Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik. Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Fans didn’t realize it, but One Direction released their last album with all five members in November 2014.
With the record, tilted 4 — a possible foreshadowing of what was to come back — Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik dropped a 12-song record (with 4 bonus tracks) that ended up being the top of an era for the boy band.
Every member of the group had a writing credit on the album, which offered them a likelihood to indicate off their more mature sound. The high-energy X Factor tunes were a thing of the past because the boys were now singing about real-life romances, a few of which were more public than others. Perhaps essentially the most unforgettable song off this record is “Stockholm Syndrome,” which Horan continues to be performing despite the band members having their very own solo careers.
Look back with Us as we break down the success of 4 and the way it modified things for One Direction fans perpetually.
What Happened:
One Direction was formed in 2010 on U.K.’s The X Factor and while they didn’t win the singing competition, the boys became a world phenomenon. Their debut album, Up All Night, was released in 2011 with a series of pop hits including “What Makes You Beautiful.”
When it got here to their sophomore album, Take Me Home, the boy band didn’t really begin to experiment with sound, but their slight maturity was shown with the matching outfits (and dance moves) kept up to now. While “Live While We’re Young” was the massive pop hit on the album, the boys showed that they were in a position to veer in a unique direction (no pun intended) with songs like “Little Things.”
Musical superstars. Pop boy band One Direction became one among the largest groups of the 2010s after its five members — Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik — met as contestants on the fact television series The X consider 2010. The five singers became a bunch at judge Simon Cowell’s […]
The group’s third album, Midnight Memories, became their biggest shift from their normal pop sound when it was released in 2013. With more rock influence, and Horan on the guitar, One Direction proved they were greater than only a boy band when singing about their personal “Midnight Memories” and ladies who wear a “Little Black Dress.”
The most important change, nonetheless, got here with 4 in 2014, fans just didn’t realize it on the time. The album era was kicked off with a song called “Fireproof” as the primary single. The album received mixed reviews with critics praising the group for locating their most mature sound. Things modified drastically for One Direction within the months that followed as Malik announced his departure from the group in March 2015.
The remaining 4 members went on to release yet one more album, Made within the A.M. in 2015, before the band went on an indefinite hiatus.
Why It Was a Big Deal:
On the time of its release, 4 didn’t look like that much of an enormous deal, albeit some fans do argue that it’s the most effective One Direction album. The importance of the songs and their meanings became more impactful after Malik left the group. Initially, the title appeared like it didn’t matter — they didn’t need something catchy, because their fourth album can be just as successful as their last three.
Also, this album has the song “You & I,” which contains a note that only Malik can hit. No, seriously, Styles attempted to on stage after Malik left the band and his face in that moment said all of it.
The number 4 has since change into rooted in One Direction fandom because some have speculated that the title was a touch at what was to come back inside the group.
What People Said:
It was previously stated that One Direction fans regard 4 to be the band’s best album of all time. Nonetheless, critics felt otherwise on the time of its release. Rolling Stone only gave the album three out of 5 stars admitting that the record “mainly shows growth through the music.”
In a separate review, Billboard called the album One Direction’s “awkward phase” explaining that each their traditional pop and more mature songs were melding into one. In addition they noted that the group missed the mark with their ballads and Us respectfully disagrees.
What Happened Next:
Well, Malik left the band. In March 2015, an announcement released to the One Direction Facebook page modified the course of the group perpetually. Styles, Tomlinson, Horan and Payne were committed to staying together — but just for yet one more album.
Since One Direction’s 2016 split, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik have had various levels of success within the music industry. All five original members have launched into solo careers, with Malik becoming the primary to achieve this after abruptly leaving the boy band in March 2015. He subsequently signed […]
Their final performance as One Direction occurred on December 31, 2015.
Where They Stand Now:
Malik was the primary to begin his solo profession and has since released 4 full-length albums. Styles got here next along with his debut solo song coming in 2017. He has released three albums since then. Horan has also kicked off a solo profession with three records under his belt and Tomlinson has released two albums.
Payne released one full-length album in 2019 prior to his October 2024 death. The singer fell from a balcony at an Argentina hotel, killing him at age 31. After an investigation into his passing, his death was not ruled a suicide.
