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One Direction  

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One Direction is an English-Irish pop band that was formed in 2010 by Simon Cowell on the British television show “The X Factor”. The group consists of members: Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson.

After each member of One Direction individually auditioned for the 2010 series of the “The X Factor”, the boys were grouped together by talent scout Simon Cowell to form the band One Direction. While the band failed to win the British talent show, the boys won a lot of fans and did secure third place on the show. More impressive, though, is that the boys went on to win the hearts of teenage girls all over the world soon after the show’s end.

One Direction is responsible for causing a second-wave British pop invasion in the US after their hit singles “What Makes You Beautiful", "Live While We're Young" and "Story of My Life" all became top 10 singles on the US album charts. One Direction also holds the record for being the first band to have each of their first three albums, “Up All Night”, “Take Me Home” and “Midnight Memories”, debut at number one on the US Billboard chart.

One Direction’s sudden and meteoric rise to fame has been the result of an extensive social media following. The band is one of the first to have achieved such extensive fame solely through the use of online social media platforms. This, combined with each of the boy’s fun loving yet individualistic image has breathed new life into the boy band pop genre and built an empire worth over $50 million.

The band has toured extensively across the globe, with their songs’ energetic choruses and the boys’ cheeky stage presences constantly winning more and more devoted fans. With further material always in the works, it seems that One Direction’s star will continue to rise for some time to come.

Live reviews

One Direction's performance was spectacular. Even though One Direction was the main event, their opening performances were a great hit. Jamie Scott and 5 Seconds of Summer really know how to please a crowd, especially when they are all so good looking. The stage was massive and had many great features including moving parts, lights, confetti, and two huge HD screens so that every part of the audience is able to see the boys clearly at all times. One Direction came out with so much energy and enthusiasm, and because it was Niall's birthday, he came out with balloons attached to him while playing the guitar and singing.

The boys interacted with the fans and even asked if it was anyone's birthday. They sang like angels and even showed off some dance moves. The boys had a great set list for their concert, with most of their songs being the more recent ones. One Direction looked great, which isn't a surprise, because they always look fabulous. One Direction moved around the stage and had a nice graphic background at all times, they even had picture lyrics for a song. The boys introduced their band and each member played a little bit of a song, and the boys jumped in, as well as the audience and sang along.

Just when you thought that the best night of your life was over, One Direction came back out for their encore to sing some of their most popular songs. The encore was massive and left you amazed. There were fireworks here and there throughout the show, but the encore had a so many, which made for great pictures. Each of the boys said their goodbyes and told the audience to stay safe while going home.

One Direction has grown so much and have become such a big hit all around the globe. The boys are always thanking their fans for all their support and everything that they've done to help them with their career. One Direction will continue to become bigger, especially with their amazing songs and albums, performances, and their dedication to their fans.

Don't be surprised if you lose your voice the next day from screaming out their names and singing their songs. Be sure to take lots of pictures and videos, because you will want to relive your One Direction concert experience forever. One Direction really knows how to give an amazing performance. Look out for Harry, Niall, Louis, Liam, and Zayn, because they are taking the world by storm.

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One Direction was truly one of the best concerts I've been to and I truly mean it. I say it a lot, but I mean it this time. When Zayn announced his departure, I was not sure if One Direction would sound the same without him, but they pulled it off! I saw them at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara and the crowd was pumped and ready for the show to begin.

I was standing in the merchandise line while their opening act Icona Pop came on and I watched them from the TV's spread throughout the stadium. Although I missed half of their set, the last few songs were catchy and got me dancing. They delivered a great set and it got me excited for One Direction. Between the two sets, there was about a 20 minute in between.

When it was One Direction's turn to come out on stage, there was a little video that played before the boys came out themselves. Then, smoke comes out from the stage and the boys come out with fireworks coming out from the stage. The arena literally erupts with screaming and they begin their set with their song "Clouds". They had 25 songs in their whole setlist and they were all completely energetic throughout the whole concert. The fans had a project where we held up papers during You and I (it was supposed to be during Fireproof but they didn't have that song on their setlist) that says "Nobody saves me baby the way you do" with a picture of one of the boys with angel wings. My mom and aunt enjoyed the whole concert by the look of it and so were other parents/adults. There were people of all ages at the concert and it seemed that everyone enjoyed it.

One Direction's encore consisted of "You and I", "Act My Age", "Little White Lies" and their last song "Best Song Ever". I was so sad that the concert actually ended because it felt so surreal.

I would recommend going to a One Direction, regardless if you are a die hard fan or not because I am sure you will have a great time. Their singing was great, they kept me and my family entertained, and overall, they're angels. I will never forget this concert and I hope the boys continue to make people this happy.

One Direction took me to a different world last night! Their huge stage, fun props and great personalities made for an unforgettable night!

Their opening act, 5 Seconds of Summer, were perfect for getting the crowd pumped and ready! Their rock inspired performance was a great way to start the night, it made you want to sing at the top of your lungs and dance till you couldn't dance any longer. After 5 SOS had finished rocking the stage, we jammed out to great music. Even the intermission was a blast and the crowd danced and sang along to the fun, upbeat music!

Up next was the anticipated performance from the boys of 1D! You could feel the energy in the roar of the crowd and couldn't help but join and scream like a little girl! When the boys came on, it was like nothing I've ever experienced, the crowd went wild and you could feel the energy and excitement through your whole body! Even the stadium shook in excitement with us. They came out with a bang, singing a song from their new album, "Midnight Memories". The upbeat, rock felt song was a perfect intoduction to a spectacular show!

I was completely captivated through out the entire performance! There was not a single dull moment. The boys did an excellent job with transitioning from song to song and keeping the crowd pumped. Not only did they keep the crowd engaged in the show but they made it personal by interacting with the crowd by making jokes and talking to us!

I would recomend everyone to go and see One Direction! Fan or not you will enjoy the high energy performance and the fun stage and props! So if you're on the fence about going, go! You won't regret it!

One direction. They were excellent. Not only them but even the opening act. I haven't been to a stadium concert since green day 2010. One direction was very personal to the crowd "SHOUT OUT TO WILL FOR BEING A GOOD BROTHER!" I remember Harry styles saying. Then he sang Brianna happy birthday. She cried so hard.

I will say a downer is being in the upper stands for seating in the Cardinals arena. It's understandable they can't just come out and sing to our faces but it's unfortunate they don't try. Lol. The fact they really are appreciative of the fans and of the support is what really brings them down to earth. Some might think "no they're be too thankful it's annoying they're doing it for cheers and whatever!" No. They are really thankful. How often do you hear of an X Factor group who didn't even win be known across the globe? At least I don't hear it too often.

These boys whether the know it or not are really good. Good at heart and good at what they do. If I could meet them it would be an honor. I wouldn't cry and scream like most. But I'd take it to heart to know that I met LEGITABLY AWESOME people.

Even if they break up as a singing group they'll be legends. They really rocked it last night and same with 5SOS. I don't even know all their names (EXCELT LUKE! I like luke:) ) but I know their music and it rocks hard. They sound so good live. They make the perfect team, 1D and 5SOS. It was a moment to live for. My first 1D concert and my sister's first concert concert. She's only twelve and she's been dying to see one direction. So thank you ALL for your existence.

OMG I had the best time at the One Direction concert!!! It was like all my dreams were coming true!!! My experience before the concert started was crazy!!! So I went with my best friend to the concert and we spend like 10 min trying to find out seats because this time we were in the 100's and not the 200's so when we asked the usher where are seats were he said row five, so my friend thought he meant five rows from the top!!! So probably ten minutes before Icona Pop preformed, the usher came to us with two other girls and told us we were in the wrong seats, so we got nervous because we were like "shit we have to move back" and we already thought that we were so close!!! So the usher asked for our tickets and after he read them, he's like "Your seats are down there in row five"!!!! After that me and my friend flipped out and I almost fainted because I love them so much and it was a dream come true to go to this concert!!! My family doesn't have much money so when my friend found out that they were going on tour again, she bought me the tickets for my birthday!!!! So I wouldn't of been there if it wasn't for her!!! Then we made a promise to each other that for the next concert we were going to do whatever it takes to get tickets to the meet and greet and front row tickets!!! So we are going to be holding some fundraiser to help pay for the tickets because I would do anything for a chance to meet Louis Tomlinson!!!! But thank you One Direction for changing my life around!!! I definitely wouldn't be in this place in my life right now if it wasn't for you guys!!! Luv ya!!!

So this was my fourth time seeing One Direction live and oh it was beautiful. I feel like every time I see them live they get better and better. My seats were right next to the runway and sound booth so I had a perfect view of the whole stage. Since it was outside the acoustics were perfect and you can hear everything even though there were 90,000 something girls screaming their heads off.

Every time the boys played a song you can just feel the floor shake and the bass just vibrate through your body. Surprisingly the boys were very interactive with the audience even though their were so many girls in the crowd freaking out for their attention, me being one of them.Zayn waved at me, then Harry and Liam basically hip thrusted in my direction.

These boys really know how to work the stage they kept running up and down and just were idiots and on top of that their voices were on point. They sound way better live then they do on their own CD. It was honestly the best show I've ever seen a band give.

On top of their amazing voices and hip thrusting they had the coolest graphics and stage design I've ever seen. The stage just looks like a big playground basically. I'm so happy I got to see them again and have such amazing seats because it was one of their best shows. They all had smile on their faces, especially Niall since it was his birthday, you can just tell these boys love what they do.

I can't wait till next year because I'm defiantly am going again. These boys don't disappoint!

When I heard One Direction's new album Four in November 2014, I knew it would be an amazing album to hear live. I asked for tickets for Christmas and I got them! I was told my seats were amazing but i never saw them until the day of the show. They were the closest I've ever been to my favorite celebrity.

When we got there (my concert was at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) there were a lot of people but we still stood in line to get shirts and stuff. When we were finally down to our field seating to watch the opening act I had a heart attack. We were so close to the stage! We were maybe twenty feet away and I was on the end seat. It made for some great pictures!

The opening act was Icona Pop. I only knew two of the songs but I still enjoyed it and the dancers were fantastic. During the opening act, we all went to the bathroom and made new friends with the people around us.

Finally the concert started. I'd never been more excited in my life. I told myself I wouldn't cry but the second I heard Harry Styles busting out his first note in clouds it was like Niagara Falls. The entire rest of the show was amazing even without Zayn. There were fireworks and lasers and all that jazz. I made eye contact with Louis and Harry a few times and Liam waved to me. When Harry threw his water bottle, we all got splashed. This goes down as the best night of my life so far.

