We Blame Harry Styles

Latest Episodes:

One Direction Spectacular Feb 13, 2021

Show notes

In episode 8, hosts Key (he/they) and Gray (he/him) attempt to accomplish a difficult task: a full exploration of Harry’s time in a little band called One Direction. Listeners may want to grab some snacks and settle in, because there’s a lot to cover!

First, Key and Gray start out the show by explaining why they wanted to talk about One Direction in the first place, giving a brief history of the band (3:54), and getting into their own personal 1D origin stories (6:15).

They then get into the main subject of the episode: a full critique of One Direction’s discography! They start with their overall thoughts and criticisms of 1D’s music (19:19), and then review each of the One Direction albums (Up All Night: 36:30, Take Me Home: 42:44, Midnight Memories: 49:54, Four: 56:59, Made in the AM: 1:02:33).

Next they mix it up with a 1D music video speed round (1:11:34) seeing how many piping hot takes they can drop in 15 second increments (listeners should be warned of a take involving a certain Strip That Down singer in the discussion of the Best Song Ever video, lest they be unprepared and, listening while driving, accidentally swerve off the road).

Then Key and Gray calm down and discuss the songs that Harry wrote for One Direction (1:31:38) as well as Harry’s current relationship to the band (1:56:45), featuring the ever so controversial topic of a potential 1D reunion.

Finally, they close out the show by chatting about non-Harry things that have brought them joy over the week (2:10:55).

Email us at weblameharrystyles@gmail.com

Links

Sherlock in Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viyq9y4hJkI

What Makes You Beautiful (Key of Awesome parody): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7CHfqg0wd8

One Direction Music Videos Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfzfU_PtTHJBuMdzWTm0GLaVnF7nRXxHO

Gray's "The Complete One Direction" Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/23VzF71pDsw91cdqdEALWvf

Olivia by One Direction with Trumpets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlfMCHeSKa4

Olivia with Abbey Road Instrumentals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mARSyyqhVH4

Bo Burnham - “Repeat Stuff” : https://youtu.be/nt9c0UeYhFc

Fun and Games Jan 27, 2021

Show notes

In episode 7, hosts Key (he/they) and Gray (he/him) break down a few of the Harry-related news articles from this week (3:29), including an interview with Jeff Azoff about Harry’s producer Kid Harpoon and interviews with the directors and choreographer of the TPWK music video (will Harry potentially direct his own videos in the future?)

They then get into this week’s main segment: a game of would you press the button, Harry Styles edition (10:00)! Key and Gray decide whether they would make the choice and press the button that would give them something they want, like a studio version of Medicine, even if it came with a twist that could potentially sour the deal! Listen to see if they’d want official audio of Medicine even if it was sung in Simlish, Harry to star in a broadway show but with his head shaved, and more! Many thanks to the wonderful listeners of We Blame Harry Styles for submitting such hilarious and at times torturous questions.

Then, Key takes a quiz crafted by Gray entitled “which bad We Blame Harry Styles opinion are you” (51:08)! Play along and find out what take you’d be cancelled for here: https://uquiz.com/quiz/KwBCM9/which-bad-we-blame-harry-styles-opinion-are-you

Finally they close out the show by chatting about a non-Harry thing that has brought them both joy over the week, which for both hosts happens to be Zayn’s new album Nobody Is Listening (1:03:33).

Email us at weblameharrystyles@gmail.com

Links

Jeff on Kid Harpoon: https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/jeffrey-azoff-talks-kid-harpoon-fine-line/082333

Ben and Gabe Turner on the TPWK MV: https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/treat-people-with-kindness-harry-styles-video

Paul Roberts on TPWK MV: https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9509883/harry-styles-treat-people-with-kindness-video-choreographer-paul-roberts-interview/

Ben & Gabe Turner interview in music week: https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/ben-gabe-turner-on-making-videos-with-harry-styles/082394

Behind the Fine Line Cover Shoot Jan 18, 2021

Show notes

In episode 6, hosts Key (he/they) and Gray (he/him) break down every detail of the Fine Line cover shoot, paying particular attention to the work of photographer Tim Walker and set designer Shona Heath.

After briefly discussing this week’s news (1:00) including some mandatory clowning about Harry’s possible appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (2:40), they dive into the main segment (8:23).

