Imagine this scenario: You’ve snagged tickets to Harry Styles’ Together, Together tour and are enjoying the show when suddenly, the crowd erupts into singing the lyrics of a different song by a different artist.
Harry Styles is currently performing the 20th show out of a 30-show residency at Madison Square Garden in New York City as part of his tour. While it’s common for fans to sing along to his music, a new trend has emerged where fans start chanting the lyrics to 5 Seconds of Summer’s “Telephone Busy” during the instrumental break of Styles’ song “Ready, Steady, Go.” This trend is gaining momentum, with fans getting louder with each passing night.
The genesis of this trend can be traced back to a fan remix on TikTok by user @millsberry75 in March. The remix mashed up the two songs, featuring 5 Seconds of Summer’s drummer Ashton Irwin talk-singing the intro of “Telephone Busy” over “Ready, Steady, Go.”
5 Seconds of Summer acknowledged the remix in August by incorporating it into a DJ set performed at Salt Shed Chicago during the Lollapalooza festival. Now, fans have brought this trend to Styles’ live performances.
Numerous videos on social media capture fans participating in this trend, with the volume of the 5 Seconds of Summer lyrics being chanted by the audience increasing significantly in recent performances.
The history between One Direction, where Harry Styles first gained fame, and 5 Seconds of Summer, known affectionately as 5SOS by fans, adds to the excitement. The bands’ paths crossed in 2013 when 5 Seconds of Summer served as an opener for One Direction’s Take Me Home tour, and later as a supporting act on their Where We Are tour in 2014. Over a decade later, fans of both bands continue to show crossover support.
In a world of manufactured trends, witnessing a spontaneous trend evolve from fans celebrating music is refreshing. As user @mariamontour noted in an Oct. 6 TikTok, the fan chant gaining momentum demonstrates how the internet can translate trends into real-life phenomena within fandoms.
5 Seconds of Summer has acknowledged the buzz surrounding the two songs, with drummer Ashton Irwin expressing appreciation for the fan enthusiasm. While Harry Styles has yet to directly address the trend, the increasing volume of fan participation may prompt his recognition.
With numerous upcoming shows, including performances at Madison Square Garden and Rogers Stadium, the potential for this trend to continue growing is evident. Fans are eagerly embracing the trend, with hopes of it becoming a staple at future shows.
By: CBC News