Why Harry Styles’ “Watermelon Sugar” Fruit Orgy Is Already Beautiful, Torturous Nostalgia

It should come as no surprise that, like most things Harry Styles does, his latest video for “Watermelon Sugar” made me feel horny, hungry, and a whole lot of heartache all at once.

The latest single from his exceptional Fine Line album is a perfect Song of the Summer…even if we don’t really have much of a summer this year. It’s sexy, it’s cheeky, and my god if that horn section wasn’t made to be blasted from convertible and boom box speakers alike. There’s mention of fruits largely in season during the summertime months and the images the rest of the lyrics elicit are that of carefree, warm, days and nights.

The visuals the actual music video portrays accurately capture what Harry’s singing about as well. It’s just that…it’s a new world now. Not that anyone would’ve known that back when the video was filmed in late January this year. But now in May, it’s hard not to already feel nostalgic for these times, in a video that just dropped today. But it’s one that worth watching with rose-colored glasses (or blue, like Harry’s).

Was I one of the half a million people tuned in to YouTube right at noon eastern today when the video dropped? Duh — it’s not that we had nothing better to do, it’s that there simply was nothing better to do. The video’s release had been heavily teased since last week, fans had it trending on Twitter over the weekend, and every single video he’s released off this album so far (this is the fourth) has caused a stir. It was going to be an event.

And while “Watermelon Sugar” is the distraction we all need, the video couldn’t help but remind us what an artifact it’s already proven to be. “This video is dedicated to touching,” with today’s date, is the first image we see on screen and damn if that sentence alone can’t be felt in our fingertips, in our hearts, and yes, in our bellies. It’s self-aware and it’s rebellious at the same time. Even his Instagram caption warned, “DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME. Practice social distancing.” And the first frames show Harry doing just that, as he sits alone enjoying quite the beach picnic.

But the dedication to touching is strong, the way those painted nails trace along the top of a slice of watermelon, well, it made my mouth water in at least a few different ways. The imagery is so strong, in fact, that it wasn’t until the second shot of that action that I had to worry, “Excuse me, have you used hand sanitizer, sir?”

It’s impossible not to classify this video as a relic and a reminder of previous times (mere weeks ago!), and I can only suggest that instead of focusing on his request to “Breaths me in, breathe me out,” as a now frowned-upon action, especially without masks present, enjoy the video for what it is, letting the nostalgia wash over you and hoping for a day where we can all frolic on the beach again (remember frolicking?!).

I refuse to worry about the amount of hand sanitizer used by the models feeding Harry fruit on the beach, even when at one point there are five hands jamming watermelon slices into his face. Instead, I will dreamily reminisce about touching other people (oh my god, touching other people’s FACES) and being able to share just one blanket in a field of grass or on a beach and posing for group photos without the pressure of immediately having to distinguish it is, in fact, a #tbt.

Even during the shot where Harry’s not quite socially distanced with the required six feet from other beach blankets, but certainly letting the action happen around him, I almost root for him to get up and join the other parties. Get in there while you can, buddy! I’m choosing to be healthily envious and not unnecessarily nervous about this group enjoying their fruit orgy on the beach, laying on top of each other in sexy piles. Let’s all go ahead and add sexy fruit orgies on the beach to our list of things we didn’t even know we missed.

Because Harry’s Madison Square Garden dates this summer remain at the top of my list of things I’m sad to miss this year. At first I felt silly, pouting about a performance that will likely be rescheduled to a time where we can enjoy it in good health. But with recent pieces from Rob Sheffield and Dave Grohl about the healing power of live music, I already knew I wasn’t alone. Harry is a prime example of an artist that only continues to bring people together, both literally (like the models in this video) and digitally (like those of us watching the premiere of this video), and something about watching those YouTube numbers tick up today felt really nice. Maybe not as nice as a sexy beach fruit orgy, but when it’s time, there will be plenty of watermelon to go around and oh my god we’re going to feel so high. I really, really do just wanna taste it.