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The moment I YouTube searched “One Direction Funny Moments,” I was instantly sucked in. From their charismatic personalities, charmingly good looks, and tremendous talent, this band has stolen the hearts of millions worldwide. Despite taking a break six years ago, the group remains prominent on music charts and on various social media platforms. The world was not ready for the inevitable break, but what most of the public failed to realize is that they needed it more than we could ever know.
The British Invasion made its second wave in America when British-Irish boy band, One Direction, broke through Billboard’s Top 100 in February of 2012 when their debut single, “What Makes You Beautiful,” took the coveted No. 4 spot. This led to the band’s debut album, “Up All Night,” to hit No.1 on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart the following month (( Songs That Defined the Decade: One Direction’s What Makes You Beautiful 21 Nov. 2019. )). From eliminated solo-artists to finishing third as a group on The X Factor (UK), One Direction reestablished the meaning of the term “boy band.”
Other boy bands were formed on their own (ex. The Beatles) or assembled by a record producer or music manager (Lou Pearlman, creator of NSYNC and Backstreet Boys). After auditioning separately and getting eliminated as solo artists, Simon Cowell put the five boys together, and from then on, fans of One Direction saw the boys grow from the ground up on The X Factor (UK). Regardless of winning the singing competition, afterward, they reached a great deal of fame and peaked at new heights on the charts, becoming one of the biggest boy bands in the world.
Having strayed away from NSYNC’s synchronized choreography and the Backstreet Boys’ matching outfits, the group had made it a point to separate themselves from the typical boy band image. Past groups did not play their own instruments and never really wrote their own songs. As the years progressed in the band, the boys were given more creative freedom with their songs, even writing/co-writing fifty of their own tracks. Resident musician of the group, Niall Horan (who then taught another member of the group, Harry Styles), could always be found with a guitar in his hands during their performances, which is another thing that separates them from the generic boy band image.
With all the success and recognition, records broken, sold-out tours, and fans greater and more dedicated than any other artists’, the band still faced brutal backlash and criticism. In the six years that the group stayed together, they had received a great deal of undeserved hate. But what many fail to realize, or attempt to understand/learn, are the inhumane conditions and toxic environments they had to endure, thus causing long-lasting impacts on them to this very day.
The Obstacles Behind One Direction
There were always rumors of mistreatment surrounding the band post- and pre-hiatus. Nothing has been officially confirmed, but with the number of comments made by the boys themselves, it is hard to think otherwise. In an interview with The Telegraph, Niall Horan had said that if they had continued to stay together, they would “end up killing each other” (( McCormick, Neil. “The rock reinvention of Niall Horan: ‘I don’t see myself as a superstar – I live a normal life.” 3 Oct. 2019. )). Liam Payne, the father-like figure of the group, added fuel to Horan’s comment when he told GQ Magazine that there were still some grudges held between him and the rest of the boys (( “Liam Payne interview: ‘Party animal or animal in the gym – for me it’s all about balance’” 2 Nov. 2019. )). Upon their inevitable hiatus, the boys have openly spoken out on their thoughts and experiences about each other and about the band altogether.
Five Boys, Five Albums, & Four Tours
During their six-year reign, One Direction certainly made a name for themselves worldwide. Starting out as an opening act for Big Time Rush, One Direction began to get used to life on the road when they launched their very first tour titled after their first album, “Up All Night,” on December 18, 2011. From there, the band went on to have three more successful tours, selling out world-renowned stadiums and arenas such as Madison Square Garden, The O2 Arena, Wembley Stadium, and Verona Arena. The boys were on the road for long periods of time over the course of six years. When the band’s documentary/concert film, One Direction: This Is Us, released, the public was given an inside look at how the boys’ rapid rise to fame affected their families.
In the film, the late stepfather of Harry Styles, Robin Twist, revealed that Styles “went to an audition (The X Factor) and never came home again.” Similarly, Payne’s mother, Karen Payne, shed a few tears in the documentary, expressing her emotions on how she feels when her son is gone for such a long time (( “One Direction: This Is Us. Directed by Morgan Spurlock, performances by Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, and Harry Styles, TriStar Pictures,” 30 August 2013. )). Being in the public eye comes with a handful of downsides, the major one being the long absence from home. And the group definitely understood where their families were coming from.
The five boys were only in their late teens when they were thrust into the scorching spotlight. The abundant amount of stress and pressure is only imaginable for kids their age, dealing with the weight of celebrity stardom. They did not have their friends or families to support them throughout their whole journey as a band; they truly only had each other to lean on.