When I first knew One Direction coming to Singapore for tour, I was super excited for it, but then, for poly students, that week is a exam week, so unfortunately I couldn't buy the ticket. It was damn sad, I even search for the seats and prices. Just one week before the concert, I received an email from spots hub merchandise manager, Erny, that she is giving away 7 pair of free pair One Direction, On The Road Again Tour ticket, as I volunteer for sea games merchandise. I was lucky that I was able to get the free pair of One Direction ticket by replying the Machandise Manger's email ASAP after I received. Though the seat was right at the back($88 seat), being able to be there was already fortunate enough. Though couldn't see them clearly, as we were far back behind from stage, being able to see them from the big screen and listen to their beautiful voice was my biggest joy. Thank you One Direction for coming to Singapore, thank you sports hub for the tickets, I will never regret going to their concert!!! I wish they will be able to come Singapore again, and I will definitely buy the hot seat. :)

Can I just say OH MY FUXKING GOD! It was probably the best night of my life. I thought I wouldn't enjoy it as much since zayn wasn't there. But I was so wrong! They started the show off with Clouds and when they entered there were fireworks! I was just like. Harry, Niall, Liam, Louis obviously looked bomb af. I really couldn't believe they were right there in front of me. They played some of my favourite songs! Kiss you, Midnight Memories, Little Black Dress, Little White Lies, Through The Dark, Girl Almighty, Steal My Girl, You and I, Act My Age, No Control and ended with Best Song Ever. Along with the songs, they didn't leave any attempt behind of making us laugh and enjoy ourselves. Niall made a new rap about Vancity Chick, Van VanCity Chick hehe. Also Harry made us moan like ughh. OHHHHH YEAHHH And also I can't forget about a sign that said "NIALL HAS MORE FANS THAN NAUGHTY BOY HAS FANS" And Liam read it and said that it made his night. We heard Niall's Classic laugh after reading that sign. All in all it was the best day of my life and I hope they'll come back soon. I love them so much

My concert in Baltimore was totally awesome! I first got my merch, which was a white t-shirt with the dates on the back, and the program. I next waited for the gates to open, and I think I saw their cars. Someone waved, and their were microphones. I got in and walked up to my section(539). I then got some food and got to my seats. I went with my Aunt, by the way. We ate while waiting, and they played commercials and music videos. Icona Pop came on, and they were really good. We waited some more, and 1D finally came on. My seats were in the stands in front of the stage, so I got a really good view. Niall called us sexy, and a fan baked Harry cookies. They were gone by the end of the show. I sang along to every song, and screamed my heart out. We even made Liam feel better, as he was a bit ill. Liam and Louis had a water fight, the whole show was amazing. It was a bit hectic getting out though, but I was home by 2:00 AM. It was a great show. It was my 2nd concert, the first being TMH in Hershey. I will remember it for years to come!

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The Secrets Of One Direction’s Wildly Successful ‘Where We Are’ Tour

The 2014 Where We Are tour remains One Direction’s greatest triumph. Celebrating the boys’ Midnight Memories album, which became the biggest-selling record of 2013 despite only being released in November of that year, the tour started in Bogotá, Colombia, in April, and concluded six months later in Miami, Florida. More than 3 million fans saw their favourite band live , and it reportedly raked in close to $300 million.

With a setlist that incorporated new hits like “Story Of My Life” and “Best Song Ever”, as well as fan favourites like “Little Things”, the tour was deliberately created as a visual feast. The stadium-only locations presented the design team with a challenge: how to ensure the energy of Harry, Liam, Louis, Niall and Zayn’s famously animated performances was not lost in the vast arenas.

Stufish CEO and set designer Ray Winkler was tasked with pulling it off. “I remember the guys having a lot of energy, and being very excited to perform to their fans,” he told Miss Vogue over email. “We had been working very closely with their creative director, Lee Lodge, over the years, so it was great to hook up with him again to design their Where We Are tour in 2014.”

One Direction perform during the Where We Are tour.

When it came to moodboarding with the band and their team, Winkler said the priority was ensuring that every fan in those gargantuan stadiums felt like Louis, Harry, Liam, Zayn and Niall were singing only to them. “[We] made sure that the stage was pushed deep into the audience and the side video screens were rotated back, so that those who sat in the wings – traditionally not very good seats – could still see their favourite band and be part of the experience,” Winkler explained. “We made sure that no matter where you sat, you could always see them perform on stage.”

The set designer says every member of the band took a keen interest in the process. “They were all equally engaged and interested in the creation of this tour — after all, it was going to be the five of them that needed to make the set come alive, so they could deliver the most memorable experience for their fans. Their passion and ambition to deliver the best show possible was undeniable.” Winkler added: “All the members of One Direction were incredibly interested, and very excited about the fresh new creative approach that Lee brought to the table.”

The boys’ close involvement contributed to the fast-paced, high-energy planning phase ahead of the tour. “Ideas flew thick and fast, so our role was to understand the creative ambition and translate it into a viable touring proposition, while at the same time preserving the energy and intent of the original idea,” he said. “Stufish played an integral part in translating this vision into a vibrant and impactful design that reflected the band’s aspirations and ambitions of being the world’s greatest boy band.” Job done then.

A bus-like structure on stage at the Where We Are tour concert in Pasadena, California.

The result was a bold, bright, electrifying production, picked out in a colour palette that reflected the energy of the band. Pyrotechnics were employed for additional drama, with a catwalk-style promenade jutting into the crowd for an intimate touch.

Of course, a key part of the production’s success was the excitement of the fans, who purchased their tickets for the sell-out tour just shy of a year in advance. “The energy that One Direction managed to generate from their fans in the stadium really inspired us to create an experience that their fans would never forget, and to push the boundaries of stage design for a pop concert,” Winkler says.

“The set was quite complex, with multiple entrances and exits connecting to multiple ramps and stairs. You can imagine some of the comedy of trying to choreograph the five band members on a stage terrain that was anything other than flat,” Winkler recalled. “The opportunity to get lost made for some funny moments of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

One Direction on the set for the Where We Are tour.

Six years on, Ray clearly still has fond memories of his days working with One Direction boys. “My favourite memory of the tour was being surrounded by so much talent, dedicated to delivering the best show ever. One Direction was such an exciting band to work with, and it was a great privilege to be part of their journey and see them grow creatively.”

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THEN AND NOW: The members of One Direction 12 years later

• One Direction was formed in 2010 but went on indefinite hiatus in 2016. 
• Harry Styles , Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik all have solo careers now. 
• Malik, Payne, and Tomlinson each have children. 

Malik initially had a rough time on "The X Factor."

A native of Bradford, England, 17-year-old Malik auditioned for "X Factor" by singing Mario's hit song "Let Me Love You."

The judges unanimously advanced Malik to the next round of the show but the singer nearly sabotaged his chances of moving forward when he refused to perform in the choreography round of the series that followed.

In an interview, he said he hated dancing and had never done it before.

After a pep talk from Cowell, one of the show's judges, Malik went through with the dance performance that would eventually help to lead him to his union with the other future members of One Direction.

Malik has released multiple solo albums since he left One Direction in 2015.

On March 25, 2015, Malik left One Direction and the remaining band members continued to tour and record an album without him.

"After five incredible years Zayn Malik has decided to leave One Direction. Niall, Harry, Liam and Louis will continue as a four-piece and look forward to the forthcoming concerts of their world tour and recording their fifth album, due to be released later this year," read the announcement from the official One Direction Facebook page.

In January 2016, less than a year after his departure from 1D, Malik released his first solo album, an alternative R&B record called "Mind of Mine." The album featured his hit single "Pillowtalk."

In November 2016, the singer released his first and only book, " Zayn: The Official Autobiography,"   a photographic journey detailing his life after leaving One Direction. 

In 2017, Malik released the hit single " I Don't Wanna Live Forever, " a duet with Taylor Swift that's part of the soundtrack for the film "50 Shades Darker." 

In December 2018, Malik released his second album, "Icarus Falls." The disc includes collaborations with fellow industry moguls like Sia and Nicki Minaj.

Over the past few years, the singer has also famously ripped apart One Direction's music, even saying he did not make any life-long friends during his time in the band.

He and model Gigi Hadid welcomed their first child in 2020. The musician dropped his third studio album, "Nobody Is Listening," in 2021. Recently, he released his latest single "Love Like This." 

Tomlinson had a small role in a movie before auditioning for "X Factor."

The Doncaster, England, native is the oldest member of One Direction and he auditioned for "The X Factor" when he was 18.

For his audition, Tomlinson performed The Plain White T's song "Hey There Delilah" and earned a unanimous "Yes" from all of the judges.

Prior to auditioning for the competition series, Tomlinson had taken on an uncredited role in the made-for-TV movie "If I Had You."

Tomlinson continues to release and produce music.

Before the boyband announced its official hiatus, Tomlinson began his own solo endeavors by starting a record label in April of 2015, according to Billboard .

The label is backed by Sony and is an imprint of Syco, Cowell's record label. The first artist he signed was Jack Walton, a singer who competed in "The X Factor" in 2014 .

In 2016, Tomlinson released the single, "Just Hold On," a collaboration with producer and DJ Steve Aoki. That same year, Tomlinson welcomed his son Freddie, whom he shares with hairstylist Briana Jungwirth .

In 2017, Tomlinson released a few more tracks including "Back To You," a song that features musician Bebe Rexha, and "Miss You."

In 2018, Tomlinson was a judge and mentor on the US version of "The X Factor" and one of his mentees, Dalton Harris, won the entire competition. 

In 2019, the singer released "The Two of Us," a single dedicated to his late mother, Johannah Deakin .

He released his first solo album, "Walls," in January 2020. It was met with harsh and lukewarm reviews .

In July 2020, Tomlinson announced he was leaving Syco Music , Cowell's record label that had signed One Direction. 

The singer has been touring the world since 2020. 

Prior to becoming part of One Direction, Payne was no stranger to "The X Factor."

When he appeared on the season that'd make boyband history, 16-year-old Payne was actually auditioning for "The X Factor" for the second time.

Payne first auditioned for the show in 2008 and although he made it past the initial audition round, the singer did not advance to the final rounds of the series.

His second audition was a success — Payne sang "Cry Me a River" and received a unanimous "Yes" from the judges. Two judges even gave him a standing ovation.

Payne has released a number of projects, and he's collaborated with many artists.

In 2016 , Payne and Cheryl Cole, musician and one of the judges who voted Payne through to the next round after his 2008 audition on "X Factor," began dating. 

In March 2017, Payne became the second member of One Direction to become a father when he and Cole welcomed a baby boy named Bear. That same year, Payne released his hit single " Strip That Down, " featuring the rapper Quavo.

In July 2018, Payne and Cole split, according to Teen Vogue . Just a month later, Payne released his debut EP, "First Time," which includes four tracks and a feature from musician French Montana.

In October of 2018, the singer released a joint track with Lennon Stella and Jonas Blue titled "Polaroid." That same year, Payne also recorded a duet with singer Rita Ora for the movie soundtrack of "Fifty Shades Freed" and he released the track "Familiar" with artist J. Balvin.

In 2019, the singer also announced a fashion partnership with the brand HUGO. He also released his first official album "LP1," which was ripped apart by critics .

The singer has been active online throughout 2020 and 2021, hosting livestreams with fans and sharing YouTube videos. 

In May 2022, he received backlash for comments he made about One Direction while on Logan Paul's podcast . In July 2023 , he apologized for his comments and celebrated six months of sobriety. 

Niall Horan set his sights on stardom at the beginning of his career.

Mullingar, Ireland, native Horan first auditioned for the "The X Factor" in Dublin, Ireland, at just 16 years old.

His performance of Ne-Yo's "So Sick" received mixed reviews from the judges, including celebrity guest Katy Perry, but Horan ultimately advanced to the next round.

At the time of his appearance, Horan said he wanted to "be like big names in the world, like Beyoncé and Justin Bieber."

Horan also said one of his goals was to sell out arenas, something the Irish singer would later do as a member of One Direction. 

In recent years, Horan has released multiple albums and gone on tour.

Like his bandmates, Horan pursued a solo career following the band's hiatus.

He released his first solo album "Flicker" in 2017 and he concluded his first solo international tour in September of 2018.

That same year, he released "Finally Free" for the movie soundtrack of the animated film "Smallfoot." 

Toward the end of 2019, Horan released a few new singles including "Nice to Meet Ya" and "Put a Little Love on Me."

