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,
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| 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, ๐ถIf stars are edible
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| Music For A Sushi Restaurant, October 2022 |
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| The Contract |
And what might be ๐ถWalk in your rainbow paradise,
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| 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!
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| 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.
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| 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." ๐๐๐
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?
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*
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| 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.
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. ๐ถStep into the Light
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| 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.
๐ถWelcome to the final show,
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| 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
