Last updated: March 18, 2024At Prime Sound, we’re dedicated to uncovering the layers of musical artistry, and Harry Styles’ “Watermelon Sugar” offers a rich tapestry to explore. This song, a blend of rock, funk-pop, and indie pop with 1970s and soul elements, has captured the imagination of listeners worldwide. But there’s more to it than meets the ear.
“Watermelon Sugar” is a delightful mix of genres featuring trumpets, guitars, and horns, creating a summer-inflected sonic experience. The song is set in the key of A minor, in Dorian mode, with a 96 beats per minute tempo. The structure includes a verse, pre-chorus, chorus, post-chorus, bridge, and an outro, all adding up to a duration of two minutes and fifty-three seconds. The brass elements, particularly in the second chorus and bridge, elevate the song to ecstatic heights.
Styles’ raspy vocals, ranging from D3 to A4, add a raw and emotive layer to the track. His use of long notes, especially in the final chorus, is not just a display of vocal ability but also serves as a medium to convey the song’s deeper message.
Styles’ candidness about the song’s meaning resonated with fans, many of whom appreciated his openness and the song’s celebration of female pleasure. This aligns with a broader cultural shift towards more mature and inclusive themes in popular music.
Harry Styles’ admission of “Watermelon Sugar” being an ode to the female orgasm is not just about the explicit content, but it reflects a deeper respect and appreciation for feminine sensuality. This bold move in a mainstream pop song is a significant step towards normalizing discussions around female pleasure in music, an area often overlooked or misrepresented in popular culture.
The song’s composition is a fascinating aspect to explore. Its blend of rock, funk, pop, and soul, combined with 1970s elements, creates a rich and vibrant soundscape. The song is meticulously structured, with a sequence of verse, pre-chorus, chorus, post-chorus, bridge, and outro, all contributing to its compelling narrative flow. The use of trumpets, guitars, and horns throughout the song enhances its summery, jubilant feel. Styles’ vocal range, spanning from D3 to A4, adds an expressive dimension, communicating the song’s deeper meanings through his emotive and raspy voice.
Styles’ approach to “Watermelon Sugar” illustrates how pop music can be a platform for discussing more mature themes. By openly addressing topics like the female orgasm in his song, Styles is breaking new ground in the pop genre, challenging traditional narratives and paving the way for more inclusive and diverse expressions of sexuality in mainstream music.
The response to Styles’ revelation about the song’s meaning has been overwhelmingly positive, with fans appreciating his frankness and the song’s celebration of female pleasure. This reaction is indicative of a cultural shift towards more open discussions of sexuality in music and media. Styles, through “Watermelon Sugar,” has tapped into this evolving cultural narrative, resonating with a generation that values authenticity and openness in artistic expression.
“Watermelon Sugar” is more than a catchy tune; it’s a symbol of artistic evolution and cultural change. Harry Styles has not only created a hit song but also contributed to a broader conversation about sexuality and pleasure in music. His boldness in exploring these themes marks a significant moment in pop music, where artists can use their platform to address complex, often underrepresented topics.
