-Chloe Mullis
The twenty first century has overwhelmed us with a number of new music acts who are captivating both young and old minds with their talent. With music changing so rapidly and different genre’s emerging all the time, it is difficult to actually make an impact in the music world today. However, Ariana Grande and Harry Styles are artists who have managed it, and are empowering people all around the globe.
Harry Styles
The 24-year-old British heartthrob formerly finding success in the band One Direction has revolutionised male solo music forever. He first came onto the solo scene in April 2017, with debut single Sign of the Times; a soft rock piano ballad, reportedly influenced from the likes of Bowie and Queen. The song was positively received by critics, hitting the number one spot on The Official Chart on its week of release. The song then continued to spend a further 27 weeks in the chart, making it the most popular song released by a former One Direction member. The highly anticipated self-titled debut album was released in May of that year, again hitting the number one spot on its week of release. So, why is Harry Styles so influential to the younger generation? Well, he is extremely passionate about the LGBTQ+ community, congratulating countries for same-sex marriage laws, and waving pride flags in every single show on his record breaking solo tour. He also spreads a powerful message about ‘Treating People With Kindness’, which is his merchandise slogan, and is passionate about being kind and accepting who you are. Styles’ fashion is also influencing many, as if you’ve seen him performing, he is usually wearing an eccentric designer suit tailored to him. From bold colours to bright florals to full glitter, he pulls them all off, influencing others to do the same and embrace their fashion choices.
Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande is one of the biggest musical artists in the world. The 25-year-old Floridian pop princess first began her career in 2008 in a Broadway musical, then moved to being a Nickelodeon child star before becoming the successful songstress she is today. She peaked in the release of her second studio album, My Everything, which topped the US charts and featured four top ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100, the most by any artist in 2014. Critics have compared her vocals to that of Mariah Carey, and in 2016, she was named as one of the most influential people in the world on Time’s annual list. In 2017, Grande embarked on a tour to promote her third album Dangerous Woman. On May 22nd, after the show, a suicide bomber detonated a bomb in the foyer of the Manchester Arena, causing 22 fatalities and injuring more than 500 people. Grande suspended the remainder of the tour, and on June 4th, held a benefit concert One Love Manchester, helping to raise over $23 million to aid the bombing victims and affected families. A host of artists performed, including Grande herself, Coldplay, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry and more. Grande was named as the first honorary citizen of Manchester by the City Council to recognise her efforts. Since then, Grande has released two more albums in the space of six months, which have again been really popular, topping charts worldwide.
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