Friday, November 17, 2023

Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles: Will 2024 Be Their Year...and Ours

 

Whew! It's been a long eleven-months, folks. Twists and turns. Frustrations and annoyances. Joys and celebrations. Prolonged anticipations, quickly counterbalanced by exasperating letdowns. Trying to figure out what will be the next shoe to drop. Or what might be the next pushback lingering just around the corner.  



At the beginning of the year, there was much speculation about a possible shift in good fortune. After all the long expected "breakup" article finally dropped on January 6, 2023, after a few years of crystal gazing. Proving, once again, that contracts do end. Although, never soon enough.




Of course, progress is never linear, so Eleanor's departure was quickly followed by the irritating possibility of a replacement beard on February 16/17,



 

And even though nothing came of the hinted-at budding "romance", a far more consequential blow hit the fandom with the All of Those Voices "Documentary" Trailer drop at the end of February and the official release date on March 22,



Fandom as Wile E. Coyote


In between, there were many high points related to both Harry and Louis throughout the year. From Grammys and Brits to Sold Out Venues. The beginning of a tour and the end of another.


Followed by Louis' new tattoos, unveiled in April, (although a few more timely ones will be coming at the end of the year as well), 

 



The June 1 resurrection of Tank Top Louis!





Harry looking lovely in early June (Amsterdam),




No explanation needed,

 













 

More tiresome, anyone-but-Louis rag headlines, (while also serving a dual-purpose with respect to Harry's true preference)

 



Harry just being Harry (Never change, my friend),










Storytelling about what has been, ๐ŸŽถIf stars are edible


Music For A Sushi Restaurant, October 2022


The Contract








 

 

And what might be ๐ŸŽถWalk in your rainbow paradise,


Daylight, music video, July 19, 2023


All these memories merging with mounting signs of a paradigm shift appearing on the horizon. Long-awaited developments as Faith in the Future's European Leg came to an end last Saturday. Preceded by Louis' triumphant solo return to London's O2 Arena for a massive sold-out show on November 17.

 

20,000 in attendance!

Official London O2 Poster (Louis' final European show)


The London poster perhaps paying homage to a film that has loomed large in Louis' storytelling over the last few years:  David Fincher's, Fight Club. Through destruction (chaos) comes freedom (breaking away from authority and rules). What the film calls, Project Mayhem. 


The final scene of Fight Club


Despite the appearance that nothing really ever moves forward when it comes to Louis and Harry's freedom, something intuitively seems to continue to linger in the background, chipping away at the edges, hinting that this time a real change is in the air. Don't forget that November is the month of One Direction's Sony/Columbia contract, signed in 2011 right before One Direction's American launch date of February 2012. November 17 is, in fact, also the beginning of Louis and Eleanor's first bearding contract. That's right. Louis' closet was cemented right before One Direction hit the American market. Funny how Louis never could remember his own "anniversary."  ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚

On a more positive note, Harry did conclude his never-ending Love on Tour odyssey on July 22 with a "Goodbye" composition, signaling another ending.



Harry played an emotional instrumental composition that was reminiscent of the haunting background piano music found in the promo commercial that announced the start of his solo career. A full circle moment bringing closure to something meaningful, perhaps?


Harry Styles ITV Commercial, April 2017

 

Two-years, five continents and 169 shows later, Harry's publicized three-album recording deal, announced with Columbia Records in June 2016, has apparently been fulfilled. Although the constant flow of het stunts (from the awkward, obviously staged reveal of a "new" thigh high tattoo designed to authenticate a jettisoned beard to the pointless Lime bike buffoonery) suggest some shackles, or maybe trade-offs are still in place. The peek-a-boo leggy performance occurring just eight days after what was presented to be Harry's final "show". So much for rest and recuperation.

Those pushed up shorts, conveniently caught on camera, at just the right time, really oozes an organic moment. *rolls eyes*


July 30, 2023


With another beard already waiting in the wings and introduced in late June, it is difficult to determine how much freer Harry really is. More smoke and mirrors from Sony and the Azoffs. 

