“Sign of the Times” is a monumental, cinematic 2017 glam-rock and orchestral pop masterpiece that served as the explosive debut solo single for Harry Styles. Spanning over five minutes, the track is a slow-burning epic that begins with a simple, melancholic acoustic piano melody before expanding into a massive, arena-sized rock orchestration. It features a sweeping string section, a soaring gospel-style backing choir, and a heavy, crashing drum beat that culminates in a raw, emotionally charged electric guitar solo.

Lyrically, the song is a profound, apocalyptic, and deeply empathetic reflection on grief, human mortality, and surviving dark times, written from the perspective of a dying mother giving her child final words of strength. Styles delivers a breathtaking, powerhouse vocal performance, pushing his chest voice and falsetto to their absolute limits to convey a sense of cosmic urgency and catharsis. The track’s bold, retro-rock art direction completely shattered his boy-band mold, proving his artistry on a global scale.