First Key provides some background on surrealism as an artistic movement with a disclaimer that he is not an art historian (11:57), followed by an explanation from both hosts regarding why they feel delving into the cover shoot for Fine Line is worthwhile more than a year after it was first revealed (16:09). They then dive into an analysis of the album cover photo (19:04), from the color palette and possible artistic influences to the iconic Fine Line pose and the mysterious gloved hand that has lived rent free in the minds of Harries everywhere.

After, they move into discussions of the rest of the photos that emerged from the shoot, from the yellow and purple photo deemed “Moose Knuckle” and the photo known simply as “Egg”(33:54) to the infamous Lone Nude (45:03) and more. They then end the main segment with speculation about the potential cover art for HS3 (1:07:47).

Key and Gray close out the show by laughing at internet comments in “must get rid of toxic in community” (1:10:24) and chatting about some non-Harry things that have brought them joy throughout the week (1:15:33).

Email us at weblameharrystyles@gmail.com

Links:

News:

When Harry Met Phoebe: https://tinyurl.com/y2x4wss6

Images and References:

The Photos: https://archive.is/lj6kw

Tim and Shona Fine Line Parallels: https://archive.is/VaCbK

The Garden of Earthly Delights: https://tinyurl.com/y6xa5fo8

Inside the Arcane World of Gucci: https://tinyurl.com/y3h8pu2f

Saint Lucy’s Extra Set of Eyes: https://tinyurl.com/y3xfrpuw

Surrealism:

Surrealism: https://tinyurl.com/yxp6jybz

Queer Surrealism: https://tinyurl.com/y5seml28

Fine Line Cover:

i-D: https://tinyurl.com/y238zhtn

Vox: https://tinyurl.com/yy5njey5

Harry Styles: https://tinyurl.com/y5ntf2qx

Tim Walker:

Bio: https://tinyurl.com/y5fs6ksu

In Conversation: https://tinyurl.com/y4oq3tkq

Tim Walker - Art of Style: https://tinyurl.com/y2sdo3m8

Tim Walker - The Guardian: https://tinyurl.com/y586hha6

Wonderful Things: https://tinyurl.com/yysvwbbz

Shona Heath:

Bio: https://tinyurl.com/yxgdsesy

Shona Heath - Sotheby's (YouTube): https://tinyurl.com/y55qwm55

Shona Heath - Sotheby's (Print): https://tinyurl.com/y6sdmczy

Shona Heath on Fashion https://tinyurl.com/y6lvjeho

TPWK MUSIC VIDEO! Jan 06, 2021

Show notes

In the first episode of 2021, hosts Key (he/they) and Gray (he/him) briefly go over some news from the past week and then get right into the thing we have all been waiting for: the music video for Treat People With Kindness!

First, Gray breaks down the timeline of the release (4:16), from when the news was hinted at months ago to where the hosts were when it dropped. Key then recaps the video (13:30), and then both hosts describe their initial reactions (16:40) followed by an in-depth breakdown of the video’s artistic elements (19:44) including casting, costuming, choreography and the dreaded black & white vs color debate. They then analyze the themes of the video (38:31), paying particular attention to how gender is handled and how that relates to the video and song’s commentary on reflecting on the past.

They decide where the TPWK video fits into their personal rankings of all of the Fine Line music videos featuring some very draggable opinions (44:35), and clown maybe more than they’ve ever clowned as they speculate about what they think might be coming next in Harry’s career trajectory (50:30).

Finally they laugh at internet comments in “must get rid of toxic in community” (56:46), this week including the new addition of a comment that’s funny on purpose (1:01:50), and close out the show by chatting about some non-Harry things that have brought them joy over the week (1:02:58).

Links

Twitter Moment: https://mobile.twitter.com/i/events/1345916004958937094

Email us at weblameharrystyles@gmail.com

2020 Year in Review Dec 31, 2020

Show notes

In the last episode of 2020 (thank god), hosts Key (he/they) and Gray (he/him) go over the only significant news from the past week: the Treat People With Kindness leaked clip!!! (2:30).

