Image: Kevin Mazur

It is hard to know where to begin to describe Harry Styles’ breath taking, chilling moving performance at Madison Square Garden… But one thing is for sure, there is hope for the future and his show cements this.

Harry communicated several important messages throughout his performance, with an overarching message,“be whoever you want to be in this room tonight.”

He bought joy to the stage, and never wiped the smile off his face. The infrastructure of Madison Square was tested throughout ‘What Makes You Beautiful’, with the floor literally shaking from a delighted crowd. There was also throwbacks to other One Direction tracks, ‘If I Could Fly’ and ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ which he gave a new spin to.

With Jagger swagger he belted out all the tracks from his debut album, my personal favourite, ‘Sweet Creature’, but it was not the stand out for everyone else… “This song is for anyone out there who needs it… this is, ‘Sign of the Times.’” The arena lit up with lights, and you could feel the emotion of the battles so many have faced in a challenging society.

There were no back up dancers, coreographed moves, excessive flashing lights, costume changes, it was just Harry, his band and sheer talent that captivated the crowd.

The setlist has changed a few times throughout his world tour, and New York was lucky to see the below live.

Only Angel

Woman

Ever Since New York

Two Ghosts

Carolina

Stockholm Syndrome

Just a Little Bit of Your Heart

Medicine

Meet Me in the Hallway

Sweet Creature

If I Could Fly

Anna

What Makes You Beautiful

Sign of the Times

Encore:

From the Dining Table

The Chain (Fleetwood Mac)

Kiwi

Despite his rockstar status, it is apparent Harry counts his blessings every day. “I’m so happy being back in this room. Things like this don’t happen to me… to play in rooms like this. Thank you, thank you, thank you… I am a very lucky man and you have changed my life, and it means so much to me. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

I don’t think he has realised just yet how many lives he has changed through his music… and voice. From a supportive signal to Black Lives Matter posters in the crowd and stickers on his guitar reading “end gun violence“, to waving a rainbow flag and promoting gender equality with females on keys and drums, Harry Styles is reassuring us, we’re not alone in this fight.

The article was originally published on Don't Bore Us