Harry Styles commenced his highly anticipated residency at Wembley Stadium by taking a nostalgic trip down memory lane, recalling his humble beginnings on The X Factor. Addressing a sold-out crowd of 80,000 fans, the Cheshire-raised star highlighted the significance of Wembley Arena, located just next door, as the venue where he was first placed into the globally renowned band, One Direction, back in 2010.
Styles expressed gratitude to his sister, Gemma, who was in attendance, for accompanying him to London for the very first time for his audition. He also acknowledged his mother, Anne, for her secret decision to sign him up for the competition when he was just 16 years old, stating he wouldn't be where he is today without her intervention. His initial X Factor audition featured performances of Train's 'Hey Soul Sister' and Stevie Wonder's 'Isn't She Lovely'.
The concert itself was a spectacle, with Styles captivating the audience with his energetic performance and a setlist spanning his four solo albums, including popular tracks like 'As It Was' and 'Watermelon Sugar'. The stage design was notable, featuring three interconnected catwalks that extended into the audience, aiming to create a more intimate club-like atmosphere within the vast stadium setting. This allowed Styles to move closer to fans, blowing kisses and posing for cameras throughout the evening.
Beyond the music, Styles fostered a strong connection with his audience through spontaneous interactions. He engaged with fans' hand-painted signs, notably responding to a question about his favourite type of egg, revealing a preference for fried, closely followed by scrambled. This focus on community and shared experience, in Styles' own words, involved "dancing together, sweating together and singing together."
His latest album, 'Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.', which had received mixed reviews upon release, reportedly found new life on stage. Backed by a powerful band that swelled to 18 musicians at points, tracks like 'Are You Listening Yet' and 'Taste Back' were infused with heavy bass and pounding rhythms, transforming the material into a vibrant live experience. Styles' ability to command the stage and connect with such a large audience underscores his evolution from a boy band member to a global solo superstar.
Source: Wembley Stadium concert attendees and media reports