Working in a group environment with five different personalities will not always flow well, and One Direction was no different. If there was one thing that the band was always criticized for, it was the artistry behind their music. At the start of their career, One Direction’s first album was mainly written by songwriters and featured tracks composed by household names, such as Ed Sheeran and Kelly Clarkson (( “Up All Night (album) One Direction” 18 Nov. 2011. )). Out of the seventeen tracks on that album, the boys co-wrote three of them. After releasing their sophomore album, “Take Me Home,” which was certified 2x platinum in the U.S. and 3x in the U.K., the fans started noticing hints of rock flare in their music.
When their third album, “Midnight Memories,” debuted in 2013, the fan reaction was tremendous. The band was on the rise of becoming a household name. With a slightly rockier tone, many were taken aback at the mature sound the boys were putting out. As a whole, the five of them co-wrote fifteen out of the eighteen tracks that were featured on the album. “Midnight Memories” did so well upon its initial release that it became the fastest-selling album of 2013 (( “One Direction’s Midnight Memories becomes fastest selling album of 2013” 2 Dec. 2013. )). This truly established the boys’ songwriting skills and development as artists.
In One Direction’s fourth album, “Four,” and their fifth (and unfortunately, final) album, “Made in the A.M.,” almost every track was co-written by members of the band. Their sound slowly matured as they grew within the industry, and it was something that their fanbase noticed and certainly fell in love with. However, behind the platinum records and chart-toppers were feelings of uncertainty and frustration.
After Zayn Malik departed from the group in March of 2015, he went on record about his genuine thoughts and opinions of the bands’ music (( “From throwing insults to talking about a reunion, here’s everything One Direction members have said since their hiatus” 31 Dec. 2020. )). Malik revealed that his suggestions were usually turned down because their management, Modest!, already had a general concept of what they wanted for the band, which he did not feel truthful about. He even went as far as admitting that the band’s music was “generic as f—” (( “From throwing insults to talking about a reunion, here’s everything One Direction members have said since their hiatus” 31 Dec. 2020. )).
However, some of the other members of the band did not feel the same way as Malik. Harry Styles, the youngest of the band, had spoken out about his comment. Although he did not agree nor disagree with his comment, Styles remained neutral and stated that it is a shame that he felt that way but believes that if somebody is doing something they no longer enjoy and rather go in a different direction, they should definitely do that. (( “Harry Styles’ New Direction” 18 Apr. 2017. ))
Listening to the boys’ solo music now, there were obvious creative differences among the group. From Styles’ folksy and indie-pop tracks to Malik’s R&B sound, it is evident that the music in the band was always a clear indicator of how restrained the group felt when it came to their sound. However, being away from their families and creating disingenuous music was just the tipping point for them.
Fame & Fortune Taking Its Toll
Following what was supposed to be an eighteen-month hiatus came the flourishing solo careers of five amazingly talented artists who were unbound from their previous contracts and open to create whatever music they desired. With their “boy band”-chains finally unlinked, not only did they have creative freedom, but they had every right to now speak on how they truly felt about being in, what was at the time, the world’s biggest boy band.
Aside from Malik, Liam Payne has been the most open about his experience in the band. Known for being “Daddy Direction” and the unspoken and sensible leader of the group, Payne has truthfully revealed the negative impacts being in the band has caused him. He compared being in the group to putting on a Disney character costume while being drunk, which he has admitted to doing many times while on tour. Payne’s alcohol abuse worsened after the band took their hiatus. He has opened up about it countless times, admitting that being in the group was a very toxic time for him because it caused him to party way too hard and act out erratically.
“You know, I used to be in 1D, now I’m out free”
“Strip That Down,” Liam Payne (( “Liam Payne – Strip That Down Lyrics” 19. May 2017. ))
Being a member of the band also took a toll on Malik, who was the first to depart from the group. March 25, 2015 is a day that no “directioner” could ever forget, given that was the day Malik released his statement declaring that he would no longer be a part of the band. For quite some time, many fans were heartbroken, hurt, and angry with him. It was not until about two years later that Malik truly opened up about the real reason he decided to leave. In his autobiography, Malik admitted to suffering from anxiety and an eating disorder while being in One Direction.
He expressed that it was something no one expected from him, given that he was a man. Malik went on to explain that it was difficult for him to admit his emotions but that there is definitely strength in being truthful about it; therefore, he is no longer afraid to open up. Speaking about his eating disorder, Malik felt like he lost control of his entire life while being in One Direction. Being in the group made him feel strictly regulated; thus, depriving himself of food was the only form of control he could attain.
