Picture yourself at Harry Styles’ Together, Together tour, enjoying the music in the crowd when suddenly, people start belting out the lyrics to a different song by a different artist.
Harry Styles is currently headlining a 30-show residency at Madison Square Garden in New York City as part of his tour. While fans singing along to his songs is typical, a new viral trend has emerged where fans chant the lyrics to Australian band 5 Seconds of Summer’s “Telephone Busy” during the instrumental break of Styles’ song “Ready, Steady, Go” – and the enthusiasm is growing with each performance.
The trend originated from a fan remix on TikTok. User @millsberry75 shared a video in March combining the two songs, with 5 Seconds of Summer’s drummer Ashton Irwin adding vocals from “Telephone Busy” over “Ready, Steady, Go.”
5 Seconds of Summer embraced the remix and incorporated it into a DJ set during the Lollapalooza festival in August. Now, fans are bringing this trend to life at Styles’ live shows, with videos circulating on social media showcasing the audience joining in.
The history between One Direction, where Styles rose to fame, and 5 Seconds of Summer adds to the excitement. 5SOS opened for One Direction on tours in the past, creating a strong connection between the fan bases.
The organic evolution of this trend from online remixes to real-life fan participation highlights the power of fandoms in translating internet trends into live experiences.
5 Seconds of Summer has acknowledged and appreciated the excitement around the songs, while Styles has yet to directly address the trend. With more shows ahead, including performances at Rogers Stadium, the chanting of “Telephone Busy” lyrics may continue to grow louder, creating an electrifying atmosphere for fans to enjoy.
User @bethanyannne has already encouraged others to learn the lyrics for future shows, indicating the trend’s potential to continue spreading.