"Even If All Of Our Friends Pass Away"
"I don't wanna die" is the famous lyric of Bohemian Rhapsody singer Freddie Mercury. In the USA, the AIDS epidemic— between 1987 and 1998— killed 324,029 men and women (Rosenfeld), the majority being queer men such as Freddie Mercury, Rock Hudson, Robert Reed, Anthony Perkins, Keith Haring, and Pedro Zamora (Lists). Treat People With Kindness is based on the AIDS epidemic of 1981-1991 as the lyrics contain the feeling of the queer community during that time.
Harry Styles' song, Treat People With Kindness, is a story on the AIDS epidemic that had the queer community in fear for a decade in the 1980s and early 1990s. The lyrics of the song reference the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, a queer men's chorus that the queer community looked to "for refuge and a sense of community" (Upgrow). The lyrics include, "They'll sing a song for us (ah-ah-ah-ah); And we'll belong." Styles explains the thoughts of finding somewhere where you feel like you belong, a sense of community. Styles continues the song with, "And it's just another day (and it's just another day); And if our friends all pass away (ah-ah-ah-ah); It's okay (it's okay, it's okay, it's okay)." During the epidemic, "In the USA, by 1995, one gay man in nine had been diagnosed with AIDS, one in fifteen had died [...]" (Rosenfeld). Queer men had been faced with the reality of losing their lives due to AIDS.
Many people believe that the song is about making changes into making yourself feel happier while doing the same for others by treating them with kindness. Lyrics that would back this idea up include, "Feeling good in my skin; I just keep on dancin'." While this could be true, it's unlikely that Styles would add the lyrics, "And if our friends all pass away (ah-ah-ah-ah); It's okay (it's okay, it's okay, it's okay)." If the song is about bettering yourself for your happiness and being kind to others, Styles would have not added the lyrics showing that it's okay for people to pass.
Although Harry Styles has never specifically stated what Treat People With Kindness is about, many occurrences in the AIDS epidemic aline with the story of Treat People With Kindness. From vague lyrics about the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus to lyrics about the death of millions of queer people, Harry Styles captured the feelings the queer community was faced with during the AIDS epidemic.
Works Cited
Styles, Harry. "Treat People With Kindness." Fine Line, Spotify app, Columbia and Erskine Records, 13 Dec. 2019.
Lists, Celebrity. "Famous Gay People Who Died of AIDS." Ranker, Ranker, 23 Apr. 2021, https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-gay-people-who-died-of-aids/celebrity-lists.
Rosenfeld, Dana. "The AIDS Epidemic's Lasting Impact on Gay Men." The AIDS Epidemic's Lasting Impact on Gay Men, The British Academy, 19 Feb. 2018, https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/blog/aids-epidemic-lasting-impact-gay-men/.
Upgrow. "AIDS History: A Timeline of the AIDS Crisis 1980s: SFGMC." San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, 20 Oct. 2022, https://www.sfgmc.org/blog/aids-crisis-1980s#:~:text=Early%20in%20the%201980s%2C%20AIDS,%2C%20education%2C%20and%20outreach%20campaigns.
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