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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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Up All Night Tour

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The Up All Night Tour is One Direction 's first headlining tour. It was announced on September 27, 2011. Originally only touring in in the UK and Ireland , the tour was later extended to include Australia , New Zealand , and North America.

• 1 Background
• 2 Up All Night Tour on DVD
• 3 Opening acts
• 5.2 Australasia
• 5.3 North America
• 6 References

Background [ ]

One Direction announced the upcoming tour for the UK via video on September 27, 2011. [1] Tickets went on sale on October 1, 2011, and sold out within minutes. [2]

Tour dates for the second leg of the tour in Australia and New Zealand were announced on February 24, 2012, and went on sale on March 2, 2012. [3]

On March 21, 2012, One Direction announced an extended North American leg of the tour. 

Up All Night Tour on DVD [ ]

In January, 2012, One Direction were filmed during a show of the Up All Night Tour at Bournemouth BIC Arena, and it was shown on BBC Three. In May, the concert was pubilshed on DVD and was released in the United Kingdom on May 28, 2012. 

Opening acts [ ]

• Boyce Avenue
• Matt Lonsdale

Australasia

• Justice Crew
• Johnny Ruffo

North America

Mexico City

• Dan Masciarelli

Setlist [ ]

• " Na Na Na "
• " Stand Up "
• Medley (covers) - " I Gotta Feeling " / " Stereo Hearts " / " Valerie " / " Torn "
• " Moments "
• " Gotta Be You "
• " More Than This "
• " Up All Night "
• " Tell Me a Lie "
• " Everything About You "
• " Use Somebody " (cover)
• " One Thing "
• " Save You Tonight "
• " What Makes You Beautiful "

Tour Dates [ ]

Australasia [ ], north america [ ], references [ ].

• ↑ One Direction Tour Announcement . Official website. September 26, 2011.
• ↑ UK and Ireland Tour Tickets on Sale Now! . Official website. October 1, 2011.
• ↑ 1D Announce Australian Tour . Official website. February 24, 2012.
• 1 List of One Direction songs
• 2 Johannah Deakin

• The A.V. Club
• The Takeout
• The Inventory

From boy band to men: A decade of One Direction’s musical evolution in 60 minutes

On July 23, 2010, there was a ripple across the pond. During production of the seventh s eries of the U.K.’s The X Factor , five young lads— Niall Horan , Zayn Malik , Liam Payne , Harry Styles , and Louis Tomlinson —failed to make enough of an impression on the judges to advance to the next round as individuals. But in a savvy move, X-Factor judge and V-necked superproducer Simon Cowell pulled the five teenagers aside and gave them a second chance—they would continue on in the competition as a group under Cowell’s tutelage. The boys were elated and quickly united in their mission, unanimously agreeing over text (as the story goes) to be known as One Direction . When the series hit British airwaves, fans immediately took to the mop-haired teens, watching their real-life friendships blossom as they tore their way through the competition. On December 12, 2010, they finished third on The X-Factor ; their consolation prize: A reported £2 million record deal with Cowell’s Syco Records.

A decade later, it’s hard to believe that the members of One Direction—1D for short—were once the underdogs. By the time they arrived in America for their first stateside tour, the buzz over pop music’s “next big thing” was already deafening—some even likened it to Beatlemania . While their refusal to dance meant they weren’t exactly following in the choreography-heavy footsteps of the boy bands before them , it only helped make them that much more appealing: They were the every-lads, just five young guys who wanted to make music and have a good time. Mischievous, but not dangerous. Charming and crush-worthy, but relatable. Their music and image was perfectly manufactured to lean into these qualities, the boys maintaining a sense of goofy realness even under all the gloss—for a while there, it really did seem like they were having a blast. But the nonstop cycle of albums and globe-trotting took its toll, and during the group’s fourth world tour in five years, it was announced that Zayn Malik would leave 1D in early 2015. Later that year, the group released Made In The A.M. (which some suggested stands for “After Malik”), shortly followed by the announcement of a hiatus starting in 2016. In the years since, Niall, Zayn, Liam, Harry, and Louis have all released solo singles and albums, carving out space for themselves and defining their personal sounds in the shadow of One Direction.

If you’re reading this, it’s safe to assume that you’re either holding on to some affection for the former reigning boy band (without a doubt, BTS now claims that crown), or you can’t believe we’re about to argue that they have enough worthwhile songs to fill out an hour-long playlist. Either way, welcome! Whether you love or loathe One Direction and their record-breaking career , venturing back through their discography provides a fascinating look at the evolution of a boy band—how five young performers grew up within the contract-laden confines of the mainstream music machine, and how they found their voices while millions of Directioners (the moniker for self-described 1D stans) clung to their every word. From the starry-eyed teenage debut, Up All Night , to the (varyingly successful) string of solo adult albums, this Power Hour distills a decade of One Direction down to the tracks that highlight their growth as a quintet, eventually a quartet, and then as individuals. These are the enduring songs that define their legacy and prove that, once these five set their sights on music stardom, the only direction they could go was up.

“One Thing” (2011)

There are more than a few similarities between “One Thing” and One Direction’s inescapable breakout hit “ What Makes You Beautiful ,” both from the debut album Up All Night : Both are driven by a clap-heavy beat and a buoyant guitar riff, and both have a chorus that begs to be shouted by adoring fans. Aside from giving all of the members their moment to shine vocally, “One Thing” ultimately stands out as the group’s definitive early single because of its intriguing ambiguity. What is that “one thing,” anyway? Like Meatloaf’s “ I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) ,” the lyrics keep things vague, allowing the listener to imagine they’re the one One Direction can’t get out of their heads.

“Kiss You” (2012)

After the runaway success of the group’s debut, One Direction turned it all the way up for album two: Take Me Home is a proper charm offensive with the goal of world domination. Its third single “Kiss You” leans hard into their goofball personas, a gonzo love song that promises to, “show you off to all of my friends, making them drool down their chinny-chin-chins.” Childish? Maybe so, but the song relishes in its youthful energy. By the time it reaches the “na na nas” of its final bridge, you’re putty in the hands of one of 1D’s catchiest tunes. Frenetic yet perfectly polished, “Kiss You” is a sugar rush from start to finish.

“C’mon, C’mon” (2012)

When laying out the groundwork for Take Me Home , Simon Cowell reportedly challenged industry hit-makers to submit “potential No. 1s,” effectively tasking top songwriters to compete for their slot on One Direction’s sophomore album. This go-big-or-go-home approach meant that the record was a near-exhausting barrage of bumping back-beats and radio-ready hooks. Still, “C’mon, C’mon” stands out—it’s One Direction at the group’s most celebratory and joyful. Indicative of the album’s more electronic sound, the song emphasizes its drum-machine wallops and New Wave synths to irresistible effect, and then drops them out for a split-second before launching into a soaring chorus. It’s all over in less than three minutes, but “C’mon, C’mon” is the kind of song that buzzes in your head for much longer.

“Through The Dark” (2013)

Now certified global pop stars with a splashy tour documentary under their belts, the members of One Direction were out to prove that they could adapt to a more mature milieu for 2013’s Midnight Memories . With artists like Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers giving the year’s adult contemporary charts a folksier makeover, a number of the album’s cuts followed suit. Midnight Memories ’ most successful foray into folk-rock, “Through The Dark,” doesn’t shy away from its influences; following “ Little Lion Man ’s” formula, it kicks off with a lone acoustic guitar, gradually building to a rollicking chorus built for boot-stomping (its pop sheen also means it holds up better than a lot of that era’s hits, which already sound like relics). The song had its broadcast debut on a Paul Rudd-hosted episode of SNL where—despite some visible discomfort—the quintet showcased their knack for harmonies, proving to the show’s late-night audience there was talent behind all the hype.

