Harry Styles - As It Was

While the chime-like bells and synths of “As It Was” still echo in the ears of millions, few may realize that they are listening to a modern classic—perhaps even the blueprint for a new era of pop music.

Released as the lead single from Harry’s House, “As It Was” made a strong debut three years ago, though without an immediate explosion of over-the-top praise. At the time, we didn’t know that this restraint was precisely the point.

We've grown accustomed to the traditional sound of a major pop hit—one that often bears the unmistakable touch of Max Martin, whose grand, larger-than-life production style has dominated the charts for over two decades. His formula has given us everything from Britney Spears’ first global smash to The Weeknd’s most recent chart-topping anthems. But music evolves, and new tastemakers emerge. Enter Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson, the production duo who, with “As It Was”, subtly position themselves as the architects of a new pop paradigm for the decade ahead [and let’s not forget that their formula worked like a charm for Miley Cyrus and her “Flowers” just a year later].

On first listen, “As It Was” feels almost understated—elegant in its approach, unconventional in its bridge, and refreshingly free from the typical "instant hook" tactic that forces a song into your consciousness from the get-go. By all traditional metrics, this track shouldn't have fit the mold of a blockbuster pop hit. And yet, it shattered expectations, rising organically to become the defining song of 2022.

Harry Styles’ delivery is equally restrained, yet deeply expressive, perfectly complementing the song’s introspective mood. And when his vocal steps aside to make way for the final instrumental swell, there’s a sense of completeness—of something so effortlessly right—that your hand instinctively reaches for the replay button. Again. And again.

And that’s the magic. The most impactful songs of this new pop era don’t burn out quickly; they unfold over time, never overwhelming the listener, but instead drawing them back for more.

Is this the ultimate pop hit of the 2020s? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain—”As It Was” is already a landmark of its time.

10.0/10