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As It Was

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For the Hozier song, see Wasteland, Baby!

"As It Was"
Single by Harry Styles
from the album Harry's House
Released1 April 2022 (2022-04-01)
Recorded2021
Genre
Length2:47
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Harry Styles singles chronology
"Fine Line"
(2021) 		"As It Was"
(2022)
Music video
"As It Was" on YouTube

"As It Was" is a song by English singer Harry Styles, released through Erskine and Columbia on 1 April 2022 as the lead single from his upcoming third studio album, Harry's House (2022). The song was written by Styles alongside the song's producers Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson.

"As It Was" debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Styles' second chart-topping song, after "Watermelon Sugar". Additionally, it entered at the top of the UK Singles Chart. Elsewhere, "As It Was" topped the charts in Australia, Austria, Belgium (Flanders), Canada, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden and Switzerland, and peaked within the top ten of the charts in Finland, France, Germany, Italy and Norway.

Background

Harry Styles announced the title of his upcoming third studio album as Harry's House on 23 March 2022, unveiling its artwork, a 40-second trailer and the album's release date as 20 May 2022.[4][5] Five days later, he announced the title of its lead single as "As It Was", along with pictures of him in a "sequined, sleeveless red outfit" and its release date as 1 April 2022.[6][7][8] Simultaneously, posters bearing the lyrics "It's not the same as it was" and a picture of Styles sitting on a big ball popped up in various cities.[9] He released a teaser of the music video on 30 March, which included an "energetic drum beat" and a "sunny electric guitar riff", and depicted him in a red jumpsuit spinning in circles atop a motorised turntable.[10]

Lyrics and composition

"As It Was" opens with Styles' goddaughter saying, "Come on Harry, we wanna say goodnight to you."[11] Music critics described the song as a guitar-driven synth-pop and new wave track, a noticeable shift from Styles' rock-oriented sounds.[12][13] Chris Willman of Variety noted that it takes heavy inspiration from Depeche Mode and A-ha, while also suggesting that it adopted a style similar to the Weeknd's 2019 single "Blinding Lights".[12] Lyrically, "As It Was" is rooted in personal transitions and depicts a feeling of loss and loneliness.[14] Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone described the song as a "straight-from-the-heart cry that’s also an irresistible dance-floor challenge."[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Guardian[1]
NME[15]

The Fader's Jordan Darville described "As It Was" as a "wistful but upbeat jam".[16] Sheffield found the song to be one of Styles' most "emotionally powerful", viewing it as a "daring change-up" for him and different from his prior work.[3] Rhian Daly from NME gave the song 5 stars out of 5, saying that the track "is a reflective ode to the bittersweet nature of change", adding that "the '80s synth-pop single depicts running from the past and battling with change". Daly felt that "the contemplative track hints that his upcoming third record will cement the star's position as one of the current pop landscapes’ greats".[15] Ben Beaumont-Thomas, from The Guardian, also gave 5 stars out of 5 to the song, claiming that "Styles's song is for everyone: an effervescent, high-tempo hit to have you clicking your heels". He also positively compared Styles's track to the Weeknd's song "Blinding Lights" "which also ticks along at 175bpm and has the same sort of earworm instrumental motif".[1]

Commercial performance

"As It Was" entered at the top of the UK Singles Chart on 8 April 2022 – for the week ending dated 14 April 2022 – becoming Styles's second solo number one on the chart after "Sign of the Times" in April 2017. It achieved the biggest opening week of any single in 2022 in the United Kingdom, with 94,000 chart sales. The song notched up 10.5 million streams over the first seven days – the biggest week of UK streams of any track in 2022. It was also the most-downloaded song of the week, topping the UK Singles Download Chart. It also claimed the biggest first week of any song on the UK Singles Chart since LadBaby featuring Ed Sheeran and Elton John's "Sausage Rolls for Everyone" in December 2021.[17]

In the United States, Spotify confirmed that the single is the most-streamed song in a single day in the country on 2 April 2022, with 8.3 million streams, a record that was formerly held by Olivia Rodrigo's "Drivers License" with 8 million streams. It is also the most-streamed song globally on Spotify in a single day for 2022 so far, with 21.6 million streams.[18]

On the US Billboard Hot 100, "As It Was" became the first song of the year to debut at number one, and Styles collected his second chart-topper, as it joined "Watermelon Sugar". It became the 1,135th No. 1 in the Hot 100's 63-year history, and the 59th to enter on top. The song debuted with 43.8 million streams, 27.2 million radio airplay audience impressions and 10,300 downloads sold in the April 1–7 tracking week, according to Luminate, formerly MRC Data. (On its March 31 release day, the song drew 3 million streams and 1.4 million in radio reach and sold 3,500.)

