The Evolution of 'Watermelon Sugar': from Secret Recording to Cultural Phenomenon
By Sarah Jenkins
The mystery around the song began almost immediately after the release of Styles’ sophomore solo album, Fine Line, in December 2019. The lyrics were soaked in sensuous, tactile imagery: strawberries on a summer evening, washed linen, and the euphoric "high" brought on by watermelon sugar. For nearly two years, Styles dodged direct questions during radio interviews, offering vague shrugs and suggesting listeners should interpret the lyrics however they wished.
The evasiveness evaporated during a sold-out concert at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Styles told the audience of 20,000 fans that the song was fundamentally about the female orgasm. The confession confirmed what music analysts and fans had recognized since the 2020 music video dropped. Directed by Bradley & Pablo and shot on a Malibu beach in January 2020, just before worldwide lockdowns, the visual opened with a cheeky title card: "This video is dedicated to touching." Throughout the piece, Styles sits surrounded by models eating enormous slices of fresh fruit, rendering the metaphor unmistakably clear.
Sarah Jenkins is a veteran tech journalist with over 12 years of experience covering artificial intelligence, mobile innovations, and digital ethics. Her insights have appeared in leading technology publications worldwide.
