Music Review: One Direction "Steal My Girl"

One Direction

Steal My Girl

Album: Four

Year: 2014

            Harry Styles wards off other guys’ advances towarsd his longtime girlfriend in the                co-dependent “Steal My Girl.”

          A sweeping piano opens the single, setting a gallant tone. Her guy friend asks her if she’s planning to go to the break dancing competition going on campus tonight. Styles puts his arm around her shoulders and answers, “yes we are.” He may not be living in the dorms with her but he has to make his presence known. The guys have to know she’s taken. Her guy friend nods and says “ok.” She says she’ll be right back. She forget something in her room. Once he hears the doors close, Styles tells the guy that he knows what he’s trying to do. He isn’t going to go out with her. They are high school sweethearts and have been together since junior year.  After college, they plan to get married. He’s tight with her family and they expect him to be their son-in-law one day. (“She's been my queen since we were sixteen/We want the same things/We dream the same dreams/Alright, alright?/I got it all cause she is the one/Her mom calls me love/Her dad calls me son/Alright, alright.”)

          In the chorus, guys really like her and they get crushes on her. He had to deal with it when they were dating in high school. Now, college is just the same. They can meet girls anywhere they like. They need to leave his girl alone. (“I know, I know, I know for sure/Everybody want to steal my girl/Everybody want to take her heart away/Couple billion in the whole wide world/Find another one cause she belongs to me/Everybody want to steal my girl/Everybody want to take her heart away/Couple billion in the whole wide world/Find another one cause she belongs to me.”)

           After the chorus, they “na na” and stake their claim yet again. (“She belongs to me.”)

             She gives him the softest kisses. She walks with confidence, an air other girls wish they could have. He’s loved her since she was a kid. He achieved his dream of going out with her. She gives him a reason to live. (“Kisses like a queen, her walk is so lean/And every jaw drops when she's in those jeans/Alright, alright?/I don't exist if I don't love her/The sun doesn't shine, the world doesn't turn/Alright, alright?”)

        The chorus is sung again.

        After the chorus, they “na na” and repeat once again that she is his girlfriend. (“She belong to me.”)

          In the bridge, he says that she’s aware of how much he loves her and she has no one will ever bother her. (“She knows, she knows that I never let her down before/She know, she knows that I'm never gonna let take another take her love from me.”)

           An edited chorus is sung. (“Now/Everybody want to steal my girl/Everybody want to take her heart away/Couple billion in the whole wide world/Find another one cause she belongs to me.”)

             They “na na” again and for extra emphasis, just in case people haven’t been creeped out enough, “she belongs to me” is said twice. It’s repeated once more to end the single.

                 One Direction’s territorial vocals glare and fold their arms across their chest if another guy even glances at the girlfriend. If the guy manages to trick her into a date, he will destroy the guy. She’s a valuable piece of real estate and she won’t ever be for sale. He’s riddled with insecurity and depends on the girl for his happiness. When the relationship ends, it’s not going to be without a fight. There will be screaming and yelling with the girl being shamed by him for finding her own identity outside of him. 

            The high-strung  “Steal My Girl” lifts it leg and pisses on any female independence or thought.