On Sept. 15, 2022, 20,000 people gathered in Madison Square Garden (MSG) to watch English singer-songwriter Harry Styles perform. It was the second to last show out of 15 for Styles’ Love on Tour 2022 residency at MSG. The night consisted of singing, cheering and dancing like nobody was watching.
Love on Tour is Styles’ second world tour, following the breakup of former band One Direction, and was originally started to promote his sophomore album “Fine Line” (2019). The tour kicked off in Las Vegas, Nev. on Sept. 4, 2021 after being postponed twice due to COVID-19 safety restrictions. The second leg of the tour, which began on June 11, 2022 in Glasgow, Scotland, predominantly featured songs off of Styles’ recently released album “Harry’s House” (2022). Styles has since returned to North America to complete the third leg of his tour, including his fifteen nights at MSG in New York City.
Walking to Madison Square Garden at 6 p.m. on Sept. 15, 2022 was a surreal experience. Concert-goers could be identified in the streets by their colorful outfits and trails of feathers from shedding boas. People came dressed in their most extravagant outfits, from glitter and sequins to flare jeans and cowboy boots; many looks were inspired by fashion icon Styles himself.
Inside the arena, a rainbow sea of people filled the seats. Fans accumulated around the 360 stage set in the center of the floor. Everyone sang along to hits like One Direction’s “Best Song Ever” and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” while patiently waiting for the show to start. After what seemed like an eternity, the lights dimmed, and the crowd erupted into deafening cheers as Styles shot up from the center of the stage dressed in a red and white polka dotted shirt and pink pants.
“Daydreaming,” his opening song, set the tone for the concert — loud, energetic and positive vibes all around. Not a single soul in the crowd could be found sitting. Next, came two upbeat singles from “Fine Line,” “Golden” and “Adore You.”
“You have one job,” Styles told the audience in between songs, “and that is to have as much fun as you possibly can.”
The following set of songs were all from “Harry’s House,” starting with “Daylight” and “Keep Driving.” “Matilda” and “Little Freak,” two of the slower ones on the album, had everyone waving their phone flashlights around. Some fans were crying and others, who could relate to the songs, were pouring their hearts out into singing. Regardless of whether the lyrics applied to you or not, it was clear to everyone that Styles meant every line he was singing based on the raw emotion in his voice. “Satellite” changed the energy from the previous ballads. This fun song brought everyone to their feet again, as they danced alongside Styles. More dancing followed with “Cinema” and “Music For a Sushi Restaurant.”
During “Treat People With Kindness,” fans truly embraced the idea of music bringing people together. The pit was going crazy. Some people were doing Styles’ dance routine from the “Treat People With Kindness” music video and others were forming conga lines. Everyone was just living in the moment with each other. It was a beautiful sight to see: strangers off all different cultures and backgrounds were gathered in the same place, brought together by one single artist.
Fans, especially the older ones, were hit with a breath of nostalgia when Styles sang One Direction’s iconic “What Makes You Beautiful” next. Styles put his own twist to the song by adding a touch of rock to make it more personal. Next were “Late Night Talking” and “Watermelon Sugar,” popular singles from both albums, followed by the underrated “Harry’s House” song, “Love of My Life.”
“Sign of the Times” was the highlight of the show for many. Being Styles’ first solo song after One Direction split, it was astounding to see how big he had grown, both as an artist and person. He finished the concert with a lively performance of “As It Was” and the iconic “Harry Styles” (2017) banger “Kiwi,” leaving the concert on a high note.
Styles did an excellent job of entertaining the audience. Capturing and maintaining the attention of over 20,000 people for over two hours is no easy feat, yet he accomplished it effortlessly. In between songs he interacted with audience members, stopping to take one fan’s BeReal and sing another one “Happy Birthday.” This is one of the many qualities fans adore about him; despite performing in such a large place, he still manages to give the arena an intimate feel and make everyone feel heard.
Love on Tour is set to conclude on July 22, 2023 in Reggio Emilia, Italy after 160 total shows. Although Styles has performed in hundreds of venues, it will remain a fact that he will always have a home in Madison Square Garden.
Written by Sahana Thyagarajan of Walt Whitman High School
Graphic courtesy of Chloe Kim of Seneca Valley High School