Sign of the Times

Harry Styles stepped out from the shadow of One Direction with "Sign of the Times," a sweeping, piano-driven ballad that announced his solo career in April 2017. Co-written with Jeff Bhasker, Mitch Rowland, Ryan Nasci, and Alex Salibian, the track trades the boy band's polished pop for a more organic, 1970s-inspired sound, blending glam rock, soft rock, and pop rock. The song's cinematic scope and emotional weight immediately set it apart, signaling that Styles was aiming for something more substantial than a typical solo debut.

The music video, directed by Woodkid and released in May 2017, features Styles soaring over Scottish landscapes and wading through water, visually reinforcing the song's themes of escape and rebirth. The single was a commercial success, topping the UK Singles Chart and reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. It also earned critical praise, with many noting its ambitious, retro-leaning production. "Sign of the Times" won a BMI Pop Award in 2018, and its video took home the Brit Award for British Artist Video of the Year. In 2021, Rolling Stone ranked it at number 428 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, cementing its place as a standout moment in modern pop. [edit]