Harry Styles’ third solo album Harry’s House became 2022’s commercial and critical juggernaut, led by the inescapable single “As It Was” and cementing Styles as pop music’s most successful post-boyband artist.
The Album
Released May 20, 2022, on Columbia Records, Harry’s House showcased Styles’ evolution toward intimate, funk-infused pop. Produced with Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson, the album featured “As It Was,” “Music For a Sushi Restaurant,” “Late Night Talking,” and “Matilda.” The title referenced Haruomi Hosono’s 1973 album Hosono House, reflecting the album’s cozy, personal vibe.
As It Was Dominance
Lead single “As It Was” was released March 31, 2022, and became the year’s biggest hit. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, spent 15 weeks atop the chart, and dominated global airwaves. The song’s melancholic synth-pop hook about loneliness and change resonated universally. Its music video (Styles in a red sequined jumpsuit on a rotating platform) became iconic.
Record-Breaking Success
Harry’s House debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 with 521,000 units—the biggest opening week of 2022. All 13 tracks charted on the Hot 100 simultaneously. The album won Album of the Year at the 2023 Grammys, making Styles the first British solo male artist to win the category. “As It Was” won British Single of the Year at the 2023 Brit Awards.
Cultural Phenomenon
The hashtag trended as fans dissected lyrics, created TikTok dances, and attended Love On Tour stadium shows. Styles’ gender-fluid fashion, gentle masculinity, and LGBTQ+ allyship made him a Gen Z icon. The album’s themes—loneliness, growth, self-acceptance—felt deeply personal yet universal.
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