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Sign of the Times is the debut solo single released by British singer Harry Styles. It was released on April 7, 2017, which serves as the lead single and appears as the second track from his debut album Harry Styles. An exclusive limited 7" vinyl of the single is available for purchase on Styles's online store. [1]

Background and release

On March 25, 2017 a television AD was aired during The Voice semi-finals advert break, announcing the release date for Harry's single. [2] Radio DJ Elvis Duran also confirmed that Styles would in fact release his debut single on April 7, 2017. [3] Styles confirmed the title of the single on his Twitter account on March 31, 2017. [4] The song was released on April 7, 2017.

Critical Reception

The song received mixed to positive reviews. Independent writer Roisin O'Connor stated: "While there are plenty of nods to the likes of Queen, Bowie, and Bruno Mars track 'When I Was Your Man', he's appropriating those artists rather than coming into his own - the feeling by the end of 'Sign of the Times' is that he listened to ‘Life On Mars’ once too often before heading into the studio. Style's vocal work is what redeems this track. Alternating between a tender, slightly husky croon to an impressive falsetto, a lack of band members to compete with allows him to show off what was certainly one of the better voices of the group." [5]

Music Video

The music video was released on May 8, 2017. It was filmed in Scotland and directed by Woodkid.


Lyrics

Just stop your crying
It’s a sign of the times
Welcome to the final show
Hope you’re wearing your best clothes
You can't bribe the door on your way to the sky
You look pretty good down here
But you ain't really good

If we never learn, we been here before
Why are we always stuck and running from
The bullets?
The bullets
We never learn, we been here before
Why are we always stuck and running from
The bullets?
The bullets

Just stop your crying
It’s a sign of the times
We gotta get away from here
We gotta get away from here
Just stop your crying
It will be alright
They told me that the end is near
We gotta get away from here

Just stop crying
Have the time of your life
Breaking through the atmosphere
And things are pretty good from here
Remember everything will be alright
We can meet again somewhere
Somewhere far away from here

If we never learn, we been here before
Why are we always stuck and running from
The bullets?
The bullets
We never learn, we been here before
Why are we always stuck and running from
The bullets?
The bullets

Just stop your crying
It’s a sign of the times
We gotta get away from here
We gotta get away from here
Just stop your crying
Baby it will be alright
They told me that the end is near
We gotta get away from here

If we never learn, we been here before
Why are we always stuck and running from
The bullets?
The bullets
We never learn, we been here before
Why are we always stuck and running from
The bullets?
The bullets

We don't talk enough
We should open up
Before it's all too much
Will we ever learn?
We've been here before
It's just what we know

Stop your crying baby
It’s a sign of the times
We gotta get away
We got to get away
We got to get away
We got to get away
We got to get away
We got to, we got to
We got to, we got to
We got to, we got to

Audio

Spotify

YouTube

Live Performances

References

  1. shopus.hstyles.co.uk - Sign of the Times Vinyl
  2. dailymail.co.uk - Single AD
  3. express.co.uk - Single release
  4. twitter.com - Harry's tweet
  5. independent.co.uk - Single Review
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