Is Benson Boone Copying Harry Styles? A Detailed Look

Rajiv Sharma

4 min read

Post on May 09, 2025

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Vocal Style and Delivery

Similar Vocal Timbres?

Both Benson Boone and Harry Styles possess warm, inviting vocal timbres that resonate with listeners. There's a certain smooth, soulful quality to their voices that contributes to their widespread appeal. However, a closer examination reveals subtle differences.

• Benson Boone's 'In the Stars' vs. Harry Styles' 'Watermelon Sugar': While both songs utilize a similar mellow, melodic approach, Boone's vocals in 'In the Stars' showcase a slightly raspier texture in the higher register, contrasting with Styles' smoother, more consistent tone in 'Watermelon Sugar'.
• Vocal Techniques: Both artists utilize vibrato and breath control effectively. However, Styles' vibrato is often more pronounced and utilized for emphasis, while Boone's feels more subtle and integrated into his phrasing.

Unique Vocal Identities?

Despite some similarities, Boone possesses unique vocal characteristics that set him apart from Styles.

• Benson Boone's 'Ghost Town' and 'Better Alone': These songs showcase Boone's ability to convey vulnerability and emotional depth through his vocal delivery, a quality less emphasized in Styles' more commercially-driven pop hits.
• Vocal Range and Texture: While both have impressive vocal ranges, Boone's vocal texture often leans towards a slightly more raw and emotive quality, while Styles' maintains a polished and refined feel. Boone occasionally incorporates a more forceful delivery, adding dynamism absent in much of Styles' smoother style.

Musical Style and Genre

Genre Overlap

Both artists operate primarily within the pop genre, with influences from soft rock and occasionally elements of folk.

• Shared Genres: Pop, Soft Rock are prominent in both artists’ catalogs. For example, 'Golden' by Harry Styles embodies soft rock elements mirrored in some of Benson Boone's work.
• Genre Blending: Both experiment with genre blending, but in different ways. Styles frequently incorporates elements of funk and R&B, while Boone tends towards more acoustic and ballad-driven compositions.

Distinctive Artistic Choices

While there's genre overlap, their artistic choices diverge significantly.

• Production Styles: Styles' music often features lush, layered production, whereas Boone's sometimes favors a more stripped-down, organic sound, highlighting his vocals and instrumentation.
• Lyrical Themes: While both explore themes of love and relationships, Boone's lyrics often delve into more introspective and personal narratives than Styles', whose lyrics tend toward more general, commercially appealing sentiments.

Stage Presence and Performance Style

Similarities in On-Stage Persona

Both artists command the stage with a relaxed confidence and engaging charisma. They connect with their audiences through their natural energy and charm.

• Audience Interaction: Both artists demonstrate a strong connection with their fans, using their stage presence to foster a sense of intimacy.
• Performance Style: Both employ a relatively similar, non-complex choreography to support their songs.

Individual Artistic Expression

Despite shared aspects, their stage performances ultimately differ substantially.

• Boone's Live Performances: Boone's shows often feel more intimate and emotionally raw, reflecting the vulnerability found in his music.
• Styles' Larger-Than-Life Spectacle: Styles’ performances lean towards a more theatrical and extravagant spectacle, befitting his arena-sized concerts.

Songwriting and Lyrical Themes

Recurring Themes

Both artists frequently explore themes of love, heartbreak, and personal growth.

• Shared Thematic Elements: Both incorporate narratives of romantic relationships, exploring the complexities of love and loss.
• Contrasting Examples: Styles often uses more metaphorical and suggestive language, while Boone opts for a more direct and emotionally transparent approach.

Unique Narrative Voices

Despite sharing thematic ground, their approaches to storytelling differ significantly.

• Narrative Style: Styles' songwriting often focuses on creating a mood or atmosphere, while Boone's approach is typically more character-driven and emotionally detailed.
• Vocabulary and Tone: Styles often employs a more poetic and evocative vocabulary, whereas Boone's style is more straightforward and conversational.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while Benson Boone and Harry Styles share some stylistic similarities – particularly within the broader pop genre and their engaging stage presence – a detailed analysis reveals significant differences. Boone’s vocal texture, lyrical themes, and production choices showcase a distinct artistic identity, setting him apart from Styles. The question "Is Benson Boone copying Harry Styles?" is ultimately answered with a nuanced "no." While influences are inevitable in any artist's development, Boone is clearly establishing his own unique voice and artistic direction. Let us know what you think – is Benson Boone's style influenced by Harry Styles? Share your thoughts in the comments below!