After a four year music break, Harry Styles has finally returned with striking success. His new album “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally”(KATTDO), released on March 6, and reached 63.05 million listens on Global Spotify charts on its first day. The album features a mix of captivating styles from techno dance music to heartfelt ballads, with fans obsessing over tracks like “Coming Up Roses” and “Dance No More.” Reactions have been mostly positive, praising the album’s synth-filled disco vibe as something unique from the rest of his discography, but critics claim it is boring and repetitive.
Styles’ new album, also referred to as “Kissco” by many fans, is a 12 song funky sensation with two bold singles, “Aperture” and “American Girls,” each with their own music videos. KATTDO is experiencing massive success with all twelve tracks appearing on Spotify Global charts in the days following the drop. “Aperture,” which debuted in January, has over 100 million listens according to MyStreamCount.
Rolling Stone reported that during his four year break, Styles made countless appearances at clubs and bars where he immersed himself in techno and electronic sounds. These wild and anonymous visits greatly influenced the new beat-heavy and danceable tunes that present themselves throughout the album. In an interview with Japanese novelist Hakuri Murakami, Styles explains, “I wanted to recreate [what] I had on the dance floor, being lost in the instrumentation and the musicality.”
The eccentric track titles and party-themed album cover left many fans wondering if this new Styles’ era would be different from anything he’s done before. Autumn Claridge, BBHHS sophomore, predicted that the new vibe and music would be something fans have never heard from Styles. Her predictions came true as the singer weaved 80’s and 90’s synth sounds throughout, which resulted in many fresh and unique tracks.
“[The album is] rainy disco pop—it is very fun and upbeat, but after looking closer, many of the songs have sad themes,” expresses Arya Bindra, BBHHS junior and Styles fan.
One key example is a song titled “Dance No More”, in which Styles sings about letting loose at the club. The lyrics “It’s feeling like the music has been heaven-sent/and there’s no difference between the tears and the sweat,” demonstrates the party theme at its finest. These specific words reference a story Styles told Zane Lowe about the first time he went clubbing in Berlin and found himself in tears because of how free, safe, and alive he felt.
Janet Haynes, BBHHS freshman and “Harrie” (a name adopted by fans) comments, “’Dance No More’ is probably my number one favorite because it is so upbeat and fun.”
Another one of her favorites was “American Girls”, the second single on the album. Although its lyrics are catchy and the rhythm is upbeat, the song’s deeper meaning is melancholic. During the piece Styles reflects on his closest friends getting married and the uncertainty he feels toward the future. Styles explains, “American Girls’ is actually about watching them get married and there just is a magic when you find the right person that you want to be with. Watching them do it [getting married] and seeing that it doesn’t come without any uncertainty and it doesn’t come without any risk.”
The music video mirrors this message by depicting the singer stuck in one place with a boring life that most people don’t perceive. As his stunt doubles do thrilling tricks, he sits back, displaying how the public thinks singleness is more exhilarating than it looks, according to Isabelle Farina.
Haynes states, “I loved the ‘American Girls’ music video, I thought it was super creative. The song is about how all of his friends are getting married and the music video definitely shows how he feels lonely and kind of inauthentic in his celebrity life.”
“Coming Up Roses” stood out from the crowd, as it showcases Styles’ vocal talent and strays away from the synth disco sounds. He uses stringed instruments and a waltz beat to create a truly beautiful depiction of what it means to be in love. He sings, “Where we flirt with the bad ones and skip all the rest/but we’ll see out the night with your head on my chest, me and you.”
The Hollywood Reporter notes, “With its waltz beat, it would serve as the perfect soundtrack to the grand gesture moment of any romance film.”
Not all tracks have been met with praise. Many criticize the album for being boring, repetitive, shallow, and too beat focused. Some have taken to Reddit, as one commenter voices, “I liked some of the melodies, but for the most part the songs felt shallow, the lyrics are lackluster, overall felt like it’s music for malls and cafes.”
Others have defended Styles for needing to write the album for himself, not necessarily what the fans wanted. Some also claim the album was supposed to be something experimental and different, so it makes sense for the tracks to emphasize beats rather than his traditional lyrics and vocals approach.
Haynes adds, “I like how fun it is, it feels super danceable.”
Bindra supports this, saying, “I think the album is amazing and I love the unique style! I don’t think all of the lyrics are amazing, but it is still an overall great album.”
According to billboard, Styles has already announced his next tour called “Together, Together”, set to begin on May 16 in Amsterdam. Styles will visit seven different cities and perform fifty nights over the next year, executing thirty of them at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City. His tour will bring the beauty of disco music to the stage and hopefully present “Harries” with unforgettable memories.