In March 2020, he released his second album, "Heartbreak Weather," which was met with fairly positive reviews. Earlier this year, he released his album "The Show." 

Styles left a local band and a bakery job to audition for "The X Factor."

On "The X Factor," fans first got to know Styles as a 16-year-old from Holmes Chapel, England, who worked part-time at a bakery.

At the time of his audition, Styles shared that he was the lead singer in a band called White Eskimo that he had created with his schoolmates. He also said being in that band inspired him to pursue a career in music. 

During his audition, Styles told the judges he planned to begin college in the fall and he would be studying law, business, sociology, and "something else." 

Styles impressed two out of the three judges with his rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely." He advanced to the next round and he would later be the one to come up with the famed boyband's name, One Direction.

In recent years, Styles has released solo albums and appeared in movies.

In 2017, Styles made his acting debut as part of the war drama "Dunkirk." That same year, he released his first solo album, "Harry Styles," which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 album charts .

And at the end of 2017, the singer performed at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show . He also went on a world tour of his self-titled debut album which wrapped in July of 2018.

In 2019, Styles presented an award to Stevie Nicks during the 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony and he was also co-chair at the 2019 Met Gala alongside stars like Lady Gaga and Serena Williams.

In December 2019, he dropped his second album "Fine Line," which was met with critical acclaim. In 2021, the singer also released the beauty brand, Pleasing.

In May 2022, he released his third — "Harry's House." That same year, he starred in Olivia Wilde's "Don't Worry Darling," a thriller set in the 1950s. 

In 2023, the singer took home the prestigious album of the year Grammy for "Harry's House." Later that year, in July, he wrapped up his epic two-year Love on Tour around the globe. 

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Here’s Just About Everything One Direction Has (Recently) Said About a Reunion

Since the second One Direction began their hiatus in 2016, the guys have constantly faced the question, “When will you reunite?” But with the group’s 10-year anniversary coming up in July, that…

By Taylor Weatherby

Taylor Weatherby

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Since the second One Direction began their hiatus in 2016, the guys have constantly faced the question, “When will you reunite?” But with the group’s 10-year anniversary coming up in July, that question has become more relevant than ever.

Directioners got perhaps their most promising inklings of a reunion this week, as Niall Horan , Liam Payne , Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson all followed Zayn Malik on Twitter . On top of that, Payne hinted in not one, but two interviews that the guys have been in touch “a lot more at the moment,” as he said on The Late Late Show With James Corden on Monday (April 13).

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Harry Styles

Louis Tomlinson

Whether those conversations include Malik is still unclear, especially because the “Pillowtalk” singer hasn’t said much about the 1D guys in the past couple of years. But with the rest of One Direction all releasing music within the last year, we’ve heard reunion talk from the guys quite a bit since last summer — and with the 10-year anniversary approaching, the comments have become more and more promising.

Everything That Happened Since Zayn Left One Direction: A Timeline

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See what Harry, Liam, Louis and Niall have said about reuniting in the past several months below.

Rolling Stone , August 2019: “I don’t think I’d ever say I’d never do it again, because I don’t feel that way. If there’s a time when we all really want to do it, that’s the only time for us to do it, because I don’t think it should be about anything else other than the fact that we’re all like, ‘Hey, this was really fun. We should do this again.’ But until that time, I feel like I’m really enjoying making music and experimenting. I enjoy making music this way too much to see myself doing a full switch, to go back and do that again. Because I also think if we went back to doing things the same way, it wouldn’t be the same, anyway… It’s too important to me to ever be like, ‘Oh, that’s done.’ But if it happens, it will happen for the right reasons.”

KIIS 106.5 , November 2019: “I don’t think I’d ever say never. I definitely never say never. You know it was a massive part of my life and something that we always have. It’s a pretty amazing thing to be part of… If a time comes around when everyone wants to do it. We’re all going on tour but if it works out, we’ll talk about it.”

Heart Breakfast , March 2020: When asked if One Direction would do a five-way video performance like the Backstreet Boys did on the iHeart Living Room Concert For America on March 29, Styles replied, “I mean we’re not working right now, so probably not this second. It’d be an interesting way to do a reunion, for sure.”

SiriusXM , April 2020: In response to a similar question about getting on a Zoom call with the 1D guys, he said, “I don’t know if that’s the reunion that we’ve had in mind. I don’t know if that would be the way to do it. But I’ll have a quick whip-around.”

Harry Styles Earns First Pop Songs No. 1 With 'Adore You,' Becomes Fourth One Direction Member to…

Wired , September 2019: “The truth is, I think it’s a matter of when at the moment. Everyone is super comfortable doing their own thing and everyone’s really happy doing their solo stuff… It’s great to watch everybody else venturing out and doing their own thing. It’s more to do with where some other people in the band’s heads are at with it.”

SiriusXM , September 2019: “I say different times all the time, because [saying] whatever I’m thinking it might happen [at the time]. It’s difficult. I haven’t spoken to Harry in a while, so I don’t really know where his head is at with it. I heard he mentioned it in some sort of magazine thing or whatever the other day, which is cool. I think everybody else has been really outspoken. I think they’re ready to go whenever. Niall was ready the day we decided to stop for a second.”

The Jonathan Ross Show , October 2019: “I feel like everybody outwardly in the press has said something, but we haven’t really spoke as a collective together, so I don’t really know. All I can say is, I don’t think for at least the next two years, it’s going to happen. And I’m tired of saying dates, because people hold you to it… I don’t think [Zayn re-joining] will ever happen. When he left, it wasn’t on great terms… if he didn’t want to be here, then he shouldn’t be here. Which is fine, and he’s doing really well, so I don’t want to mess with his stuff.”

Sunday Brunch , December 2019: “I think at some point we will get back together. I think we will, for sure,” he said. “I don’t know when that is yet but, all I know is there is at least two years while everyone’s just released new music where you have to go and promo and do all of that. So there’s at least two years, I know that much.”

Gulf News , December 2019: “We have been talking a lot more recently and I can’t imagine we wouldn’t finish the story where we did. However, the guys are doing so well individually and they are experiencing new things like film and TV, so it will probably be a little while if it ever happens.”

Liam Payne on How the Industry Has Changed Since His One Direction Days: There's 'More Freedom'

The Sun , April 2020: “We’ve got a ten-year anniversary coming up so we’ve all been speaking together a lot over the last few weeks which has been really nice. To hear a lot of people’s voices and seeing old content and different things that we haven’t seen for a long time or never seen before, it’s very interesting. At the moment I’m not sure what I’m allowed to say. There’s a number of different things that we are all working on to try and make happen and people are forwarding emails around. But more than anything it’s just been a real good time for us to connect together again.”

The Late Late Show with James Corden , April 2020: “I’m not allowed to say too much obviously, because I’d be giving it away. But we’ve been speaking a lot more at the moment. I think we’re all feeling that that 10 year is a very special moment… I had a beautiful FaceTime with Niall, who I hadn’t spoken to in a long time, and speaking with Louis. It’s been really nice, it’s a nice moment.”

1883 Magazine , July 2019: “There’s gotta be [a reunion]! One hundred perfect. As far as I’m concerned, we are all good at doing our individual stuff right now and it’s great for yourself as an individual but the day we do get back together will be a magical day for all of us. I think everyone is in the same boat when it comes to this; it’s inevitable and the question is just when are we going to do it. Now that we are on this break, I can look back and say it was massive but looking from the other side you can see the influence and important. That’s really cool, just seeing our positive influence. We were such a powerhouse. It’s a no-brainer, I’m the first to sign the sheets to get back together.”

The Metro’s Guilty Pleasures , October 2019: “As far as I am concerned, I am happy doing what I am doing. But the day that [a reunion] does happen, and everyone is ready to do it, I am ready.”

Wired , November 2019: Addressing a Google search for “Louis Tomlinson One Direction,” Tomlinson said, “That is the band I am in — was in, whichever way you look at it. Don’t really know what else to say about that good time in me life. Hopefully we come back.”

Louis Tomlinson Postpones International Spring Tour

BBC’s The One Show , January 2020: “We’ve maybe been on a break maybe about four years, and I’m only just getting around to releasing my first album. Fans who follow our every move every day probably feel we’ve been, you know, not a group for a while, but actually to us, we’re only kind of — I know I’m just finding my feet, really. So I think it’ll happen at some point. It would be stupid not to, but we’re just exploring and enjoying ourselves individually.”

The Independent , January 2020: “Truthfully, none of us truly know [if we’ll reform]. I just know what my gut says and my gut says we will get back together at some point. I think it was too magical for all of us to never do it again.”

BBC Breakfast , February 2020: “I’ll give you the answer I give everyone else: It’s inevitable. I don’t know when, we don’t know when. I think we’d be stupid not to get back together. But you don’t know — I’ve only just released my first album.”

Niall Horan

Zach Sang Show , October 2019: “It would be silly not to do it.”

The Telegraph , October 2019: “There was no timeline on the gap. I would have preferred if someone said five years, and it probably will end up something like that. I’m enjoying what I’m doing, but if one of the lads were to pick up the phone and say it’s time, I’d do it.”

Sunrise , December 2019: “No talk of it yet. I’m enjoying what I’m doing now… As of now, no, but if there’s a conversation down the line, let’s go.”

Glass Magazine , February 2020: “Once I’m making music for a long time at a high level, I don’t mind. When everyone is ready to do 1D again, I’ll be here. But at the moment I’m enjoying relative success on my own and it’s been so fun trying something new. Play it by ear and see what happens. I just love music.”

The Mirror , February 2020: “The answer is, we don’t know. We haven’t spoken about it, and you’ll know if we do.”

Niall Horan Calls Taylor Swift 'One of the Greatest Songwriters of Her Generation'

RTÉ Entertainment , February 2020: “We’d be absolutely ridiculous not to reform the band. We haven’t really spoken about the ‘whens’ but we do know we will. We have all said individually that we will and I think it would be stupid if we didn’t.”

The Late Late Show , March 2020: While Horan was hooked up to a lie detector test, James Corden asked “Do you actually think One Direction will get back together?” Horan was quick to say “Yes,” which was detected as true.

The Line of Best Fit , March 2020: “I would hate for people to be like, ‘Here they are coming for the money – because they’ve spent it all.’ I’d hate for people to think of us like that because if we’re doing it [again], we’ll be doing it for the fans and obviously for ourselves too. We came from a reality TV show – people got to see how normal we were on a weekly basis and I think that was half the reason people liked us. Because they were like, ‘Fucking hell, if they can do it, then I can do it.’”

“So if and when we come back, it would be to bring the joy back to people who had missed us… and the fact that we could break the internet with that selfie! It wouldn’t be so much of an ego thing, it would be, ‘F–king hell, let’s do it again.’ That’s how I wanna do it. I wanna do it when everyone is f–king ready.”

“I’m reading a lot of 1D reunion rumours at the moment and no one’s said anything. Or maybe one of the boys has said something like “if and when” and it’s taken as “right, they’re coming back”. So I find myself answering it in a really long-winded way to cover all the ground. But the answer is: we’re all doing our own thing at the minute, but when we’re ready, we’ll let you know.”

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One Direction's Solo Endeavors: Breaking Down Every Single, Album & Artistic Venture

As Zayn Malik releases his fourth solo album, 'ROOM UNDER THE STAIRS,' GRAMMY.com takes a deeper look into the solo careers of Malik and his One Direction bandmates, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson.

