Harry Styles is an English singer, songwriter and actor who rose to fame as a member of the popular boy band One Direction. Ever since embarking on a solo career in 2017, Harry has amassed a huge global fanbase who are often referred to as “Harries”.
History of Harry Styles Fandom
Harry Styles first gained attention in 2010 when he auditioned for the British singing competition show The X Factor. He was eliminated early on but brought back to form the boy band One Direction along with Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik. One Direction quickly became massively popular around the world, amassing a loyal fanbase of mostly teenage and young adult women.
These dedicated fans referred to themselves as “Directioners” and were highly engaged across social media platforms like Twitter and Tumblr. They were responsible for trending topics, creating memes, and generating a lot of buzz around One Direction’s music, tours, and members.
Even early on, Harry Styles stood out among the members as many fans were drawn to his charisma, raspy singing voice, and soft-boy charm. This led to the rise of “Harry Girls” – fans who considered themselves devotees of Harry in particular, rather than just the full band.
Solo Career and “Harries”
After One Direction took an indefinite hiatus in 2016, Harry Styles embarked on a successful solo career. He released his self-titled debut album in 2017, which showed off a new rock-influenced musical style. His fanbase eagerly followed him into this new era.
It was at this point that the term “Harries” started being widely used to refer to Harry Styles fans. The name is a play on his first name, just like Directioners referenced the band name.
Harries are known for their unwavering devotion to all things Harry Styles. They avidly consume his music, interviews, fashion choices and public appearances. Many also regularly share fanart, creative projects, and positive messages about Harry across social media.
Characteristics of Harries
Here are some common traits and behaviors exhibited by Harries:
- Dedicated consumers of Harry’s music – they purchase albums, stream songs, learn lyrics, attend concerts
- Keep up to date on Harry news and announcements through social media
- Engage in fan spaces like Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Reddit and TikTok
- Produce creative works inspired by Harry – fanart, edits, fanfiction, cosplay, dance covers
- Analyze Harry’s fashion choices, hair styles and tattoos
- Promote Harry’s current projects
- Reminisce about One Direction days while supporting solo work
- Bond over shared admiration for Harry’s talent and personality
Notable Harries Moments
Harries have contributed to several viral fan moments over the years, including:
- Breaking the internet when Harry’s second album “Fine Line” was released in December 2019, along with the hits “Adore You” and “Lights Up”
- Making “Watermelon Sugar” a #1 hit for Harry in 2020 with massive streaming numbers
- Crashing Ticketmaster multiple times during tour ticket sales due to high demand
- Getting Harry’s album and songs to chart internationally – Fine Line hit #1 in over 20 countries
- Helping Harry win his first Grammy award for Best Pop Solo Performance for “Watermelon Sugar” in 2021
- Breaking viewership records for Harry Styles’ “One Night Only In New York” concert livestream in May 2021
- Generating massive anticipation and excitement around Harry’s acting debut in the film Dunkirk in 2017
- Creating countless edited reaction videos, dance covers, artworks and memes appreciating Harry
Fan Names for Individual Harry Styles Eras
In addition to the overarching name “Harries”, some more specific fan names have emerged coinciding with different musical eras and stylistic changes for Harry:
Soft Grunge Harry: Late 2016 – 2017
With his first solo music and dramatic change to longer, messier hair, ‘Soft Grunge Harry’ fans dubbed themselves:
- Grunge Bunnies
- Baby Bunnies
- Soft Bunnies
Harry Styles Debut Solo Album: 2017-2018
Coinciding with his rock-infused first album, fans took on names like:
- Crim’s (Crimson)
- Nuggets
Fine Line Era: 2019 – Present
Harry’s second album Fine Line marked a musical shift to 70s-inspired pop rock. Fans started calling themselves:
- Sunflowers
- Daisies
- Cherries
- Divas
There are new fan names constantly emerging as Harry evolves artistically. But no matter what he does next, Harries will surely be along for the ride – streaming, sharing, and supporting all the way.
Conclusion
Harry Styles has inspired a passionate fanbase of followers called Harries who are devoted admirers of the talented singer-songwriter. Harries actively consume Harry’s musical works, closely follow his public image and activities, and generate their own creative projects appreciating his artistry.
While “Harries” refers to Harry fans overall, more specific names have also emerged coinciding with different style and musical eras. But the overarching spirit of Harries is the same – endless support for Harry Styles’ past and future endeavors.
Harries will undoubtedly continue finding creative, humorous and meaningful ways to celebrate their idol Harry Styles for years to come. With his devoted fanbase by his side, the future looks bright for the superstar.