#four hangout

Let's just take a tumble into the video where he explains the song with the help from the boys (that he then just trashes by dropping the nympho), segment starts at 26:07:

Soooooooo first look at their individual reactions when the song is brought up (big shoutout to all the amazing content creators giving us beautiful gifs in source-quality. I'm not one of them. I tried to get a high quality gif going for once and the red disappeared for reasons we don't understand walking in the wind):

Niall goes into oh gotta touch my nose mode,

Harry's like alright let's go you wanna know my secrets I'll tell you my secrets

Liam's amused! And that's very telling, that the mention of this song amuses him. He then says "Harry" and nods towards him too

Louis? I don't know what's going on in that brain, he's the sas queen this whole interview. He does say something here but I watched it over and over and have no idea what. Judging from his posture and behavior he's being a shady shit towards Ben as that seems to be his general attitude this whole interview.

Zayn is interesting AF too, he points to Harry with 1 hand at the back but I'm not sure what that lil gay wrist doing at the front, maybe it points at him, maybe at someone else? HMM? Either way it's pretty obvious he isn't identifying himself with that song, just like liam's reaction, giving it to Harry instantly.

And no that doesn't mean much, Harry wrote on it and the others didn't so it makes sense, but they all do seem to know what the song's about or at least have some inside joke about it that they're not saying (or, Harry did say it: that "she's a nympho" and that's just the joke)

Onto what's being said, Harry starts off with the obvious :"it's kind of along the lines of what Stockholm Syndrome is" and I think that's important, I think that maybe they either had a song idea and were like "oh so like Stockholm Syndrome" and just built from there, or it originated from maybe being fascinated by that term/condition for whatever reason and then putting that inspiration into songwriting, because most of this song is just a description of what Stockholm Syndrome is: when someone who is held against their will starts to bond with and develop positive feelings for the person holding them there. Harry's words: It's like when you develop a relationship or like feelings towards your kidnapper.

But let's look at their individual reactions again when he says that

Niall's shitting bricks and looking across the couch to the other boys

Harry's still like okay lemme just go here lemme explain this I have no shame do you have shame? I have no shame

Liam's amused! amused!

Louis has this calm over him, maybe like ye you want him to go there? You're gonna hate the answer tho lololol

Zayn is trying to help Harry's story by gesturing along, then looks at Louis? AMUSED?

Look at all their faces

Niall: ohgodohgodohgod

Harry: what about it haven't you heard no control that's about me bitch me you just wait till i write medicine

Liam: g r i n

Louis: w h a t a b o u t i t :>

Zayn: g r i n @ Louis

So you see why I'm leaning towards that lil NASTY explanation that's coming up actually being exactly that right? Just look at them.

Harry also says "she's a nympho" softly before saying it out loud. Zayn is jumping in to help again and says something along the lines of that it can also be about love, Liam has jumped in 10x already trying to explain the song, and then what does Harry do? He's like nah you don't go giving other meanings to my dirty song (or: they have the inside joke that is it) and goes

"THIS WAS MORE ABOUT LIKE A NYMPHO"

THE WHEEZE I CAN'T LOOK AT THEIR FACES AFTER HARRY SAYS THAT. LOOK LOOK LOOK

Harry: yep just did that hehe

Liam: oh god he just did that what are we gonna do

Louis: yeah what about it hehe

Niall: total utter oh god this was exactly what I was afraid of

Harry: No Control No Shame No ragrets Yes Marriage Yes Sex Yes Kissing everything the lot

Liam: I don't know how to fix this i don't know how to fix this we're live we're live we're live

Louis THE SUN IS SHINING I FEEL GOOD AND NOBODY'S GONNA STOP ME NOW OOHHH YEEEEAAHH

Zayn: Oh wow look at that sun

GOLD

So what to conclude from this, either

it's about a nympho (and that nympho is harry, or louis, probably both)

it was a running joke that it's about that as yaknow clearly you can interpret it that way but there's still another meaning to the song

Moving on, I mean the need to write about the Stockholm syndrome comes from somewhere right, maybe he was reading a book about it... oh maybe these ones...