Editor's Note: This article was updated on May 17, 2024 with information about Zayn Malik's album ROOM UNDER THE STAIRS and other releases/significant moments since the original publish date.

Looking at everything One Direction achieved in their time together, it's hard to believe that they were only active for six years. What's even harder to fathom is that they've now been on hiatus for nearly a decade — but luckily for fans, that time has proven fruitful for Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles , and Louis Tomlinson. 

Each member has released at least one studio album as a solo artist, and they have all dipped into several other ventures within fashion, producing and mentoring rising stars. Malik is the latest to deliver more solo music, unveiling his fourth album, Room Under the Stairs , on May 17.

Through all of those efforts, the quintet has kept One Direction's legacy not only alive, but thriving. While together, they were a pop phenomenon who sold an approximate 70 million records, but their solo careers have allowed them to showcase their true personalities. With that, monumental achievements came in tow — GRAMMY Awards, sold-out tours, and even more chart-topping hits — as well as the certainty that One Direction will never fully diminish (see Styles' roaring rendition of "What Makes You Beautiful" or Horan's sweet performance of "Story of My Life" ).

From Styles' eponymous debut LP to Malik's latest set, GRAMMY.com breaks down all of One Direction's solo endeavors to date.

Soon after his sudden departure from the group in 2015, Zayn Malik signed with RCA Records. His debut album, Mind of Mine , came out on March 25, 2016 — exactly one year after he left the band.

Mind of Mine saw Malik in a new musical direction, leaning into his R&B roots and soulful voice while also taking a more risqué approach in his songwriting. Despite the stark difference, the album topped several charts upon debut, including the U.S. and the U.K., even helping Malik become the first British male singer to top the Billboard 200 with his first album. (Lead single "Pillowtalk" also debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the first time a U.K. artist topped the chart with their first single.)

Malik quickly proved to be a sought-after collaborator, with Chris Brown , Snakehips and M.I.A. all recruiting him for singles in 2016. At the end of that year, he issued his biggest collab to date, "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" with Taylor Swift for the Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack. The song scored Malik his second massive hit on the Hot 100, peaking at No. 2.

As fans eagerly awaited his second album, Malik delivered two more major collabs, "Still Got Time" featuring PartyNextDoor and "Dusk Till Dawn" with Sia . After facing several delays, Icarus Falls arrived in December 2018. Comprising 27 songs across two disks, the album was inspired by the Greek myth, and expands Malik's usual R&B to loftier, edgier pop moments, like singles "Let Me Be" and "No Candle No Light" with Nicki Minaj .

Malik released his third studio album, the vulnerable Nobody Is Listening , in 2021. Described as his "most personal project to date" in a statement, the record is a stripped-down, quiet statement on Malik's growing talents. Later that year, he shared a since-deleted Dropbox link to Yellow Tape — a collection of three controversial hip-hop songs that showed another side of his musicality.

Though he has been fairly quiet in the past three years, Malik made waves in both 2022 and 2023 for very different reasons. In 2022, he paid tribute to his time in 1D with an instantly viral clip of him singing his fan-favorite note from "You & I"; last year, he hopped on a posthumous remix of Jimi Hendrix 's "Angel." 

In March 2024, Malik finally announced his much-anticipated fourth LP, ROOM UNDER THE STAIRS , which dropped May 17. Co-produced by Dave Cobb ( Chris Stapleton , Brandi Carlile , Bruce Springsteen ), the record sees Malik taking yet another musical turn and diving into country-leaning, bluesier sounds, as can be seen in singles "What I Am" and "Alienated." Malik explained in a teaser video that his intention for the 15-track album is for the listener to "get more insight on me personally as a human being."

Niall Horan

Niall Horan signed with Capitol Records and released his first solo single, "This Town," in September 2016. Followed by "Slow Hands," and "Too Much to Ask," Horan released his debut LP, Flicker , in October 2017 — just as "Slow Hands" hit No. 1 on Billboard's Pop Airplay and Adult Pop Airplay charts. A mix of soft rock and straightforward pop, the album helped Horan become the third 1D member in a row to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart (after Malik and Styles, more on the latter later).

In support of the release, Horan embarked on two world tours: Flicker Sessions, which started in August 2017 and was held in smaller, intimate venues, and 2018's Flicker World Tour, which featured 82 shows across North and Latin America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia.

Horan's second studio album, Heartbreak Weather , led by single "Nice to Meet Ya," came out in March 2020 and topped the charts in the U.K. and Ireland, while reaching No. 4 in the U.S. However, the COVID-19 pandemic stalled his ambitious touring plans, and he decided to use his downtime for collaboration. 

He teamed up with Anne-Marie for two singles, "Our Song" and a cover of Fleetwood Mac 's "Everywhere," and hopped on a version of Ashe's "Moral of the Story," But perhaps his most beloved collab is with his best friend Lewis Capaldi — a bromance that started with Horan's admiration for the singer and developed into live performances together, plenty of interactions on social media , and a Guinness-sponsored TV special, Homecoming: The Road to Mullingar , out in 2022.

Horan's third studio album, The Show , came out on June 9, 2023, just after he wrapped up his first (and winning) season as a coach on NBC's "The Voice." A fruitful experimentation of folk melodies and modern synths, The Show displays how much his songwriting has matured since Heartbreak Weather , and the result resonated with fans and critics alike; The Show debuted at No. 2 on Billboard 's 200 chart.

In the following months, Horan performed at a slew of festivals across Europe and Asia — and won his second season of "The Voice" — as he prepared for the biggest tour in his solo career so far. The Show: Live on Tour kicked off in his native Ireland in February 2024, and hit cities across the U.K., Europe, Asia and Oceania. The tour will keep Horan busy through October 9, making stops in North and South America as well as a brief return to Dublin and the U.K.

Louis Tomlinson

Louis Tomlinson was the biggest contributor to One Direction's songwriting, with credits on nearly 40 songs in their discography. His passion for music production extended to an auxiliary participation on 2015's "The X Factor," which in 2018 turned into a fixed position as a judge and winning mentor on the fifteenth series of the show.

As for Tomlinson's own solo music, he made his debut with the Steve Aoki -assisted single "Just Hold On" in December of 2016. Before releasing his debut LP, Walls , in January of 2020, the singer focused on collaborations and singles. Through a pop-punk verve, Tomlinson began to establish his own post-1D style with singles like 2017's "Just Like You" and the minimalistic "Back To You" with Bebe Rexha — his biggest hit to date, with more than 1 billion combined streams on Spotify and YouTube. Some other singles, like the touching tribute to his late mother, "Two of Us," and the rock-edged "Kill My Mind," were included on Walls .

In 2021, he created and curated The Away From Home Festival, a one-day fest first held in London that year, followed by a 2022 edition in Malaga and a 2023 edition in Italy. In 2024, the event will return for its fourth run in June at Mérida, Mexico. Among the lineup are rising names like Kevin Kaarl, DMA's, and Dylan, in addition to Tomlinson's own set.

Faith in The Future , Tomlinson's second album, was released at the end of 2022 and reached No. 1 in the U.K., marking his first top-charting album in the country as a soloist. Supported by singles "Bigger Than Me," "Out of My System," and "Silver Tongues," it furthered Tomlinson's explorations into indie rock and Britpop. In March 2023, he also released All Of Those Voices , a soul-baring documentary where he talked about his fears upon One Direction's hiatus, grief, fatherhood, and the struggles of fame. 

Tomlinson has been making stops around the globe on his Faith in the Future World Tour, which started off in North America in May 2023 and hit Europe, and the U.K. last year. He picked things up again in January 2024, first stopping through Indonesia and Australia; Tomlinson's last leg sees him performing in South America and Mexico, starting in Panama May 2 and concluding in Guadalajara, Mexico on  June 6.

Just before his final tour stretch, Tomlinson surprise-released a live album, simply titled Live, in April 2024, featuring 15 songs from 15 different shows over the past three years. Each track was recorded in a distinct city, including "The Greatest" in London, "Fearless" in Rio de Janeiro, and "Chicago" in Chicago.

Harry Styles

After signing with Columbia Records in 2016, Harry Styles made his solo debut in April 2017 with the power ballad "Sign of the Times." Just one month later, his eponymous debut album came to life. A commercial and critical success, it topped charts in several countries upon release, including the U.S. and the U.K album tallies.

From the get-go, Styles' solo appeal was apparent. After immediately selling out his first run of solo shows that fall, he plotted a world tour playing arenas in 2018 — all of which sold out. That success translated to the release of his second album, 2019's Fine Line . The album's first-week sales were the biggest for a British male soloist since 1991, when Nielsen began tracking sales electronically.

While singles "Adore You" and "Falling" had solid traction, it was "Watermelon Sugar" that solidified his place as a solo superstar. Not only did the track earn Styles his first No. 1 hit on the Hot 100, but it also won the singer his first GRAMMY in 2021 , for Best Pop Solo Performance.

Then came the lauded Harry's House , the album that cemented Styles as a vanguard artist and performer. Lead single "As It Was" foreshadowed the gargantuan success that was to come, topping the Hot 100 for 15 weeks — the longest-running U.S. No. 1 by a U.K. artist . Harry's House debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and was one of the best-selling albums of 2022 with more than 2 million equivalent album units. The album also went on to win Best Pop Vocal Album and the coveted Album Of The Year at the 2023 GRAMMYs.

Styles' sold-out Love On Tour, which lasted from September 2021 to July 2023, has also set unprecedented records. Through 169 shows across North and South America, the U.K., Europe, Asia, and Oceania, Love On Tour concluded as one of the best-selling tours of all time, grossing $617.3 million and selling more than 5 million tickets, according to Billboard 's Boxscore . These numbers also outdo One Direction's entire career gross of $583.4 million over four tours from 2012 to 2015, leading Styles to a new level of superstardom.

Along with his impressive music career, Styles has made an impact through his daring fashion sense in recent years. He's modeled for brands like Gucci, and became the first man to appear solo on the cover of Vogue in 2019. The singer has also ventured into acting, appearing in movies like 2017's Dunkirk and 2022's Don't Worry Darling and My Policeman .

Back in March, Styles teased new music during his New Zealand concert. "We're almost at the end of the fruit bowl," he said, nodding to the many fruit references in his discography ("Watermelon Sugar," "Kiwi," "Grapejuice"). "Come album four, who knows? No citrus is safe."

Like Tomlinson, Liam Payne co-wrote over 30 songs for One Direction; he also started to venture into his own musicality with a few remixes of 1D tracks in 2014 and 2015, under the aliases "Payno" and "Big Payno." He signed with Republic Records in October 2016, unveiling his debut solo single, "Strip That Down" (featuring Migos ' Quavo ) in May 2017. With lyrics that reinforced his new journey ("You know I used to be in 1D"), the track peaked at No. 10 on the Hot 100 and spent two weeks atop Billboard's Pop Airplay chart.

Payne's solo career has arguably been the most diverse of any One Direction member, as he's explored pop, hip-hop, Latin, and electronic music. Along with collaborating with the likes of Rita Ora ("For You", off of Fifty Shades Freed 's soundtrack), A Boogie wit da Hoodie ("Stack It Up"), and J Balvin ("Familiar"), he proved to be dexterous on his own as well, bending his voice from high falsettos ("Bedroom Floor") to charming croons ("Home With You").

After a 2018 EP, First Time , Payne dropped his debut studio album, the long-awaited LP1 , in December 2019. Including all of his previous singles, the record frames Payne as a jack of all trades, able to move from trap and hip hop ("Weekend") to Timberlake-inspired pop ("Strip That Down") and even to a Christmas song ("All I Want (For Christmas)").

