Treat People With Kindness

Album: Fine Line (2019)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • During Harry Styles' 2017 debut concert tour, he had a badge on his guitar strap that read "TPWK," short for "Treat People with Kindness." The singer started printing the motto on T-shirts and other tour merchandise in order to promote a message of love, kindness and acceptance. It became Styles' go-to slogan, and in the fall of 2019, cryptic posters featuring the acronym "TPWK" were spotted worldwide as part of the publicity campaign for his Fine Line album release.

    When the full track listing leaked online a week before the release of the record, fans were excited to see that Styles had written a song to go with the slogan.
  • The song is a theatrical rocker about treating others well and feeling good. The record is the penultimate track on the Fine Line album, which has a concept of Styles recalling the roller coaster of emotions he experienced during his relationship with French model Camille Rowe. While the early and late songs are more upbeat, the tracks in the middle such as "Cherry" and "Falling" find the ex-One Directioner relating his heartbreak after their split. However, as the second-to-last cut on the record, "Treat People With Kindness" finds Styles with "a good feeling" as he and his lover act on his slogan.
  • Styles wrote the song with:

    Californian singer-songwriter Ilsey Juber, whose other credits include Shawn Mendes' "Mercy," Martin Garrix (featuring Bebe Rexha)'s "In The Name Of Love" and Mark Ronson (featuring Miley Cyrus)'s "Nothing Breaks Like A Heart."

    American producer Jeff Bhasker, who contributed to all but one track on Styles' eponymous debut album. His other credits include fun.'s "We Are Young," Kanye West's "All of the Lights," and Mark Ronson's "Uptown Funk." Bhasher also produced the song and contributes piano and backing vocals.
  • Ben and Gabe Turner directed the music video, which shows Styles as a 1920s nightclub singer. When Fleabag actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge joins him on stage, the pair dance together.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.

Danny Clinch: The Art of Rock Photography

Danny Clinch: The Art of Rock PhotographySong Writing

One of rock's top photographers talks about artistry in photography, raising funds for a documentary, and enjoying a County Fair with Tom Waits.

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")Songwriter Interviews

A top country songwriter, Barry talks about writing hits for Little Big Town, Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.

Amanda Palmer

Amanda PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Call us crazy, but we like it when an artist comes around who doesn't mesh with the status quo.