The track opened at No. 1 on Streaming Songs, where it is Styles’ first leader (and first top 10), with the best streaming week tallied in 2022. It landed the biggest streaming frame since Brenda Lee’s chestnut "Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree" topped the Jan. 1 tally (encompassing the Dec. 17–23, 2021, tracking week) with 47.5 million streams. "As It Was" also boasted the most streams for a song in its first full week since Adele’s "Easy on Me" drew 53.9 million in its first full frame, as reflected on the Oct. 30, 2021, chart. "As It Was" posted the biggest streaming week for a song by a male since Drake’s "Way 2 Sexy," featuring Future and Young Thug, roared in with 67.3 million (atop the Sept. 18, 2021, ranking).

"As It Was" leaped 16–2 on Digital Song Sales, marking Styles' fifth top 10, and debuted at No. 19 on Radio Songs. On the latter list, the bow is the best since "Easy on Me" made a record arrival at No. 4. It is the highest for a male in a lead role since Eminem’s "Just Lose It" charged in at No. 17 on the Oct. 9, 2004, chart.

Styles is the first member of One Direction to tally multiple Hot 100 No. 1s. He one-ups Zayn, whose "Pillowtalk" ruled in its debut week (Feb. 20, 2016). Sparking history, Styles and Zayn make One Direction the first group with two members that have debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100 with solo songs.[19]

The song opened atop the Billboard Global 200 with 122.1 million streams and 19,000 sold worldwide in the April 1–7 tracking week. It’s the first No. 1 on the survey for Styles and arrives with the greatest global streaming week of 2022. It claims the top total since Taylor Swift’s "All Too Well (Taylor's Version)" drew 131.3 million in its first frame (Nov. 27, 2021). Styles is the first British solo male to debut at No. 1 on the Global 200. He’s the second to reign overall, after Ed Sheeran’s, "Bad Habits" rose to the top of the July 31, 2021, chart. It also concurrently started as his first No. 1 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, with 79.2 million streams and 9,400 sold in territories outside the U.S. in the April 1–7 tracking week.[20]

It earned the Guinness World Records title for the most streamed track on Spotify in 24 hours by a male artist. The song accumulated 16,103,849 streams in its first 24 hours on the platform and was the top song in 34 song countries for the day, according to Spotify's Global Top 200 daily chart. "As It Was" also had 1,247,683 streams in the UK and 1,168,896 in Mexico.[21] The song broke the Apple Music streaming record for most first-day streams for a song released in 2022.[22]

Music video

The music video for "As It Was" was released alongside the song.[23] In the clip, Styles joins his former partner on a turning platform and performs choreography in the Barbican to release negative emotions.[13] The video was filmed in London and 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 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. It will be a music video I will never forget and now I can happily retire."[23]

Credits and personnel

  • Harry Styles – vocals, songwriting, bells
  • Kid Harpoon – songwriting, production, bass, guitar, drum machine, drums, electric guitar, synthesizer
  • Tyler Johnson – songwriting, production, drum machine, piano, synthesizer
  • Doug Showalter – electric guitar, percussion
  • Mitch Rowland – drums
  • Jeremy Hatcher – programming, recording
  • Randy Merrill – mastering
  • Spike Stent – mixing
  • Katie May – assistant engineering
  • Luke Gibbs – assistant engineering
  • Adele Phillips – assistant engineering
  • Josh Caulder – assistant engineering
  • Joe Dougherty – assistant engineering
  • Matt Wolach – assistant engineering