While he has been less active musically in recent years, Payne delivered another dance collab in 2020 ("Midnight" with Alesso ), a couple of Christmas tracks (including the Dixie D'Amelio team-up "Naughty List,"), and a song for the 2021 animated movie Ron's Gone Wrong ,  "Sunshine." Outside of music, Payne was also named the first global ambassador for fashion brand Hugo Boss, and designed two of their capsule collections.

After mentions of working on a new album last year, Payne shared the single "Teardrops" in March 2024. Co-written with One Direction collaborator Jamie Scott and JC Chasez of *NSYNC , the track leans into early '00s pop and tackles the pain of a heartbreak. The release comes after a turbulent phase for the singer, who opened up on YouTube about his rehab stretch and controversial comments on his former bandmates. In a statement, Payne said that "Teardrops" "marks the start of a new beginning," and that "there's lots more to come in 2024."

Whether or not a One Direction reunion ever happens, the quintet's individual forays continue to bloom, and exciting opportunities lie ahead for each of the members. Through their diverse repertoire and newfound artistries, one thing is certain: the 1D members might follow multiple directions now, but they aren't stopping anytime soon. 

Harry Styles' Sonic Evolution: How He Grew From Teen Pop Idol To Ever-Evolving Superstar

Photo: David O’Donohue

Meet Amy Allen, The Hitmaking Singer/Songwriter Behind Sabrina Carpenter's "Please Please Please" & More Pop Gems

Amy Allen has penned hits for stars like Halsey, Harry Styles, and Tate McRae, including two recent smashes from Sabrina Carpenter. As she embarks on her own artist journey, learn more about the GRAMMY-winner's already dazzling career.

Some artists are lucky enough to have a moment: a song of the summer, a radio hit, or a point at which their song dominates the pop conversation. Before even launching her own singing career, Amy Allen has done just that — multiple times.

In 2022, the Maine native contributed to hit songs from Harry Styles , Lizzo , Charli XCX , and King Princess; at the 2023 GRAMMYs, she was one of the inaugural nominees for Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical, and celebrated an Album Of The Year win alongside Styles thanks to her work on Harry's House . And as of press time, two songs she co-wrote with Sabrina Carpenter are in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart: "Espresso" and " Please Please Please ," the latter of which hit No. 1.

When you have a resume and catalog as impressive as Allen's, it's hard not to get stuck in a run of highlights — but Allen's writing style is so full of remarkable emotional depth and inevitable hooks that her life and career deserves further exploration. After binging on classic rock and performing in rock and bluegrass bands in her youth, Allen began writing songs for others in the mid 2010s and has only continued to expand her impact on audiences and collaborators alike.

"Amy is a once-in-a-lifetime writer and friend — it all comes to her very naturally and effortlessly," Carpenter recently told Variety . "She's super versatile: She can wear any hat and yet it still feels authentic. I've learned a lot from her and admire what an incredible collaborator she is."

Along the way, Allen has continued honing her skills as an artist in her own right, releasing a handful of EPs and singles since 2015, initially under the name Amy and the Engine. But on Sept. 6, she's ready to fully introduce herself with her debut album — fittingly titled Amy Allen .

Just after Allen celebrated her latest No. 1 and released her newest single, "even forever," GRAMMY.com rounded up the key details you need to know about the singer/songwriter's diverse musical background, from her advocacy for female creators to seeing Harry Styles sing a song she co-wrote to a massive audience.

Her Origin Story Features A Lot Of Car Talk

Allen's early musical growth relied on four-wheeled vehicles to drive the plot forward — in many different forms. Growing up in rural Maine meant long car rides to for school and family outings, which in turn meant a lot of time with the radio.

"My dad is the biggest classic rock fan, so since I was little, I spent hours every day listening to music in the car with him and my sisters," she told Variety earlier this year.

When it came time for one of her sisters to start a band, the elder Allen named it No U-Turn, setting the theme. When the band needed a new bassist, Amy took up the low end at just 8 years old, learning classic songs from the likes of Tom Petty and Rolling Stones . The band started collecting opening spots at a bar in Portland, Maine, and lasted until Allen was in high school and her sisters had left for college. In addition, she started playing in a bluegrass band called Jerks of Grass alongside her high school guitar teacher.

Eventually, Allen thought about moving on and changing course. "I went to nursing school at Boston College for two years, and within a month of getting there I was like, 'I made a big mistake,'" she continued. After moving over to the prestigious Berklee School of Music, Allen started a new project, yet again turning to vehicular terminology: Amy and the Engine, who would go on to open for the likes of Vance Joy and Kacey Musgraves . The project's timeless indie pop charm shone brightly on singles like "Last Forever" and the 2017 EP Get Me Outta Here!, fusing references ranging from the Cranberries to the Cure .

She's A Major Champion For Women In Music

Back in 2021, Allen pondered whether it was time to carve up one of America's most prominent monuments. "Can you imagine tits on Mount Rushmore/ And Ruth Bader Ginsburg from dynamite sticks?" she sang on "A Woman's World," a highlight from her 2021 solo EP AWW! . The song backs off from that explicit ask, but the low-slung waltz of ghostly piano and gentle acoustic guitar still subversively slices at traditional gender roles and power dynamics. 

And while the track may focus its first verse on the Notorious RBG, Allen designed it as a more approachable anthem. "I felt very proud of that song. And it's something that I love to play live, because I think that it's nice as a woman to give that moment to other women in the audience where I see them," she told The Line of Best Fit upon the EP's release.

Her solo work sits in a long line of female pop and rock stars looking to lift others up — with Allen's list of influences including everyone from the Carpenters and Pat Benatar to No Doubt , Hole , and Siouxsie and the Banshees. But she's also aware of the shortcomings in the industry when it comes to behind-the-scenes matters, with female songwriters representing a disproportionately small percentage of the industry and often at lower revenue than their male counterparts. 

"It's important to have more women writing and performing so that younger girls can be hearing that and really connecting with that and resonating with that, and then being inspired to do that themselves," she continued. "I'm really excited to hear what the next generation of singer songwriters creates, and I want to do my part in making sure that they're able to."

She Went Full Circle With Selena Gomez

Allen's emotionally salient and indelibly quirky songwriting with the Engine caught the attention of more than just adoring fans. While on a tour stop in New York, she connected with Scott Harris , a songwriter who has worked with the likes of Shawn Mendes , Camila Cabello , Niall Horan, and Meghan Trainor ; when Allen eventually moved to New York, she would take on some of Harris' writing sessions when he was in Los Angeles. One of those sessions spawned the first song she'd place with another artist: Selena Gomez 's "Back To You," which ended up on the soundtrack for the second season of Netflix's teen drama "13 Reasons Why" in 2018. 

"I grew up listening to Selena Gomez, and I know that she's going to be a pop icon forever," Allen told People in 2020. "She's awesome. I was so psyched…It definitely propelled my career in the pop writing field further."

Two years later, she would re-team with Gomez for "My Mind & Me," a single released alongside a documentary film of the same title following the impact of the star's diagnoses with lupus and bipolar disorder on her career. The single similarly offers an openhearted, empathetic look at big mental health struggles, this time in the form of a sweeping, cathartic power ballad driven by stumbling syllables and stair-step piano. 

The track was shortlisted for Best Original Song at the 2023 Academy Awards, charted in more than a dozen countries, and, perhaps most importantly, seemed to have made quite the connection with Gomez. "Honestly, it was therapeutic for me," the pop star and actress told Variety in 2022. "I felt super connected to what I was singing and what I was saying."

She Loves Seeing Her Collaborators Live

Songwriters often wind up hidden behind the scenes, unable to really gather the impact that their artistic expression is making on others. But thankfully, Allen has been able to catch a peek in on the arena-sized reactions for some of her biggest collaborators. 

One of Allen's most-played co-writes is "Adore You," a highlight from Harry Styles' 2019 album, Fine Line , which has nearly 1.7 billion streams on Spotify alone as of press time. The buoyant, slippery burst of Fleetwood Mac -indebted funk pop embodies the start of an infatuation, and fans similarly felt under the song's spell. And Allen finally got to see that feeling come to life at Styles' album release show at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles in 2019. 

"Watching Harry, I was really nervous because the album had only been out for a couple days and I wasn't sure if anybody would know that song," Allen told Variety in 2020. She also noted that the song was a hard turn from more heartbroken tracks she'd written for the likes of Halsey . "'Adore You' was my first feel-good song, so I'm psyched about that," she added.

Though not in person, Allen got a similar bolt of joy when she was able to watch Lizzo perform Styles' track for BBC Radio 1 in 2020. "I idolize Lizzo," Allen continued. "It really just goes to show that the right song can be performed by many different people." 

Little did Allen know that she'd get to celebrate a GRAMMY nomination and win alongside Lizzo and Styles, respectively, just three years later. She co-wrote "If You Love Me" from the flute-jamming pop star's 2022 record Special, which was nominated for Album Of The Year at the 2023 GRAMMYs, where Styles' Harry's House (which featured Allen's co-write "Matilda") won the coveted honor.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amy Allen (@amyallen)

She Shapeshifts Her Songwriting For Each Artist

When a songwriter has to split their tracks up between multiple different artists, it might be difficult to ensure that each track sounds appropriately fitted to each performer. For Allen, it all comes down to knowing when to follow the rules and when to break them. 

"Sometimes we'll be writing and someone will say, 'It should go straight to the chorus here,' and in my brain I'm like, 'But we need a pre-chorus!' — you know, following the ABCs of songwriting," she told Variety . "But I've really been trying over the last couple of years to deconstruct some of those — that you don't need to pull out all the tricks all the time. It can actually make the song more interesting."

In fact, it might come down to what she prioritizes when sitting down to write, rather than which rules to follow. While walking the red carpet for the 2021 Ivor Novello Awards for songwriting and composition, Allen explained her perspective on songwriting formulas to PRS For Music : "When I'm writing for myself, I usually start with the verse and move my way through, and lots of other times when I'm writing with another artist I make sure the chorus is bulletproof."

The GRAMMYs Are Helping Change Her Family's Perspective On Her Career

Allen earned her first GRAMMY nomination in 2022 for her work on Justin Bieber 's Justice , but her most meaningful nomination came a year later for Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical at the 65th Annual Awards ceremony (alongside Nija Charles , The-Dream , Laura Veltz , and Tobias Jesso, Jr. ). While Allen had a hard time contextualizing the recognition, it helped her loved ones better understand the impact of her career.

"I'm just so grateful…Even my closest family and friends, they're like, 'I've listened to this artist for so long, or I listened to this song on the radio, and I had no idea there was a team that helped make this happen,'" she told VERSED: The ASCAP Podcast in 2022. "People like me growing up in small towns, we don't know that being a songwriter for a career is an option… I watched the GRAMMYs when I was growing up, and if I had known that people were making great careers, I would've gotten on the track a lot earlier."

Though the inaugural award ultimately went to Jesso, Jr., Allen seems to agree that he's deserving of the honor — he's one of her collaborators on her upcoming album.

Maine Will Always Be Home — and An Inspiration

For those who haven't been to Maine, a quick look at Allen's social media will reveal just how stunning the American Northeast can be. Among TikToks promoting her music, Allen almost inevitably drops in a clip displaying the expansive natural beauty of her home state — whether she's on a rope swing over a dazzlingly blue pool of water, or dropping a front spin while skating on the ice, or watching the massive waves from her family home.

