Harry Styles bares all on Olivia Wilde romance and ‘recreational drug use’ in comeback single As It Was
HARRY STYLES’S comeback single has got more people talking than ex-bandmate Liam Payne’s baffling new accent.
As It Was dropped yesterday and sees Harry refer to actress girlfriend Olivia Wilde, hints at his recreational drug use and features a video which has sparked a surge in sales of men’s jumpsuits.
The former One Direction star, whose third solo album Harry’s House is out May 20, hopes the record will cement his place as one of the world’s leading artists — and if the buzz is anything to go by, he could well succeed.
Having been the target of ex-girlfriend Taylor Swift’s songwriting, it is refreshing to see Harry, 28, open up about his personal life.
He sings of facing up to challenges with the opening line: “Holding me back, gravity’s holding me back.”
And he hints at his relationship with US film director Olivia, 38, who has two children from a previous relationship and has spent time with Harry in the UK, when he sings: “Leave America, two kids follow her, I don’t wanna talk about who’s doin’ it first.”
READ MORE ABOUT HARRY STYLES
Fans initially believed a young voice calling, “Come on, Harry. We want to say goodnight to you,” could belong to one of Olivia’s kids, but Harry revealed yesterday it was his goddaughter.
The musician has previously discussed taking drugs while recording his second album, Fine Line, so it may not come as a shock to fans that he has touched on the subject again, singing: “Answer the phone/Harry, you’re no good alone/Why are you sitting at home on the floor?/What kind of pills are you on?”
The video to As It Was has grabbed head- lines and sent fans wild too, because the heart-throb appears in just his underpants.
Directed by Tanu Muino, Harry strips down from a red Bianca Saunders coat and Dries Van Noten scarf to reveal a glittering red jumpsuit and matching painted nails. He then peels off more layers to reveal scarlet boxers.
Most read in Celebrity
The video triggered a 212 per cent surge in demand for men’s jumpsuits, according to a global fashion tracking company.
Perhaps thanks to his romance with Olivia, who he has been dating since late 2020, Harry says he is the happiest he has ever been — and it shows in his songwriting.
He said yesterday: “I feel really happy and I feel like it’s the first time I’m kind of making music and putting music out from a real place of kind of personal freedom.”
As It Was is the last song written for Harry’s House, and came about at his friend’s home in the English countryside.
Harry explained: “It started off much slower and then the kind of piano line was being played, and then it kind of turned into that synth and it just took on a new life.
“I’m a fan of it, it’s one of my favorite songs on the album.”
While promoting his record yesterday, the Dunkirk actor was quizzed on Wolverhampton-born Liam’s bemusing red carpet interview at the Oscars, in which he sounded Dutch, Welsh, English and American.
Harry, who has been accused of having a trans- Atlantic drawl, mused: “It’s a little bit all over the place because I’m from up north and then I’ve lived in London for ten years and I’ve spent a lot of time in America.
“When I’m with Americans they don’t think I sound American. And when I’m with English people they expect me to sound American.”
No matter his accent, Harry doesn’t seem able to put a red toe-nailed foot wrong.
Star still has the X Factor
MyView by Simon Boyle
OF all the people to work their way through Simon Cowell’s TV hit factory, nobody could be said to have The X Factor more than Harry Styles.
The shining light in global boyband One Direction, he was always destined to soar as a solo star – even if his music makes vanilla ice cream look a little bit daring.
Because, for Harry’s fans, it’s not really about that – he’s a frilly and feminine yet heavily tattooed hunk who prompts devotees to collapse in lust. He could now probably save himself the trouble of singing.
First things first. As It Was is a reasonable pop song – well-produced, bouncy, and a radio hit for the summer.
Yet it isn’t the best single you’ll hear this year. But music is only a fraction of the Harry package.
Yesterday I asked women close to me whether he’s still “a definite yes”.
“Yes, sorry,” came one response.
“Even with the dresses and the painted nails and bad tattoos?” I asked. “Absolutely.”
A poll on social media echoed her view. As did the response from millions of fans who raced to label the track and video, in which Harry strips off to his pants, a triumph.
And a round of accompanying radio appearances to unveil the track gave Harry the opportunity to again show off his renowned “charm”, with the sort of swaggering confidence that says: “I know I’ve got it all, and I know this will sell in huge numbers too.”
He’s probably pretty assured in the bedroom, too, with the sort of self-belief that allows a kid from Redditch, Worcs, to win the affections of a beautiful Hollywood star.
Read More on The Sun
It makes me want to scream in irritation, but Harry’s star is only going to keep soaring.
Perhaps it’s time to buy a frock.
★★★☆☆
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The Sun Showbiz team?
Email digishowbiz@the-sun.co.uk or call us direct on 0207 782 4220 .
We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.