Is Benson Boone Copying Harry Styles? A Comparison Of Their Music

Benjamin Cohen

4 min read

Post on Apr 26, 2025

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Vocal Style and Timbre: A Striking Resemblance?

Both Benson Boone and Harry Styles possess instantly recognizable vocal timbres. A music comparison reveals some striking similarities, though significant differences also exist. Let's dissect their vocal approaches:

• Vocal Registers and Textures: Both artists utilize a comfortable mid-range, often incorporating falsetto elements. However, Boone’s voice leans slightly raspier at times, adding a unique texture absent in Styles' generally smoother delivery.
• Vocal Phrasing and Delivery Styles: Both employ a melodic phrasing style, but Styles often incorporates more nuanced inflections and dynamics. Boone's delivery, while equally expressive, tends to be more straightforward.
• Similarities and Unique Aspects: The shared use of breathy vocals and a certain emotional vulnerability in their delivery is noticeable. However, Boone's vocal power, especially in his higher register, showcases a unique strength not consistently demonstrated by Styles.

For instance, compare Boone's powerful vocals in "In the Stars" with the smooth, controlled delivery in Styles' "Watermelon Sugar." While both songs are emotionally resonant, the vocal approaches differ significantly.

Musical Genre and Instrumentation: Exploring Overlapping Soundscapes

While both artists are classified under pop, a closer music comparison reveals nuances. Styles often incorporates elements of rock and funk, while Boone's sound leans towards a more contemporary, indie-pop aesthetic.

• Instrumentation: Both utilize acoustic guitars, pianos, and synthesizers, but the application differs. Styles frequently incorporates heavier bass lines and funk-inspired rhythms. Boone, on the other hand, tends to favor a cleaner, more atmospheric production.
• Song Structures and Arrangements: Both favor verse-chorus structures, but Styles' arrangements often feature more complex instrumental sections and dynamic shifts. Boone's songs, while well-structured, maintain a simpler, more direct approach.
• Lyrical Themes: Both artists explore themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. However, Styles often touches upon more complex social and personal issues, while Boone's lyrics tend to focus on more introspective and personal experiences.

Consider the contrasting instrumentation and overall feel of "As It Was" by Harry Styles and "Ghost Town" by Benson Boone. They both deliver emotionally potent songs, but the musical landscapes they inhabit are quite distinct.

Songwriting Style and Lyrical Themes: Unique Voices or Echoes of Influence?

A comprehensive music comparison requires examining the songwriting itself. While both artists craft emotionally resonant songs, their approaches to lyricism differ.

• Recurring Lyrical Motifs: Both employ metaphors and imagery, but Styles' lyrics often display a more literary and poetic flair. Boone's lyrics, while evocative, tend towards a more direct and relatable style.
• Complexity and Depth of Songwriting: Styles' songwriting frequently displays sophisticated wordplay and thematic depth. Boone's songwriting, while effective, exhibits a more straightforward emotional narrative.
• Storytelling Techniques: Both artists utilize storytelling in their songs, but Styles often constructs more elaborate narratives, while Boone often focuses on capturing a specific mood or emotion.

Analyzing lyrics from "Golden" by Harry Styles and "February" by Benson Boone highlights their respective strengths in storytelling and emotional resonance. While similar themes emerge, the approaches to crafting the narrative are vastly different.

Production and Arrangement: A Study in Similarities and Differences

The production and arrangement of both artists' music contribute significantly to their overall sound. While a superficial listening might hint at similarities, a detailed music comparison reveals crucial differences.

• Use of Effects and Instrumentation: Both incorporate similar instruments, but the production styles differ. Styles' productions often feature a warmer, richer sonic palette, while Boone's songs tend towards a cleaner, brighter sound.
• Sonic Texture and Aesthetic: Styles' music often has a more polished and refined aesthetic, while Boone's sound possesses a raw, more organic feel.
• Stylistic Influences: Both artists showcase influences from various eras and genres, but their integration differs, resulting in unique sonic identities.

Comparing the production of "Sign of the Times" by Harry Styles and "Speed of Sound" by Benson Boone reveals these distinct production approaches, showing how both artists effectively utilize different sonic textures to enhance their individual styles.

Conclusion: The Verdict – Is Benson Boone a Harry Styles Clone?

While some surface-level similarities exist between Benson Boone's music and Harry Styles', a thorough music comparison reveals distinct differences in their vocal styles, musical genres, songwriting approaches, and production aesthetics. While Boone undoubtedly operates within the pop landscape that Styles has helped shape, he carves his own unique path with a distinctive vocal texture and emotional depth. He is not a clone but an artist who draws from a shared musical lineage while forging his own identity.

Let us know your thoughts on the Benson Boone vs. Harry Styles music comparison in the comments below! Share your opinions on Benson Boone's music, Harry Styles' influence, and this overall musical comparison.