On May 21, at the Ivor Novello Awards in London, the singer spoke about his admiration for Thom Yorke, the famous songwriter and frontman of Radiohead.
In a five-minute speech, Harry Styles reflected on the role Radiohead had played in his career and in his life. Just before Thom Yorke officially became a member of the Ivor Academy (an organization that honors and supports UK songwriters), the former One Direction star paid him a powerful tribute: "I cannot overemphasize the influence his work has had on my belief in the value of the arts in today’s world, and I cannot overemphasize the influence his work continues to have on me." He also humbly noted that the song "Watermelon Sugar" could not have existed without Radiohead’s "Exit Music."
Addressing the crowd, Harry Styles continued, visibly grateful. "It’s always nerve-wracking to go on stage, but knowing that a man I’ve spent a large part of my life listening to is listening to me talk about him is a truly terrifying honor. It’s an honor to be here tonight to present Thom with this recognition of his lasting influence on British music. Radiohead is my favorite band. Thank you so much, Thom."
During his speech, the singer also reflected on a pivotal, intimate moment in his life: "I lost my virginity to 'Talk Show Host,'" he said of the 1996 track , clarifying that he lost his virginity "during the intro to 'Talk Show Host.'" An anecdote that didn’t fail to spark laughter and flood social media.
Currently on his "Together, Together" world tour, Harry Styles nevertheless didn’t hesitate to take a short (and rare) break to attend Thom Yorke’s induction ceremony.
