Medicine (Harry Styles song)
Unreleased Harry Styles song addressing sexual fluidity.
Harry Styles first played the unreleased track "Medicine" live in Basel, Switzerland in March 2018. Co-written with Tyler Johnson, Mitch Rowland, and Alex Saliban, it was cut from his debut album because he thought it was too similar to other songs there. Styles has not included it on later albums, finding its sound no longer fits his current style, though he has not ruled out a future release.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Harry Styles
- Genre
- Rock; pop
- Writer
- Harry Styles
- Tyler Johnson
- Mitch Rowland
- Alex Saliban
Facts from the source article.
Themes and lyrics
The song explores sexual fluidity and experimentation. A line about messing around with a guy and being fine with it led to widespread discussion about Harry Styles’ sexuality among fans and critics. Many fans have labeled it a bisexual anthem. Owen Myers from The Guardian called it a significant moment for bisexual music lovers who rarely see their own lives reflected in massive pop hits. Some critics see the track as part of a growing acceptance of bisexuality and sexual fluidity in mainstream music. Annie Lord of Dazed pointed out that the electric blue and magenta pink lights Styles uses during live performances—often called bisexual lighting in queer spaces—resemble the color scheme Janelle Monáe used in her “Make Me Feel” video. When Howard Stern mentioned that fans treat the song as an anthem for those considering coming out, Styles replied that it’s about creating a space where people feel safe enough to share big moments with a crowd.
Notable appearances
Styles debuted "Medicine" in Basel, Switzerland on 11 March 2018. It was commonly played during Live on Tour in 2018 but is no longer a permanent feature of his set list. He performed it at his second night of Harryween Fancy Dress Party on 31 October 2021 and at his second night headlining Coachella. On 20 April 2022, the studio version leaked online. Styles played the song on select nights during his Love on Tour 2022 residency shows in New York; Austin; Chicago; Los Angeles; North Little Rock, Arkansas; São Paulo, Brazil; and New Zealand. Most recently, he performed it in Sydney, Australia on 3 March 2023; Coventry, UK on 23 May 2023; Edinburgh, Scotland on 27 May 2023; Paris, France on 2 June 2023; London, UK on 13, 16, and 17 June 2023; Düsseldorf, Germany on 28 June 2023; Warsaw, Poland on 2 July 2023; Frankfurt, Germany on 5 July 2023; Barcelona, Spain on 12 July 2023; Madrid, Spain on 14 July 2023; Lisbon, Portugal on 18 July 2023; and Reggio Emilia, Italy on 22 July 2023.
Critical reception
Reviews of "Medicine" have been favorable. Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone described it as "a depraved, sex-crazed Stones-y rock & roll strut" and ranked it number 10 on his list of every Harry Styles song. Lilly Pace of Billboard called the song an "LGBTQ anthem" and a "crowd favorite." Melissa Ruggieri of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution termed it "a meaty rocker," while David Lindquist of The Indianapolis Star described it as "a raw-power ode to giving in to pleasure."
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