Revisiting Harry’s House One Year Later
Samantha Collera, May 2023
May 19, 2022, 11:59 P.M. I had been anxiously waiting all day for the clock to strike midnight which would signify the official start of a brand new era of Harry music. I’ve never been a fan of change, so grappling with letting go of an era of music that brought me so much comfort and joy was hard. It sounds wild and a little dramatic, but when you’re a fan of someone as special as Harry, watching him grow and evolve is such a special experience that watching a new album rollout and reminiscing on the success of the previous one is an emotional rollercoaster. May 20, 2022, 12:00 A.M. I pressed play on my Spotify and was immediately welcomed into Harry’s House.
To say this album changed my life would be an understatement. I’ve said it a lot in real life, but as a longtime fan of One Direction I feel as if members of the band release music or do important things in their careers when I need a pick me up or when I’m entering a new phase of life. Harry’s House is certainly no exception to that statement. I had just finished my second to last semester of college and was on the cusp of turning 21, ready to truly enjoy the following months and all they had to offer. With a brand new album to kickstart the summer, I felt more ready to take on life than ever before.
Harry’s House quickly became my favorite Harry album and a favorite album of all time. It soundtracked some of my most memorable moments of the summer and my final semester of college, it filled the silence of sleepless nights and allowed me to feel some sense of peace from my racing thoughts about anything and everything. I got to sing my heart out two nights in a row to these songs during the MSG residency shows, something I still can’t believe I get to say. I made new friends and strengthened long term friendships through a common love of this album. These songs have become some of my most streamed of all time, every single track made my Spotify Wrapped 2022 playlist and in the short few months it was out I had streamed “Keep Driving” almost 900 times (oops).
Every lyric and beat is permanently ingrained in my memory. I have smiled, cried, danced, and felt incredibly human listening to this album. Harry has the ability to write such personal lyrics in a way that makes them feel relatable to anyone, something I have always admired about his art. He can make the most painful of situations easier to cope with and the happiest circumstances feel even more joyous than they already are. Being a fan of Harry means so many things, but hearing these songs come to life will always fill me with emotions I can’t contain. Whether it’s on a stage in the middle of the desert for Coachella or a spinning stage at the GRAMMYs, I will always find something new to fall in love with about his ability to make each performance feel new and exciting.
Watching the rapid success of this album filled me with so much pride. Seeing “As It Was” break records and top the charts for weeks on end was unlike anything I had ever seen before. Love On Tour became the hottest ticket in town; having the ability to go to at least one show was something not many people could come by. Seeing single after single pop up on the charts and Harry’s understated genius shine in accompanying music videos made me immensely proud to have been along for the Harry’s House journey since the start, and it made me even more proud to see how far he’s come since the early days of his solo endeavors.
There aren’t enough words in the English language I can use to express my gratitude to Harry and every single person who had a hand in creating this album. As I sit here typing this post out, I can’t help but think of how much has changed in the past year not only for myself but for my favorite boy. I’m a college graduate, I’m navigating life as a real adult, I’m giving myself the space to grow and learning to be more patient, gentle, and kinder to myself. Being able to do these things with Harry and his music by my side to guide me through life is truly special. I’ve seen Harry go from one GRAMMY to three, sell out stadiums night after night, I’ve watched as he’s covered some of the most critically acclaimed magazines, I’ve been a champion for his ever growing fashion/beauty empire, and through it all I’ve seen him shine and become even more confident than ever before.
Harry, thank you for allowing us into your world. You are a one of a kind artist and being able to celebrate an entire year of this album being in the world is such a monumental moment. Life without Harry’s House would be so vastly different, and I’m not sure I can imagine a world without it.