By Haley Borchert (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: November 26, 2014
One Direction, the insanely popular boy band from the United Kingdom, has released yet another album, entitled FOUR. It is a fitting title as it is their fourth album and they have been together for four years.
This seems like a long time for a boy band to stay at the top of the charts, or to stay together at all. Most people do not understand the One Direction craze sweeping the world right now and wish it would end, but as a lover of boy bands and One Direction, I can tell you it is not going anywhere.
Harry, Liam, Louis, Zayn, and Niall began their career on the hit TV show X-Factor in 2010. Even though they didn’t win, they still managed to achieve impressive international success. Because of devoted fans and social media, word spread of the music group all over the world and they were able to develop a cult following known as “Directioners.” The band has now reached mega-superstar status and is worshipped by millions of girls (and I am sure a few boys) everywhere.
[pullquote]“Most people do not understand the One Direction craze sweeping the world right now and wish it would end, but as a lover of boy bands and One Direction, I can tell you it is not going anywhere.”[/pullquote]
One way 1D has remained successful is through Twitter. With over 21 million followers as a band (Harry Styles has over 22 million alone), they keep in constant contact with the fans that jump-started their success, while promoting their new music and merchandise. On top of that, they have released two movies, a book, and a perfume line — they also give back to charity regularly. Last year, they released “One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)” for Comic Relief, and this year they teamed up with Band Aid 30 to sing “Do They Know it’s Christmas?”
Their good looks, laid-back personalities, and talent have also helped to keep them in the limelight, obviously. While 1D has an edgy, bad-boy vibe that is very appealing, they are also surprisingly relatable, goofy, and ordinary to go with their incredible charisma. The fact that they were regular people before X-Factor makes them even more likeable. Some people love to disagree, but they are also vocally talented (some members more than others), and everyone knows that boys who are good-looking AND musically talented are untouchable.
While it is true that I’m swayed by their good looks, charm, and angelic voices, I was disappointed when I heard their first single from FOUR, “Steal My Girl.” I was hoping it would be a little different than their previous music, but FOUR feels strikingly familiar and offers nothing new. The songs talk about the same issues as before — girls — and they have the same light-hearted, overly pop feel that wears thin after too many listens. Love is the all-encompassing topic of the album; every song deals with it in one way or another. In a few songs, the idea of feeling young is intertwined with the idea of love, but the repetitive, corny themes and metaphors make the album seem dull and uncreative.
Some songs, such as “Where Do Broken Hearts Go” and “Girl Almighty” are extremely catchy and danceable, while other songs like “Fool’s Gold,” “Night Changes,” and “Ready to Run” drone on and leave the listener wanting more. “Change Your Ticket” and “Clouds” feature surprisingly enjoyable guitar sections and sound more pop-rock than pop. The only song I found interesting and original was “Act My Age.” While it is overly synthesized, the group sings as one voice, harmonizing nicely. The upbeat musical interludes sound like an Irish jig, while the choruses are slowed down with heavy bass and the verses are backed by a bluesy piano. It also isn’t strictly about girls, giving a much-needed and enjoyable change.
If you don’t like pop music targeted to young females, you probably will hate this album. As a Directioner, I am content with FOUR. It is the same kind of music that I enjoyed from them in the past, but I am disappointed there is nothing fresh in hardly any of the songs. It’s a decent Top 40 pop album that holds its own alongside 1D’s previous stuff. So far, the reception of FOUR has been very positive among fans, showing that the One Direction Infection will not be cured anytime soon.