 

Harry's final Love on Tour Performance in Italy

In the meantime, Louis just ended the European leg of his Faith in the Future tour and is not publicly obligated to resurface again until January 24, 2024, in Jakarta, Indonesia. His only show in Asia. Then off to Australia, et al. Officially concluding his tour in Mexico (June 2024). Maybe the relationship between Mexico and freedom might be realized at last.  ๐ŸŽถStep into the Light


Lights Up music video, 2019


Despite six more months of touring set for 2024, Louis cryptically announced last week on November 15, during the 77th performance of his Faith in the Future tour, that an end was near, "We're getting to the end."

 



Repeat:  We're getting near the end. 

Then there's all those outro songs, Louis has played throughout 2023 that seem to have an uncanny relationship to a final act. 

  • Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
  • Wake Me Up When September Ends - Green Day
  • It's the End of World As We Know It - R.E.M.
  • The End - The Doors
  • End of the Line - Traveling Wilburys
  • End of the Day - One Direction
  • End of the Road - Boyz II Men (last show in Birmingham)


Now, with Harry showing up on the same day as Louis' "Getting near the end" speech with a whole new look, and wearing a "kissing Swan" sweater, a definite change appears to be in the air (Reggio Emilia giving off swan song vibes, perhaps). 

 




 

We can't help but sense that something is shifting; especially since that buzz cut now reminds Narnia of an October 2021 post where we discussed the film, V for Vendetta. A post which now seems worth revisiting in light of Harry's new unexpected haircut. 

Back then, there was already much talk about when would Louis and Harry's contracts end, especially with regard to BabyGate. In fact,the fandom phrase of "End It" was a common rallying cry at the time. The need to battle the system bringing to mind the main theme of the film V for Vendetta. The source of this connection, in fact, came from a provocative tweet and video posted on social media in August 2021 from none other than an old X Factor contestant, Rebecca Ferguson. 




In fact it was Ferguson's tweet and video gif attachment that became the inspiration for Narnia's 2021 post. Scroll down to the paragraph beginning with, "And they aren't the only ones battling the industry."

Head Shaving and Evey Transitioning to a New Life


Fast forward to today, and we at Narnia would like to also point out that on December 5, 2023, Rebecca will be releasing an album that she not only calls Heaven, Part II, ("you can't bribe the door on the way to the sky") but a recording that she considers to be the completion (end of an era) of the same named album she released under Syco/RCA (Sony) back in 2011, twelve years earlier. A time when her battle against corrupt business practices in the music industry began. A recording which she indicates will be her fifth and final album. Or does she mean deliverable? One more full circle moment, leading to another possible closure experience. Narnia wishes Rebecca the very best. 

 



Oh, but the connection with Harry's recent buzz cut is more than just Natalie Portman's character in V for Vendetta. There's also Niall Horan's album, significantly called "The Show"[see Niall's early promo] which promotes the theme of Heaven and moving on.  


๐ŸŽถWelcome to the final show,

Heaven Won't Be the Same
















But, before leaving this topic, let's add one more point about Rebecca Ferguson and Harry's shaved head photo which seemed to communicate a change in his public image on November 15. Stylistically, Harry's head shot just happens to bare a strong resemblance to Rebecca's album cover art for Heaven, Part II. Drum roll, please,






Could be a coincidence, but Narnia has been around far too long to dismiss the resemblance as being more than merely a random occurrence. The two not only share a longstanding battle about winning their freedom from those abusive Sony/Syco contracts dating back to 2010, but Rebecca's One Direction tweet back in August 2021 (see above discussion on Rebecca's upload YouTube glitch) hint at perhaps a shared ending.  Here's hoping that a new beginning might be underway for both Harry and Rebecca and one which will be revealed when the time is right.




Given all of this activity, it seems appropriate to conclude by mentioning Louis' two new tattoos. 




