On the very same day that his brand new, long-awaited album hit the pop scene, Harry Styles treated fans to a second official single – “American Girls.” After it debuted at #1 on the UK charts, Harry knew he had an instant classic on his hands. But even his fans weren’t prepared for how stellar its first live performance would be, especially once Harry ditched his microphone in the middle of his set…
Music Man readers can watch Harry perform the single live, and for the very first time, in the viral video below. It’s already racked up more than one million views in less than a fortnight!
A cloudy atmosphere brews as Harry’s band brings his latest single to life, the song’s vivid 1980s influence setting a blissfully nostalgic mood that ripples through this entire performance.
Harry, 32, lets his first verse land with introspective power, his deep and pitch-perfect vocals styled almost like a spoken word poetry performance. But just as Harry’s female backing singers weave their soft harmonies beneath his rich voice, the ex-One Direction star unleashes his jaw-dropping vocal range.
The explosive chorus sees Harry belt his hit with a voice that’s aged like fine wine. Even his band holds back their own power to let Harry’s unfiltered vocals dazzle the entire internet with an a cappella feel. Then, after another flawless verse and chorus, Harry does the unexpected…
Harry quits the mic entirely to dabble in some live mixing, using a small producer’s set-up placed on one side of the stage. As a bubbly arpeggio staggers out from his synth player’s keyboard, Harry is seen fiddling with some knobs and buttons inside a black briefcase, mixing his own song on the spot. It’d be easy to assume that Harry’s just a singer-songwriter, but this clip proves how, after 15 years on the stage and in the studio, the star has picked up some extra-curricular tricks as well!
As the band comes out in full force for Harry’s final chorus, fans have been left with goosebumps at this pop ballad’s emotional depth, and Harry’s perfect execution as he takes the mic once more.
Some viewers even reckon that this live version tops the album and single original, with one fan commenting: “I don’t know why he hasn’t used these arrangements also in the CD. They’re so much better! The music is more genuine and less artificial and you can clearly hear his voice. I think this album will be so so much better live.”
This wasn’t the only song Harry wowed fans with during his recent appearance in the BBC’s Live Lounge. Alongside performances of “Dance No More,” “Carla’s Song” and his lead single, “Aperture,” Harry surprised the internet with an unexpected cover of Tears For Fears’ “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” – a clip that’s already gone sensationally viral with more than 3.1 million views to date!