Imagine this scenario: You find yourself at Harry Styles’ Together, Together tour and are enjoying the music in the crowd when suddenly, the people around you start belting out the lyrics to a different song by a different artist.
Harry Styles is currently in the middle 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 trend has emerged where fans are enthusiastically chanting the lyrics to 5 Seconds of Summer’s “Telephone Busy” during the instrumental break of Styles’ song “Ready, Steady, Go.” This trend is gaining momentum with each passing night.
The origin of this trend can be traced back to a fan remix on TikTok by user @millsberry75 in March. The remix combined elements of both songs, with 5 Seconds of Summer’s drummer Ashton Irwin incorporating “Telephone Busy” into “Ready, Steady, Go.”
5 Seconds of Summer acknowledged the remix in August when they included it in a DJ set at Salt Shed Chicago during the Lollapalooza festival. Now, fans are actively participating in this trend during Styles’ tour, as seen in numerous videos across social media platforms. The volume of fans chanting the 5 Seconds of Summer lyrics has notably increased in recent performances.
The connection between One Direction, the band where Harry Styles rose to fame, and 5 Seconds of Summer adds to the excitement of this trend. The history between the two bands, dating back to 2012 when 5 Seconds of Summer opened for One Direction, still resonates with fans today.
The organic growth of this fan-led trend showcases the power of the internet in translating online phenomena into real-life experiences within fandoms. Users on TikTok have expressed their enthusiasm for this spontaneous trend and its evolution.
5 Seconds of Summer has shown appreciation for the fan enthusiasm surrounding these songs. Ashton Irwin commented on a fan’s TikTok video, and the band has reposted several videos of fans chanting “Telephone Busy” at Harry Styles’ shows. While Styles himself has yet to acknowledge the trend directly, the increasing volume suggests he may soon take notice.
With numerous upcoming shows, including several at Madison Square Garden and Rogers Stadium, the potential for this trend to grow even louder is high. Fans are eagerly anticipating the continuation of this trend at future performances, with hopes of seeing the excitement spread further.