By Rohail Spear || Managing Editor
Photo courtesy of billboard.com.
Harry kicks off his new album, Harry’s House, with “As it Was,” an eighties synth-pop single about a relationship forever changed. The song makes you want to dance; the lyrics make you want to gaze out of a rain-streaked window longing for what was. The result is an upbeat, head-bobbing track infused with melancholic loss.
“As it Was” is as vulnerable as his piano ballad “Falling”: only this time his pain is disguised with drums, chimes, and a sparkling The Weeknd-esque synth. Neediness, insecurity, and shame explode out of the line, “‘Harry, you’re no good alone’” — even through his casual tone. These themes echo throughout the song: “Seems you cannot be replaced / And I’m the one who will stay.” It seems as if Harry is a puppy “sitting at home on the floor” waiting for his lover, waiting for things to go back to the way they were. The worst part? He knows they won’t.
Even though Harry spends the three minutes trying to reach through a window of the past, “As it Was” is an excellent start to his new era. While its aura isn’t too different from his previous two albums, “As it Was” sounds a little more old-fashioned. His vocals are spacey, sitting in the back of the mix, matching the track’s reflective tone. It’s a wistful dance-while-crying song — and if the album is anything like it, we’re in for a treat.
Sophomore Rohail Spear is the Managing Editor. His email address is rspear@fandm.edu.