Considering he's got a 17 black tattoo and all too. And of course those books are GAAAYYY[this link trashes Harry maybe not click it] because what's a Harry Styles song if it's not a reference to something supergay. Really. Now this can just be a funny coincidoink, just the universe being a silly again, who knows, but, it's possible. Also I believe that 17black tat was already associated with that book before Stockholm Syndrome was written? Not that that means anything. Anyway I haven't read the books so I don't know if that's gonna explain anything here, but I imagine if it's called that it's probably gonna have some similar themes.

So far it all checks out with just it being a no control one right? But reading the lyrics you can interpret it quite a lot darker too, as being controlled, by the label/management/the industry/being stuck in contracts, being stuck in keeping up this public image (see: Sign of the Times).

Harry is a nympho, this is some no control kinky shit

Harry is with a nympholouis, still some no control kinky shit

the music industry / label / management / his image / that area

A toxic relationship (not really considering this one)

Or all of the above

Let's just break down the lyrics. This is gonna get ~confusing~

Who's that shadow holding me hostage? I've been here for days

Holding me hostage + I've been here for days = a description of being kidnapped, helping to write that story of suffering from Stockholm Syndrome so possibly just filler, but then we get details: by a shadow and he doesn't know who that is.

Now I'm sitting here here in the Fine Line era with Do You Know Who You Are and I Don't Know Who She Is and HHMMMM maybe just pipe it down with the parallels

Oh no wait let's get back to the parallels because it's already some No Control vibeyvibes just from what he's said about the song alone, but then we get:

Who's that shadow holding me hostage? - Stockholm Syndrome

Her perfume's holding me ransom - No Control

okay no that's fine moving on

That he's asking who is that shadow? which can be his public image: a shadow can mean an reflected image of himself that isn't him, an imitation, something that follows you everywhere you go, and Harry being like who is that, it ain't the real me. But he's been there for days, he's been playing this person for days on end? Or maybe he's stuck hearing about shit about himself? Like can't escape it?

Who's this whisper telling me that I'm never gonna get away?

I Don't Know Who He Is again but it's described as a whisper + more of being held probably forever

A whisper is a synonym of rumor/gossip/scandal/story, again fitting that whole image idea I got going on here.

Parallel with "they told me that the end is near we gotta get away from here" - Sign of the times

I know they'll be coming to find me soon

They entered the chat, who is they? I mean the idea of the song is that he's being kidnapped right, so maybe this is just the storyline, but it relates to the next line:

But I fear I'm getting used to being held by you

Oh but now there's a You. Who is the you? It seems to imply it's the shadow/whisper as they're all holding him in places, but he knows this "you", while he questions who the shadow/whisper is. So it could be that it shifts here and "you" is someonelouis else and we're just building up to some other meaning chorus, because welp...

Oh, baby, look what you've done to me Oh, baby, look what you've done now Oh, baby, I'll never leave you if you keep holding me this way Oh, baby, look what you've done to me Oh, baby, you got me tied down Oh, baby, I'll never leave if you keep holding me this way

nympho entered the chat, this doesn't seem to be an unknown shadow whisper man, this is Oh Baby, look what you and your lack of control are doing to me

Alternate interpretation: the "Oh baby" and the "fell for you" and such are just added bits to make the song seem more fun, create this interpretation of a nympho, but its original meaning is dark and you know the label / management / contracts and such.

Also always consider why not both.

Who's this man that's holding your hand And talking about your eyes?

Now there's a man and "he"!? Is this another perspective? And it's Louis' bit? D... id.... did he have Louis sing a bit from another perspective? Because well what else is it, it suddenly flips. The whole song is me me me I'm being held and things are being done to me me me and then suddenly whambam there's a "man" doing things to a "you"? (and then in the next line there's no longer the "I" being held but the "he" is) God the brainpayne.

