Imagine this scenario: You’ve snagged tickets to Harry Styles’ Together, Together tour and are enjoying the show from the stands when suddenly, the crowd erupts into singing the lyrics to a different song, this time by another artist.
Harry Styles is currently performing the 20th show out of a 30-show residency at Madison Square Garden in New York City as part of his tour. While it’s common for fans to sing along to his songs, a new viral trend has emerged where fans are enthusiastically chanting the lyrics to Australian band 5 Seconds of Summer’s “Telephone Busy” during the instrumental break of Styles’ song “Ready, Steady, Go” – and the enthusiasm is growing stronger with each passing night.
The trend originated from a fan-made remix on TikTok. In March, user @millsberry75 created a video blending the two songs, with 5 Seconds of Summer’s drummer Ashton Irwin talk-singing the intro of “Telephone Busy” over the track of “Ready, Steady, Go.”
The band took notice of the remix and incorporated it into a DJ set they performed at Salt Shed Chicago during the Lollapalooza festival in August. Now, fans are embracing the trend and bringing it to life at Harry Styles’ tour performances.
Numerous videos on social media capture fans joining in on the trend, with the chanting of 5 Seconds of Summer lyrics becoming increasingly louder in recent performances at Madison Square Garden. The crossover of fan excitement stems from the longstanding connection between One Direction, the band where Harry Styles gained fame, and 5 Seconds of Summer, known affectionately as 5SOS by fans.
The bond between the two bands dates back to 2012 when One Direction introduced 5SOS to a broader audience. 5SOS later joined One Direction on tours in 2013 and 2014, fostering a strong fan base overlap that continues to this day.
The organic growth of this fan-led trend showcases the power of online communities to translate into real-life phenomena, particularly within fan bases. 5 Seconds of Summer has acknowledged the buzz around the two songs, expressing appreciation for the fan enthusiasm. While Harry Styles has yet to directly address the trend, the increasing volume of the chants could lead to his acknowledgment in the future.
With numerous upcoming shows at Madison Square Garden and throughout the tour, including performances at Rogers Stadium in May, the potential for the trend to escalate further is significant. Fans are eagerly embracing the trend, with hopes of continuing the energetic chant at future shows.