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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Entertainment
Stephanie Colderick

Harry Styles Cardiff show review as ex-One Direction star turns up the heat

Kicking off the show with Daydreaming, Harry Styles dedicated fans screamed the lyrics back and nearly drowned him out. Harry commented on how hot it was in the Principality Stadium and the throngs of adoring fans helped turn up the heat even higher.

He had them on their feet for his incredible performances of Music for a Sushi Restaurant and Watermelon Sugar. Harry naturally could not forget his One Direction roots, performing Stockholm Syndrome and What Makes You Beautiful for loyal fans, many of who have adored him since he shot to fame in the X Factor-created boyband, reports Wales Online.

And it was actually What Makes You Beautiful that had the Principality Stadium bouncing. It was like a 2016 One Direction fever dream, but one you wanted to remain in forever, as everyone was moving, grooving and dancing along, you just couldn't help but get caught up in the pure nostalgic teenage joy. Including Harry.

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It had been a long wait for dedicated Harry Styles fans counting down to his Cardiff gigs, with many camping out more than 24 hours beforehand to bag their places inside the Principality Stadium. But no sooner as he'd stepped out on stage for the first of two shows in Cardiff, boy, you knew all the effort had been well worth it.

The last time Harry was in Wales he was performing as part of One Direction, but he certainly doesn't need anyone else alongside him anymore. The confidence, the swagger, the sass, Mr Styles has it all - not to mention a catalogue of, quite frankly, excellent pop tunes.

As he launched Love On Tour's Welsh gigs, Harry welcomed everyone into his house for the next two nights - aka the home of Welsh rugby - as ecstatic screams echoed around the stadium. Cardiff has eagerly been waiting for Harry Styles for years and in recent days it has been impossible to ignore he is in the city, reports Wales Online.

The pop sensation worked hard for the fans, barely stopped moving all night, other than for some of his slower songs, and he skipped, pranced and worked his way around the stage with a lightness that the rugby players who normally command the Principality can only dream of.

There was barely a dry eye in his house as he sang Matilda and of course, As It Was went down a storm with the fans as they all screamed "LEAVE AMERICA" back at him. It is true Harry, you are welcome in Wales anytime.

Showing off his musical talent the dreamy popstar also donned and played the guitar for songs including She and Fine Line. Unlike Beyoncé, who took over the Principality Stadium just weeks ago, there were no costume changes for Mr Styles. He simply kept one style of brown leather trousers, Adidas trainers and brown sparkly top, at one point he even draped a Welsh flag over his shoulders.

Harry Styles fans going to his Love on Tour 2023 show at the Principality stadium Cardiff (WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

It was clear that Harry could not be more grateful for his fans. He thanked them profusely for coming throughout the show, saying "A massive thank you to the people, to Wales" and his onstage banter and chatter with the crowd was top-notch.

From helping to name a baby for an expectant couple in the crowd - it was clear the crowd preferred Stevie - even allowing mum-to-be, Sian to run to the toilet and learning some people sold pictures of their to afford tickets, to which he said: "You gotta do what you gotta do, no shame here," Harry's connection to his fans makes their adoration a no-brainer. He also wished a lady called Helen a happy 58th birthday, telling her "58 suits you perfectly, you look fantastic" and helping a fan called Alesha come out, Harry's bond with his fans is natural.

And it was not just Harry that looked incredible as those dedicated fans also dressed to the nines. A sea of feather boas and cowboy hats filled the Principality Stadium as a Harry Styles concert is not merely somewhere where you decide on the day what to wear - it is a whole occasion.

During Satellite and Kiwi, Harry happily donned the Welsh flag, met with joyous screams from the crowd, and his performance of the latter a great way to end the very impressive show. As an encore he also gave a heartfelt performance of Sign Of The Times - it was an emotional and vocally impressive performance, proving Harry's not all sequins and feathers, there's true talent there, too.

At the end of the night only the feathers from the well-worn feather boas decorated the floor, a reminder indeed that Harry had made the Principality Stadium his house. And he will be doing it all again on Wednesday, June 21.

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