It could be, like me, until a few weeks ago you thought “One Direction” was an instruction to traffic. Seriously, until a friend’s daughter went to a concert recently I’d never heard of them. Shame on me, but then you can hardly blame me – I don’t listen to music stations that play the latest stuff and the days of watching music videos on TV are long gone. If you still don’t have a clue what I’m talking about then this will help:
One Direction are a British-Irish boy band consisting of members Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson. They signed to Simon Cowell‘s record label Syco Records after being formed and placing third in the seventh series of British television music competitionThe X Factor. They later signed in North America to Columbia Records.
In November 2011, One Direction released their debut album Up All Night, which became the fastest-selling debut album in the UK of 2011. In 2012, it debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, making One Direction the first UK group in U.S. chart history to debut at number one with their first album. Up All Night spawned the Official UK Singles Chart top ten singles — “What Makes You Beautiful“, “Gotta Be You“, and “One Thing“. In 2012, “What Makes You Beautiful” won the BRIT Award for Best British Single.
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One Direction have been described as sparking a resurgence in the boy band concept, and of forming part of a new “British Invasion” in the United States. As of June 2012, according to Nick Gatfield, the chairman and chief executive of Sony Music Entertainment UK, One Direction represent a$50 million business empire.[2] Their work has earned them awards and nominations. One Direction have supported various charities and foundations, and have commercial endorsements with Pokémon, Nokia, HarperCollins and Hasbro.
They’re very big, but perhaps not in your world.
Their music? Nice simple pop, nothing to write home about…
or so I thought. Until I saw this (h/t challies). Same song, but just so much better…
Which fills you with confidence, doesn’t it? Aside from the sheer genius of what they’re doing with that piano, I wonder what else might have been redeemed in this way? Anyone?
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This was the band that caused mass hysteria in Australian cities a while back I think. I don’t listen to contemporary music that much either and have been known to point out the immoralities and evil influences in the lyrics. Which is odd because I still enjoy listening to the much more ‘wholesome’ lyrics of the 80′s.
Hi David,
Enjoyed it. And enjoy such ignorance whilst you can – in a few more years, Charis will right in the target age group for whichever boy band replaces One Direction.
just reinforces my thoughts that all piano players deep down wish they really were guitarists!!