The 19-year-old Los Angeles singer breathes a deep message into irresistible pop R&B songs. With a dynamic voice and even more dynamic presence, he is ready to flip the script.
Hudson discovered music almost as soon as he learned to talk, listening to Michael Jackson records constantly with his mother while growing up in the suburbs of Los Angeles. In high school, music turned into a serious passion as he recorded demos with his friends, even squeezing into a bathroom in order to get the perfect echo on his MacBook. After graduating high school, he made a songwriting pilgrimage for two months to Sweden, and everything became clear.
"That's when I realized I couldn't do anything else but music," he affirms. "I slept on the floor in a freezing cold studio for two months, but I began to really discover who I was as an artist. I came back and started going hard."
Soon after returning to the states, Hudson recorded his 2013 debut single, "World Is Gone." Fusing elegant pop hooks with an electro reggae bounce and R&B swagger, the track bubbles over with infectious energy.
He explains, "It's a mixture of R&B and pop, and it opens the door to what I'm doing. Lyrically, it's an eternal love story. Even though a girl might bail on you, you don't stop chasing her. The underdog does get the girl eventually."
In future releases, Hudson delivers a heartfelt rumination confronting his father's drug addiction in "Learn to Love," while "In My Head" bounces from a shimmering acoustic guitar into upbeat handclaps. He covers an entire spectrum of emotion and genres.
"I'm not in it for fame and money," Hudson concludes. "I want my music to bring joy to people who have trouble finding beauty in life. I want to be an example. So many people are self-conscious, girls and guys. I want to encourage people to be unique. Be yourself, that's beautiful."
That style will stand out for a long time to come.
Criminal
Harry Hudson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Point-blank range stole my heart in Union Square
Mama, you told me love was a miracle
So why do I keep feeling like nobody cares?
It's the only thing I know
Fighting through the cold to find ya
Looking for your light
Lighting up the coals
Hope you see the smoke of my fire
In a world filled of ghosts I can only see the soul in you
I've been trying find my way in the city
I don't even know myself anymore
But if I'm sure of one thing, I need you with me
Even if half the time we're at war
But that's just the way it goes
That's just the way it goes
Either way it goes
Father told me one day by the river
You'll find glory and hurt within the flow
There's a pain here but it don't last forever
Gotta let it tear away your heart so it can grow
It's the only thing I know
Fighting through the cold to find ya
Looking for your light
The shadows always hide the truth
Lighting up the coals
Hope you see the smoke of my fire
In a world filled of ghosts I can only see the soul in you
I've been trying find my way in the city
I don't even know myself anymore
But if I'm sure of one thing, I need you with me
Even if half the time we're at war
But that's just the way it goes
That's just the way it goes
Either way it goes
The lyrics of Harry Hudson's song 'Criminal' tells the story of falling in love with someone who is not good for you, but you cannot help being drawn to them. The first verse talks about falling in love with a person who is a criminal, and stole his heart in Union Square. The singer's mother had previously made him believe that love was a miracle, but he questions why he always feels like nobody cares. The love he has for this person is the only thing he knows, and he is fighting through the cold to find them. The shadows always hide the truth, and he hopes that the person he loves will see the smoke of his fire.
The second verse could be interpreted as the singer's search for meaning in his life, and he has lost sight of who he is. He is certain that he needs the person he loves with him, even if half of the time they are fighting. The singer's father advised him that there is both glory and hurt to be found in the river's flow. One must let the pain tear away their hearts so that it can grow. In spite of everything, the singer can only see the soul in the person he loves, in a world filled with ghosts.
The song has a message of love and hope that transcends all difficulties. Hudson is hopeful that despite the shadows that obscure the truth, the singer’s love will eventually be able to see him amidst the many ghosts of the world. The lyrics are particularly poignant, and they capture the conflicting emotions one experiences when they fall in love with someone.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama, I fell in love with a criminal
I have fallen in love with someone who acts outside the law
Point-blank range stole my heart in Union Square
I fell in love with this person suddenly and deeply in the heart of the city
Mama, you told me love was a miracle
You taught me that love is something special and almost unbelievable
So why do I keep feeling like nobody cares?
Why do I feel like no one understands or values my feelings?
It's the only thing I know
Love is the only thing that is certain to me
Fighting through the cold to find ya
I am battling through challenges to reach you
Looking for your light
I am searching for your presence to guide me
The shadows always hide the truth
There is often more to the situation than what is immediately visible
Lighting up the coals
I am trying to start a fire within myself
Hope you see the smoke of my fire
I hope you can recognize the passion and intensity within me
In a world filled of ghosts I can only see the soul in you
Amidst a world of superficiality, I can only see the depth and authenticity in you
I've been trying find my way in the city
I am navigating the chaos and confusion of urban life
I don't even know myself anymore
I have lost touch with my own identity
But if I'm sure of one thing, I need you with me
Despite my uncertainty, I know that I need you by my side
Even if half the time we're at war
Even if our relationship is often tumultuous and conflicted
But that's just the way it goes
That's just the reality of our situation
Either way it goes
No matter what happens
Father told me one day by the river
My father once told me a story
You'll find glory and hurt within the flow
You will find both beauty and pain in the journey of life
There's a pain here but it don't last forever
Although there is suffering, it is not permanent
Gotta let it tear away your heart so it can grow
You must allow yourself to experience pain and heartbreak in order to grow and mature
Writer(s): HARRISON RYAN RHODES, WILLOW SMITH, TIMOTHY MURDOCK SUBY
Contributed by Victoria D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
herinconner7
Favorite song on the album, hands down
Haider Niazai
All songs are just 🔥🔥🔥😍😍❤❤
Gemini Siren
True definition of a riderr!
Μαρία Κανελλ
Love this (came because of Harry)
Tekk Zilla
No way! You mean you're actually here because you have great taste in music without the help of celebrity clout??? 😏 Same here...
dante lee
i really hope to see u big one day, u deserve it man x
Tekk Zilla
Harry channeling some Brendan Urie vibes on this one with some of these melodies. 🎶
Tianna J.
Tekk Zilla THAT’S WHAT I SAID!!!
Mfundo Radebe
maann Harry is so slept on 😭
anctx
Anyone know if this song is on Spotify so I can listen to it?