"POV: ur back home in maine and wondering why u ever left," she plastered over one particularly stunning TikTok montage of a dazzling day swimming amongst waterfalls. The only thing as beautiful as the scenery is the music behind it is an unreleased track about missing home — proof that Maine will always be part of her, and that she clearly made the correct choice in following her songwriting dreams.

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Zayn's 'Room Under The Stairs': Everything We Know About Release Date, Cover Art & An Unexpected Country Influence

On May 17, One Direction alum Zayn Malik will release a new album following a three year intermission. Here's all the details GRAMMY.com could find, from his latest single to the cover art and country twang.

Editor's Note: This article was updated on May 15, 2024 with details about Zayn's album process and release show.

After a three-year interlude, Zayn is back with his fourth solo venture. His highly anticipated LP, Room Under The Stairs , will drop May 17.  

His latest opus follows the 2021 release of Nobody is Listening , and promises to be a sonic oasis to fans parched for his next drop.

After wiping the slate clean on his Instagram, the "Pillowtalk'' star shared a window into his new era on March 6. A sneak-peek video laced with Zayn's own narrative prepares listeners for an album that promises to be an introspective, pared-back and profoundly personal portrait. 

"There's just me writing this," he said in the post. "I didn't want anyone else to be in between me and the music, and the music and the people listening to it."  

Dropping a trail of musical breadcrumbs, Zayn divulged snippets, artwork, and release dates culminating in the reveal of the name, cover, and drop date for the full LP.

Read on for everything GRAMMY.com has unboxed about Zayn's artistic resurgence.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zayn Malik (@zayn)

It's His Most Intimate Album To Date

Zayn's new work promises to be an auditory memoir and a portal to a new era for the artist. On March 6, Zayn prefaced the album's unveiling, shedding light on the upcoming direction in an Instagram post.

In a visual collage overlaid with candid commentary, Zayn confides, "I think the intention behind this album fully is for the listener to get more insight on me personally as a human being… my ambitions, my fears, and for them to have a connection with that and that's why it's so raw. It's just me."

It's A Fresh Start With Mercury Records

Transitioning from RCA to Mercury Records last summer, Zayn dropped his first single under the new label "Love Like This" in July 2023. Ever since, fans have been looking forward to the full experience. Room Under The Stairs will mark the grand unveiling of this new alliance. 

It Took Six Years To Get It Right

Though Zayn released albums in 2018 ( Icarus Falls ) and 2021 ( Nobody Is Listening ), the singer has hinted that he has slowly been chipping away at Room Under the Stairs in that time. "I wasn’t sitting on it for six years," Zayn explained to Kelly Clarkson on her talk show , "It took six years to make the record." He went on to detail the piecemeal way the songs fell together in the studio: "I was living, something would happen, and it would give me inspiration."    

The First Two Singles Are Out Now

Two days after announcing the album, Zayn debuted the first single, "What I Am," on March 15. On the acoustic, folk-leaning track, the singer/songwriter delivers a harmonious blend of raw emotion and introspective, soul-searching lyrics as he wonders, "Am I crazy?/ Am I foolish?/ Am I stupid for playing these games with you?/ If I told you I loved you would you say that it's f—ed up?" 

On April 11, Zayn debuted the second single, "Alienated," with a live performance video. Before releasing the reflective song, he revealed in an Instagram video that he wrote " Alienated" back in 2018, which eventually led it to being the first track written for Room Under the Stairs . "That kind of helped me mold and shape the sound even for, like, the way I wanted to approach the sound of my own voice and sonic sound of everything else, like the guitars," he shared. "I don’t even know what to call it genre-wise… I think it’s like, my version of, like, blues."

The Cover Art Reflects Renewal

The cover art for Room Under The Stairs serves as a visual metaphor for a new beginning for Zayn, featuring a silhouette of the singer/songwriter superimposed on a simplified concept illustration of a room under a staircase. 

The use of the blueprint drawing conveys the idea of life under construction, paralleling Zayn's deliberate crafting of new musical narratives. The contrast between the silhouette underscores the album's exploration of intimate aspects of the artist's mind and the conception of fresh beginnings.

There's An Unexpected Country Influence

Zayn co-produced the album with famed Nashville producer Dave Cobb . A nine-time GRAMMY winner, Cobb has worked with rock legends and country greats alike, including Brandi Carlile , Lady Gaga , Bruce Springsteen , Chris Stapleton and others.   

“What got me about Zayn was his voice, you can hear love, loss, pain, triumph and humanity in it. I feel as if this record is removing the glass from his spirit directly to his fans,” Cobb told Rolling Stone . “Zayn has really created his own universe on this record, he really has no fear and is speaking straight from his soul.”

He'll Celebrate The Album With A Special Release Show (And Documentary!)

Hours after Room Under the Stairs arrives on May 17, Zayn will play six songs from the album live at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in London. Along with celebrating the album, it celebrates Zayn's return to the stage, as it will be his biggest solo show to date.

The night will be even more special because the performance will follow the premiere of Zayn's 'Road Back To The Mic' documentary, which documents his journey to the momentous show. "It's going to be a lead up and an explanation… of exactly why it's been this long that I haven't performed — the story behind me getting back to the mic, basically, and getting back into a place of wanting to perform," Zayn recently explained to Talk Shop Live . "There's some real cool stuff in there."

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Photo: Kevin Mazur

GRAMMY Rewind: Harry Styles Celebrates His Fellow Nominees (And His Biggest Fan) After Album Of The Year Win In 2023

Revisit the moment Harry Styles accepted the most coveted award of the evening for 'Harry's House' and offered a heartfelt nod to his competitors — Beyoncé, Adele, Lizzo, Coldplay and more.

After a wildly successful debut and sophomore record, you'd think it was impossible for Harry Styles to top himself. Yet, his third album, Harry's House , proved to be his most prolific yet.

The critically acclaimed project first birthed Styles' record-breaking, chart-topping single, "As It Was," then landed three more top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Late Night Talking," "Music for a Sushi Restaurant" and "Matilda." The album and "As It Was" scored Styles six nominations at the 2023 GRAMMYs — and helped the star top off his massive Harry's House era with an Album Of The Year win.

In this episode of GRAMMY Rewind , revisit Styles' big moment from last year's ceremony, which was made even more special by his superfan, Reina Lafantaisie. Host Trevor Noah (who will return as emcee for the 2024 GRAMMYs ) handed the mic to Lafantaisie to announce Styles as the winner, and the two shared a celebratory hug before Styles took the mic.

"I've been so, so inspired by every artist in this category," said Styles, who was up against other industry titans like Beyoncé , Adele , Lizzo and Coldplay . "On nights like tonight, it's important for us to remember that there is no such thing as 'best' in music. I don't think any of us sit in the studio, making decisions based on what will get us [an award]."

Watch the video above to see Harry Styles' complete acceptance speech alongside his collaborators Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson . Check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of GRAMMY Rewind, and be sure to tune into the 2024 GRAMMYs on Sunday, Feb. 4, airing live on the CBS Television Network (8 -11:30 p.m. LIVE ET/5-8:30 p.m. LIVE PT) and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs).

Here Are The Album Of The Year Nominees At The 2024 GRAMMYs

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Harry Styles' Biggest Songs: 10 Tracks That Showcase The Versatility & Creativity That Have Made Him A Star

Since his solo debut in 2017, Harry Styles has become one of pop's biggest names by pushing the boundaries of the genre. Dig into 10 songs that showcase Styles' musical genius, from smash hits like "As It Was" to beloved deep cuts like "Fine Line."

Throughout his career, Harry Styles has proven that his music defies categorization. From his poppier days with One Direction to the more rock- and funk-inspired sounds of his solo music, every song and album have been a testament to his ongoing evolution as an artist .

His three solo albums thus far — 2017's Harry Styles , 2019's Fine Line , and 2022's Harry's House — have explored soft rock, psychedelic pop, and synth-pop. With such genre-fluid diversity in his discography, there's something for everyone to indulge in.

Styles' genre-blending techniques have undeniably made him a household name. The past two years solidified that, whether through his 169-show Love On Tour or his Album Of The Year win for Harry's House at the 2023 GRAMMYs. 

Though Styles has remained relatively quiet since the Love On Tour wrapped in July, he surely has fans anticipating his next move. For now, take a look at 10 Harry Styles tracks that illustrate the versatility and creativity that's helped him go from boy band member to solo sensation.

"Over Again," Take Me Home (2013)

A deep cut from One Direction's second album, Take Me Home , "Over Again" features an impressive solo from a then-19-year-old Styles. This song takes listeners on a nostalgic journey, looking back to the happier days of an ill-fated relationship, yearning for the ability to rewind time to a point before the love story unraveled.

Styles' emotionally charged vocal delivery accentuates and intensifies the profound sense of melancholy that is being relayed in the song. The depth in Styles' voice invites the audience to connect and empathize with the song's heartbroken narrative — a trait that still permeates in his solo ballads today. 

"Clouds," FOUR (2014)

Styles highlights his vocal prowess in a different way on One Direction's youthful FOUR cut "Clouds." Not only did it feature extensive, powerful vocal runs, but it also showcased the rock sensibilities of his voice. "Clouds" diverted from 1D's traditional pop sound and ventured into a more guitar-driven style, incorporating rock elements and arguably foreshadowing the sounds of Styles' debut album released three years later.

"Sign of the Times," Harry Styles (2017)

Styles kicked off his solo journey in bold fashion: a nearly six-minute ballad. The cinematic, '70s rock-inspired "Sign of the Times" presented a stark departure from his previous work with One Direction, hinting that he was more than ready to evolve musically on his own.

The release of the song marked a turning point in Styles' career, enabling him to embrace a more mature sound and gain credibility as a solo artist. His continued exploration of genres is a trait that Styles has carried into his later projects, ultimately establishing his status as a genre-fluid artist.

"Kiwi," Harry Styles (2017)

One of Styles' boldest steps into the rock genre, "Kiwi" tells a story about a rebellious and free-spirited girl who captures Styles' attention, despite knowing she's no good for him. In this lively track, Styles trades polished pop for unfiltered rock vocals, showcasing an edgier side he hadn't displayed in his boy band days — both lyrically and sonically.

The song's dynamic energy is further amplified by the rich supply of classic rock-inspired guitar grooves. While Styles hasn't revisited the raw sound of "Kiwi" much since, it serves as a reminder that he can tackle any creative technique he desires.

"Watermelon Sugar," Fine Line (2019)

One could argue that "Watermelon Sugar" is a perfectly crafted pop song: refreshing guitar grooves, a lively instrumental, sultry harmonized vocals. In fact, it's so flawless, it earned Styles his first GRAMMY in 2021 for Best Pop Solo Performance.

That's just one way the Fine Line single marked a pivotal moment in Styles' career. It also became his first No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100, proving that he has staying power as a pop star in his own right. And as one of two songs with more than 2 billion Spotify streams alone, "Watermelon Sugar" has also proven to be a Harry Styles classic. 

"Falling," Fine Line (2019)

One of Styles' most gut-wrenching tracks, "Falling" offers an introspective take on heartbreak. The haunting piano-driven melody emphasizes the pain in Styles' voice as he realizes his harmful habits caused him to lose a lover.

The song's emotional transparency and stripped-down vocals make it one of his most emotionally mature tracks, as well as one of his most captivating. While the track is Styles' lowest-charting single to date (it reached No. 62 on the Hot 100), "Falling" has proven itself to be a fan favorite, with more than 1 billion streams on Spotify. 

