What better way to start off 2021 than with a new Harry Styles music video? Styles released a video for his song “Treat People With Kindness” early on January 1st. With no promotion or teasers, the video was released to the public as a way to commence the new year. The song preaches treating others with kindness, a slogan Styles is known for in the media. 

The video is all in black and white and features Styles alongside Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The two dance in an underground club, set in the 1950s, doing choreography that can be traced back to Grease. Styles pulls out impressive dance moves, moves that were not expected from someone who spent 5 years in a boy band that specialized in clumsiness and making sure no dancing was seen. The surprise was taken well by the fans, the music video accumulating 9.8 million views in a mere two days. 

Harry Styles and Phoebe Waller-Bridge seemed to have coordinated their outfits, both wearing sparkling sweater vests over a collared shirt, white pants, and tied together by a bedazzled suit jacket. The two also dance alongside Styles’ band. Mitch Rowland, the lead guitarist, is off to the side of the main stage where Styles and Waller-Bridge are recorded dancing. This is the first appearance of Styles’ band in any of his music videos.

The music video was confirmed to have been recorded in February 2020, therefore not breaking any COVID-19 guidelines. Why Styles decided to release it in 2021? we may never know. It seems like a good marketing tactic, however. Ringing in the new year with a trademark Harry Styles slogan, but also as an excellent memo to everyone: to treat people with kindness. The upbeat and joyous music video is the ideal way to ring in 2021. 

Erin Erturan’23, Staff Writer