Harry Styles Wishes He Wrote This 1970s Hit Paul Simon Song

Harry Styles’ music is sometimes very modern. On the other hand, he draws from a lot of classic rock artists. During an interview, he said he wished he had written a famous rock song from the 1970s. He also said the musician behind that song is one of his favorite musicians.

The famous artists who inspired Harry Styles

During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Styles discussed his influences. He said he was inspired by some Shania Twain and Norah Jones. Notably, most of his influences were classic rock artists from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.

Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and Fleetwood Mac all inspired his music. Styles said he was influenced by these artists because his father listened to them while he was growing up. He expressed a particular fondness for one classic rock hit.

Harry Styles loves the melody in this famous song

“I wish I had written ’50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,'” Styles said. “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” is one of Paul Simon’s most famous songs. Styles had a special appreciation for one element of “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.”

“’50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,’ that’s the greatest verse melody ever written, in my opinion,” Styles told Rolling Stone. “So minimal, but so good — that drum roll.” Styles also revealed both Simon’s solo music and Simon & Garfunkel’s music had an impact on him.

“‘The Boxer’ is a perfect lyric, especially that first verse,” he opined. “I grew up in a pub for a few years when I was a kid and Simon & Garfunkel were just constantly playing, always. Every time ‘Cecilia’ started, I’d be like, ‘I think I’ve heard this a hundred times today.'” Rolling Stone reported Simon is one of Styles’ favorite musicians.

The way the world reacted to the song

It doesn’t seem like Styles was the only one who appreciated “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.” The track reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying on the chart for 17 weeks. “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” is Simon’s only No. 1 hit in the United States as a solo artist. The song’s parent album, Still Crazy After All These Years, was a hit as well. It peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and lasted on the chart for 40 weeks.

“50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” was a hit in the United Kingdom as well. The Official Charts Company reports the song peaked at No. 23 on in the U.K., remaining on the chart for six weeks. Notably, Simon never had a No. 1 single as a solo artist in the U.K. Still Crazy After All These Years hit No. 6 there and lasted on the chart for 31 weeks. Styles is a big fan of “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” even if it wasn’t a massive hit in his native U.K.