"Fine Line," Fine Line (2019)

Despite being the title track, "Fine Line" isn't just a deep cut from Styles' acclaimed 2019 album, it's an outlier in his whole discography — but in a beautiful way. The song is largely instrumental, with a lonely, yet emotionally-charged energy that highlights Styles' stunning falsetto.

In an interview with Capital FM , Styles cited a connection between the song's lyrics and his feelings throughout the album-making process; with the closing lyrics echoing, "We'll be alright," the song sheds light on the apprehension that often accompanies embarking on a new creative journey. The message foreshadowed Styles' subsequent ventures after the record's release, including a step into acting and the exploration of a new sound in Harry's House .

"As It Was," Harry's House (2022)

The lead single for Harry's House , "As It Was" served as Styles' first plunge into the synth-pop genre, which carried throughout the project. Despite the track's buoyant melody, its true essence conveys a more gloomy narrative. Styles explores the idea that nothing remains the same once being put into the limelight — a poignant message from one of pop's biggest stars.

Along with introducing a new sound for Styles, the brilliantly juxtaposing track also cemented him as a bonafide superstar. After "As It Was" debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100 in April 2022, it reigned for 15 weeks , marking the most for a British artist in the chart's history. It was also a chart titan in Styles' home country, becoming the longest-running No. 1 and best-selling single of 2022 on the UK Singles Chart. What's more, it helped Styles earn his first Record Of The Year GRAMMY nomination, and undoubtedly contributed to his Album Of The Year win at the 2023 GRAMMYs.

"Late Night Talking," Harry's House (2022)

Taking the synth-pop of "As It Was" into the '80s, "Late Night Talking" blends retro-inspired vocal distortions and groovy instrumentation. Yet, somehow, it has a timeless groove that still feels contemporary — a skill that has become a Styles trademark.

The single had big shoes to fill as it followed the smash hit "As It Was" but it fiercely proved that Styles' had room for multiple hit songs under his belt. "Late Night Talking" landed the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Pop Airplay Chart and No. 3 on the Hot 100 Chart.

"Matilda," Harry's House (2022)

One of Harry's House 's few somber tracks, "Matilda" instantly became another fan favorite in his catalog. As he gently sings over plucked guitar instrumentals, he comforts someone who feels out of place within their family at home ("You don't have to be sorry for leavin' and growin' up," he sings in the chorus).

While Styles has delivered plenty of tender moments, the storytelling and emotion of "Matilda" arguably helps it stand as his most thoughtful composition to date. Although it remains as an album cut, "Matilda" is further proof that Styles' has mastered the skill of making music that resonates with listeners — whether he's compelling them to shed tears or dance along.

• 1 One Direction's Solo Endeavors: Breaking Down Every Single, Album & Artistic Venture
• 2 Meet Amy Allen, The Hitmaking Singer/Songwriter Behind Sabrina Carpenter's "Please Please Please" & More Pop Gems
• 3 Zayn's 'Room Under The Stairs': Everything We Know About Release Date, Cover Art & An Unexpected Country Influence
• 4 GRAMMY Rewind: Harry Styles Celebrates His Fellow Nominees (And His Biggest Fan) After Album Of The Year Win In 2023
• 5 Harry Styles' Biggest Songs: 10 Tracks That Showcase The Versatility & Creativity That Have Made Him A Star

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Niall Horan Performs Moving Rendition of One Direction's 'Night Changes' at His Biggest Solo Concert to Date

The Irish singer is currently on 'The Show': Live on Tour, his first tour since 2018

Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for iHeartRadio

Niall Horan has been reflecting on “just how fast the night changes” on his latest tour. 

The former One Direction member, 30, is currently out on his The Show : Live on Tour run, his first solo tour since 2018’s Flicker World Tour, and he just played his biggest solo show to date at the 21,000-capacity AO Arena in Manchester, England. Select songs from 1D’s catalog have made the setlist throughout his tour, and at his Tuesday show in Manchester, he gave a moving performance of “Night Changes.” 

Fans captured videos — some of which have gone viral — of the Irish artist’s performance, which they shared on social media.

Based on the fan-recorded footage, Horan sang the song off 2014’s Four while strumming an acoustic guitar and appearing under a disco ball. He and his band seemingly altered the arrangement of the hit ballad, transforming it into even more of a folky tune. 

Tyler Golden/NBC via Getty

The “This Town” singer invited fans to join in on the chorus, although it appeared as though thousands chimed in as soon as he played the first note and knew the lyrics word-for-word. 

Several concertgoers posted on social media how thrilled they were that Horan played the romantic 1D fan-favorite. “niall horan playing night changes tonight…my voice will never recover i fear,” one fan posted on X (formerly Twitter) after the Manchester show. 

“Niall Horan singing night changes in 2024 is absolutely everything to me,” another fan wrote on the platform.

Horan has played “Night Changes” at various stops throughout the U.K./European leg of The Show: Live on Tour, according to Setlist.FM . For several nights, including shows in London and Dublin, he swapped the song out of the setlist to instead play a different Four track: “Stockholm Syndrome.” 

Kevin Mazur/AMA2014/WireImage

During his Friday concert at London’s OVO Arena Wembley, the former coach on The Voice even took a moment to look back on his career in the beloved boy band, which dissolved in 2015. Audience members captured video of the musician reminiscing about being on the same stage while filming The X Factor , where the group featuring Horan, Zayn Malik , Liam Payne , Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson was formed. 

“When I was stood practically where I am right now about 14 years ago this July, no way did I ever think that my life would change that drastically, first of all,” Horan said on stage. “And the fact that I never thought 14 years later I’d still be standing here. Some magic things have happened in this building. I’m so glad to be back on the stage. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for all of you.”

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The “Slow Hands” performer, along with Styles, 30, and Tomlinson, 32, have been known to add 1D songs into their setlist over the years. On his last tour, Horan often played “Fool’s Gold” and “Drag Me Down,” which Tomlinson now integrates into his set. Styles, meanwhile, most often plays their breakout hit “What Makes You Beautiful.” 

Horan is currently on tour in support of his 2023 album The Show . Coming off the massive Manchester concert, he’ll soon play to an even larger audience at the 23,000-capacity Sportpaleis in Antwerp, Belgium as he continues to play across Europe.

After the international leg carries on through the spring in Australia, New Zealand and Asia, the folk-pop star will begin a U.S. tour that kicks off in late May and goes through early August. 

The Heartbreak Weather artist’s live show has been highly anticipated, since he hadn’t toured since the release of his debut solo album Flicker . When Horan announced The Show : Live on Tour, he shared a statement in a press release about his excitement to get back on the road. 

"There's nothing better than watching the crowd sing back to you with all that emotion on their faces and knowing that they're attaching the song to something meaningful in their own lives," he said. "To me, that's always the greatest thing that can ever come from songwriting."

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One Direction Reunion: We Rank the Boys’ Chances of Getting Back Together

When the guys in One Direction teased that they were doing something special to celebrate the group’s 10th anniversary this month, fans around the world started speculating that it was a big reunion announcement. Instead, the group announced that they would be releasing a trove of archival content , including music videos, artwork, and behind-the-scenes footage that highlights their time together. Hopes for a new album or a reunion tour ( à la the Spice Girls ) were quickly dashed.

Still, while Harry, Louis, Liam, Niall, and Zayn won’t be appearing together onstage anytime soon, Directioners haven’t given up hope for a reunion, whether as a one-off single release or a one-night-only concert (like Harry did to celebrate the release of his album, Fine Line , last December ).

“I don’t actually think that fans necessarily want a reunion album or music, more so a tour or to just see them together again,” says Ella Dunham, the 22-year-old co-founder of the @1Dneews Twitter account . “I think, individually, they have strayed so far from their original sound as a boy band that many fans would feel uncomfortable seeing them have to change their own style to go back to that ‘boy band’ feel they had. If new music was in the cards [though],” Dunham says, “it would be interesting to see what type of music was produced.”

Dunham has a point about the boys outgrowing their boy-band ways, but part of the fun of celebrating #10YearsOf1D on social media and IRL is wondering “Will they or won’t they?” and dreaming up what it would look like if they did reunite. The boys themselves have even weighed in, and they don’t seem sure of when a reunion would happen or what it would consist of — but none of them have totally ruled out a return either.

With that in mind, we’ve put on our best Vegas-oddsmakers hats to calculate the chances of One Direction getting back together. Our rankings are based on the willingness of each member to participate (as vocalized in interviews and on social media) and where they are at in the current moment with their solo careers and personal lives. Below, in no particular order, are our findings:

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We’re kicking off our list with Liam, who’s been the most vocal about getting the boys back together. In a recent interview just this past May , the singer said he was “hopeful” about a reunion, adding, “I’m starting to think it’s gonna happen at some point. So it’s exciting.”

Though each of the guys have released music on their own, Liam could be ready to step back into the group. His solo career started off super promising with the R&B hit “ Strip That Down ” (featuring Quavo). Since then, Daddy Directioner has stripped down himself, for a sultry Hugo Boss underwear ad that even had his mom calling him in mock horror . The provocative pics garnered plenty of attention for Liam, but his music unfortunately hasn’t made the same impact.

Liam’s oft-delayed debut album was finally released last year but failed to make a dent on the charts (it barely made the Top 20 in the U.K. and debuted at number 111 in the U.S.). It was the lowest-charting debut album from any 1D member, though it had less to do with the songs — the synth-y, Ryan Tedder-produced “ Say It All ” deserved to be a single — and more with the timing. The album had been in development for three years before it finally came out.

On a personal note, Liam has been keeping in touch with Harry, Louis, and Niall recently, which makes the chances of a One Direction reunion actually seem pretty possible. He joined Niall for an Instagram Live chat in April, where the two confirmed that the four members have a regular Whatsapp thread going on. In another IG Live, this time with his “ Midnight ” collaborator Alesso, Liam revealed that the guys were trying to arrange a group call to discuss reunion plans (though he also admitted to being told off by Louis for “revealing too much”). And just last month, Liam teased fans with a TikTok video of him FaceTiming Harry, though the video cuts off just after Harry (listed as “H” in Liam’s phone) picks up. Was it just a friendly catch-up call, or is Liam setting the stage for something bigger?

Liam has always assumed a leadership role, both in terms of writing a number of the band’s songs, but also acting as the de facto spokesperson for the group in a number of interviews. If there’s a reunion happening, you’re likely to hear about it from Liam first.

Chances of joining a 1D reunion: 80%

Niall horan.

Niall released his sophomore album, Heartbreak Weather , back in March, and had announced dates for a world tour. But the album came out just as COVID-19 was turning into a full-fledged global pandemic, and promotion for the album stalled. Weeks later, he announced that the tour was canceled. And while Harry was able to push his tour back to 2021, Niall has yet to announce makeup dates, leading fans to believe the tour may have been canceled indefinitely. With his album promotion cycle over and no tour in sight, it just might be enough to convince Niall to join the rest of the guys for a (virtual?) reunion soon.

Flashback: Fans Surprise One Direction During 2014 Milan Show

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That being said, Niall has arguably had one of the most successful solo careers from the group (aside from Harry), with a Number One song on pop radio (“ Slow Hands ”) and well-received collaborations with Maren Morris, Julia Michaels, and Ashe. In our opinion, Heartbreak Weather was also one of the most cohesive and melodic new releases of the year. If 1D were to record another album, Niall’s solo pop-rock style could actually be one direction the group moves toward (no pun intended). They’ve teased a similar sound with songs like “ Story of My Life ” and “ Fool’s Gold ” (the latter of which Niall covered on his Flicker World Tour).