“I’d rather be anywhere
Anywhere but here
I close my eyes and see a crowd of a thousand tears
I pray to God I didn’t waste all my good years”
“Good Years,” Zayn Malik (( “Zayn Malik – Good Years Lyrics” 6 Dec. 2018. ))
You would think that being in One Direction would have only boosted the confidence in these boys, but that was not the case for the eldest member, Louis Tomlinson. Tomlinson was known to always be in the background. Although he was the most outgoing and funniest member of the group, his talent was often overlooked. After the group split, he revealed the way he felt being in the band all the way back to their X Factor days.
“The others have always been… Like Niall [Horan], for example. He’s the most lovely guy in the world. Happy-go-lucky Irish, no sense of arrogance. And he’s fearless. There are times I’ve thought: ‘I’d have a bit of that.’ Zayn, back in the day. He could relate to me on a nerves level. In the first year we were both the least confident. But Zayn has a fantastic voice and for him it was always about owning that. Liam always had a good stage presence, same as Harry [Styles], they’ve both got that ownership. Harry comes across very cool. Liam’s all about getting the crowd going, doing a bit of dancing…And then there’s me.”
Louis Tomlinson, Billboard (( “Louis Tomlinson Calls Himself the ‘Forgettable’ One Direction Member in New Interview” 6 Jun. 2017. ))
Although Tomlinson has certainly found his voice within his own solo career, it took a while for him to bounce back from the success of the band. He openly admitted to not wanting the group to split since he was at his peak confidence towards the end of it (( “From throwing insults to talking about a reunion, here’s everything One Direction members have said since their hiatus” 31 Dec. 2020. )).
It is disheartening to hear and learn that the band that brought us our happiest moments was, in fact, the total opposite while making them. Although it is relieving to know that the boys are in a much better stage of their lives now, this definitely brings a new perspective on life in a boy band and the negative impacts being in the spotlight can throw at you.
We’ve seen many examples of pop-stars being forced into the world of stardom at such a young age, such as Britney Spears and Demi Lovato. They have openly spoken about the dangers of being in this world and how they are still recuperating from it. We’ve also seen firsthand the repercussions of their early careers, and to this day it still feels like there will always be more to the story. As fans of these artists, we should realize this and discover ways to prevent future stars from experiencing the negative impacts fame can cause.
Ten (And Hopefully More) Years Of One Direction
If you were and still are a fan of One Direction, there is nothing to be ashamed of. As fans, we did not physically contribute to the negative and toxic environment that the band experienced. All artists and groups have their own emotional baggage, and One Direction is no different.
There have been cases of previous artists who have experienced similar treatment from their management and have been negatively affected from their early careers, such as Taylor Swift, who has undergone issues with her previous label regarding the rights to her own hits (( “How Does Taylor Swift’s Evermore Stack Up With Her Iconic Early Career Work?” 26 Jan. 2021. )). Similar to One Direction, Swift entered the music scene at the young age of fifteen. She was previously with Big Machine Label Group for the entire length of her career before it was acquired by mega-manager, Scooter Braun. Because of that, Swift has gone public with the incessant and manipulative bullying she experienced from him and his team regarding all her master recordings (( “The Taylor Swift/Scooter Braun controversy, explained” 1 Jul. 2019. )). However, this didn’t stop Swift. Earlier this year, she had announced that she was re-recording one of her first and most iconic albums, Fearless (( “Why Taylor Swift is rerecording her songs” 11 Feb. 2021. )) , thus taking back her career and control over it.
Comparably to Swift, the boys attained the reigns of their career successfully. Despite the toxic sludge of trauma these boys (now men) had to trudge through, they have grown with us and expressed their mature thoughts and opinions about the group – some even joking about the harsh experience. When Styles hosted Saturday Night Live, he included a joke in his monologue, mixing up Malik with Ringo Starr of The Beatles, since Starr was technically the first member to leave his group (( “Harry Styles Shouts Out All the One Direction Lads But One in ‘SNL’ Opening Monologue: Watch” 17 Nov. 2019. )).
Yes, there were dark times and difficult situations, but they have all individually learned and matured from them. To this day, the boys have expressed that they are, in fact, still in contact with each other, to the fans’ delight. In fact, on July 23, 2020, the band’s ten-year anniversary, every member (aside from Malik) posted heartfelt messages and pictures to social media, thanking each other and their fans for ten years of unbelievable memories, support, and love (( “One Direction celebrates 10 year anniversary with heartfelt tweets and interactive site” 23 Jul. 2020. )).
After a decade of One Direction, fans are still anticipating the day that a reunion is announced. Although only a couple of them have spoken out on it (and left the idea up in the air), there is still so much hope within the fanbase. Whether there is a reunion or not, One Direction will continue to be a household name, not only for their underrated discography and dynamic friendships with one another, but because they sacrificed their own happiness to fuel those of millions around the world, and for that, I could not thank them enough.
