As It Was: Difference between revisions

"As It Was" received widespread critical acclaim. ''[[NME]]''{{'}}s Rhian Daly gave the song five out of five stars, describing it as "not a million miles away from where ''Fine Line'' left off, but hardly retreading old ground." According to Daly, the track suggests ''Harry's House'' will solidify Styles "as one of the current pop landscapes' greats".<ref name="NME-20220401">{{cite web |last=Daly |first=Rhian |title=Harry Styles' new song "As It Was" is a reflective ode to the bittersweet nature of change |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/track/harry-styles-new-song-as-it-was-a-reflective-ode-to-change-3195485 |website=[[NME]] |access-date=1 April 2022 |date=1 April 2022 |archive-date=8 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408224622/https://www.nme.com/reviews/track/harry-styles-new-song-as-it-was-a-reflective-ode-to-change-3195485 |url-status=live }}</ref> Beau Beaumont-Thomas of ''[[The Guardian]]'' also rated the song five stars and called it "one of his very best", writing, "Many will pore over the gossipy, self-referential lyrics, but Styles's song is for everyone: an effervescent, high-tempo hit to have you clicking your heels."<ref name="TG-20220401">{{cite web |last=Beaumont-Thomas |first=Ben |title=Harry Styles: As It Was review – a pop star in his own sunlit lane |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/apr/01/harry-styles-as-it-was-review-a-pop-star-in-his-own-sunlit-lane |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=1 April 2022 |date=1 April 2022 |archive-date=6 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406024813/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/apr/01/harry-styles-as-it-was-review-a-pop-star-in-his-own-sunlit-lane |url-status=live }}</ref> In his review for ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', [[Rob Sheffield]] regarded "As It Was" as one of Styles's most "emotionally powerful" songs, calling it a "daring change-up" and a "straight-from-the-heart cry that's also an irresistible dance-floor challenge."<ref name="Sheffield">{{cite magazine |author=Sheffield, Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |title=Harry Styles' "As It Was" is nakedly vulnerable — and unlike anything he's done before |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/harry-styles-as-it-was-song-review-1330351/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=1 April 2022 |date=31 March 2022 |archive-date=6 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406174659/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/harry-styles-as-it-was-song-review-1330351/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Sahar Ghadirian of ''[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]'' magazine deemed it a "powerhouse" and Styles "at his most vulnerable". Ghadirian appreciated the "dream fusion" of synth-pop with electro rock and commented that the [[Tubular bells|bells]] end the song on "a euphoric high".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/as-it-was-presents-harry-styles-at-his-most-vulnerable|title='As It Was' Presents Harry Styles At His Most Vulnerable|last=Ghadirian|first=Sahar|website=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]|date=4 April 2022|access-date=24 April 2022|archive-date=24 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220424120822/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/as-it-was-presents-harry-styles-at-his-most-vulnerable|url-status=live}}</ref> Thania Garcia of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' magazine described the song as being "[[New wave music|new wave]]-inspired".<ref>{{cite web |last=Garcia |first=Thania |date=31 May 2022 |title=Harry Styles' 'Harry's House' Debuts as No. 1 Album with over a Half-Million Units Earned |url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/harry-styles-harrys-house-tops-billboard-charts-1235281944/ |website=Variety |access-date=13 June 2022 |archive-date=13 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613042832/https://variety.com/2022/music/news/harry-styles-harrys-house-tops-billboard-charts-1235281944/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Hugh McIntyre of ''[[Forbes]]'' hailed the song as a "decade-defining smash."<ref>{{Cite web |last=McIntyre |first=Hugh |title=Miley Cyrus Returns With The Biggest Single Of Her Career |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2024/05/16/miley-cyrus-returns-with-the-biggest-single-of-her-career/ |access-date=31 May 2024 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>