Niall has commented on reunion rumors before, telling an interviewer this past May that “we’ve been chatting about it, little bits and pieces that we can do.” Still, he added, “[there’s been] nothing in terms of getting the band back together, so for now, no.” Niall always openly talks about 1D but is a little more neutral on a reunion compared to Liam or Louis. His recent quotes make it seem like he wants a reunion, but it’s not going to happen as soon as fans think.

Chances of joining a 1D reunion: 60%

Louis tomlinson.

Louis recently announced that he was leaving Syco, the label he’s called home since the start of One Direction. As a free agent, now’s the perfect time for him to revisit the possibility of a reunion. Louis also admitted in an interview that he was taken aback when the group decided to go on hiatus, proving that he wasn’t exactly ready for 1D to end in the first place. “It surprised me to a certain degree, so I didn’t have any plan in place or anything like that,” he said.

Though he’s released a handful of solid singles (the Bebe Rexha-featuring “ Back to You ” was an underrated gem), Louis’ songs haven’t quite lit up the charts like some of the other members. He finally released his debut album, Walls , at the beginning of the year — the album “wistfully brings to mind One Direction’s glory days,” read the Rolling Stone review — and proved that if the group were to release new music, the frequent songwriter on the boy band’s tracks could still create bangers that harness their signature sound. Louis also had a tour in the books that was postponed until 2021 because of the pandemic, which pushes any possible 1D reunion even further back.

Outside of music (kind of), he’s found success again back on reality TV, as a judge on the U.K. version of The X-Factor (the same show where One Direction got their start). Out of everyone, he’s been the most connected to his reality-show roots, and seems most likely to assemble the guys together again for a nostalgic comeback.

Though he didn’t address a reunion specifically, Louis definitely still holds a soft spot for the group. “I fucking love the boys, and I love everything we’ve done together,” he told Rolling Stone this year . “I still miss my time with them.”

Chances of joining a 1D reunion: 75%

Harry styles.

Harry’s career has soared since the band disbanded in 2016. Aside from two critically-acclaimed albums, Harry has also appeared in campaigns for Gucci, while establishing himself as the reigning pop prince of the music world (sorry Bieber).

His latest album, Fine Line , was released in December and continues to hold strong on the charts, with the most recent single, “ Watermelon Sugar, ” making a serious case for “Song of the Summer” honors. And though his Love on Tour was postponed due to COVID-19, Harry has already rescheduled dates for next summer — which doesn’t leave a lot of room for a reunion.

Harry has also made moves in Hollywood, with a well-received turn in Dunkirk . He was also rumored to be up for the role of Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid movie and reportedly auditioned to play Elvis in Baz Luhrman’s upcoming biopic.

“I think Niall, Liam, and Louis are most eager to reunite,” says Dunham, “[but] Harry’s solo career has been so astronomically successful (and so different to the 1D era) that I can’t see it would be as beneficial to him as the other members.”

Still, we wouldn’t count Harry out of a reunion entirely. While some artists are eager to shed their boy-band roots ( ahem , Justin Timberlake), Harry has consistently covered One Direction songs on his tours, including a surprise performance of “What Makes You Beautiful” during his one-night-only show in L.A. to promote Fine Line last year. Add the fact that he’s on this not-so-secret 1D group text and, well, to quote one of his lyrics, it may be time to “step [back] into the light.” As he told Rolling Stone in 2019 , “I don’t think I’d ever say I’d never do it again, because I don’t feel that way. If there’s a time when we all really want to do it, that’s the only time for us to do it, because I don’t think it should be about anything else other than the fact that we’re all like, ‘Hey, this was really fun. We should do this again.'”

Chances of joining a 1D reunion: 50%

We’re including Zayn on this list because it wouldn’t be a true One Direction reunion without him, and frankly, Zayn had some of the best features on the groups’ albums (that high note he hits in “ Steal My Girl” still gives us all the gooseys, and “ Night Changes ” would not have been as strong of a song without his heartfelt lines in it). That being said, Zayn seems like he’s moved on completely from the group that gave him his start, having largely avoided any mentions of 1D or his fellow members in the years since he left the group. There’s no love lost either. The notoriously soft-spoken singer has generally avoided big interviews, but in a 2015 article , he said, “There was never any room for me to experiment creatively in the band,” and called 1D’s music “generic as fuck.”

Zayn was the first member of One Direction to go solo, and “ Pillowtalk ” will still go down as one of the best debut singles of all time . But his career has gone through peaks and valleys since then — while he had a huge hit with his Taylor Swift duet (“I Don’t Wanna Live Forever,” from the Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack ), his sophomore album, Icarus Falls, failed to crack the Top 60 in the U.S. or U.K.

Unlike the other four guys, who are all reportedly working on new music, Zayn hasn’t teased any upcoming projects. The last we heard from Zayn, he was duetting on “ A Whole New World ” with Zhavia for the Aladdin live-action film. He was also on a remix for Shaed’s “ Trampoline ” (a very underrated jam). These one-off song releases give us the impression that he’ll only make music when he feels like it, and only if it’s a song or project he’s truly passionate about. For now, that doesn’t look like it includes another go-around with One Direction.

And while the other four guys left things on a friendly note, Zayn told an interviewer in 2018 that “I didn’t really, like, make any friends from the band. I just didn’t do it. It’s not something that I’m afraid to say.” If he doesn’t think he’s friends with the rest of the guys, then he’s definitely not going to be game for a reunion.

Zayn does have one very important upcoming release: a new baby with Gigi Hadid. The fact that he’s been open about not enjoying his time with One Direction, coupled with his impending fatherhood, makes us feel like Zayn’s chances of returning for a 1D reunion are basically zero.

Chances of joining a 1D reunion: 0%

Of course, circumstances can always change, and for every band that breaks up — like ‘NSync — there’s a band like the Backstreet Boys who are still holding on strong more than 27 years after they debuted. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned from One Direction, it’s that you can never count them out. As the four sang in their final performance before separating, they’ve “ got a whole lot of history ” together, and they can definitely make some more.

Fans remain cautiously optimistic. “As much as my teenage self wants a reunion, it’s good to see them thrive individually,” says Dunham. “The boys have veered so far from the original sound of 1D that it’s important to support their solo albums as much as we would a reunion,” she continues. “I think if fans are pushing a reunion, we should push their solo albums to the same extent. That way, we get the best of both worlds — we get to reminisce on the 1D days, but we’re still supporting them on their individual paths.”

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Louis Tomlinson's new doc goes behind the scenes of One Direction's final performance

Plus, peeks at Tomlinson's reunions with his former bandmates and a look at his journey to becoming a solo artist.

Ashley Boucher is the digital TV editor at Entertainment Weekly , where she also produces EW's What to Watch podcast. A former PEOPLE staffer, Ashley has also written for TheWrap and The Guardian , and has appeared on Cheddar TV. She holds a bachelor's in creative writing from Seattle Pacific University and a master's in journalism from the University of Southern California. You can follow the Oregonian-turned-L.A. transplant on Twitter at @ashleybreports.

Louis Tomlinson 's got a whole lotta history — and it's all coming out in his new documentary.

The most famous chapter of Tomlinson's history book is, of course, his time in One Direction , the mega boy band formed in 2010 on X Factor UK . And it's at the end of that chapter that Louis Tomlinson: All of Those Voices ( in theaters now ) begins.

The film starts in December 2015, when the band — which also included Harry Styles , Niall Horan , and Liam Payne — performed their final show before going on a "break" that Tomlinson never wanted.

Zayn Malik , the fifth One Directioner, had left the band several months prior. His exit signaled the "start of the end" to Tomlinson.

"The more you started thinking well, maybe this isn't going to last forever," the "Bigger Than Me" singer says in the doc. "Have we become the band that we didn't want to be? We started to feel a disconnect, and then all of a sudden now it's talking about maybe we'll go on a break for a couple of years."

"It hit me like a ton of bricks, I was not prepared for it," Tomlinson says of the breakup. "Not at all."

In behind-the-scenes footage of the band's final performance, the lads are subdued as they rehearse what they're going to say to the audience, which included Simon Cowell .

Tomlinson's sister Lottie notes how difficult the day was. "Just to think of it all coming to an end was hard," she says. "But I guess since they'd called it a break, it made it feel better, but it was a very emotional day."

In another moment backstage, Styles, Payne, Horan, and Tomlinson go over their songs with vocal coach Helene Hørlyck, who continues to work with Tomlinson throughout the doc. Before they get on stage, the foursome exchange hugs and thank her for working with them. "Helene, thank you for everything," Payne tells her before they head out. "You've been absolutely amazing, and we could not have done it without you."

After the performance, we get Tomlinson's real-time feelings: "It's like someone going to you, 'You have the best job in the world, go and enjoy your last day at work, 'cause tomorrow you're not working it.'"

Tomlinson didn't know it then, but he would eventually get to return to that job. The documentary brings viewers along on his journey to finding his voice as a solo artist while dealing with the devastating losses of his mother and sister. Other emotional moments include his breaking the Guinness World Record with his COVID livestreamed concert, his son Freddie's first time watching him perform live, and sold-out arena shows on a solo world tour.

But One Direction fans will be pleased to know that a few other members of the band make appearances throughout the doc. Payne shows up when they are both headlining the CCME Festival Madrid in 2019 (the interaction leaves Tomlinson reflecting on how odd it is to listen to his friend play 1D songs without him). Later, Horan reunites with Tomlinson when they're both performing at a festival in Mexico.

The band members might now be scattered across the globe with their respective solo careers, but fans remember One Direction as one of the greatest teams this world has ever seen… and its memory, at least, will live forever.

Related content:

• New X Factor footage shows how One Direction were really formed — with Liam Payne expected to be 'the leader'
• One Direction's Niall Horan felt like a prisoner to the 'madness' of fan obsession
• One Direction celebrate 10th anniversary with heartfelt tweets and interactive site

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Watch CBS News

Niall Horan announces 2024 world tour: "I can't wait to see your beautiful faces"

By Gina Martinez

May 23, 2023 / 6:14 PM EDT / CBS News

Niall Horan, the former One Direction member, has announced dates for his upcoming "The Show Live on Tour" 2024, which will have shows in North America, Australia, and Europe.  

"I am beyond thrilled to announce The Show Live On Tour 2024!," the Irish singer said on Instagram . " It's been far too long and I can't wait to see your beautiful faces."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Niall Horan (@niallhoran)

Tickets for the tour will go on sale Friday, June 2. Horan told fans to expect additional dates.

"There are still a few more dates coming so if you don't see a show near you listed, stay tuned," he wrote. 

The tour comes after Horan announced his latest album "The Show," which is set to be released on June 9. 

"This album is a piece of work I'm so proud of and now it's time to pass it over to you to go and make it your own," he wrote on Instagram. "Thank you so much for being there for me all this time and I can't wait to share the next couple of years of this new era with you. I've missed you all so much."

On the upcoming tour, Horan will perform in England, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Spain and more. He will also head to Australia and New Zealand. The North American leg kicks off in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and will head to Nashville, Philadelphia, New York City, Cincinnati, Toronto, Denver and more.  

Horan is one of five former members of the mega-popular boy band One Direction to launch successful solo careers after the group called it quits in 2016. 

Former bandmate Harry Styles has become a household name, whose "Harry's House" won Album of the Year at the 2023 Grammy Awards. 

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