...Listen I wanted to find parallels here to explain these lines but all these 1D songs are talking about holding hands and eyes. I... pff... I got nothing. I don't understand, I don't understand, this song What you do to me when you hold his hand

Let's still try it tho, he goes "who is this man talking about your eyes" so let's see who is talking about eyes, and welp the first one I notice:

I just can't get enough of you, The pedal's down, my eyes are closed, No control - No Control OH OKAY OKAY

There are so many eyes tho, just some:

There's a lightning in your eyes, I can't deny - Ready to Run

Let me be the one to light a fire inside those eyes - Diana

But again, egh, songs are just "I have eyes", "I have a heart", "I have love", like there's not much to do with any of this.

Used to sing about being free But now he's changed his mind

But then there's also this line that fits the "this is about the label/management/industry" interpretation: "Used to sing about being free But now he's changed his mind", like, is he starting to like his image? Is he starting to enjoy the.. insanity? I mean, Maybe? -> It's getting crazy / but I'm into it (Kiwi). That duality of you got my devotion but man I can hate you sometimes (Fine Line) is quite a persistent theme in his lyrics, this could be one of it.

I know they'll be coming to find me soon But my Stockholm syndrome is in your room Yeah, I fell for you

back to the previous perspective, they're gonna take me away from you soon like I know I'm not hidden away, people know how to find me, but I wanna stay, I fell for you, I'm in love with you?

All my life I've been on my own I used the light to guide me home

He's using the light to guide him home, ok lighthouseman. (I don't have any brainspace left anymore can you tell)

But now together we're alone And there's no other place I'd ever wanna go

previously already specified: in your room, they're alone in you's room wow I figured it out.

So in summary: He's just with a person he wants to be with, and holding him (and also it's kinky) but they will be coming to get him away from that person soon, and/or there's a version of him that he doesn't really recognize all that much and he's stuck there. Oh and also a perspective shift when Louis sings.

~~and now for some quick parallels~~

"I used the light to guide me home, but now together we're alone" - Stockholme Syndrome

"I'll be your light, you'll never feel like you're alone, I'll make this feel like home" - Home

Louis you keep on referring to Harry's kinky music, strange bropal behavior

Shout out to Louis's collarbones and quiff combo...his voice is about to give out, but he’s so OPEN and present for this total shitshow, even when he defiantly refuses to take the path he’s being guided down. Also, please @ god let me play some poker while we enjoy a bacon butty over brunch, his face as Niall introduces Ben as a “very, very good friend of ours” (me as both Ziam and Harry):

One of the most subversive things this band does is effusive praise when they’re pissed off, and never is it clearer than here, when Niall gushes on about all the wonderful work Ben has done for them, and the other boys pick up on it and start whistling and clapping (Louis: “My hero”; Harry: “LOOK AT THOSE TEETH!”) until Ben gets extremely uncomfortable.

We’re off to a good start, with Ben being sure to preface that all of these questions are from the fans, and then Harry asking Ben if he’s wearing makeup (Ben, mildly affronted, “No, I’m not wearing any makeup, but you guys do, you wear a lot of makeup, don't you, Harry” [Harry: “Tons”; Ben: “Well, you need to”]).

The first question is about the difference between this album and their first one, and it’s such a stupid, easy question that I want to answer it for Niall because I can do it in my sleep. Ben then asks Louis if he likes visiting the X Factor, if it reminds him of the old days (you know, four years ago), and AGAIN, this is a dumb-ass question, and Louis’s a pro, so what do you think he’s gonna say? (Of course he likes visiting, it’s lovely to go down and relive it). Is Harry nervous about playing there again tonight? Nope, it’s fun!! He can enjoy it this time around! Simon Cowell doesn’t give him ANY anxiety!!

