Harry Styles dropped his first solo single in May 2017 since leaving One Direction. The song “Two Ghosts” may or may not be about his previous relationship with pop star Taylor Swift,according to reports, but it certainly shows that he knows how to handle music fame all by himself. It’s just good ole Harry Styles and a guitar. He’s crooning about the lost love of some girl and how they’re now just “two ghosts”in each other’s memories. So, now that he’s back in our collective consciousness, we wanted to find some things that you might not have known about this former 1D heartthrob who decided to break out on his own. The 23-year-old musician sneaked his way into our hearts and has become an international sensation in his own right. Here are 15 things you might not have known about Harry Styles!
15 His ancestors had been farm laborers
Sometimes we forget where we’ve come from. When we’ve gotten used to today’s technology and ways of doing things, it can be easy to dismiss the way people used to live even a short time ago. According to Mirror in the UK,Harry Stylescomes from a long line of farm laborers. Farming back in the 1700s and 1800s had involved plenty of hands-on toil from the men who ran and worked the fields. They didn’t have the gas and electric-powered mass farming technology that exists today. Mirror also uncovered an interesting story that Harry’s great-great-great-grandfather Martin Styles had nearly died in a horse-and-buggy accident, which almost meant that we wouldn’t have dear Harry with us today. Martin, of course, survived and went on to have Harry’s great-great-grandfather, and the rest is history.
14 The first song he could sing from memory had been "Girl of My Best Friend"
In an interview withThe Sun,Harry Stylesrecountedhis childhood. Young Harry Styles would practice songs with a karaoke machine that his grandfather had given him. The majority of the songs had been Elvis Presley hits, and the earliest song he can remember knowing how to sing all the way through was “Girl of My Best Friend.” If you’ve ever heard the song or know the lyrics, you can definitely see the influence Elvis and particularly this song has had on Harry’s own songwriting. Thefirst verseof the song goes: “The way she walks/The way she talks/How long can I pretend/Oh, I can’t help it, I’m in love/with the girl of my best friend.” It’s songs like this that provided the musical foundation for what Harry writes today.
13 He's written songs for Ariana Grande and Michael Bublé, among others
Harry Styles writes songs for other artists, too. For example, heco-wroteAriana Grande’s “Just A Little Bit of Your Heart” and Michael Bublé’s “Nobody But Me” (co-writtenwith Meghan Trainor). People commission the young Styles to write songs for them because he’s damn good at it. He finds the right emotional chords and knows how to write a song that works with a particular artist’s vocal range and unique sound. That takes some serious talent. And you probably already suspect that he wrote many songs for One Direction, including “Where Do Broken Hearts Go” and “Stockholm Syndrome.” He might only be in his early 20s, but Harry Styles knows how to tap into the heartbeat of romance, longing and love with his songwriting. Think of all the many more songs that Harry Styles still has to write! The future looks bright for this kiddo!
12 His debut feature film role is in 'Dunkirk,' coming out this year
Christopher Nolan’s newest filmDunkirkwill hit movie theaters in the United States in July 2017, and theaction-packed historical thrillerhas a familiar face! Harry Styles makes hisfilm debut as Alex, one of the young soldiers during the Battle of Dunkirk in WWII. According to the Huffington Post, Harry Styleshad to chop offhis signature long locks for the film, but donated his luxurious strands to Little Princess Trust. His hair will be made into a wig that will help a child who has lost his or her hair due to cancer treatments. Christopher Nolan also explained why he’d cast Harry in his movie, and the reason is that Harry just “had it,” that star quality that fit the particular role he wanted to place him in.
11 He wrote a song about a girl he met on a blind date
A gorgeous 20-year-old brunette had inspired Harry Styles’ song “Carolina.” They’d met on a blind date in Los Angeles, but Townes Adair Jones originally hails from South Carolina. According to theDaily Mail,Townes and Harryhave a mutual friendwho set them up. Things had gone so well that Harry had been inspired to write a love song about her and their time together. Townes attends college and majors in French and philosophy, which means she’s got beauty AND brains. And she also has really great friends. Who wouldn’t want to be set up on a blind date with a cute young singer? Why don’t we have friends like that? Anyway, it had only been one date. One memorable date that inspired an entire song. Way to go!
10 He's read '50 Shades of Grey'
Some of his female friends thrust the book into his life and told him that he should read it, so that’s how Harry Styles came to readFifty Shades of Grey. He recounted the incident toMirrorandsaid in an interview, “It seems interesting. I could probably learn from it, I don’t know. I feel like it’s an educational and interesting read.” Now, the erotic novel isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. The novel has been criticized as gettingBDSM all wrongas well as encouraging unhealthy and violent romantic relationships. Some people just don’t like the writing style (or lack thereof). But the novel is still fairly popular and provides a level of eroticism that turns many people on. Harry might read it like a textbook, and we can only fantasize...err, imagine what he’s learned from it.
9 He's stood up for his fans
People assume that the young girls who enjoy Harry Styles’ music don’t have much going on in their minds, but Harry is quick to defend them. In an interview withRolling Stone,he said, “Teenage-girl fans—they don't lie. If they like you, they're there. They don't act 'too cool.' They like you, and they tell you. Which issick." He believes that his fans will become future doctors, scientists, lawyers and mothers and that their taste in his music isn’t something to frown upon. Pop music might seem to be airheaded, but the point is that it’s fun and catchy. It also means something to people who enjoy listening to it. People used to criticize those who listened to The Beatles, he said, but now serious music listeners will cite The Beatles as proof that they’re serious about music and about life. Who’s to say that his fans aren’t serious? No one, that’s who.
8 He has really cool tattoos, including a heart on his sleeve and a butterfly on his stomach
Harry Styles has a cool collection of tattoos all over his body. According toone tattoo website, the pop star has around 67 tattoos and counting! You might be surprised to learn that Harry has a mermaid tattoo on his left forearm, a giant butterfly tattoo across his chest (near his stomach), a key tattoo on his left wrist, an anatomically-correct heart on his left bicep (the “sleeve”) and a whole bunch more. His tattoos sometimes play on words or phrases or have special meaning behind the depiction and its location. He’s even had a few older tattoos covered up with some new ink. You can be sure that Harry Styles isn’t afraid of needles because he’s been at the tattoo parlor more than once. But we think his tattoos are very cool and totally Harry.
7 He doesn't Google himself or search his name online
Harry Styles confessed in hisRolling Stone interviewthat he doesn’t feel the need to Google himself to find out what people are saying about him online. In fact, he rarely even checks his Twitter account. It’s actually a really good policy not to obsess over every little thing that people will post about you online, especially when you’re famous. It’s nearly impossible to keep up, and it can distract you from meeting your own goals. Harry Styles has music to write and tours to go on. He definitely pays attention to his fans, but he’s learned how to still allow time for himself. That’s a well-balanced approach to fame and probably keeps him more humble and less stressed overall. And there’s so much about him online that he would never be able to get through it all!
6 He's originally from Worcestershire, England
Harry Styles was born inWorcestershire, Englandin 1994. This area islocated within the Midlands regionin the western corner and southwest of West Midlands. If you walk through the town of Worcester, it’s like stepping back in time. The houses are restored and original Tudor buildings along a cobblestone street that reminds of an earlier time. Across the countryside can be found many old monasteries and castles. It looks like a beautiful place for a child to grow up with plenty of material to cultivate the imagination. Harry’s parentsdivorced when he was 7, but he says he barely remembers when it happened because his parents made sure that he felt loved at all times. His mother later remarried. And Harry grew up and has gone on to explore the rest of the world through his music tours.