“Happily” (2013)

Along with the group’s new, grown-up sound, Midnight Memories found One Direction ditching the playful innuendos for (slightly) more overt pillow talk. Near the album’s midpoint, on “Happily,” Payne sings, “It’s four A.M. and I know that you’re with him; I wonder if he knows that I touched your skin.” It’s not quite scandalous, but the guys’ music had to go past puppy love if they wanted to be taken seriously as artists. Elsewhere, the refrain exclaims, “I don’t care what people say when we’re together,” painting the picture of a forbidden romance, giving the band’s young queer fans ( of which there were many ) enough wiggle room to find themselves in its narrative. With its clap-and-shout catharsis, “Happily” might be the closest thing 1D has to a queer anthem.

“Fireproof” (2014)

While some cited One Direction’s fourth album Four as evidence the group was losing a bit of its luster (the unimaginative title only highlighting this inevitability), in retrospect, it also produced some of their most potent and thoughtfully constructed tracks. “Fireproof,” for example, channels breezy ’80s Fleetwood Mac for a tambourine-fueled testament to a love built to last. That a guitar riff takes the spotlight for its second bridge instead of another round of “na na na’s” showcases a wizened restraint—that the group had grown beyond the need for another radio-ready sing-along. Noted Directioner Mitski (who once tweeted, “disrespect 1D, disrespect me”) also gave the song her stamp of approval with a killer, fuzzed-out cover , showing that even indie rockers couldn’t resist the charms of One Direction.

“Night Changes” (2014)

Boy band music videos have traditionally served up big concepts and even bigger budgets , but One Direction’s date-night clip for “Night Changes” displays simple brilliance. With the video’s handheld point-of-view cinematography, viewers are given the opportunity to spend a special moment with each band member—a wine-and-dine with Zayn, ice-skating with Harry, cozy board games by the fire with Niall—until they all go a bit off the rails. Indulgent, earnest, and goofy, it endures as 1D’s definitive video. Musically, “Night Changes” creates a similar romantic atmosphere, employing “ooh ooh” backing vocals and a heartbeat bass drum to woo listeners into its mid-tempo easy-listening before sealing the deal with an irresistible key change.

“Stockholm Syndrome” (2014)

With its insinuation that falling in love can feel a bit like its titular psychological condition, “Stockholm Syndrome” has some questionable sexual politics. Nevertheless, the song is an absolute pop banger, putting some arena-ready “oomph” behind another classic One Direction hook. Like many of the group’s later tracks, “Stockholm Syndrome” wears its influences on its sleeve, recalling The Police ’s post-punk energy with its bouncing guitar riff that swells to match the “whoas!” of its chorus. It should come as no surprise that the song became one of the rare 1D covers Harry Styles would trot out on his first solo world tour—it highlights both his lower-register timbre and his powerful belt, planting the seeds for the rock star to come.

“Olivia” (2015)

Throughout its tenure, One Direction endured many comparisons to The Beatles , largely in terms of the group’s status as an inescapable global phenomenon. But if there was ever a track that sounded like kin to a Sgt. Pepper’s diddy, it’s the vibrant, utterly sunny “Olivia.” Co-written by Styles, the exuberant love song is a time machine unto itself and a joyful standout among the band’s winding discography. Backed by a full orchestra, the track is an indulgent celebration of all-consuming devotion. With the power of hindsight, it would be fair to also view it as foreshadowing for what could be expected from Styles’ then-forthcoming solo effort: something vintage and infectious.

“History” (2015)

The band’s announcement of an impending “extended hiatus” was met with global devastation from long-time devotees, but not that much shock. Even before Malik’s abrupt departure in March 2015, the young men had been ruminating on their inevitable transition into solo work since the year prior. “History” was more than a folksy, guitar-driven culmination of years of hard work; it was also a fitting sign-off. Equipped with a rousing hook, the final single from the then-quartet rang like a cozy bar’s last-call anthem and a loving farewell to the band’s “historic” era.

ZAYN, “BoRdErZ” (2016)

Malik explained his exit from one of the biggest modern musical acts in pop culture as an opportunity to show off his more authentic self, a way to make the music that he actually stood behind. As the first 1D member to build up his solo persona, his Mind Of Mine may have caused some understandable whiplash for those familiar with the music he was making just a year prior. Leaving the palatable, family-friendly rock-pop archetype behind and leaning more into hazy R&B and sensual soft funk, “BoRdErZ” bared no hints of Malik’s glossy boy band roots and became one of the stronger songs among the bunch. It was also one of eight collaborations with Grammy-winning songwriter-producer Malay, and a promising look at Zayn’s growth as an artist (groan-inducing stylization of track titles aside).

Louis Tomlinson & Steve Aoki, “Just Hold On” (2016)

Not every One Directioner has managed to comfortably find a distinctive sound beyond their boy band roots. Since the band’s break, Louis Tomlinson has released a handful of singles and, as of this year, a debut album with Walls, although none of it has really resonated on the same scale as his former bandmates. But in 2016, Tomlinson teamed with super DJ Steve Aoki for his first official solo venture. “Just Hold On” was everything a listener would need from an EDM-pop jaunt: catchy, uplifting, and a solid addition to any festival lineup. It was also a sound that Tomlinson never fully revisited, later opting for the more rock-driven soundscape that underscored the majority of 1D’s discography. Now the track largely exists as a memento of a fairly untrodden path toward house and dance stardom that very well could have set him apart from the rest of his former bandmates.

Harry Styles, “Carolina” (2017)

Of the five original 1D members, Styles, unsurprisingly, has managed to cultivate the biggest solo career. With his boisterous style and generation-defying sound, critics often cite classic rock tentpoles like Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney in their praises. “Carolina” crystallized Styles’ appreciation of ’60s and ’70s rock in a rollicking ode to a girl he met once. Upbeat and reverent, the song became a tour favorite and a late-blooming summer jam. Years later, it endures as a testament to Style’s determination to make music that could fit in any decade and possibly outlast us all.

Harry Styles, “Kiwi” (2017)

Easily the star of Styles’ debut , “Kiwi” is nothing but fun, unabashed rock. The opening verse—“She worked her way through a cheap pack of cigarettes / Hard liquor mixed with a bit of intellect / And all the boys, they were saying they were into it / Such a pretty face, on a pretty neck”—worked hard to cement a much older point of view for 1D’s breakout star. Its energetic spirit also signaled a budding soloist who was willing to exist outside of a single box, setting him apart from his former bandmates as one of the strongest songwriters in the group.

Niall Horan feat. Maren Morris, “Seeing Blind” (2017)

Chalk it up to his ever-present grin, but Niall Horan certainly earned a reputation as the cheekiest of One Direction’s merry pranksters, which made his folksy, assured solo debut that much more surprising. Flicker had one hell of a saucy single in “Slow Hands,” but it’s “Seeing Blind”—a swooning duet with country superstar Maren Morris —that best carved out a niche for Horan in a post-One Direction world. His reedier voice trades off with Morris’ full-bodied twang in the verses before the two combine for a gorgeous harmony in the song’s sweeping refrain. “Seeing Blind” is a honest-to-goodness country love song with crossover appeal that, like Tomlinson’s EDM dabbling, proves the guys didn’t need to stay in their former band’s pop-rock lane to succeed.

