List of songs written by Harry Styles
English singer-songwriter, musician, model and actor Harry Styles has written tracks on both of his studio albums — Harry Styles (2017) and Fine Line (2019) — and for an assortment of other artists. He has majority of shares in most of his songwriting credits.[1][2]
Styles worked with Jeff Bhasker, Mitch Rowland, Alex Salibian, Tyler Johnson, and Ryan Nasci on his first album, including the lead single "Sign of the Times", which peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart[3] and sold over two million copies in the US.[4] Styles conceptualised the song as the situation of "a mother [giving] birth to a child and there's a complication. The mother is told, 'The child is fine, but you're not going to make it.'"—an analogy the singer uses to allude to the "fundamental" injustices present in life and modern society.[5] Styles explained the process of composing it: "The song that made the album feel like it was starting to actually be an album instead of a group of songs was Sign of the Times. I finished lunch early and went and sat at the piano for about five minutes. It was the quickest songwriting on the album. I think we'd finished it, minus the choir, in about three hours."[6] Bhasker echoed that sentiment, "Harry was playing it on the piano and we fleshed it out a little bit. Then he jumped on the mic, I played piano and we cut that whole record in three hours."[7] Bhasker also noted that Styles, "got to lead the room. He didn't have to sit there and constantly feel like he's got to defer to me. Harry was the boss."[7]
For his second studio album, Styles partnered with longtime friend and standout producer Thomas Hull, who also had a small role in his debut record, as well as former collaborators Johnson, Rowland, and Bhasker. He described the process of making this album as, "More joyous," and said that "The freeing part of making this album was redefining what success meant to me. Adopting the frame of mind that doing the type of music that makes me happy is the true marker of success, and letting go of all the strings that I'd held onto about the kind of numbers my records had to do, was very liberating."[8] Styles described the record's first single "Lights Up", which peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart,[9] as being a "very uplifting and liberating song" and "about self-reflection, self discovery, and freedom. Things that I've been trying to process and wrestle with over the last couple of years—accepting all of those things."[10] About the writing process, he said that, "Lights Up was the most unorthodox song I've ever made. It was written via voice notes with Tyler [Johnson]. He'd send me a track and we'd send voice notes back and forth. I wrote the lyrics and we got together in the studio to record it really quickly. On the second day I decided to put the choir on, which we don't usually do so early on. Once we put the choir on, it made the song and took it to a different place. My favourite part about it is that I don't know what the song is. It doesn't necessarily make that much sense, but I think that's part of what makes me like it."[8] Another Fine Line single was Styles’ first Billboard Hot 100 number one hit "Watermelon Sugar",[11] earning him his first Grammy Award and second Brit Award. Co-writer Thomas Hull commented to Music Week on the writing process in 2021: “It was one of the first songs, it might even have been the first song, we wrote for the album. We went to Tyler Johnson’s studio in Nashville. I was playing a riff, Tyler was doing some chords and then Harry turned up and started singing and the whole thing developed. Harry was reading a book called In Watermelon Sugar [by Richard Brautigan]. Either he brought it in or it might have been just sat there. We had the melody and he said, ‘What about Watermelon Sugar?’ At first, and I get this quite a lot with his lyrics, I thought, ‘That’s kind of weird’. Then you’re like, ‘Man, it’s brilliant’. I remember thinking that with this. Harry’s so good at lyrics, he’s really growing into his own thing.”[12] Styles and Kid Harpoon were nominated for Songwriter of the Year at the UK’s prestigious Ivor Novello Awards in 2021, which celebrate the country’s great songwriting and composing talents.[13] While Celeste was named songwriter of the year alongside her writing partner Jamie Hardman, another Fine Line single, "Adore You", was named most performed song at the ceremony.[14]
After co-writing several songs on Up All Night and Take Me Home, Styles worked with Savan Kotecha and Carl Falk to write "Happily", and Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol and Jacknife Lee to write "Something Great", both of which appeared on Midnight Memories. Styles has stated that “Happily” was the first time he saw his name in the credits, which he liked.[15] On this album, Styles also co-wrote the hit single Story of My Life, which peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart,[16] and sold over three million copies in the US.[17] Styles co-wrote the song "Just a Little Bit of Your Heart" with Johan Carlsson which was included on Ariana Grande's second studio album My Everything (2014). Grande went on to perform the song at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards as a then first-time nominee.[18] Styles also co-wrote the song "I Love You" with Carlsson which was recorded by Alex & Sierra for their debut studio album. He co-wrote several songs on Four including "Where Do Broken Hearts Go", "Stockholm Syndrome", and hit single Night Changes. He also contributed to several songs on Made in the A.M. including the second single "Perfect", which peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart.[19] Styles co-wrote the song "Someday" with Meghan Trainor which was recorded by Trainor and Michael Bublé for the latter's Grammy nominated ninth studio album, Nobody but Me (2016). With Jack Antonoff and Ilsey Juber, Styles co-wrote "Alfie's Song (Not So Typical Love Song)", released as a single by Bleachers, for the soundtrack of the film Love, Simon (2018).
