Harry Styles review: ‘Hands down, the best ever’: Sizzling Harry sends Gold Coast into frenzy
Pop mega star Harry Styles put on a seriously epic sold-out show on the Gold Coast on Tuesday night in front of 50,000 screaming fans. Here’s how it unfolded. READ THE REVIEW
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Ok I get it. I get the Harry mania.
I walked into Harry Styles’ sold-out Gold Coast concert on Tuesday night knowing a few of his big hits, with a basic appreciation for his music but not really understanding what the fuss was about.
I emerged from Heritage Bank Stadium a mega fan with a teen crush and joining the millions planning to marry Harry (sorry husband).
There’s something seriously special about a performer who can captivate 50,000 people for 1.5hrs with nothing more than him and his band. No fancy special effects or stunts, no back up dancers.
This was Harry Styles.
He’s got the unexplainable X-Factor (boom tish), the charisma, the talent and the saucy naughtiness.
He puts on an awe-inspiring show.
The English pop mega star burst on to stage at 8pm at his only Queensland concert wearing black leather pants and a red and white T-shirt, belting out crowd favourite Music for a Sushi Restaurant. The crowd exploded.
“Hello, my name is Harry and it is an absolute pleasure to be here,” he said humbly.
Every gyrate, hip wiggle or overt dance move was met with frenzied screams - the sound topping an ear-shattering 120+ decibels.
I was warned to take ear plugs to the concert because Harry fans were so enthusiastic they’d scream the entire time. But honestly, the crowd of mostly young women and teen girls were fabulous.
Dressed in an array of bright colours, sequins, feather boas and cowboy hats, their energy was electric.
Never have I seen 50,000 people sing every word of every song in unison at the top of their lungs. And the screams just added to the atmosphere.
Some had been camping outside the stadium on the bitumen for nearly 24 hours, eager to secure a prime spot in the standing room section inside the giant square catwalk erected at the front of the stage.
I expected carnage in the pit - to see medical staff pulling passed-out and overwhelmed girls from the crush. None of that happened. It was just good wholesome fun.
Tatted-up with a feather boa flung around his neck, Harry commanded the stage, running like an athlete around the huge square cat walk that took him deep into the crowd, leaping up stairs, dancing non stop and engaging in comedic banter with his fans.
It was during song breaks that his witty charisma was on full display when he’d throw to sign-holding fans in the pit.
We met Lily who broke her nose on her friend’s head (you’re reading that right), new parents Blake and Sinead on their first night out since having baby Elsie and Katie C who gave birth on her friend (I swear I wasn’t drunk, that’s what they said).
Harry flirted and charmed.
“I can’t do that, this is a family show … or is it?” he replied with a wink when a fan yelled a saucy suggestion.
Styles - fresh off his Album of the Year Grammy win - smashed out his biggest hits Watermelon Sugar, As It Was, Sign of the Times, Adore You and Late Night Talking.
When the show was nearly over, he teased the crowd they’d soon be ‘free’.
‘Noooooo’ they screamed.
‘You’ll be free to go home,” he teased again.
‘Nooooo’ they screamed again.
The fan-demonium around Harry Styles is real.
An hour and a half evaporated in the blink of an eye.
We could have stayed there all night.
I’ve seen Beyonce’s flashy show in Nashville, watched Pink hang from aerial ribbons and rocked out to Linkin Park at Madison Square Garden.
Harry’s Love on Tour show is hands down, the best. Ever.
As the girl behind me screamed ‘We love you Harry’. We sure do Harry.
Thanks for an epic night.
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