ZAYN, “Imprint” (2018)

With Icarus Falls , Malik offered a lengthy, 27-track followup to Mind Of Mine that truly highlighted his solo potential. It didn’t quite garner the same commercial success as his debut, but it did carve a viable path forward for a growing alt-R&B artist. It’s a shame that we never saw a more robust celebration of Malik’s second album outside of its more favorable critical reception: Icarus Falls provided more than its fair share of both genre-bending entries and straightforward grooves like “Imprint.” Sleek and laid-back, the easy tune was a nice bridge between the two projects, changing the pace of the album and solidifying his signature sound.

Harry Styles, “Adore You (2019)

There are a few genres at work in Fine Line ’s second single, the ever-charming “Adore You.” Rock, pop, disco, and funk have ways of registering a little differently with each listen, but all are bolstered by a thumping baseline and Styles’ soulful vocals in a true go-for-broke love jam. Though the subject of an elaborate (and rather brilliant ) viral marketing campaign, “Adore You” absolutely sells Styles’ abilities as a wide-ranging artist on its own merit, employing lush background harmonies and an alluring energy that makes it difficult not to fall for his inherent charm. Of all the mellifluous things to come out of One Direction’s break, this track is by far one of the best.

Niall Horan, “Heartbreak Weather” (2020)

If 1D were still around to grow the band’s collective sound, its current music would likely be comparable to Horan’s “Heartbreak Weather”—that is, breezy, guitar-heavy, and pleasantly melodic. Its snappy (figuratively and quite literally) bridge is so reminiscent of a One Direction hit that it sounds like a Made In The A.M . bonus track in the best way. Out of everyone, Horan held tightly to the playful spirit that catapulted the band into superstardom while injecting his own innate folksy musicality, crafting an ethos that is still very much his own. Heartbreak Weather ’s title track was not only an ideal opening track for casual listeners, but a security blanket of sorts for fans who still miss the spirited group that started it all.

Bonus: A Viral Moment For “Act My Age”

Since we’re just shy of 60 minutes, there’s time to wrap up this Power Hour with One Direction’s most meme-able moment to date. When “ Act My Age ” was released as an extra track on the “Ultimate Edition” of 2014’s Four , it felt like something of a lark: The band sings about getting “fat and old” over what is, essentially, an Irish jig on adrenaline. According to Knowyourmeme.com, Twitter user @hozierlesbian—in a stroke of genius—spliced the song’s raucous strings over video of a family’s impressive synchronized dance to Freco and Merlo’s “ Drop .” Then, in early 2019, the edit fell into the right hands on Twitter, and a brand new reaction meme was born . Those unfamiliar with the One Direction deep cut were mystified by the clip’s “pirate music,” but longtime Directioners clocked the song immediately. The surprising viral moment for “Act My Age” may have spiked over a year ago, but it speaks to the fact that the earnest, irresistible spirit of One Direction’s music lives on, even if the band’s in no hurry to come back from hiatus any time soon.

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‘Better Than Words’: How One Direction Became One of the Great Rock Bands of the 21st Century

By Jon Blistein

Jon Blistein

A bathroom figures significantly in the origin stories of at least two classic One Direction songs. The first will be familiar to any fan: Songwriter and producer Savan Kotecha was sitting on the toilet in a London hotel room, when he heard his wife say, “I feel so ugly today.” The words that popped into his head would shape the chorus of One Direction’s unforgettable 2011 debut, “What Makes You Beautiful.” 

The second takes place a few years later: Another hotel room in England —   this one in Manchester — where songwriters and producers Julian Bunetta and John Ryan were throwing back Cucumber Collins cocktails and tinkering with a beat. Liam Payne was there, too. At one point, Liam got up to use the bathroom, and when he re-emerged, he was singing a melody. They taped it immediately. Most of it was mumbled — a temporary place-holder — but there was one phrase: “Better than words …” A few hours later, on the bus to another city, another show — Bunetta and Ryan can’t remember where — Liam asked, maybe having a laugh, “What if the rest of the song was just lyrics from other songs?”

“Songs in general, you’re just sort of waiting for an idea to bonk you on the head,” Ryan says from a Los Angeles studio, with Bunetta. “And if you’re sort of winking at it, laughing at it — we were probably joking, ‘What if [the next line was] “More than a feeling”? Well, that would actually be tight!’” 

“Better Than Words,” closed One Direction’s third album, Midnight Memories . It was never a single, but became a fan-favorite live-show staple. It’s a midtempo headbanger that captures the essence of what One Direction is, and always was: One of the great rock & roll bands of the 21st century. 

July 23rd marks One Direction’s 10th anniversary, the day Simon Cowell told Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, and Louis Tomlinson that they would progress on The X Factor as a group. Between that date and their last live performance (so far, one can hope) on December 31st, 2015, they released five albums, toured the world four times — twice playing stadiums — and left a trove of Top 10 hits for a devoted global fan base that came to life at the moment social media was redefining the contours of fandom. 

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It’d been a decade since the heyday of ‘NSync and Backstreet Boys, and the churn of generations demanded a new boy band. One Direction’s songs were great and their charisma and chemistry undeniable, but what made them stick was a sound unlike anything else in pop — rooted in guitar rock at a time when that couldn’t have been more passé.

Kotecha, who met 1D on The X Factor and shepherded them through their first few years, is a devoted student of the history of boy bands. He first witnessed their power back in the Eighties, when New Kids on the Block helped his older sister through her teens. The common thread linking all great boy bands, from New Kids to BSB, he says, is, “When they’d break, they’d come out of nowhere, sounding like nothing that’s on the radio.”

In 2010, Kotecha remembers, “everybody was doing this sort of Rihanna dance pop.” But that just wasn’t a sound One Direction could pull off (the Wanted did it only once ); and famously, they didn’t even dance. Instead, the reference points for 1D went all the way back to the source of contemporary boy bands. 

“Me and Simon would talk about how [One Direction] was Beatlesque, Monkees-esque,” Kotecha continues. “They had such big personalities. I felt like a kid again when I was around them. And I felt like the only music you could really do that with is fun, poppy guitar songs. It would come out of left field and become something owned by the fans.”

“The guitar riff had to be so simple that my friend’s 15-year-old daughter could play it and put a cover to YouTube,” says Carl Falk

To craft that sound on 1D’s first two albums, Up All Night and Take Me Home , Kotecha worked mostly with Swedish songwriters-producers Carl Falk and Rami Yacoub. They’d all studied at the Max Martin/Cheiron Studios school of pop craftsmanship, and Falk says they were confident they could crack the boy-band code once more with songs that recalled BSB and ‘NSync, but replaced the dated synths and pianos with guitars. 

The greatest thing popular music can do is make someone else think, “I can do that,” and One Direction’s music was designed with that intent. “The guitar riff had to be so simple that my friend’s 15-year-old daughter could play it and put a cover to YouTube,” Falk says. “If you listen to ‘What Makes You Beautiful’ or ‘One Thing,’ they have two-finger guitar riffs that everyone who can play a bit of guitar can learn. That was all on purpose.”

One Direction famously finished third on The X Factor , but Cowell immediately signed them to his label, Syco Music. They’d gone through one round of artist-development boot camp on the show, and another followed on an X Factor live tour in the spring of 2011. They’d developed an onstage confidence, but the studio presented a new challenge. “We had to create who should do what in One Direction,” Falk says. To solve the puzzle the band’s five voices presented, they chose the kitchen-sink method and everyone tried everything.

