On Tuesday night, a superstar was born. 

Harry Styles was already a star: a former member of the boyband One Direction, successful actor and a fashion darling. But when he took to the Brixton AcademyA famous music venue in south London housed in a 1920s cinema. Over 50 live albums have been recorded there. stage to perform his new album Harry's House, he soared to new heights.

The fan reaction was predictably ecstaticFeeling an extreme, overwhelming joy. It descends from a Greek word meaning astonishment and insanity. . One fan Tweeted: "I never saw the Beatles live but I imagine this runs close". But Styles also won plauditsAn expression of praise. It comes from the Latin word for applaud, which actors would shout at the end of plays to make the audience clap. from reviewers. He has, wrote one critic: "won the pop champions league."

The reasons for Styles' stardom run deeper than his music. He has defied gender norms by wearing traditionally female clothes, at once supporting trans identities and mocking toxic masculinityA stereotypical idea of masculinity focused on strength and dominance, common in many cultures, that many believe has a negative effect on society as a whole.. His songs and public statements demonstrate kindness and an emotional intelligence.

At one point during Tuesday's concert, he stopped mid-song to help a fainting audience member escape the crowd. He dedicated another song to a fan going through a messy-break up. Styles seems genuinely to care for his listeners. BBC calls him "so polite - a pop star to make his mum proud."

For some, this open, approachable personality puts Styles in the lineage of pop's all-time greats. Elvis Presley appealed because of his rustic, homely charm. Elton John has a down-to-earth personality even when wearing flamboyant outfits. And fans of Michael Jackson, who had his first number one hit aged 11, felt like they grew up alongside him.

Styles' charismaA charm or attractiveness that can inspire others.  recalls The Beatles. According to their producer George Martin, they: "had that quality that makes you feel good when you are with them and diminished when they leave". Like Styles, they also played with androgynyHaving both male and female characteristics., covering songs by American girl groups and adopting some of their vocal tics.

Yet others find Styles' cleanliness off-putting. Many of the greatest stars are known for their transgressionsAn act that tests the limits of what is morally or socially acceptable. Pop music has a long history of pushing against such limits.. In the 1960s, Mick Jagger scandalised Middle EnglandA term referring to middle-class people in Britain with conservative views. with his suggestive dancing. In the 1980s, Madonna outraged Catholics by using Christian imagery, while Prince shocked Americans with his erotic presence. Even the Beatles experimented with psychedelicsDrugs that can change your perceptions, for example causing hallucinations.. 

All of these musicians brought something new to pop music. Styles, by contrast, writes songs that draw heavily on the 1970s and 80s. Novelist Herman Melville wrote: "It is better to fail in originality, than to succeed in imitation." Art, including music, is driven by those who innovate.

Besides, some would argue it is too soon to make bold claims about Styles. Fame is a tricky business. Poet Emily Dickinson called it "a fickle food on a shifting plate." For every Jagger or Presley, there are dozens who touch stardom then fade away. Take singer James Blunt. His 2004 debut album sold 13.3 million copies globally. His 2017 record managed just 270,000.

In his poem The House of Fame, Geoffrey Chaucer depicts the names of famous figures carved in blocks of ice. Some remain firm in the shade, but others melt in the sun. It will take time to see where Styles' block will sit.

Yes: Absolutely. Harry Styles has sensitivity, positive values and abundant charm which make him a superstar for our time - just ask the roaring fans at Brixton.

No: Styles is a talented, charismatic and good-natured star. But he is following in the well-worn footsteps of his 20th-Century forebears. Pop will only progress when something completely new takes over.

Or... We can now listen to almost everything all of the time. We should seek out the music that speaks to us personally, rather than caring about what seems important or era-defining to others.