The next question is about the simplicity of the old days, and my god, does my heart break for Liam saying that they had to work really hard back then, so it’s nice that four years later, they get a few more vacation days. Louis agrees, adding that the first American promo trip was a grind where they did 10 things a day (multiple interviews, signings, radio appearances, rehearsals, and shows)

Ben asks if they ever go back and watch clips of themselves from their early days (this genuinely does seem like a fan ask), and wouldn’t you know, Niall was just chillin’ out last week, rewatching all the video diaries again. Louis admits that his red trousers and braces were loud, but they worked for the time, “Or do you disagree, Ben?” (Ben: “No, I loved it.” Louis: “Thank you.”) And I wish I could travel back in time both so I could kill Hitler AND witness Ben showing up somewhere in a pair of Toms, only to be faced by Louis Tomlinson telling him that he wore that style two years ago, and he wouldn’t anymore, which Ben says cut him down to size (I highly doubt that, but I would have love to see it).

All of this fashion talk is side-winding into a question about who tells them what to wear and whether they have control over their image now. They all note that they wouldn’t have dared to push back in year one, presumably because “experts” were telling them what to do, plus it was all free (which makes all the dragging on their old looks extra fun to watch). Then Ben asks whether they make their own decisions now, and Liam says yeah as Louis smirks, lmaooooo, which morphs into, well, we have much more input than we used to have. I’m here for Harry giving a slow, long-winded answer as a construction project starts up somewhere in the studio, and Louis yells, “Keep it down” into his mic.

Ben, I mean, the fans want to know what piece of advice they’d give the fetus versions of themselves, if they could go back in time, and Louis advises his younger self to have a second glance in the mirror and see if he’s really sure about that particular outfit. (Ben: “Is that…really?” Louis: “No, Ben, I’m just trying to make a joke.”). Liam would fight the haircuts, and Harry would burn the supras (I’m assuming; Louis: “They were outrageous”). Zayn would tell his younger self to have a bit more fun, to try and take it all in and enjoy it more. :(

“The fans” are curious about the negative side of social media, how the D just exploded on YouTube and Twitter after X Factor, and does it ever go too far? Liam channels my inbox and says that people forget there’s a person on the other side of an anon message, that these guys see all the things that are said about them, and they’re self-conscious with cameras and comments, but it’s okay, they put up with it. Louis’s addicted to Twitter, and says that there are negative people there, but you’ll find negative people on every social media platform and in real life, too, it is what it is.

Of course, “the fans” are curious about how all this social media shit affects their girlfriends, and I would kill to hear more about what Narry, the two singles on this couch, keep giggling about in this ridick convo that I’m not even gonna bother to sum up.

Ben’s curious how the fans always manage to leak everything the band does, and yes, Louis, tell us more! How does it make you feel? Liam thinks it’s anticlimactic, Niall’s only beef is when something is leaked a week before it’s out, and everyone else just gets annoyed if it breaks the structure of a rollout, but nobody talks about songs that are leaked that were never meant for official release (cough cough, "Home”), and Harry’s just happy people get a sneak peek and then still buy the album, so all is good. Me as this exchange: Ben, incredulously, “It’s amazing they’re able to constantly do it”; Liam: “Lots of high-tech people out there.”

Probably my favorite part of this is the fanfic discussion, which kicks off with Ben’s “I've noticed, not that I’ve read it, but there's been a lot of fanfiction published about you boys, books published, have you any read it?”

Zayn avoids it at all costs, but Louis’s aware of a fic writer’s book deal (who????) and says that he’s come across some of it on twitter (!!!). He finds some of it utterly bizarre (looking at you, self-inserts), but he’s read some nice little stories, and he’s seen some that go very deep and very, very weird. Liam acknowledges that it’s a whole different world, that he gets the idea of it, of fans putting themselves in situations with them (and Jesus Christ, it kills me that they’ve had to read self-insert wattpad fics), but some of it blows his mind. Niall doesn’t know where to go looking for it, but don’t worry friend, Ben’s gonna hook you up with his favorites! Harry is noticeably quiet during ALL of this.

With a horrible segue, Ben says, “Speaking of things that are made up, what’s the biggest rumor you’ve heard about yourself, this is a question lots of fans are asking” (SURE THING), and Harry never gets enough credit for his dry delivery, such as the way he says, “We’ve all been dead a couple of times.” But Ben can’t let it go, and that’s when Louis does his whole, “No”….dramatic pause (he might be saying “Go,” but the point is, he lets this bit drop where it lands). Zayn jumps in with the rumor that Niall used to be a jockey, and god bless him, honestly.

