Why Harry Styles is the Perfect Human Being

Watermelon, sugar, oh my.

Harry Styles, styling what looks to be purple velvet overalls? (Photo: Variety)

Last week, Vogue asked the question, “Why do women in their 40s love Harry Styles so much?” TueNighter Cheryl Squadrito has a few thoughts.

Pop star Harry Styles premiered a video for his new single, “Late Night Talking” on July 13th, and in less than eight hours, the song racked up more than 3,000,000 views on YouTube. I’m pretty sure that a few hundred views were mine.

I saw Harry perform last year with my daughter and her friends in Philadelphia. He is my idea of the perfect human being. He’s generous and genuine, urging fans to treat people with kindness. He helps LBGTQ+ kids come out. He grasps the impact of fabulous nail polish and smooth dance moves. His single “Watermelon Sugar,” is probably the only Grammy-winning song about oral sex and female orgasms! But the thing that really gets me? Harry appreciates older women; he’s dating actress Olivia Wilde, who is 10 years older. #SmartMan

I discovered Styles the summer before the pandemic. My teenage daughter was working out Harry’s song, “Ever Since New York,” on her acoustic guitar.

“Whose song is that?”
“Harry Styles.”
“Why does that name sound familiar?”
“He was in One Direction, you know, the boy band.”
“Really?”

Left: Cheryl posing with her boa and Harry Styles records. Right: Cheryl and her daughter in a state of euphoria at Harry’s show in September. (Photos: Author)

I tried to hide my fandom as I fell into the cyber-sinkhole of all things Harry Styles. But it wasn’t a secret among my daughter’s friends and my close friends, too, who would send me articles, gossip, and memes. Throughout the pandemic, his music was my escape, my distraction. Harry was the perfect panacea. My daughter’s teenage friend Tess, who knew I loved Harry, invited me to join her, my daughter, and her little squad at his sold-out concert in our hometown. “Plus,” she said, “You’re fun.”

In May, just before the release of his third album, Harry’s House, I won the “golden ticket” lottery and scored four passes to see him perform on the Today show. The other moms were jealous. However, the day before the show I came down with bad Covid and couldn’t go.

While I bounced back from Covid, I still haven’t recovered from missing Harry. But Nigel, my English fiancé, has scored tickets for my daughter and me to see Harry in Dublin’s Slane Castle next summer. I can’t wait.