“They were searching for themselves,” Falk adds. “It was like, ‘Harry, let’s just record him; he’s not afraid of anything.’ Liam’s the perfect song starter, and then you put Zayn on top with this high falsetto. Louis found his voice when we did ‘Change Your Mind.’ It was a long trial for everyone to find their strengths and weaknesses, but that was also the fun part.” Falk also gave Niall some of his first real guitar lessons; there’s video of them performing “One Thing” together, still blessedly up on YouTube. 

Hear Zayn Hold His Own on Emotional New Single 'What I Am'

Niall horan serenades manchester audience with one direction's 'night changes'.

“What Makes You Beautiful” was released September 11th, 2011, in the U.K. and debuted at Number One on the singles chart there — though the video had dropped a month prior. While One Direction’s immediate success in the U.K. and other parts of Europe wasn’t guaranteed, the home-field odds were favorable. European markets historically have been kinder to boy bands than the U.S.; ‘NSync and Backstreet Boys found huge success abroad before they conquered at home. To that end, neither Kotecha nor Falk were sure 1D would break in the U.S. Falk even says of conceiving the band’s sound, “We didn’t want it to sound too American, because this was not meant — for us, at least — to work in America. This was gonna work in the U.K. and maybe outside the U.K.”

Stoking anticipation for “What Makes You Beautiful” by releasing the video on YouTube before the single dropped preceded the strategy Columbia Records (the band’s U.S. label) adopted for Up All Night . Between its November 2011 arrival in the U.K. and its U.S. release in March 2012, Columbia eschewed traditional radio strategies and built hype on social media. One Direction had been extremely online since their X Factor days, engaging with fans and spending their downtime making silly videos to share. One goofy tune, made with Kotecha, called “Vas Happenin’ Boys?” was an early viral hit.

“They instinctively had this — and it might just be a generational thing — they just knew how to speak to their fans,” Kotecha says. “And they did that by being themselves. That was a unique thing about these boys: When the cameras turned on, they didn’t change who they were.” 

Social media was flooded with One Direction contests and petitions to bring the band to fans’ towns. Radio stations were inundated with calls to play “What Makes You Beautiful” long before it was even available. When it did finally arrive, Kotecha (who was in Sweden at the time) remembers staying up all night to watch it climb the iTunes chart with each refresh.

Take Me Home , was recorded primarily in Stockholm and London during and after their first world tour. The success of Up All Night had attracted an array of top songwriting talent — Ed Sheeran even penned two hopeless-romantic sad-lad tunes, “Little Things” and “Over Again” — but Kotecha, Falk, and Yacoub grabbed the reins, collaborating on six of the album’s 13 tracks. In charting 1D’s course, Kotecha returned to his boy-band history: “My theory was, you give them a similar sound on album two, and album three is when you start moving on.”

Still, there was the inherent pressure of the second album to contend with. The label wanted a “What Makes You Beautiful, Part 2,” and evidence that the 1D phenomenon wasn’t slowing down appeared outside the window of the Stockholm studio: so many fans , the street had to be shut down. Kotecha even remembers seeing police officers with missing-person photos, combing through the girls camped outside, looking for teens to return to their parents. 

At this pivotal moment , One Direction made it clear that they wanted a greater say in their artistic future. Kotecha admits he was wary at first, but the band was determined. To help manage the workload, Kotecha had brought in two young songwriters, Kristoffer Fogelmark and Albin Nedler, who’d arrived with a handful of ideas, including a chorus for a booming power ballad called “Last First Kiss.” 

“We thought, while we’re busy recording vocals, whoever’s not busy can go write songs with these two guys, and then we’ll help shape them as much as we can,” Kotecha says. “And to our pleasant surprise, the songs were pretty damn good.”

At this pivotal moment, too, songwriters Bunetta and Ryan also met the band. Friends from the Berklee College of Music, Bunetta and Ryan had moved out to L.A. and cut a few tracks, but still had no hits to their names. They entered the Syco orbit after scoring work on the U.S. version of The X Factor , and were asked if they wanted to try writing a song for Take Me Home . “I was like, ‘Yeah, definitely,’” Bunetta says. “’They sold 5 million albums? Hell, yeah, I want to make some money.’”

Working with Jamie Scott, who’d written two songs on Up All Night (“More Than This” and “Stole My Heart”), Bunetta and Ryan wrote “C’mon, C’mon” — a blinding hit of young love that rips down a dance-pop speedway through a comically oversize wall of Marshall stacks. It earned them a trip to London. Bunetta admits to thinking the whole 1D thing was “a quick little fad” ahead of their first meeting with the band, but their charms were overwhelming. Everyone hit it off immediately.

“Niall showed me his ass,” Bunetta remembers of the day they recorded, “They Don’t Know About Us,” one of five songs he and Ryan co-produced for Take Me Home (two are on the deluxe edition). “The first vocal take, he went in to sing, did a take. I was looking down at the computer screen and was like, ‘On this line, can you sing it this way?’ And I looked over and he was mooning me. I was like, ‘I love this guy!’”

Take Me Home dropped November 9th, just nine days short of Up All Night ’s first anniversary. With only seven weeks left in 2012, it became the fourth-best-selling album of the year globally, moving 4.4 million copies, per IFPI ; it fell short of Adele’s 21 , Taylor Swift’s Red, and 1D’s own Up All Night , which had several extra months to sell 4.5 million copies. 

Kotecha, Falk, and Yacoub’s tracks anchored the album. Songs like “Kiss You,” “Heart Attack,” and “Live While We’re Young” were pristine pop rock that One Direction delivered with full delirium, vulnerability, and possibility — the essence of the teen — in voices increasingly capable of navigating all the little nuances of that spectrum. And the songs 1D helped write (“Last First Kiss,” “Back for You,” and “Summer Love”) remain among the LP’s best. 

“You saw that they caught the bug and were really good at it,” Kotecha says of their songwriting. “And moving forward, you got the impression that that was the way for them.” 

Like clockwork, the wheels began to churn for album three right after Take Me Home dropped. But unlike those first two records, carving out dedicated studio time for LP3 was going to be difficult — on February 23rd, 2013, One Direction would launch a world tour in London, the first of 123 concerts they’d play that year. They’d have to write and record on the road, and for Kotecha and Falk — both of whom had just had kids — that just wasn’t possible. 

But it was also time for a creative shift. Even Kotecha knew that from his boy-band history: Album three is, after all, when you start moving on. One Direction was ready, too. Kotecha credits Louis, the oldest member of the group, for “shepherding them into adulthood, away from the very poppy stuff of the first two albums. He was leading the charge to make sure that they had a more mature sound. And at the time, being in it, it was a little difficult for me, Rami and Carl to grasp — but hindsight, that was the right thing to do.” 

“For three years, this was our schedule,” Bunetta says. “We did X Factor October, November, December. Took off January. February, flew to London. We’d gather ideas with the band, come up with sounds, hang out. Then back to L.A. for March, produce some stuff, then go out on the road with them in April. Get vocals, write a song or two, come back for May, work on the vocals, and produce the songs we wrote on the road. Back to London in June-ish. Back here for July, produce it up. Go back on tour in August, get last bits of vocals, mix in September, back to X Factor in October , album out in November, January off, start it all over again.”

