Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
nathan fertig y0HerwKQLMk unsplash?width=719&height=464&fit=crop&auto=webp
nathan fertig y0HerwKQLMk unsplash?width=398&height=256&fit=crop&auto=webp
/ Unsplash
Culture > Entertainment

A Song-by-Song Guide to Harry Styles’s ‘Fine Line’

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Bowling Green chapter.

Right before the new year started, Harry Styles decided to bless us all with one last chart-topping album of the decade. Fine Line is an eclectic mash-up of genres and sounds that will leave listeners in a state of ecstasy. Don’t believe me? Check out my guide below.

Golden

The warmth that emanates from this song is astounding. With lyrics like, “loving is the antidote,” Goldenacts like a shot of dopamine. While it isn’t strictly a feel-good song, Styles’ makes the message behind the song itself feel hopeful. What that message is exactly, is up to each individual listener. Golden is the song we all need to listen to at the end of a long day.

Watermelon Sugar

When this single first dropped, I was ecstatic. I remember telling one of my friends before actually listening to the track that “watermelon is my favorite fruit!” That thought seems so innocent now, as many fan theories point toward the song being about oral sex. No matter your interpretation of the song, it is definitely a summer bop (despite it being released in November)!

Adore You

Styles’ went all out with the promotions for this single. He, along with some of his producers, crafted an entire fictional island that the music video for the song takes place on. The song itself is quite endearing but still holds that sexual undertone that most of this album seems to possess. 

Lights Up

This was the first single released from this album, and it made quite the impact. With lyrics like “do you know who you are?” some fans found themselves resonating with the song in a way that allowed them to grow as a person. While this sounds pretty heavy, the song itself has a pretty upbeat rhythm behind that juxtaposes the overwhelming questions that it asks. 

Cherry

MANY are calling Cherry a fan favorite. Anyone who has gone through a breakup will feel as if they somehow assisted in writing the song, and its sweet & sour ending (a voicemail from Styles’ ex, Camille) has left some listeners feeling conflicted. It’s difficult to tell if the ending of the track represents a letting go, or a holding on. You’ll have to give it a listen to find out!

Falling

This is easily the most emotional track on the album. If you have ever been in a bad place mentally, this song will tug at you like no other. Listeners feel a sense of longing for something or someone that they can no longer have, and that feeling is incredibly powerful. While a lot of the songs on the album are emotionally heavy, this one seems to have taken the cake for a lot of fans. 

To Be So Lonely 

To Be So Lonely immediately answers Falling with its opening line “don’t blame me for falling.” The song seems to be more accepting of the emotions that were displayed in the previous track. It’s a bit more upbeat and sends a positive message to listener’s (especially those who just listened to Falling): things will get better. It will be hard, and maybe lonely. But they will. 

She

This song sounds like a classic rock ballad and is one of my favorites on the album. With an amazing guitar solo at the end from Mitch Roland, there isn’t much wrong with this track at all. Of course, there are a lot of fan theories surrounding this song as well. One of the more interesting ones is that the titular She is representative of men’s feminine side and the pressure men feel to repress this side. Of course, this for you to decide, dear listener. 

Sunflower, Vol. 6

A lot of people have had the same thought when it comes to Sunflower, Vol. 6. Where are volumes 1-5? Yes, the song is that good. It’s upbeat and genuinely fun. The track has the ability to transport the listener to a place that is purely warm and happy. It has a nostalgic quality that is hard to explain, but that most have caught onto. 

Canyon Moon

If you’re looking for a song to play on your road trip across the country, stop looking. You’ve found it. Canyon Moon makes you want to climb into your car, roll down the windows, and see how far a full tank of gas will get you. The song is fun and lighthearted, perfect background music for your “I feel like I’m in a movie” moment!

Treat People With Kindness

Styles has admitted to channeling his inner-Queen with this track. Treat People With Kindness acts as a sort of homage to Bohemian Rhapsody with its opening group chorus and varying rhythms. It’s the ultimate feel-good song. If you aren’t in a good mood, you will be after listening to this song.

Fine Line

The titular song from the album, Fine Line, showcases Styles’ vocal range and ties the album up nicely. Essentially, the album bounces between two sides of the emotional spectrum and Fine Line acts as the reminder that nothing in life is ever black and white. There’s always a balance to be found. A Fine Line.

If you didn’t love Harry Styles before, you definitely love him now. Still don’t believe me? Go listen to his sophomore album and then get back to me. Stream Fine Line!

Sawyer Stippich

Bowling Green '20

Hello! My name is Sawyer Stippich, I'm a third year student at Bowling Green State University and am set to graduate in the spring of 2020. I'm majoring in Creative Writing and minoring in English Literature. You can find some of my published work in Sonder Midwest, edition #2. As always, #TalonsUp