Styles has a total of eighty-four writing credits under his name, including several unreleased tracks. Aside from the aforementioned artists, Styles has written for bands Augustana and Kodaline, as well as singer Gavin DeGraw. He's collaborated with OneRepublic lead singer Ryan Tedder, EGOT recipient John Legend, and Snow Patrol pianist Johnny McDaid. Colleagues of Styles have indicated that he's composed music with Taylor Swift,[20] Bruno Mars,[21] and Max Martin,[21] though no works have been registered as of yet.
Styles talent and proficiency in songwriting has been noted by several of his writing partners, with Tedder referring to him as a "phenomenally talented writer"[22] and Kotecha remarking that, "With Harry it was really interesting, because from [One Direction's] album two you really saw that he was a f*cking good writer. We did a song together for the third album — the only thing we did for the third album — called Happily, which I'm really proud of and I think he is as well... he was really great at bringing ideas."[23] Meanwhile, Grande has praised Styles, affirming that "People know Harry, of course, first and foremost as a singer, but I think they'll be very impressed when they hear his writing skills,"[24] and that "I was more intimidated, because he recorded a demo for me so I could learn the song [Just A Little Bit of Your Heart]. I was like, 'I don't know if I wanna touch this song! It is so beautiful, the way he sang it, I don't know if I want to make it my own.'"[25] For his part, Legend commented that "I'd love to write with him again as he is a great guy and very talented. He has some really great lyrical ideas and is a very good songwriter."[26]
Songs[]
|
Indicates single release |
| # | Indicates promotional single release |
Notes[]
References[]
- ^ "Global Music Rights". Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "BMI Repertoire". Broadcast Music, Inc. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 :: 14 April 2017 – 20 April 2017". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "RIAA Certifications Gold&Platinum". Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ Crowe, Cameron (18 April 2017). "Harry Styles' New Direction". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ Styles, Harry (12 May 2017). "Harry Styles: Behind the Album". Apple Music. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ a b Bhasker, Jeff (30 May 2017). "THE HARRY TAPES: A CONVERSATION WITH JEFF BHASKER". Hits Daily Double. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ a b Styles, Harry (13 February 2020). "Harry Styles: "Il vero successo è stare bene"". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 :: 18 October 2019 – 24 October 2019". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ East, Fleur (31 October 2019). "Does Harry Styles get tired of being SO good looking?". Hits Radio. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Harry Styles' 'Watermelon Sugar' Surges to Top of Billboard Hot 100, Becoming His First No.1". Billboard. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ "Kid Harpoon reveals the secrets behind Harry Styles' BRIT-nominated smash Watermelon Sugar". Music Week. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ "Harry Styles, Lewis Capaldi, Dave, Celeste Top 2021 Ivor Novello Award Nominees". Billboard. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ "Harry Styles haunts Noel Gallagher with win at Ivor Novello Awards". BBC. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ "Harry Styles Reveals the Secrets Behind 'Fine Line'". Rolling Stone. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 :: 8 December 2013 – 14 December 2013". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "RIAA Certifications Gold&Platinum". Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Grammys: Ariana Grande Performs "Just a Little Bit of Your Heart"". The Hollywood Reporter. 8 February 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 :: 23 October 2015 – 29 October 2015". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Cover Story: The Making of Taylor Swift". Hot Press. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ a b "Did Robbie Williams Just Reveal Harry Styles Is Working With Bruno Mars On New Music?". Capital (radio network). 29 November 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Ryan Tedder isn't sure if Harry Styles will release a solo album after all". NME. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Ep. 3: Savan Kotecha". And The Writer Is...With Ross Golan. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Ariana Grande "Loves" the Song Harry Styles Wrote for Her, Talks "Insanity" of Opening the 2014 MTV VMAs". E!. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
