LHL aimh

📣| “I'm not going to lie, I'm... I'm through the hardest part now, because fucking hell, I was a bag of nerves, honestly. We're here now, we're here now, right. Right, I've got a few things I want to say, maybe I'll sit down, feels like one of them chats, don't it? Obviously, on a day like today, you know, I... I've been reflecting, I've been thinking about my whole career. This is an important night for me, it's an important night for us as a collective, you know. I can remember distinctly, the year before I got put in the band, I actually also auditioned on The X Factor, right, and I remember distinctly... I was 17, I remember distinctly coming back and I... I got a 'no', I wasn't going to get through, and I remember being in the car with my mom, we stopped off, grabbed a Subway, that was lovely, and I'm just bawling my eyes out, being like, 'I fucking really want this, I really, really want this.' And you know, at that age, it's... it's kind of difficult to deal with that kind of shit, definitely. So, but... but luckily, you know, I had a... a good, good support and good advice around me, and I... and I went again, and then luckily, I got put in the band. And I fucking cherished every single year we had in the band, that was incredible. And you know, then there was a time where that wasn't a thing anymore, whatever we called it, fucking hiatus, or whatever. And... so I was kind of at that same place again, I was like, 'I really fucking want this, I don't want to let this go, you know, I fucking love doing what I do.' But I couldn't, I couldn't really, maybe to my own detriment, I couldn't really see the finish line like that, or even see the light at the end of the tunnel like that, I was... I was kind of worried, I was kind of worried that that might be the end for me. And I want you guys to know, you know, I say a version of this every night, this is a longer form of it, but... I simply would not have the fucking confidence to get up and play a place like Madison Square Garden. But I feel really, really, really fucking proud of what we've created, and tonight is just... is the ultimate idea. So, I... I never really feel like I can quite articulate just how much you've done for me. But honestly... tonight is one of those moments, I want everyone to leave here tonight, right, if you've seen my first tour... I want everyone to leave here tonight to... to take that, you know. You... you're responsible. I guess I played a part too, we did it together, we did it together, right. And... yeah, forever grateful for nights like tonight, it's... it's really, really special, so thank you so much. But anyway, to top things off, I did want to say, 'Side by Side' is for you. Like, I wrote that song... I actually wanted to say this before the song, but I crept up on my own emotional, not gonna lie. Um, but uh, that song's for you, listen to the words, feel it. I fucking love you, we've been doing it for a long time now, some of us, so thank you for everything, thank you for all of the passion you guys give me, I fucking love you. Right. Before I fucking choke up. Here we go!”

never fucking mind

I'm back the song is

“Even though I didn’t speak to them much I remembered Harry and Liam well, because I saw them and thought, ‘You are definitely getting through.’ I had a photo taken with Harry because I knew he was going to be famous. I even gave him a hug and told him not to worry because I knew he’d be fine.”

I think it’s so interesting that people think this era is inauthentic. While I understand that experiencing and witnessing change can be a difficult and uncomfortable experience, I think witnessing change and calling it inauthentic reinforces the idea that H, or even L for instance must stay in the box that was once created for them. I think arguably this is probably both of their most authentic era (outside of stunts which I would say is a different can of worms) Both of them have spoken about letting life in and embracing change, finding things that make them happy, new sounds, experiences, people. Harry has been so open in the interviews he’s done this time around, he’s not skating around questions, he’s being very vulnerable and willing to speak about his inspirations, his future wants, his enjoyment when running, the reason he loves Italy so much, ect. I think one thing I’ve learned about fans this era is that they are uncomfortable watching the evolution of an artist outside of the box they are put in and it’s incredibly easy to boil it down to being inauthentic, which really is sad when the artist is opening up in a way they haven’t before.

adding onto this i wonder if harry shaving his head was part of the same headspace? trying to find who he is to himself instead of the Harry Styles TM that fans came to expect.