After clowning about that glorious moment, they get into the main topic of the episode: a review of the past year in Harry’s career. They pick their favorite casual (7:22) professional (12:35) and *cough* sexy (16:15) looks of 2020, and then give a quick recap of all the main events that happened this year (18:16). They then count down their top 3 Harry moments from 2020 (20:15).

Finally they close out the show by giving out an award for the most headache-inducing discourse of the past year in “must get rid of toxic in community” (36:12), followed by a chat about some non-Harry things that have brought them some joy over the week (38:45).

Links

Zane Lowe Harry Styles Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/45ajL89Zg4UWS7Nv99iehh

Email us at weblameharrystyles@gmail.com

Styling Harry Styles (Fashion in the Fine Line Era) Dec 24, 2020

Show notes

In episode 3 Key (he/they) and Gray (he/him) go over all the news from this past week, including all that happened on the anniversary of Fine Line (2:29), the postponing of Love on Tour Europe, some Kid Harpoon talk featuring the very interesting quote from his interview in News Week as well as some instagram clownery, and Harry maybe performing at the Grammys?! (10:10)

Then in the main segment they break down Harry Lambert’s wonderful video with Who What Wear all about the fashion and styling of the Fine Line Era (12:54). Listen for a discussion of the various looks of the era from the Fine Line cover shoot to the iconic JW Anderson cardigan, a discussion about accessorizing and how Harry’s fashion inspires the hosts, and Gray’s questionable take on the Lanvin sheep sweater vest (can you tell who wrote this episode description?)

They then get into what looks they wish Harry Lambert had talked about (51:00), what outfits from the Fine Line era they’re not so hot on (59:43), and what they think the legacy of Harry Lambert’s work with Harry Styles will be (1:03:34).

Finally they close out the show by laughing at a dumb internet comment in “must get rid of toxic in community” (1:06:07) and chatting about some non-Harry related things that have been bringing them joy over the week (which yes, do exist; 1:08:00).

Links:

whowhatwear interview: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CIvgvXJHu2u/?igshid=1qxm7zw55og7c

Harry Lambert styling Harry Styles in One Direction masterpost: https://twitter.com/hes_timelines/status/1338611591852462089

Email us at weblameharrystyles@gmail.com

Fine Line Retrospective Dec 16, 2020

Show notes

On the one year anniversary of Harry Styles’ sophomore album Fine Line, hosts Key (he/they) and Gray (he/him) look back at what their initial thoughts on the album were, and reflect on how those thoughts have changed over time.

After discussing the news from the past week ranging from clowning about potential hints at HS3 recording (3:43) to Harry’s performance at the iHeart Radio Jingle Ball (4:33), Key and Gray discuss what their expectations were for Fine Line going in, their initial listening experiences, and their first reactions to the album (7:33). They then break down their thoughts track by track (21:39), including several instances of emotional babbling from Key and an impassioned rant about the feral earnestness of Treat People With Kindness from Gray.

They close out the main segment by diving into questions such as: is Fine Line really all about having sex and feeling sad? (1:18:30) and what will Fine Line’s legacy look like? (1:19:43)

Finally they laugh at some dumb internet comments in “must get rid of toxic in community” (1:26:53), and then close out the show (1:30:25).

Email us at weblameharrystyles@gmail.com

Harry in Variety, Golden BTS and more! Dec 16, 2020

Show notes

In the first official episode of We Blame Harry Styles, hosts Key (he/they) and Gray (he/him) break down all the news that happened the week of December 2nd, from Don’t Worry Darling set photos to this year’s Spotify Wrapped, the Golden Behind the Scenes video (8:30), and Harry being active on Instagram!

They then discuss Harry’s feature in Variety from the photos to the article (16:52), and then get into a conversation about the Variety Hitmakers’ virtual event (30:00), from Nick Kroll’s throuple comment and the banana necklace to a discussion about Fine Line’s audience and boy band stigma.

Finally they clown about potential hints at HS3 (45:54), weigh in on the great “Is Harry Styles an introvert” debate in “must get rid of toxic in community” (51:08), and then close out the show (54:35).

Relevant links:

Golden music video fashion designer: https://www.vogue.com/article/ss-daley-fashion-designer-harry-styles-golden

Rolling Stone’s piece on the Vogue cover: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/harry-styles-dress-conservatives-threatened-1097874/

Email us at weblameharrystyles@gmail.com

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