Two years after the release of his first solo album, Harry Styles is back with not only a new song, but a new video. And it’s perfectly queer.
The video for “Lights Up” features a shirtless and sweaty Styles singing his heart out while people of all genders are grinding up on him. As if that’s not enough to make this a beautifully queer return to music, when the former One Directioner dons actual clothing in some of the shots, it’s often glittery and gender bending, and in one early shot it looks like he may even have on a dress.
Of course, ignoring gender norms in regards to fashion is something Styles has become quite known for. As handsome as the man looks in a suit, he’s equally capable of rocking a sheer blouse and heels, as he did at this year’s Met Gala.
But even the lyrics of Harry’s new song, a song released on National Coming Out Day btw, suggest exploration of identity. While the chorus harps on how “the lights couldn’t put out the dark running through my heart,” it ends on a question — “Do you know who you are?” The follow up suggests an acceptance of self — “Shine, step into the light / shine, so bright sometimes / shine, I’m not ever going back,” repeated several times.
Styles has long been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ rights, and notably remarked at his Los Angeles concert last year that “we’re all a little bit gay, aren’t we?”
Regardless of whatever his personal journey may be, Styles is clearly continuing to help normalize queerness and make his fans feel comfortable with whoever they are, and we absolutely love him for that. And we can’t wait to see what other music his sophomore effort has in store.