And, 




Tattoos can have several meanings, but context and backstories are useful in narrowing down their significance. Regarding the first tattoo, the likelihood that Anarchy is what Louis is trying to convey is supported not only by Harry's Vendetta-like buzz cut, but by the Polari (subversive language/coding) tweet that was posted on June 21, 2022, and then deleted. The resemblance to a Guy Fawkes mask crudely drawn onto Louis' face is uncanny, as well as creepy.

 





The second tattoo of, "We go on go!" has a distinct forward motion quality. Indeed, digging a little deeper, the phrase, "on go," is attached to the concept of being war ready. In other words, being prepared for a fight/battle to the end. 




Yes, there can be a double meaning or even more explanations. Louis and Harry are clever and strategic guys, and plausible deniability is essential when dealing with the closet and battling the powers that be. No doubt, being war ready is essential. As is being flexible. 

However, after having worn two updated Burberry logos recently in St. Augustine, Florida (July 11, 2023) and for his final show in Birmingham (November 18, 2023), the meaning that is consistently being conveyed seems much more than just something for the lads in the band. The equestrian logo with the knight carrying a flag emblazoned with the Latin word, Prorsum, has the clear definition of moving forward. Comparable to a charge. Like a command, or an invocation. No turning back. 

That new Burberry logo was introduced earlier this year with the expressed intent of taking the Burberry brand into a new direction. This is where we see Louis and Harry going in the new year.

Oh, and a closing shout out to Mr. Isaac Anderson (Louis' bandmate) for clarifying the meaning of Louis' tattoo. Anarchy it is then.






Sources:  Tumblr, Twitter, Styles Look Book, Buzzfeed, Lloyd Wakefield, AOTV, Fight Club, HL Daily on Tour, King Updates, 1DRocksNews, National World, gify, Retropopmagazine, Sony, Rebecca Ferguson Music, Burberry

Playlist: This Will Be Our Year - The Zombies

              Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran

              What Makes You Beautiful - One Direction

              All This Time - Louis Tomlinson

 

 

Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles: Joy, Love and Wasted Time




BULLSHIT Tweet 1.0 - September 16, 2012




 

BULLSHIT Tweet 2.0 - November 10, 2014

 


 

BULLSHIT 3.0 - Dan Wootton Q&A with Louis Tomlinson, July 21, 2017 

 

Louis Tomlinson:  "I've never actually been asked about it directly.... [Rumors that he and Harry Styles are in a secret romantic relationship.] If you Google 'conspiracy' on iPhones, you're going to get a conspiracy. So, it's one of these things that people love to buy into, but in reality, obviously, there's no truth to it. Obviously."



 

 BULLSHIT 4.0 (ChickenGate)









Chicken stuffed with mozzarella wrapped in parma ham


Meanwhile...

Louis' current Faith in the Future Tour is bathed in a stage-generated rainbow light show nightly.



๐…  Surrounded by lights, surrounded by lights, surrounded by lights...๐…ฃ


Not to mention the inclusive fan projects...

 

"She is Beauty," Zurich, October 23, 2023



 
that Louis embraces throughout his tour...
















Paris Fan Project (20,000 colored lights reflected back upon Louis on stage) 
October 14, 2023



Just Louis Tomlinson being Louis Tomlinson


 

Remember, whenever something reeks of bullshit when it comes to Louis Tomlinson,

 


Simon Jones and his paymasters can't be far behind. With the UK leg of Louis' Tour coming up on November 8 in Dublin, Ireland and Harry predictably being suddenly, and publicly, portrayed as nowhere near the UK. (guess he got tired of Lime biking in circles with his bestie, James Corden), here comes the inevitable Harry HetFEST and "Anywhere but in the UK" headlines:

Drum roll, please,

The usual, 'taking their "romance" to a new level, things are "heating up", and he sees a "future" for them tabloid trope.