That cycle began in early 2013, when Bunetta and Ryan flew to London for a session that lasted just more than a week, but yielded the bulk of Midnight Memories . With songwriters Jamie Scott, Wayne Hector, and Ed Drewett they wrote “Best Song Ever” and “You and I,” and with Scott and One Direction, “Diana” and “Midnight Memories.” Bunetta and Ryan’s initial rapport with the band strengthened — they were a few years older, but, as Bunetta jokes, “we act like we’re 19 all the time anyway.” Years ago, Bunetta posted an audio clip documenting the creation of “Midnight Memories” — the place-holder chorus was a full-throated, perfectly harmonized, “I love KFC!”

For the most part, Bunetta, Ryan, and 1D doubled down on the rock sound their predecessors had forged, but there was one outlier from that week. A stunning bit of post-Mumford festival folk buoyed by a new kind of lyrical and vocal maturity called “Story of My Life.”

“This was a make-or-break moment for them,” Bunetta says. “They needed to grow up, or they were gonna go away — and they wanted to grow up. To get to the level they got to, you need more than just your fan base. That song extended far beyond their fan base and made people really pay attention.” 

Production on Midnight Memories continued on the road, where, like so many bands before them, One Direction unlocked a new dimension to their music. Tour engineer Alex Oriet made it possible, Ryan says, building makeshift vocal booths in hotel rooms by flipping beds up against the walls. Writing and recording was crammed in whenever — 20 minutes before a show, or right after another two-hour performance. 

“It preserved the excitement of the moment,” Bunetta says. “We were just there, doing it, marinating in it at all times. You’re capturing moments instead of trying to re-create them. A lot of times we’d write a song, sing it in the hotel, produce it, then fly back out to have them re-sing it — and so many times the demo vocals were better. They hadn’t memorized it yet. They were still in the mood. There was a performance there that you couldn’t re-create.” 

Midnight Memories arrived, per usual, during a November, in 2013. And, per usual, it was a smash. The following year, 1D brought their songs to the environment they always deserved — stadiums around the world — and amid the biggest shows of their career , they worked on their aptly-titled fourth album, Four . The 123 concerts 1D had played the year before had strengthened their combined vocal prowess in a way that opened up an array of new possibilities.

“We could use their voices on Four to make something sound more exciting and bigger, rather than having to add too many guitars, synths, or drums,” Ryan says.

“They were so much more dynamic and subtle, too,” Bunetta adds. “I don’t think they could’ve pulled off a song like ‘Night Changes’ two albums prior; or the nuance to sing soft and emotionally on ‘Fireproof.’ It takes a lot of experience to deliver a restrained vocal that way.” 

“A lot of the songs were double,” Bunetta says, “like somebody might be singing about their girlfriend, but there was another meaning that applied to the group as well.”

Musically, Four was 1D’s most-expansive album yet — from the sky-high piano rock of “Steal My Girl” to the tender, tasteful groove of “Fireproof” — and it had the emotional range to match. Now in their early twenties, songs like “Where Do Broken Hearts Go,” “No Control,” “Fool’s Gold,” and “Clouds” redrew the dramas and euphorias of adolescence with the new weight, wit, and wanton winks of impending adulthood. One Direction weren’t growing up normally in any sense of the word, but they were becoming songwriters capable of drawing out the most relatable elements from their extraordinary circumstances — like on “Change Your Ticket,” where the turbulent love affairs of young jet-setters are distilled to the universal pang of a long goodbye. There were real relationships inspiring these stories, but now that One Direction were four years into being the biggest band on the planet, it was natural that the relationships within the band would make it into the music as well.

“I think that on Four ,” Bunetta says, with a slight pause, “there were some tensions going on. A lot of the songs were double — like somebody might be singing about their girlfriend, but there was another meaning that applied to the group as well.” 

He continues: “It’s tough going through that age, having to spread your wings with so many eyeballs on you, so much money and no break. It was tough for them to carve out their individual manhood, space, and point of view, while learning how to communicate with each other. Even more than relationship things that were going on, that was the bigger blanket that was in there every day, seeping into the songs.” 

Bunetta remembers Zayn playing him “Pillowtalk” and a few other songs for the first time through a 3 a.m. fog of cigarette smoke in a hotel room in Japan.

“Fucking amazing,” he says. “They were fucking awesome. I know creatively he wasn’t getting what he needed from the way that the albums were being made on the road. He wanted to lock himself in the studio and take his time, be methodical. And that just wasn’t possible.” 

A month or so later, and 16 shows into One Direction’s On the Road Again Tour, Zayn left the band . Bunetta and Ryan agree it wasn’t out of the blue: “He was frustrated and wanted to do things outside of the band,” Bunetta says. “It’s a lot for a young kid, all those shows. We’d been with them for a bunch of years at this point — it was a matter of when. You just hoped that it would wait until the last album.”

Still, Bunetta compares the loss to having a finger lopped off, and he acknowledges that Harry, Niall, Liam, and Louis struggled to find their bearings as One Direction continued with their stadium tour and next album, Made in the A.M . Just as band tensions bubbled beneath the songs on Four , Zayn’s departure left an imprint on Made in the A.M. Not with any overt malice, but a song like “Drag Me Down,” Bunetta says, reflects the effort to bounce back. Even Niall pushing his voice to the limits of his range on that song wouldn’t have been necessary if Zayn and his trusty falsetto were available. 

But Made in the A.M. wasn’t beholden to this shake-up. Bunetta and Ryan cite “Olivia” as a defining track, one that captures just how far One Direction had come as songwriters: They’d written it in 45 minutes, after wasting a whole day trying to write something far worse. 

“When you start as a songwriter, you write a bunch of shitty songs, you get better and you keep getting better,” Ryan says. “But then you can get finicky, and you’re like, ‘Maybe I have to get smart with this lyric.’ By Made in the A.M. … they were coming into their own in the sense of picking up a guitar, messing around, and feeling something, rather than being like, ‘How do I put this puzzle together?’”

After Zayn’s departure, Bunetta and Ryan said it became clear that Made in the A.M. would be One Direction’s last album before some break of indeterminate length. The LP boasts the palpable tug of the end, but to One Direction’s credit, that finality is balanced by a strong sense of forever. It’s literally the last sentiment they leave their fans on album-closer “History,” singing, “Baby don’t you know, baby don’t you know/We can live forever.” 

In a way, Made in the A.M. is about One Direction as an entity. Not one that belonged to the group, but to everyone they spent five years making music for. Four years since their hiatus and 10 years since their formation, the fans remain One Direction’s defining legacy. Even as all five members have settled into solo careers, Ryan notes that baseless rumors of any kind of reunion — even a meager Zoom call — can still set the internet on fire. The old songs remain potent, too: Carl Falk says his nine-year-old son has taken to making TikToks to 1D tracks. 

“Most of them weren’t necessarily musicians before this happened, but they loved music, and they found a love of creating, writing, and playing,” Kotecha says

There are plenty of metrics to quantify One Direction’s reach, success, and influence. The hard numbers — album sales and concert ticket stubs — are staggering on their own, but the ineffable is always more fun. One Direction were such a good band that a fan, half-jokingly, but then kinda seriously, started a GoFundMe to buy out their contract and grant them full artistic freedom. One Direction were such a good band that songwriters like Kotecha and Falk — who would go on to make hits with Ariana Grande, the Weeknd, and Nicki Minaj — still think about the songs they could have made with them. One Direction were such a good band that Mitski covered “Fireproof.”  

But maybe it all comes down to the most ineffable thing of all: Chance. Kotecha compares success on talent shows like The X Factor to waking up one morning and being super cut — but now, to keep that figure, you have to work out at a 10, without having done the gradual work to reach that level. That’s the downfall for so many acts, but One Direction were not only able, but willing, to put in the work.