The music video for "As It Was" was released alongside the song.<ref name="Hussey">{{cite web |last=Hussey |first=Allison |title=Harry Styles Shares Video for New Song 'As It Was' |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/harry-styles-shares-video-for-new-song-as-it-was-watch/ |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=1 April 2022 |date=31 March 2022 |archive-date=7 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407073708/https://pitchfork.com/news/harry-styles-shares-video-for-new-song-as-it-was-watch/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the clip, Styles joins dancer Mathilde Lin on a turning platform and performs choreography by [[Yoann Bourgeois]]<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Milzoff |first=Rebecca |date=27 April 2022 |title=Meet the Choreographer Who Helped Harry Styles Find 'A Lot of Joy' in the 'As It Was' Video |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/harry-styles-as-it-was-choreographer-interview-1235064097/ |access-date=16 March 2023 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US |archive-date=16 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316164420/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/harry-styles-as-it-was-choreographer-interview-1235064097/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Yerin |date=2022-04-01 |title=Meet the Talented Dancer in Harry Styles's "As It Was" Music Video |url=https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/mathilde-lin-harry-styles-as-it-was-video-48774878 |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Popsugar |language=en}}</ref> in the [[Barbican Estate|Barbican]] to release negative emotions.<ref name="Aniftos">{{cite magazine |last=Aniftos |first=Rania |title=Harry Styles Unveils 'As It Was' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/harry-styles-as-it-was-1235053318/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=1 April 2022 |date=31 March 2022 |archive-date=5 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405133505/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/harry-styles-as-it-was-1235053318/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The video was filmed in London: apart from the [[Barbican Centre]], it was also filmed at [[Lindley Hall, London|Lindley Hall]] near the [[Houses of Parliament]], and the [[Penguin Pool, London Zoo|penguin pool]] at [[London Zoo]].<ref>{{cite web |date=6 April 2022 |title=Where Harry Styles' 'As It Was' Music Video Was Filmed |url=https://www.capitalfm.com/news/harry-styles-as-it-was-music-video-location/ |website=[[Capital (radio network)|Capital]] |access-date=11 June 2022 |archive-date=11 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611104755/https://www.capitalfm.com/news/harry-styles-as-it-was-music-video-location/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It was directed by [[Tanu Muino]], who stated that directing for Styles was "a bucket list dream come true" but, on the second day of shooting, Muino's home country of [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|Ukraine was invaded by Russia]], rendering the process a "bittersweet" experience; nevertheless, Muino and her team from Ukraine "poured so much love into this video and you can see it on screen. The music video references a photo mural of industrial designers [[Charles and Ray Eames]] on exhibit at [[Los Angeles County Museum of Art|LACMA]] as Styles and his love interest grow further apart.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ahlgrim |first=Callie |title=5 key details you probably missed in Harry Styles' new music video 'As It Was' |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/harry-styles-as-it-was-music-video-details-you-missed-2022-4 |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> It will be a music video I will never forget and now I can happily retire.".<ref name="Hussey" /> On YouTube, the video has received over 725 million views and 8 million likes as of May 2024.<ref>{{Citation |title=Harry Styles - As It Was (Official Video) | date=31 March 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5v3kku4y6Q |language=en |access-date=27 April 2022 |archive-date=27 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427022619/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5v3kku4y6Q |url-status=live }}</ref> Styles later released a ''Behind The Scenes'' version of the making of the music video.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Dailey |first=Hannah |date=10 May 2022 |title=Harry Styles Had the Cutest Moment With a Baby Behind the Scenes of the 'As It Was' Music Video: Watch |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/harry-styles-as-it-was-video-baby-behind-the-scenes-clip-1235069186/ |access-date=15 May 2024 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>

Styles performed "As It Was" for the first time at the [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival]] on 15 and 22 April 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Moreland |first1=Quinn |last2=Corcoran |first2=Nina |title=Watch Harry Styles Bring Out Shania Twain, Debut New Songs at Coachella 2022 |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-harry-styles-set-at-coachella-2022/ |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=17 April 2022 |date=16 April 2022 |archive-date=17 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417025852/https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-harry-styles-set-at-coachella-2022/ |url-status=live }}</ref> At the ''<nowiki/>'One Night Only''' performance for ''Harry's House'', Styles surprised the crowd at [[MadisonUBS Square GardenArena]] with an encore of the track. Speaking on the experience to ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', Styles stated: "We came offstage, and I went into my dressing room and just wanted to sit by myself for a minute, After [[One Direction]], I didn’t expect to ever experience anything new. I kind of felt like, ‘All right, I’ve seen how crazy it can get and I think there was something about it where I was … not terrified, but I just needed a minute. Because I wasn’t sure what it was. Just that the energy felt insane.”<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Spanos |first=Brittany |date=22 August 2022 |title=How Harry Styles Became the World's Most Wanted Man |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/harry-styles-harrys-house-dont-worry-darling-my-policeman-cover-1397290/ |access-date=13 May 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref>

! scope="row"| Iceland ([[Music of Iceland|PlötutíðindiTónlistinn]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/|title=Tónlistinn – Lög|trans-title=The Music – Songs|language=is|publisher=[[Music of Iceland|Plötutíðindi]]|access-date=23 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416210025/http://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/|archive-date=16 April 2022}}</ref>

!scope="row"| Romania Airplay ([[UPFR]])<ref name="UPFR">{{cite web|url=https://upfr.ro/top-10-din-100-cele-mai-difuzate-piese-pentru-saptamana-26-29-06-2022-04-07-2022/|title=Top 10 din 100 cele mai difuzate piese pentru saptamana 26|trans-title=Top 10 out of the 100 most-broadcast songs for the week 26|access-date=7 July 2022|language=Romanian|publisher=[[Uniunea Producătorilor de Fonograme din România]]|date=29 June 2022|archive-date=7 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707104024/https://upfr.ro/top-10-din-100-cele-mai-difuzate-piese-pentru-saptamana-26-29-06-2022-04-07-2022/|url-status=live}}</ref>

! scope="row"| Iceland (PlötutíðindiTónlistinn)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn-log-2022/|title=TÓNLISTINN – LÖG – 2022|publisher=Plötutíðindi|access-date=30 April 2024|language=is}}</ref>

! scope="row"| Iceland (PlötutíðindiTónlistinn)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn-log-2023/|title=TÓNLISTINN – LÖG – 2023|publisher=Plötutíðindi|access-date=30 April 2024|language=is}}</ref>