In my last year in college, I took an introductory music class. One week, I was assigned to listen to the song “Watermelon Sugar High” by Harry Styles and analyze its tone, structure, and melodic composition. After a full day of listening to nothing but this one song (Akansha can vouch for this), I wrote a page-long analysis. I thought it would be interesting to contrast that response to the review style I currently feel most comfortable writing in.
Enjoy these completely contrasting commentaries!
Class Response: “Watermelon Sugar”, by Harry Styles, is a 4/4 uptempo pop song in a major key. It creates an atmosphere of celebration that continues to increase in excitement as the song continues. The song begins with a verse that follows an ABAB melodic form with the B line resolving the A-line. The song is homophonic it starting with just Styles and a guitar. The first verse is followed by the pre-chorus which also follows the same ABAB structure except the B lines have both the same melody and lyrics.
The chorus consists of the repeated phrase “Watermelon sugar high.” On the word “high”, layered voices harmonize with Styles on a much higher octave than him while Styles himself sings lower to contrast the literal meaning of the word “high.” It creates this explosive effect on the word “high” so that it stands out from the rest of the song. Each time “high” is sung on the chorus it is also a different note on the scale with different harmonies to match with the fourth repetition ending creating the resolution.
After the first chorus, the drums and other instruments, including a trumpet, start playing as well and add to the celebratory feeling. The brightness of the trumpet in particular creates a party atmosphere throughout the rest of the song.
The song then continues with another verse that has the same form and melody as the first verse in addition to the same first line. The second verse however has a different texture with more instrumental lines in the background making it more full sounding and conveying an increase in excitement. The same pre-chorus and chorus are repeated but even more, instruments are added to fill out the sound. More vocal layerings are also added to the harmonizing on “high.”
After a brief post-chorus, all the instruments except the guitar and Styles himself cut out which mirrors the beginning of the song. There is then a bridge that mirrors the melody of the verses in the first three lines, but the fourth line has been changed to the final line in the pre-chorus which creates an element of surprise that engages the audience. It also allows for the instruments to all come back in for the final chorus to create a true exuberant finale.
Review: This song makes me want to eat watermelon, even though I know it is garbage fruit. Harry Styles has the ability to make tracks that encourage audience participation whether that be in singing, dancing, or just being insanely jealous of Harry Style’s view of life. Where I might see a boring seedy fruit, Harry Styles sees a metaphor for amazing oral sex. Like every Styles song though, there is a sense that he could have pushed harder. The song, while very good, feels as though it is too controlled, too meticulously put together. One day, Harry Styles is really going to let himself be free on a track, and on that day I will officially claim him as my favorite former One Direction member. RIP My love for Niall Horan.
