Harry Styles: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
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Published 2020-03-23
Watch Harry Styles play "Cherry", "Watermelon Sugar", "To Be So Lonely" and "Adore You" at the Tiny Desk.
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March 16, 2020 | Lyndsey McKenna and Marissa Lorusso -- Like many who have graced the Tiny Desk before him, the awkwardness of performing in a working office wasn't lost on Harry Styles. "It just feels like you're in the way," he joked. But when you watch his set from behind Bob Boilen's desk, you'd never suspect any discomfort.
Backed by his touring band, Styles performed several songs from his latest solo album, Fine Line. Between tracks, he talked about the process of writing these songs: From the day off in Nashville that led to "Watermelon Sugar," to the feeling of lovesickness he tried to capture in "Adore You." The camaraderie between the band was clear; and Styles was in on the joy, twirling in his seat between verses.
Styles might not necessarily be the first name that comes to mind when you think of public radio's only working, desk-music-discovery platform. After all, he's got a wildly devoted fanbase that's followed his every move since his One Direction days. In fact, before soundcheck had even started, a crowd of fans had begun to gather outside NPR HQ. They rightly suspected he would be playing a Tiny Desk concert after word got out that the former One Directioner was spotted in D.C. with no tour date on his public schedule.
But beyond the headlines, Styles has proven to be an artist who takes his songcraft and aesthetic seriously, interested in subverting expectations of what a pop star can and should sound like in 2020. That sense of unpretentious creativity is exactly what he brought to his Tiny Desk performance – and it definitely earned him some new adoring public radio fans in the process.
"I have to come into NPR more often," Styles said after he and his band played their first song. "It's nice here."
We — and our massive crowd of colleagues — couldn't agree more.
SET LIST
"Cherry"
"Watermelon Sugar"
"To Be So Lonely"
"Adore You"
MUSICIANS
Harry Styles: vocals, guitar; Sarah Jones: drums, vocals; Mitch Rowland: guitar; Adam Prendergast: bass, vocals; Ny Oh: guitar, vocals; Charlotte Clark: piano, Wurlitzer, guitar, vocals
CREDITS
Producers: Robin Hilton, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative director: Bob Boilen; Audio engineers: Josh Rogosin, James Willetts; Videographers: Kara Frame, CJ Riculan, Melany Rochester, Morgan Noelle Smith; Associate Producer: Bobby Carter; Production Assistant: Shanti Hands; Executive producer: Lauren Onkey; VP, programming: Anya Grundmann; Photo: Max Posner/NPR
All Comments (21)
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"this is about a fish" bless his whole soul
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studio: how many guitars do you want? harry: yes
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Need a new tiny desk concert of Harry’s house songs
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You can go on for days about how good these live versions are, and how talented Harry and the band are. However, whoever was running the sound engineering side of things is an absolute wizard. You can hear every little nuance, and little flair by each player so well. Such a balanced recording, a joy to listen to. Y'all engi's don't get enough recognition, props
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Harry: he has a habit of not speaking a lot Everyone: laughs Mitchell: silence
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They look like group of friends who thrift together
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bro you can tell that Harry's presence is so relaxing and so safe. I started listening to him recently, he has a spectacular talent.
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The blondy Lady at the back with guitar, her vocals are aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh so amazing!
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Harry perfectly fits in the tiny desk aesthetic: Hot and messy.
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this man does not know how adorable he really is.
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The blonde girl with the mullet has an incredible voice.
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The blonde lady was amazing. I'd love to hear more of her.
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His "it's Tuesday right?" Hits different in quarantine
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imagine harry styles pointing to you can saying he’s getting a good vibe from you
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This acoustic version of these songs is soooo good, I prefer it to the official versions of these songs. These backup musicians are killing it.
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I love the way Adore You is sung by him here. The way he’s subtle on the first couple choruses and the hits the high notes on the final chorus makes it so much more gratifying than the studio recording
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so is nobody going to talk about how the girl with the peach-hair is gorgeous !!?
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harry at concerts: Very talkative and energatic in a cool way VS Harry at interviews: almost doesnt know what to answer
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It's strange to say this given how famous he is, but he is extremely underrated, especially as a performer. He is fantastic live and puts on such a good show.
