Artists & Bands

Harry Styles | Tunes + Guitar Lessons

From boy band breakout to chart-topping solo star, Harry Styles blends vintage pop-rock with modern charisma and style!

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The Birth of a Pop Icon: Harry Styles and the One Direction Years

At just 16, Harry Styles auditioned for The X Factor, singing Hey, Soul Sister. Simon Cowell wasn’t convinced and asked him to try again. Harry then performed Isn’t She Lovely and made it through.

However, his journey nearly ended at boot camp—until Simon stepped in once more, suggesting he join forces with other eliminated contestants to form a boy band. Harry came up with the name One Direction, and the rest is boy band history.

As manufactured as it may have seemed, it worked. Signing with Simon’s record label, One Direction went on to shatter boy band sales records worldwide.

Their debut album, Up All Night (2011), featured the massive hit What Makes You Beautiful, which sold nearly 10 million copies. The album itself moved 4.5 million units, cementing their status as global pop icons.

The follow-up, Take Me Home (2012), produced Live While We’re Young, another major hit—though later singles struggled to match its success.

By album three, Midnight Memories (2013), the band delivered two more chart-topping tracks: Story of My Life and Best Song Ever—both classic One Direction tunes packed with their signature bubblegum pop charm.

Their fourth album, Four (2014), topped the charts again, but cracks were beginning to show as a key member left. Singles like Steal My Girl and Night Changes didn’t make as big a splash.

Surprisingly, their fifth and final album, Made in the A.M. (2015), saw an uptick in sales—a rarity for boy bands, whose popularity usually declines as their audience grows up. The lead single, Drag Me Down, performed well, while Perfect had a more modest impact.

From Teen Idol to Rock Star

By 2016, One Direction had disbanded, and each member pursued solo careers. It quickly became clear that Harry Styles was the standout star.

Signed to Columbia, his debut solo album, Harry Styles (2017), marked a dramatic shift in sound. The lead single, Sign of the Times, showcased a more mature, rock-influenced Harry. It was a global smash, selling 10 million copies and charting in the top 10 in over 20 countries. The album itself hit #1 in 16 countries.

His sophomore effort, Fine Line (2019), included Watermelon Sugar, a song that not only peaked in the top 20 worldwide but also became a staple for working bands on the circuit. Other singles like Lights Up and Adore You followed, with Adore You alone selling 5 million copies in the United States.

Then came Harry’s House (2022), with its lead single As It Was continuing his tradition of debuting straight at #1.

Throughout his career—whether with One Direction or as a solo artist—Harry Styles’ tunes have consistently dominated the charts. From boy band fame to rock-inspired solo success, his ability to go straight to #1 remains undeniable.