“They’re one of the only acts from those types of shows that managed to do it for such a long time,” Kotecha says. “Five years is a long time for a massive pop star to go nonstop. I know it was tiring, but they were fantastic sports about it. They appreciated and understood the opportunity they had — and, as you can see, they haven’t really stopped since. Most of them weren’t necessarily musicians before this happened, but they loved music, and they found a love of creating, writing, and playing. To have these boys — that had been sort of randomly picked — to also have that? It will never be repeated.”

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Music Features

One direction's big bang.

Maria Sherman

One Direction didn't win The X Factor in 2010, but filled stadiums, broke records and our hearts. Alex Fine/Courtesy of Black Dog & Leventhal hide caption

One Direction didn't win The X Factor in 2010, but filled stadiums, broke records and our hearts.

Ten years ago today, July 23, One Direction created the universe. Read an excerpt from Maria Sherman's new book, Larger Than Life: A History of Boy Bands from NKOTB to BTS , about 1D's formation and meteoric rise.

Once, there was nothing. Then there was something. There was everything. The big bang created the universe. The spectacular explosion, the smallest singularity, inflated for nearly 14 billion years. That time might as well have been filled with darkness, because it wasn't until 2010 that one Irish lad and four young Brits from working-class families — Mullingar, Ireland's Niall Horan, the cute one; Wolverhampton's Liam Payne, the responsible one; Bradford's Zayn Malik, the shy one; Doncaster's Louis Tomlinson, the class clown/bad boy; and Redditch's Harry Styles, the heartthrob — auditioned as soloists on the seventh season of The X Factor . Who could have known that the cosmic microwave called existence would zap up a reality singing competition show, leading to the most glorious time in the universe, the creation of One Direction?

Separately, X Factor judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, and Louis Walsh couldn't continue to advance the teenage boys in good faith. They were all talented, but not yet great, and they obviously couldn't dance. Malik especially. Then, an epiphany: Simon Cowell (or Simon Cowell and guest judge/Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, if you take her account as the truth) had the idea to group Niall, Liam, Zayn, Louis, and Harry together to form a harmonic quintet, the youngest boy band the show had ever seen. That decision, rumored to have taken Cowell ten minutes to come up with, would prove to be one of the most rewarding, simple experiments in modern pop music history. After two weeks in the show's "boot camp" program after auditions — an accelerated timeline for burgeoning friendships, let alone collaborative careers — something clicked. A cover of Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn" later, and One Direction ("1D" if you're nasty) was official. They came in third place on the show, but that didn't matter. * They had something much more gargantuan in store.

Larger Than Life: A History of Boy Bands from NKOTB to BTS , by Maria Sherman Black Dog & Leventhal hide caption

Losing the X Factor in December 2010 was a pivotal moment for 1D. At the time, there weren't many popular male vocal groups in the U.K., save for an embryonic version of the Wanted and JLS. Short for Jack the Lad Swing, the R&B-pop group of adult men couldn't really be deemed a boy band, so the need was there. Cowell, an industry Svengali in his own right, instantly saw One Direction's potential. (Not to knock his know-how, but with hundreds of girls lining up for them outside of the X Factor studio during the competition, it would've been hard to miss.) He signed the boy band to his Sony Music record label imprint, Syco Records, in January 2011 in the U.K. Turns out, it was great timing for Cowell as well: another Syco boy band, Westlife, recently announced their retirement. He needed a new group just as much as One Direction needed to capitalize on their nascent popularity. A few months later, One Direction was signed to Columbia Records stateside. With the exception of the Jonas Brothers, American audiences really hadn't seen a monolithic boy band since *NSYNC. They needed them, too.

And so, at the beginning of 2011, One Direction got to work. Cowell put them in touch with hit American songwriter Savan Kotecha, a Max Martin protege, who, with a small team, produced their debut single, "What Makes You Beautiful." The song, released on September 11, was exactly what the young group required to not only sustain their hype post– X Factor but deliver on it: an affirming, high-energy, no-nonsense, perfect piece of pop that made them appear sweet, sensitive, and attainable, the kind of boys who put women on a pedestal. If there is a better way of encapsulating exactly what a girl needs to hear while coming to terms with the absolute horror show that is heterosexuality during puberty, when the world begins to instruct her to hate herself, I have yet to hear it. The video, too, was playful with modest touches of sensuality (it doesn't hurt that it was filmed on the same stretch of beach as Blink-182's parodic "All the Small Things," an Easter egg for boy band fans if there ever was one). Kotecha told Billboard that the secret to "What Makes You Beautiful" and boy band music in general is doing "the exact opposite of what's going on... teenage girls need to feel it's their own thing." Radio was dominated by Rihanna, Adele, and LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem," so he certainly accomplished that.

A combination of marketing, momentum, and music so joyful it should come with a warning for serotonin secretions, One Direction released their debut LP, Up All Night , with "What Makes You Beautiful" and the lovelorn, rock-tinged "One Thing." The album shot up the charts in the U.K. in 2011 and in 2012, debuted at number 1 in the U.S., making them the first English group to ever debut atop the charts with their first album. Really think about that for a moment. The Beatles never even did this s***.

Harry Styles: Tiny Desk Concert

When One Direction voyaged to North America later that year, they inspired their own sort of Beatlemania. Actually, it might've been even grander because of the advent of social media and their brilliant utilization of it. One Direction's unedited Justin Bieber–esque Twitter sharing led fans to believe they were close to the boys, an illusion of access more palpable than even what watching their X Factor auditions provided. Fans felt more like friends, a priceless connection in the boy band universe. As a result, every arena tour One Direction booked sold out in a split second. Women would camp outside their hotels waiting for a glimpse of the group, fully enamored with the chaotic boy band that couldn't even dance. There was no stopping them because their meteoric rise was completely unprecedented and unchal­lenged, minus a minor trademark infringement lawsuit from an American band also called One Direction. They settled, those nerds disappeared, and in May 2012, One Direction began recording their second album, setting the pace for what would become their normal: an exhaustive, accelerated album-tour-album-tour schedule that might even impress the boy bands who laid the framework a decade prior. Take Me Home was released in November. It, too, debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200.

One Direction fever was unstoppable. "Live While We're Young" was a brilliant follow-up smash single to "What Makes You Beautiful." Lyrically, it was a brief detour from telling a girl she's great to having a wonderful time with her, free of the responsibilities of adulthood. Here, the One Direction boys' personalities really began to shine through. They were a bit anarchic. You could really get into trouble with them, with no bigger consequences than lunch detention. They even tamed the ever elusive rock ballad in "Little Things," which, in November 2012, they sang for the queen of England.

A year, a 3-D concert documentary so huge it was released in theaters, and a few massive arena tours later, One Direction released their third LP, Midnight Memories , in November 2013. Once again, as you most certainly guessed, it debuted at number 1, making One Direction the first group in history to debut atop the charts with their first three records. At this stage, 1D had graduated to stadiums, with tens of thousands of seats. A remarkable feat off the support of a few unrivaled singles, including their best-known track, the appropriately named "Best Song Ever." (It really was the best song ever.)