The U.S. Sun, November 1, 2023


Typical Azoff self-promotion of their business interests using Harry's name,

 

Backgrid, November 1, 2023


And, of course, Harry HetFEST redux,

 

Curated, November 5, 2023


 
 
With Louis performing at some impressively large venues throughout South America next year, as well as having the honor of being selected as one of the headliners at one of the top three most lucrative music events in Latin America in March 2024 - the Tecate Pa'l Norte Music Festival - it's not surprising that the sabotage and separation campaigns have been kicked into high gear once again. 



With Louis going into an extended break from touring (October 24-Novemeber 7, 2023), "coincidental" shenanigans would inevitably follow to target the Larrie fandom; #Chickengate on October 31 (aka Bullshit 4.0), and Tabloid HetHarry suddenly being publicized as outside England, after intentionally being seen in the London area for months, pretty much doing nothing at all. That's right. Before Louis was to resume his World Tour in the United Kingdom, Harry allegedly vanishes (according to the media) with his beard du moment.  Familiar PR Narrative: Yeah, Louis' been off for two weeks, but Harry has been "loved up" 4300 miles away on a "secret" romantic holiday. The kind of fabricated "privacy" that somehow selected tabloids make sure everyone knows all about. Can't have that two-week rule proven right now, can we?

๐ŸŽถStaring at the ceiling
     Two weeks and I'll be home
     Carry the feeling,
     Through Paris, all through Rome...
     I'm going, oh, I'm going home.
                           - Canyon Moon, Harry Styles
 
With Harry's image pretty much continuing to be manipulated by the usual suspects, often to his detriment, Louis has continued to use his touring platform this past summer to fight back any way he can. Most notably reminding their fandom that things are not what they seem. Whether communicating with Rainbow Lights, LGBTQ+ symbols, singing "Larry, called a load of smoke in", changing lyrics to "I love him" during "Back to You", or wearing coded clothing like Louis and Harry's Rose and Dagger couples' tattoos being displayed just one day from one another - Louis wore The rose (Harry's tattoo) in Vancouver on June 26, 2023, and Harry sporting the Dagger (Louis' tattoo) in Dusseldorf, on June 27, 2023...



Detail of Louis and Harry's complementary, couples' tattoos




OR, sometimes just through clever misstatements over obvious, provable facts, Louis and Harry's "Beautiful War" against the entertainment industry is still being waged through all means possible. Relying on their analytical and questioning fans to see through the lies and hopefully building up to something that brings more freedom in both their personal and professional lives.

One significant example of Louis' clever messaging occurred earlier this year when what was marketed as his solo era "documentary", ALL OF THESE VOICES (AOTV), was conveniently rolled out worldwide in theaters on March 22, 2023, right before Louis began his Faith in the Future tour (more than likely to adversely impact ticket sales). Remember, when it comes to Louis Tomlinson, sabotage is always close at hand. The timing of the delayed rollout is notable in that back on October 6, 2022, the same day Harry postponed his show in Chicago due to "illness" and a Larrie "glitch" occurred on Twitter where Louis' account curiously Liked all of Harry Styles related tweets while Harry's account Liked all tweets with the word Louis in it, several AOTV announcements appeared from out of nowhere.

Twitter Glitch, 10/6/2022


Love on Tour Chicago show postponed, 10/6/2022:



AOTV inexplicably "leaked" for the first time on 10/6/22, with cinema announcements of a December 2, 2022, release date. (Note: that the movie didn't actually come out until March 22, 2023). No surprise that many fans were suspicious and anxious about the real purpose of this project. Particularly given the emphasis on unprecedented behind-the-scenes footage of Louis' tour while Babygate is still alive and kicking. 

