Paint by Numbers
Pop culture, fame, songwriting, and the art of keeping it vague
Probably more than ever, there is this strange overlap between pop culture and artists and their music.
Of course, this has always been the case to some degree, think The Beatles, Brigitte Bardot, Cher, and Madonna. But today, with the 24-hour news cycle, fans becoming a form of paparazzi, and the craziness of social media, it’s taken to a whole new level.
Maybe former One Direction star Harry Styles sits right at the center of this.
I was never a One Direction fan, but respected that he became a pop-culture icon before the age of 18. I’ve taken note as he has since tried to shift from tabloid star to serious artist and songwriter, especially in the last couple of years with his move to Rome. But with a fandom as loyal (and as intense) as his, it seems almost impossible for the hype around his daily movements to die down. I recently learned the phrase “professional fangirl” and that sounds scary.
And when listening to his latest album, this became evident.
For so many rising artists who are on a singer-songwriter adjacent track, the golden rule of songwriting is to “show, don't tell.” Basically, instead of saying something literally, you show it with details in image and actions or scenes of some sort. It’s supposed to give more to the listener than a generic lyric.
But, when your audience is already obsessed and ready to overanalyze every line, how do you keep your songwriting an art form and not a gossip piece?
Song on Repeat:
“Paint By Numbers” - Harry Styles
The Lyrics I Love:
Holding the weight of the American children whose hearts you break
Was it a tragedy when you told her
"I'm not even thirty-three"?
A little self-compassion and a life within your means
My Reflection:
“Paint By The Numbers” offers an example of a delicately and somewhat vaguely written song that goes about as vulnerable as a star of his level can. Although it was originally believed to be about the death of his former bandmate Liam Payne, some other people think it’s a more general take on love and fame. And that uncertainty is rare today with songs coming from major artists and probably something indie-artists couldn’t get remotely the same attention for.
No matter what it is about, the song is objectively thoughtful, simple, and holds a good amount back. It leaves you a bit curious - something that in songwriting is kind of a major “no no,” especially in the classic singer-songwriter style.
But, it’s poetic. It’s a rare example of a high-profile artist trying to find a way for their art to be viewed as just that - art - and not a subtweet, hidden message, or media mystery.
Looking back at the lyric sheet of the song, it breaks even songwriting rules than I first thought. The structure for one is different.
The first verse is just three lines:
Oh, what a gift it is to be noticed
But it’s nothing to do with me
You’ve got to wonder if there’s a reason to believe
Followed by a two lines chorus:
It's a lifetime of learning to paint by numbers
And watching the colours run
Followed by a second verse with seven lines:
It’s a little bit complicated
When they put an image in your head, and now you're stuck with it
You're the luckiest, oh, the irony
Holding the weight of the American children whose hearts you break
Was it a tragedy when you told her
"I'm not even thirty-three"?
A little self-compassion and a life within your means
The bridge followed the second verse, but not a chorus
It's a lifetime of picking from one or the other
Kids with water guns, watch them run
And then ending with the second repeat of chorus.
It’s a lifetime of learning to paint by numbers
And watching the colours run
And while the internal rhyme and American reference of the lyric I copied above - Holding the weight of the American children whose hearts you break - is what really stayed with me after listening…
I also think the song is really rooted in the simple chorus alliteration of a lifetime of learning
After all, no matter what this song is exactly about, I think the phrase “a lifetime of learning” is the truly the deeper meaning of the song.
It’s like you’re given the rulebook and learn to follow it (or paint by numbers) only for it to get messed up or not matter (when the colours run).
And no matter what pedestal people put you on, everyone is still trying to figure it out.
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The Song’s Songwriters:
Tyler Johnson
Most Popular Cuts: “As It Was” (Harry Styles), “Watermelon Sugar” (Harry Styles), “Sign of The Times” (Harry Styles)
Underrated Gems: “We Always Do” (Cam), “Give Up On Me” (Tyler Johnson), “Cold In California” (Cam)
Kid Harpoon
Most Popular Cuts: “As It Was” (Harry Styles), “Watermelon Sugar” (Harry Styles), “Adore You” (Harry Styles)
Underrated Gems: “Stay Young” (Paris Hilton), “Loving Me Lover” (Amy Shark), “I’ve Got a Friend” (Maggie Rogers)
Harry Styles
Most Popular Cuts: “As It Was” (Harry Styles), “Watermelon Sugar” (Harry Styles), “Sign of The Times” (Harry Styles)
Underrated Gems: “Just A Little Bit Of Your Heart” (Ariana Grande), “I Love You” (Alex & Sierra), “Ever Since New York” (Harry Styles)