AMSTERDAM – Early in his two-hour show, Harry Styles challenged the nearly 50,000 fans in front of him to “have as much fun as I’m going to have.”
He wasn’t exaggerating about his level of effusiveness.
Skipping down the trio of ramps and bridges that extended across almost the entire floor of Johan Cruijff ArenA, Styles’ glee couldn’t be contained as he bopped through “Are You Listening Yet?,” “Golden” and “Watermelon Sugar.”
It’s been three years since his extensive Love on Tour wrapped, and Styles has crafted an immense stage production to hit only seven cities – and exclusively Madison Square Garden in New York for 30 shows starting in August – as he promotes his fourth solo album, the rave-a-liscious “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.”
Throughout the two-hour, 21-song set, which his camp invited a small group of journalists including USA TODAY to, Styles introduced a swooshy synth instrumental called “Italian Girls,” embodying the Together, Together ethos that names this tour.
“Be open to people – your friends, strangers, people close to you or far away,” Styles said. “People who deserve our love and respect … live and exist with your integrity and respect for one another.”
Styles, 32, is indeed a sincere and loveable fellow, whether stopping the show to sing “Happy Birthday” to a fan, shouting out to his mom in the crowd or offering genuine appreciation for the crew and his stellar band.
The massive stage comprised three ramps extending the length of a football field that were frequently alight in a Candyland of colors and two oversized video screens flanking a metallic structure that looked like an inverted ski jump. The visual allure was complemented by Styles’ bringing the sometimes-redundant-sounding songs on “KATTDO” to life, especially during a dance breakdown with his band surrounding him during “Ready, Steady Go.”
The adoring fans who crammed the floor, some adorned with pink hair or dress shirts and ties in tribute to Styles’ onstage attire, looked like a sea of Whac-a-Moles as they bounced through new songs (“Pop”) and album favorites (“Music for a Sushi Restaurant”) alike.
But Styles dazzled as an effusive ringleader, sashaying with his ballroom-meets-Bee Gees dance moves, offering clasped hands in thanks toward the audience and, for his final victory lap, traversing every ramp during “As It Was,” arms outstretched as if bursting through the finish line of one of his marathons.
“I think we live in a time where it doesn’t seem very cool (to reach out to someone),” Styles said in one of many moments of appreciation. “And I think trying is the coolest thing you can do.”
Point taken, and hopefully, absorbed.