Charts

Chart performance for "As It Was"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Argentina (Argentina Hot 100)[24] 18
Australia (ARIA)[25] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[26]
[27] 		1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[28] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[29] 31
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[30] 1
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[31] 19
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[32] 19
Croatia Songs (Billboard)[33] 3
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[34] 2
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[35] 3
France (SNEP)[36] 9
Germany (GfK)[37] 2
Global 200 (Billboard)[38] 1
Greece (IFPI)[39] 1
Ireland (IRMA)[40] 1
Israel (Media Forest)[41] 1
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[42] 4
Italy (FIMI)[43] 8
India (IMI)[44] 2
Lithuania (AGATA)[45] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[46] 2
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[47] 1
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[48] 24
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[49] 1
Norway (VG-lista)[50] 2
Romania (Billboard)[51] 4
Singapore (RIAS)[52] 2
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[53] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[54] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[55] 1
UK Singles (OCC)[56] 1
Uruguay (Monitor Latino)[57] 15
US Billboard Hot 100[58] 1
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[59] 20
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[60] 17
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[61] 14

Release history

Release dates and formats for "As It Was"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Various 1 April 2022
[62]
Italy Contemporary hit radio Sony [63]
United States 4 April 2022 Adult contemporary radio Columbia [64]
5 April 2022 Contemporary hit radio [65]
United Kingdom 22 April 2022 CD single
  • Erskine
  • Columbia
 [66]

References

  1. ^ a b c Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (1 April 2022). "Harry Styles: As It Was review – a pop star in his own sunlit lane". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  2. ^ Smith, Carl (1 April 2022). "Harry Styles returns to indie-rock with the comforting As It Was". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Sheffield, Rob (31 March 2022). "Harry Styles' "As It Was" is nakedly vulnerable — and unlike anything he's done before". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  4. ^ DeVille, Chris (23 March 2022). "Harry Styles Announces New Album Harry's House". Stereogum. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  5. ^ Sharf, Zack (28 March 2022). "Harry Styles Dropped Out of Robert Eggers' 'Nosferatu' Remake With Anya Taylor-Joy". Variety. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  6. ^ Dailey, Hannah (28 March 2022). "Harry Styles Announces First Single From 'Harry's House' — and It's Coming Soon". Billboard. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  7. ^ Strauss, Matthew (28 March 2022). "Harry Styles Announces New Song 'As It Was'". Pitchfork. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  8. ^ Smith, Carl (28 March 2022). "Harry Styles' As It Was: New single from Harry's House release date, video stills and more". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  9. ^ Dupes, Abby (28 March 2022). "Everything We Know About Harry Styles' New Album So Far". Seventeen. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  10. ^ Dailey, Hannah (30 March 2022). "Harry Styles Drops Dizzying Teaser for New Single 'As It Was'". Billboard. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Harry Styles Reveals the Identify of the Cute Kid at the Start of 'As It Was'". Billboard. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  12. ^ a b Willman, Chris (1 April 2022). "Harry Styles Trades Classic Rock for Synth-Pop in New Single and Video, 'As It Was'". Variety. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  13. ^ a b Aniftos, Rania (31 March 2022). "Harry Styles Unveils 'As It Was'". Billboard. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  14. ^ Sposato, Cat (31 March 2022). "Harry Styles, 'As It Was'". NPR. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  15. ^ a b Daly, Rhian (1 April 2022). "Harry Styles' new song "As It Was" is a reflective ode to the bittersweet nature of change". NME. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
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  17. ^ Grifiths, George. "Harry Styles claims career-best debut with second solo Number 1 single". Official Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
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  20. ^ Trust, Gary. "Harry Styles' 'As It Was' Soars In at No. 1 on Billboard Global Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
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  27. ^ https://oe3.orf.at/charts/stories/oe3austriatop40/
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  33. ^ "Croatia Songs (Week of April 16, 2022)". Billboard. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
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  40. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
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  45. ^ "2022 14-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
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  49. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  50. ^ "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single 2022-14". VG-lista. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  51. ^ "Romania Songs". Billboard. 16 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
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  53. ^ "ČNS IFPI". IFPI ČR. Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 202214 into search. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
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  63. ^ Sisti, Sara. "HARRY STYLES "As It Was" | (Radio Date: 01/04/2022)". radiodate.it (in Italian). Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  64. ^ "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
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  66. ^ "As It Was CD Single - Hand Numbered". Harry Styles UK. Archived from the original on 11 April 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
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