Harry Styles scores his third No. 1 hit with "Aperture," featuring an unconventional chorus timing. Get ready for his album "Kiss All the Time" on March 6!
- February 5, 2026
AceShowbiz - Harry Styles has made a significant impact on the music charts with his latest single, Aperture, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week dated February 7. This marks Styles' third chart-topping hit, following the success of As It Was in 2022 and Watermelon Sugar in 2020. The song serves as the lead single from his upcoming album, Kiss All the Time, set to release on March 6.
One of the standout features of Aperture is its unconventional structure, particularly the timing of its chorus. Unlike many songs in the top 10, which typically introduce their choruses early, Styles waits until the two-minute mark to present the memorable refrain, “we belong together.” This delay is noteworthy as it occurs 1:21 later than the average first chorus arrival time of 0:39 for top 10 hits over the past decade. Interestingly, during this period, only 1% of top 10 songs have delayed their choruses past the two-minute threshold, with all instances belonging to the hip-hop/rap genre.
The song also features a lengthy 45-second intro, making it one of the longest among non-hip-hop/rap top 10 songs since 2016. This intro is approximately 30 seconds longer than the average for similar hits, ranking just behind Ariana Grande's Yes, And?, which has a 48-second intro.
At a total runtime of 5:12, Aperture stands out as one of the longest hits in the top 10 over the past decade. From 2016 to 2025, only 3% of top 10 songs have exceeded five minutes, predominantly within the hip-hop/rap category, with Drake being a prominent contributor to this trend. Other notable long tracks include Taylor Swift's All Too Well, which exceeds ten minutes, alongside Styles’ own Sign of the Times.
Another aspect contributing to Harry Styles’ success is his ability to weave retro influences into his music. Many of his top 10 hits draw inspiration from the 1970s and 1980s, creating a nostalgic sound that fans resonate with. Aperture continues this tradition while incorporating elements of 2000s electronic and dance music, representing an evolution in his style.
This progression mirrors the career of Bruno Mars, who has also effectively utilized nostalgia in his chart-topping songs, transitioning through various decades in his sound.