Harry Styles' impeccably-tailored style from the 2014 American Music Awards. Alex Fine/Courtesy of Black Dog & Leventhal hide caption

In 2014, keeping with their strategy, the band released their fourth album and once again, it debuted at number 1. The release, Four , is most noteworthy for the fan frenzy that turned the up-tempo, Louis Tomlinson–led song "No Control" into a single when it wasn't originally marketed to be one. (I'm no tinhatter, but perhaps it had something to do with the song's lyric of "Waking up / Beside you I'm a loaded gun," which is less like the Boyzone song "Loaded Gun" and definitely a metaphor for...One Erection.) Directioners demanded the track get a full release, and it did. That's paramount, and so is this: if you're into numerology-based fore­shadowing, the album title suggested the heartbreak that was yet to come. In March 2015, after months of embarking on one of the largest, most successful tours of all time, attended by 3.4 million ticket buyers, a hubristic Zayn Malik announced he was leaving the group because he wanted to be "a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight," or so it was written in his official statement. Now there were only four.

Saddened by the loss of their bandmate and, well, best mate, Louis, Liam, Harry, and Niall went back into the studio and released One Direction's fifth and final album in 2015, without Zayn. Made in the A.M. (After Malik?) is a hybrid folk-rock-pop self-homage to the group's legacy and a gorgeous farewell to the fans responsible for their fame. The video for the single "History" made it clear that this was the end. Imagine an intimate slideshow, a collection of images of the boy band throughout their career, beginning with their X Factor auditions, and ending with the image of them hugging, the final four members walking away in separate directions and amicably waving goodbye to one another. Lyrically, "History" doubles as a grateful breakup anthem (clever boys, these) and possesses a chorus that reminds me of Randy Newman's Toy Story tune, "You've Got a Friend in Me." For 1D fans, thinking about it is enough to evoke tears. Not that I'm speaking from personal experience or anything.

One Direction announced they'd embark on a hiatus begin­ning in March 2016, exactly one year after Zayn left the group. In the time since, each boy has tried his hand at the solo music thing with varying degrees of success: Zayn pursued the R&B-affected pop that he always loved and 1D never attempted; Harry went full Bowie, desiring vintage rock-and-roll mystique that, as the most public face of 1D, he was never granted; Louis and Niall stuck to pop-rock; and Liam flirted with EDM and hip-hop. Styles is the closest to anything like a Timberlake, but they're much too different to really compare. The similarities start and stop at their like-minded star power and how, after leaving a boy band, they were able to transgress a fickle pop music space and become critically acclaimed without abandoning the fans that brought them to the top.

In their five short years as a band, One Direction became one of the biggest boy bands the world had ever seen, a big bang in their own right. But would anyone be able to do it like them again?

Maria Sherman is a senior staff writer at Jezebel and regular contributor to NPR Music. Larger Than Life: A History of Boy Bands from NKOTB to BTS is her first book.

* As Georgina Gregory notes, reality TV singing competitions allow fans to feel like they had some say in the formation of boy bands, that they were there from the very start. In the case of One Direction, fans got to see them learn to dance and sing together, the kind of insider-y rehearsals and early day footage previously unprocurable, let alone witnessed in real time. (Not to mention, they have bragging rights to lord over Directioners who got to the fandom late in the group's career.) Losing has a positive effect, too: who doesn't love to support an underdog? In fact, it's generally unremarked upon in their history, but the Backstreet Boys were rejected from 1993's version of The X Factor , Star Search . Clearly, there's a history of boy bands going and failing — on these shows.

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Big Time Rush's Carlos PenaVega Recalls One Direction Opening Their Tour: 'That Was Really Hard for Us'

The British boy band joined the American pop group on 10 dates of their Better With U tour in 2012

 Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Nickelodeon

It may have been a boy band fan's dream come true that One Direction and Big Time Rush once teamed up for a tour, but it wasn't so easy for BTR at the time.

On an episode of the Unplanned podcast , Big Time Rush member Carlos PenaVega opened up about why it was "hard" for the American pop group to have 1D as their openers on their Better With U tour in 2012. The singer, 34, explained that although fans originally bought tickets in support of BTR, it felt as though they ended up being more excited to see the British band.

"After our show, fans were outside the theater chanting for One Direction," PenaVega said.

"That was really hard for us," he revealed.

The singer/actor explained that between the time the "Boyfriend" band's North American tour was announced in fall 2011 to when the group featuring Niall Horan ,  Zayn Malik , Liam Payne ,  Harry Styles  and  Louis Tomlinson was added to the bill, their popularity simply took off.

"Our tour was sold out before they got on. So, they were there to see us," PenaVega recalled. "But it was like The Beatles . It was like a freak of nature. They wanted these five, cute British boys."

The former Nickelodeon star said that the "What Makes You Beautiful" group tried to return the favor, but he and his bandmates Logan Henderson , James Maslow and Kendall Schmidt decided against it.

PenaVega shared, "They offered for us to open for them in the U.K. and our egos got in the way. We were like, 'No. Never.'"

"Probably should have done it," he added. "I mean we were kids. I was like 22. It's hard to control your ego at that age."

JM Enternational/Redferns

Big Time Rush's Better With U Tour was their first national tour across the U.S. and Canada. It followed the release of their second studio album, 2011's Elevate . The string of live dates ran throughout February and March 2012 and featured support from One Direction on select dates, in addition to artists like JoJo and others throughout the tour.

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The concerts marked the "Kiss You" band's first shows in the U.S., as they had previously only played live across the U.K. and Ireland. Shortly after the Better With U Tour, 1D brought their own headlining Up All Night Tour, which was in support of their 2011 debut album of the same name, to North America.

Sara Jaye/Getty Images for ABA

While 1D eventually went through lineup changes when Malik, 31, departed the band in 2015 and they officially went on hiatus in 2016, Big Time Rush still remains active.

The "Windows Down" group did go on hiatus in 2014, but reunited in 2021 for select shows , and last year, they dropped their fourth studio album, Another Life . The project marked their first album in a decade, following 2013's  24/seven , and was also their first-ever independently released record.

BTR also set out on a tour throughout much of summer 2023 in support of their comeback .

When the foursome announced their most recent tour in February of last year, they opened up to PEOPLE about what it means to them to be back together again .

"We're not just looking for hits," shared Henderson, 34. "Obviously that's great, but we want to make good music that we are proud of and that's literally what we're striving for. That's why it's taken so long."

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Big time rush’s carlos penavega says it was “really hard” having one direction open their tour.

The British boy band, composed of Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson, opened for Big Time Rush during their Better With U tour in 2012.

By Carly Thomas

Carly Thomas

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Carlos PenaVega is looking back at his first time touring nationally with Big Time Rush and admitted that it was actually “really hard” having fellow boy band One Direction as their opening act.

The singer-actor — who makes up one-fourth of the American pop group alongside Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow and Logan Henderson — recently opened up about his experience with the British boy band as their openers on the Better With U Tour in 2012.

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He noted that Big Time Rush’s North American tour was revealed in the fall of 2011, well before One Direction was added. However, at some point between the tour announcement and them actually hitting the stage, the British group featuring Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson catapulted in global popularity.

“Our tour was sold out before they got on. So, they were there to see us,” PenaVega explained. “But it was like The Beatles. It was like a freak of nature. They wanted these five, cute British boys.”

The Nickelodeon alum said One Direction tried to return the favor by asking them to be their opener in the U.K., but he admitted that “our egos got in the way. We were like, ‘No. Never.'”

“Probably should have done it,” PenaVega added. “We were kids. I was like 22. It’s hard to control your ego at that age.”

Big Time Rush’s Better With U Tour followed the release of their second studio album, 2011’s  Elevate . It was also the group’s first time touring across the U.S. and Canada. The tour also marked One Direction’s first concerts in the U.S., as they had only previously played live in the U.K. and Ireland. Shortly after, they brought their headlining Up All Night Tour to North America.