Ben realizes he’s not getting anywhere with this, so it’s time to move on to the actual album, why is it called Four, etc. It’s not really all that interesting, tbh, nor is the name they didn’t go with as a band (Liam’s dad’s suggestion, which was USP, if you’re curious). Liam figures USP will flourish one day, and this whole section proves how funny Liam actually is. I’m curious about all the One Direction tribute bands they’re mentioning, and I’m totally down to check one out if they’re ever in my area, just fwiw.

Anyway, moving on! What song are they most proud of? Zayn loves “Where Do Broken Hearts Go,” and Louis is WAY into “Fireproof,” which Liam’s down with, too. The part that’s interesting gets glossed over because Ben’s an idiot, but they talk about how many songs they’ve written that don’t make it to the album, like, Liam has a tattoo that says “somewhere is a place that nobody knows” from a song we’ll never hear called “Man on a Mission,” and how many others are stored in this vault (23 or 24 were in the final running for this album, where are they)? Harry suggests those songs will be on USP’s first album, and I will absolutely buy it. His story about the Norway bus trip makes me want to dig deep (he was on a party bus in Norway and heard one of their songs, sung by them, that had never been released anywhere, and he was the only one who knew it).

Zayn hints a bit at what happens (voting), and Liam hints at all the meetings, but I would love to know so much more about this process, especially since Niall says that lots of people are in these meetings, with lots of opinions (Simon, label, other managers).

Ben says that another recurring question is about what “Stockholm Syndrome” means, and I love the Alex Turner-esque dodge we get on Harry literally describing what Stockholm Syndrome means, without any real insight into what the song’s about. Still, I live in the awkward that happens right after this drops, with Ben still somehow trying to get them to admit they don’t feel trapped, lmao:

Ben asks about which songs are about specific people, and god, I don’t care because all of this section is lies. Then he tries to get them to talk about songs they don’t like, and they aren’t here for that, like, Liam will say he can’t casually listen to WMYB, but he loves performing it, and the best part of this is Harry saying he’ll crank that song and mouth along, pretending that he’s Niall.

For their favorite songs, Liam goes with “Fireproof,” Louis goes with “Midnight Memories,” Niall goes with “Where Do Broken Hearts Go,” Zayn can’t pick one, and Harry says “Best Song Ever.” Ben likes “Through the Dark” because of course he does, and that’s when the needling from Harry starts about “Gotta Be You,” and I don’t understand, but I live for him on the attack, so geddit, son (also, Niall, with his “your boyfriend’s back, and you’re gonna be in trouble,” etc., YES).

Another question Ben kept getting from fans (got it!) is what would be the one thing they’d change in the past four years, and Louis starts with, “Why would you want to? It’s been great, there’s no point.” Liam agrees, and that’s that. Ben’s next question is what moment they’d relive in the past four years, and Niall says he was really nervous at MSG, although Zayn thinks it was a great gig BECAUSE they were nervous. Nothing’s really happening here, so Ben asks Harry what’s going on with his hair (I guess “the fans” want to know?), and Harry just says it tends to grow, that’s what hair does, and he’s letting it all hang out.

Another “fan” question that makes me laugh from Ben: “Who makes the decisions in One Direction? Is it always your call?” And they all say NO, but Liam jumps in with, “It’s totally us, people ask us now, ultimately we call the shots,” and there’s a LOT of back-chatter here, so draw what you see.

Ben tries to push how much they love the “Night Changes,” video, and AGAIN, Harry gets on his case about “Gotta Be You,” and someone else covers it better than I ever could, but this goading by Harry is wonderful. Ben’s creative process for video concepts is fascinating because he basically admits that it’s easy or it’s really hard (read: he steals it or just throws a shitty idea to a wall to see if it sticks).