- ^ "Ariana Grande talks Harry Styles song". News24. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "John Legend talks song writing with Harry Styles". Dolly. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "5378 Miles". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Made in the A.M. (Media notes). One Direction. Columbia Records / Syco Music. 2015.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Fine Line (Media notes). Harry Styles. Columbia Records / Erskine Records. 2019.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Love, Simon (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Media notes). Various artists. RCA Records. 2018.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Already Home". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (12 March 2018). "Harry Styles World Tour Kick Off Includes Debut Two New Songs, 'Anna' & 'Medicine'". Billboard. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
- ^ "Anna". Global Music Rights. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ a b c d Take Me Home (Media notes). One Direction. Columbia Records / Syco Music. 2012.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Better than Being Alone". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "California". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Can't Get Enough". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harry Styles (Media notes). Harry Styles. Columbia Records / Erskine Records. 2017.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c d e Four (Media notes). One Direction. Columbia Records / Syco Music. 2014.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ The Otherside (Media notes). Cam. RCA Records. 2020.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Coco". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Don't Forget to Remember Me". GEMA Repertoire. GEMA (German organization). GEMA Work #12390634-002.
- ^ "Don't Let Me Go". BMI Repertoire. Broadcast Music, Inc. BMI Work #19244791.
- ^ "Endlessly". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ a b c Up All Night (Media notes). One Direction. Columbia Records / Syco Music. 2011.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Fall Apart". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Fun For Now". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ a b c d Midnight Memories (Media notes). One Direction. Columbia Records / Syco Music. 2013.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Have and Hold". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "I Just Wanna Be Your Man". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ It's About Us (Media notes). Alex & Sierra. Columbia Records. 2014.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "I Wasn't Ready". BMI Repertoire. Broadcast Music, Inc. BMI Work #18647616.
- ^ My Everything (Media notes). Ariana Grande. Republic Records. 2014.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Kiss It Better". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Kiss Me". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Kissed You In The Rain". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Lay Down". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Like Everybody Else". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Like You Do". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Long Time Gone". GEMA Repertoire. GEMA (German organization). GEMA Work #16385856-001.
- ^ "Love You Like You're Leaving". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Make It Feel Right". BMI Repertoire. Broadcast Music, Inc. BMI Work #18647619.
- ^ "Medicine". Global Music Rights. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Might Not Want You". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Not Our Fault". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "One Desire". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "One of Those Nights". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Second Chance". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "She Got Away". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ Nobody but Me (Media notes). Michael Bublé. Reprise Records. 2016.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Something I've Been Waiting For". GEMA Repertoire. GEMA (German organization). GEMA Work #16335071-001.
- ^ "This Is The Start". BMI Repertoire. Broadcast Music, Inc. BMI Work #18647621.
- ^ "Wake Up the Sun". GEMA Repertoire. GEMA (German organization). GEMA Work #16335052-001.
- ^ "Want You To Be There". ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "You Still Have My Heart..." ASCAP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- Songs written by Harry Styles
- Lists of songs by songwriters