, 鈥淟ate Night Talking,鈥� began with a sensual trumpet solo before bursting into the groovy tune, which was quickly followed by 鈥淲atermelon Sugar鈥� and the underrated 鈥淗arry鈥檚 House鈥� song 鈥淟ove of My Life.鈥澛�
The highlight of the concert, however, came after Styles sang his famous ballad, 鈥淪ign of the Times.鈥澛�
During Styles鈥檚 first solo tour, Live on Tour, he would regularly sing his unreleased rock song 鈥淢edicine,鈥� which some believe is a . However, in recent years, Styles has rarely played the tune.
On Saturday night, Styles decided to play the song fans yearn to hear every time they see him live. The opening drumbeats and guitar chords had fans screaming even louder than they did when Styles first arrived on stage. It was an experience everyone in that room will likely never forget. Styles concluded his phenomenal show with 鈥淜iwi,鈥� a hit from his first album.聽
Throughout the show, Styles took the time to engage with his audience: He sang 鈥淗appy Birthday鈥� to a fan and talked to two young children holding a sign saying it was their first concert. Even while he was performing, Styles made an effort to wave and blow kisses to fans in every section of the arena.聽
Styles is in the midst of the second half of Love on Tour, which last September and this summer. The tour is currently to conclude July 22, 2023 in Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Rebecca Carcieri is an arts & culture editor. She is a senior from Warwick, Rhode Island studying political science.聽