 





 














 
 
Curiously enough, the URLs are either disabled now or up for sale,
 










Here are some other links from October 2022 for CW, Majestic 7 and Emagine theaters. Most no longer active:

Seite wurde nicht gefunden. – dasKinoprogramm.de A German Cinema Program but the site can no longer be found

https://cwtheaters.com/movie/ArsenalYards/LOUIS-TOMLINSON-ALL-OF-THOSE-VOICES - Website “under the weather”


The mistrust of many fans was validated four months later when brief footage of the film suddenly became available as part of the promotional campaign for the Mockumentary, (Oops! Narnia means, Documentary), and just as expected, notoriously cooperative publications like Rolling Stone "helpfully" provided provocative synopses of All of Those Voices (AOTV) by highlighting Louis' fatherhood. That's right. The same, once respected music publication tasked with selling solo Harry's het-heavy, sex god persona was charged with helping to sell Louis, "The Father".  Nice to know that in March 2023 Rolling Stone finally remembered who Louis Tomlinson was. 

Don't forget that when it comes to the high stakes game of maintaining a celebrity's closet, publicists have no scruples when it comes to corrupting and co-opting mass market popular formats such as books, magazine articles and/or films. Prior to AOTV, only Harry had been the star attraction of such pop culture propaganda with Ben Winston's farcical "Happy Together" TV show and the very het-inspired fan fic, "After" series. Since 2022, in fact, there's even been publicity surrounding the making of another "inspired" film to tell the story about a boy bander and older woman. Another Lothario scenario Harry has been saddled with since he was just 16 years old by Simon Cowell. The laughable summary just about says it all,









Returning to the release of AOTV, and Sony's eagerness to sell stunt narratives by deceptively packaging the product as a heartfelt "self-made" documentary, Louis Tomlinson becomes the content creator himself. After all, the unsuspecting public and, most importantly, Louis and Harry's fandoms, are more likely to embrace the "truth" of the subject matter, if Louis is portrayed as the catalyst for the revived "father" narrative.  Even more so, if NDAs, abusive contracts, image clauses, and threats of blackballing someone's career, or the career of a loved one, can provide the much-needed coercive framework for Louis' participation. Don't forget, we already know how Sony/Syco, along with their industry accomplices, have successfully blocked Louis' solo records from being played on mainstream BBC radio (waves at Rob Stringer's brother in the UK), since 2017. Likewise postponing the release of Louis' first album, Walls, until an eye-popping three years later (January 31, 2020).
 

Keep your enemies closer, August 22, 2018



Notice who is portrayed as "revisiting" and "exploring his past". And that 'past' importantly now includes "parenthood", i.e. including kissing his son on the mouth, frolicking on the beach, and






relatives explaining just how much Louis misses his "kid". Accompanied by backstage footage of that same child attending one of Louis' concerts.



The goal to isolate the nonbelievers, and work to chase away more of Louis' LGBTQ+ supporters. Not so much because fans suddenly believe that Louis is a father, but because of the bullying results from this kind of homophobic storytelling.

As we have learned, since 2010, however, Louis is not your typical closeted celebrity. Intentionally placing footage of his stunt "son" in AOTV (from his Los Angeles Night 1 concert on March 12, 2022), would never be enough to silence him or muffle his determination to communicate his truth. 

So, what did Louis do to inform fans that the inclusion of the father narrative was not his choice, but was, in fact, another way for mainstream media to be used to closet him further? Well, Mr. Perfectionist, who by the time of the VEEPS Global Screening on May 13, 2023, had participated in two separate edits and four World Premiere showings, just happened to not notice that the wrong date had been quite prominently displayed on screen for the Los Angeles (Inglewood) concert footage. Instead of the correct March 12 Saturday date, someone [*cough* Louis Tomlinson] made sure the wrong date was inserted. A date that was not even possible considering that Louis ended his American tour the next day on March 13 with a Night 2 in Los Angeles (Inglewood) Sunday performance. In fact, Louis did not even resume his tour again until ten days later on Wednesday, March 23 in Reykjavik, Iceland.  

Just Mastermind Louis reminding everyone that the use of smoke and mirrors can go both ways. 

