Harry Styles’ summery rock-pop hit that won Best Pop Solo Performance at the 2021 Grammys and became his signature solo song.
The Hit
Released November 2019 from Fine Line, “Watermelon Sugar” initially underperformed before radio discovered it in spring 2020. The song’s sensual lyrics (widely interpreted as oral sex innuendo), ’70s rock influence, and beach vibes made it 2020’s summer anthem despite pandemic lockdowns.
The track topped the Billboard Hot 100 in August 2020—Harry’s first solo #1 in the US—and spent 57 weeks on the chart. Its music video featured Harry on a Malibu beach surrounded by models eating fruit, perfectly capturing the song’s hedonistic vibe.
Grammy Win
“Watermelon Sugar” won Best Pop Solo Performance at the 2021 Grammys, where Harry opened the show with a leather-clad performance alongside “Adore You.” The win validated his post-One Direction transformation into a credible rock-pop artist.
The song’s success on adult contemporary radio (rare for a former boy band member) demonstrated Harry’s crossover appeal. TikTok trends around the “watermelon sugar high” lyric kept it relevant into 2021.
Sources:
- Chart Performance: https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/harry-styles-watermelon-sugar-number-one-hot-100-9431045/
- Grammy Win: https://www.grammy.com/