You’ve likely heard the term “watermelon sugar,” but what exactly does it mean? Read on to discover everything you need to know about watermelon sugar.
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Kevin
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January 21, 2022
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What Does Watermelon Sugar Mean?
Unless you’ve been protesting music over the last few years, there’s a pretty good chance that you’re familiar with Harry Styles’ 2019 hit, “Watermelon Sugar.” The catchy chart-topping track’s whimsical lyrics and addicting tune captivated millions of fans all around the globe upon its release and is still a radio mainstay more than two years after its debut.
Despite the pop song’s unprecedented success, many people don’t have the slightest clue as to what “Watermelon Sugar” means or how the beloved artist came up with the concept behind the massive hit.
So, what does “Watermelon Sugar” mean?
The “Dictionary Definition” of Watermelon Sugar
According to Slang.org, Watermelon Sugar refers to the emotional feeling one experiences at the beginning of a new relationship. However, according to Harry Styles, the meaning behind the name of his hit song “Watermelon Sugar” actually has to do with the female orgasm.
The Original Theory Behind Watermelon Sugar
For quite some time, fans speculated that the catchy pop track had something to do with oral sex — and the “Watermelon Sugar” video seemed to confirm this theory. But during a Nashville gig on his Love On Tour world tour, Harry teased the crowd saying the meaning of the song doesn’t really matter. Then, he said, “It’s about the sweetness of life” as well as “the female orgasm.
That being said, with lyrics from the post-chorus like, “Tastes like strawberries on a summer evenin’… and it sounds just like a song… I want more berries and that summer feelin’ … it’s so wonderful and warm,” it’s really no wonder fans theorized about the hit song’s sexual connotations.
In addition to the NSFW meaning behind the saucy song, fans have also guessed that the track was written for Harry’s ex-girlfriend Camille Row, who once mentioned during an interview that she loved the 1968 book In Watermelon Sugar.
How Did Harry Styles Come Up With Watermelon Sugar?
In 2017, Harry wrote “Watermelon Sugar” during a day off when he noticed Richard Brautigan’s book In Watermelon Sugar on the table. Thinking it would “sound cool,” Harry was inspired to write the pop hit.
First released in November 2019 as a promotional single, “Watermelon Sugar” dropped in May 2020 as part of Harry’s album Fine Line. The song reached number 17 on the U.K. Singles Chart in January 2020, but when it was later released in May 2020, the track re-entered the chart at number 35 before peaking at number 4 in August 2020.
In America, “Watermelon Sugar” saw even greater success, reaching No. 1 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.
By October 2020, the song sold almost one million copies and was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) per MusicWeek. In addition, “Watermelon Sugar” won Harry his first Grammy at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards for Best Pop Solo Performance. He’s received three total Grammy nods but only one win.
Needless to say, the catchy track was a monumental hit.
Does Watermelon Sugar Mean Anything Else?
Over the years, Harry has been coy when asked about the meaning behind “Watermelon Sugar.” During an interview by Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, the former One Direction member, gave a cheeky grin when asked if the song was about “the joys of mutually appreciated oral pleasure.”
Harry also commented on the meaning during his NPR Tiny Desk Concert, stating, “It’s kind of about that initial euphoria of when you start seeing or sleeping with someone new or just like being around someone new and you have that kind of excitement about them.”
What Is Watermelon Sugar High?
“Watermelon sugar high” refers to the high one gets after sex with a woman.
“Watermelon Sugar” references a woman’s sexual organ and how it tastes — hence why it “tastes like strawberries on a summer evenin,” according to Harry. The heart-throb also hints at the reference when he sings, “I want more berries,” which happens to be a specific lyric that is very similar to “Cake by the Ocean” by DNCE.
Additionally, sex and sexual organs are often compared to sweet desserts in songs. Think “She’s my cherry pie” or, in one Notorious Lana Del Rey song, “My p****y tastes like Pepsi Cola.”
Or, of course, Harry Styles’s “I just want to taste it, watermelon sugar high.”
How Is Watermelon Sugar Used Today?
Much like Cardi B’s hit, “WAP,” the term “Watermelon Sugar” has become a mainstay in popular sexual slang. There have been numerous videos circulating through social media containing Harry’s saucy song while parents across the globe have been searching high and low for the meaning behind the catchy track. Although the true definition behind Watermelon Sugar may be a bit confusing, there’s no denying that it’s definitely NSFW.
Recap
So, what does Watermelon Sugar mean?
According to Harry Styles, Watermelon Sugar has a couple of meanings. Originally, it was thought the song referred to oral sex. However, Harry recently confirmed that it actually refers to the initial euphoria you often experience when you initially start seeing someone. Watermelon Sugar also refers to the sweetness of life or the female orgasm.
What Watermelon Sugar does not refer to, however, is a sweet fruit enjoyed in the summertime.
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