 

Screen Capture from Louis Tomlinson's WALLS Music Video


Splattered across the screenshot below is the unmistakably inaccurate date of March 16, 2022, which Louis chose to document as the date "his son" attended his Night 1, LA concert.  His message was loud and clear:  if a deceptively staged and documented narrative about "Freddie" seeing his "Dad" at his LA, Night 1 concert must be immortalized in film to portray Louis as being complicit in his own closet, then he will add obviously false information for all to see. After all, if the truth doesn't matter to The Powers That Be (TPTB), surely these same individuals will not care if more disinformation about this event is included, right? Thanks for the chaos, Louis! 



Within this context of deception and lies, it becomes clear that "ChickenGate" is just one more example of Louis being the one made to fall on his proverbial sword and deny that he and Harry are together. While TPTB remain in the shadows as the "Larry conspiracy" (the belief that Louis and Harry are in a long-term committed relationship but are being closeted by Sony/Syco) is presented in the media as just a harebrained fantasy of a fringe element of Louis and Harry's fandom. This business plan just one more component set into motion to undermine Louis' career as TPTB continue to portray him as a homophobic bully. Of course, if one would just pause and take a breath, instead of taking sides, it's hard to believe that two people as inclusive and supportive as Louis and Harry would be obsessed with gay rumors at all. 


Louis unmistakenly singing, "I love him," in Glasgow, Nov. 12, 2023



Another point that should arouse suspicions is that Louis is the only one of the two who has ever publicly "attacked" Larries, periodically being portrayed as a homophobic jerk, while Sony and the Azoff's cash cow, Harry Styles™, is allowed to remain above the fray. A free-spirited, fluid nymph who appeals to everyone. In other words, both images are being managed and manipulated to sell a narrative designed to separate the two, as well as squeeze as much money out of Harry's solo career as possible.

And finally, let's conclude by acknowledging some other very powerful messaging that occurred immediately following Louis' non sequitur Bullshit 4.0. (ChickenGate) interaction with a fan on October 31. (Remember, when a rumor doesn't go away, it's not a rumor.)  And after thirteen years of bullshit conspiracies, childish theories, The Larry Organization, and gay denials, Elton's wisdom and experience regarding closeting in the music industry seems pretty darn insightful. 


So have we, Harry. So have we. 


Moreover, when an openly gay ally, who is part of the entertainment industry, decides to chime in only one day after ChickenGate on November 1...well, the timing looks far less like a coincidence and much more like an intentional act. 

In this very LOUD instance, the producer of My Policeman, Robbie Rogers posted an unseen pic on the film's one-year anniversary in which the lead characters, played by Harry Styles and David Dawson, are seen as their younger selves, embracing one another. 

It's a scene that mirrors the last scene of the character's older selves in the movie, adding the caption, "Tom and Patrick lived happily ever after, btw."






 

Anyone who has seen My Policeman, knows that the younger versions of Tom and Patrick did not live happily ever after. At least, not in the sense that Mr. Rogers suggests. The actual final scene shows them as older men, forty years later; both broken by their closets, even though finally embracing at the end. Very much not a happily ever after, but more a reflection on wasted time. 

In addition, Mr. Rogers does something quite clever if anyone was to doubt who that happily ever after is about. Notice, in the photo that he posts, that both Harry and David's characters are wearing blue and green. Tom's jacket is a darker shade of blue and a plausibly deniable gray/green. While David's shirt is a lighter shade. 




 


 

Blue and green, you say?  Enough said.     ๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’š

Happily ever after, btw




Pics and Sources:  Tumblr, Twitter, Faith in the Future Tour, Instagram, Robbie Rogers, Walls Music Video, All of Those Voices, Paris Fan Project, Rolling Stone, Zimbio

Playlist:  Can't Help Falling in Love with You - Ed Sheeran
                Silver Tongues - Louis Tomlinson
                Adore You - Harry Styles 
                505 - Arctic Monkeys