While One Direction ultimately went on hiatus in 2016 — and have yet to return to the stage together — Big Time Rush reunited in 2021 for a string of shows and released their fourth studio album,  Another Life , in 2023.

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4 accused in Russia concert hall attack appear in court, apparently badly beaten

Updated on: March 25, 2024 / 7:57 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Moscow — Four men accused of staging the Russia concert hall attack that killed more than 130 people appeared before a Moscow court Sunday showing signs of severe beatings as they faced formal terrorism charges. One appeared to be barely conscious during the hearing.

A court statement said two of the suspects accepted their guilt in the assault after being charged in the preliminary hearing, though the men's condition raised questions about whether they were speaking freely. There had been earlier conflicting reports in Russian media outlets that said three or all four men admitted culpability.

Moscow's Basmanny District Court formally charged Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, 32; Saidakrami Rachabalizoda, 30; Shamsidin Fariduni, 25; and Mukhammadsobir Faizov, 19, with committing a group terrorist attack resulting in the death of others. The offense carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The court ordered that the men, all of whom are citizens of Tajikistan, be held in pre-trial custody until May 22.

Along with grinding poverty, Tajikistan is rife with religious tensions. Hard-line Islamists were one of the main forces opposing the government in a 1990s civil war that devastated the country. The militants claiming responsibility for the Moscow massacre that killed 139 people — a branch of the Islamic State group in neighboring Afghanistan — reportedly recruit heavily from Tajikistan.

Russian media had reported that the men were tortured during interrogation by the security services, and Mirzoyev, Rachabalizoda and Fariduni showed signs of heavy bruising, including swollen faces.

Rachabalizoda also had a heavily bandaged ear. Russian media said Saturday that one of the suspects had his ear cut off during interrogation. The Associated Press couldn't verify the report or the videos purporting to show this.

The fourth suspect, Faizov, was brought to court from a hospital in a wheelchair and sat with his eyes closed throughout the proceedings. He was attended by medics while in court, where he wore a hospital gown and trousers and was seen with multiple cuts.

Court officials said Mirzoyev and Rachabalizoda admitted guilt for the attack after being charged.

The hearing came as Russia observed a national day of mourning of the attack Friday on the suburban Crocus City Hall concert venue that killed at least 137 people.

Rescuers continued to search the damaged building and the death toll rose as more bodies were found as family and friends of some of those still missing waited for news. Moscow's Department of Health said Sunday it had begun identifying the bodies of those killed via DNA testing, adding the process would take at least two weeks.  

The attack, which has been claimed by an ISIS affiliate, is the deadliest on Russian soil in years.

Finger pointing in full force   

Russian authorities arrested the four suspected attackers Saturday, with seven more detained on suspicion of involvement in the attack, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an address to the nation Saturday night.

Putin appears to be trying to tie Ukraine to the attack, something its government firmly denies.

He called the attack "a bloody, barbaric terrorist act" and said Russian authorities captured the four as they were trying to escape to Ukraine through a "window" prepared for them on the Ukrainian side of the border.

A United States intelligence official told CBS News the U.S. has intelligence confirming that ISIS was responsible and U.S. intelligence has no reason to doubt those claims.

The U.S. Embassy in Russia had also previously advised Americans  to stay away from concert venues  because of the potential of a terrorist attack. The U.S. intelligence official confirmed to CBS News that the U.S. provided intelligence to Russia regarding the potential for an attack, under the intelligence community's Duty to Warn requirement.

"ISIS bears sole responsibility for this attack. There was no Ukrainian involvement whatsoever ," National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement.

Russian media broadcast videos that apparently showed the detention and interrogation of the suspects, including one who told the cameras he was approached by an unidentified assistant of an Islamic preacher and paid to take part in the raid.

Putin didn't mention ISIS in his speech, and Kyiv accused him and other Russian politicians of falsely linking Ukraine to the assault to stoke fervor for Russia's war in Ukraine , which recently entered its third year.

The raid was a major embarrassment for Putin and happened just days after he cemented his grip on the country for another six years in a vote that followed the harshest crackdown on dissent since the Soviet times.

Some commentators on Russian social media questioned how authorities, who have relentlessly suppressed any opposition activities and muzzled independent media, failed to prevent the attack despite the U.S. warnings.

ISIS, which fought against Russia during its intervention in the Syrian civil war , has long targeted Russia. In a statement posted by the group's Aamaq news agency, the ISIS Afghanistan affiliate said it had attacked a large gathering of "Christians" in Krasnogorsk.

The group issued a new statement Saturday on Aamaq, saying the attack was carried out by four men who used automatic rifles, a pistol, knives and firebombs. It said the assailants fired at the crowd and used knives to kill some concertgoers, casting the raid as part of ISIS' ongoing war with countries it says are fighting against Islam.

In October 2015, a bomb planted by ISIS downed a Russian passenger plane over Sinai, killing all 224 people on board, most of them Russian vacationers returning from Egypt.

The group, which operates mainly in Syria and Iraq but also in Afghanistan and Africa, also has claimed responsibility for several attacks in Russia's volatile Caucasus and other regions in past years. It recruited fighters from Russia and other parts of the former Soviet Union.

As Russia mourns, frantic families of the missing seek answers

Events at cultural institutions were canceled Sunday, flags were lowered to half staff and television entertainment and advertising were suspended, according to state news agency RIA Novosti. A steady stream of people added to a makeshift memorial near the burned-out concert hall, creating a huge mound of flowers.

"People came to a concert, some people came to relax with their families, and any one of us could have been in that situation. And I want to express my condolences to all the families that were affected here and I want to pay tribute to these people," Andrey Kondakov, one of the mourners who came to lay flowers at the memorial, told the AP.

"It is a tragedy that has affected our entire country," kindergarten employee Marina Korshunova said. "It just doesn't even make sense that small children were affected by this event." Three children were among the dead.

Igor Pogadaev was desperately seeking any details about his wife, Yana Pogadaeva, who went to the concert. The last he heard from her was when she sent him two photos from the Crocus City Hall music venue.

After Pogadaev saw the reports of gunmen opening fire on concertgoers, he rushed to the site, but couldn't find her in the numerous ambulances or among the hundreds of people who had made their way out of the venue.

"I went around, searched, I asked everyone, I showed photographs. No one saw anything, no one could say anything," Pogadaev told the AP in a video message.

He watched flames bursting out of the building as he made frantic calls to a hotline for relatives of the victims, but received no information.

As the death toll mounted Saturday, Pogodaev scoured hospitals in the Russian capital and the Moscow region, looking for information on newly admitted patients.

His wife wasn't among the 182 reported injured, nor on the list of 60 victims authorities had already identified, he said.

The Moscow Region's Emergency Situations Ministry posted a video Sunday showing equipment dismantling the damaged music venue to give rescuers access.

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• Exploring Moscow for the First Time? A Personal Guide is What You Need!

If you are coming to Moscow on business and need help with local transportation or translation during your stay, if you’ve got a couple of days to spare to do some sightseeing after you are done with all the important stuff, or if you go to Russia to check out all the tourist attractions in the first place, I can offer you the top-level personal driver and guide services for your entire trip’s duration. Since the meeting in Moscow Airport and until the moment you board the plane back home I’ll be your driver, guide and translator all-in-one, helping you find your way around the city and ensuring you’ll get the most out of your stay.

If you want to truly experience Moscow and get to know its rich historical and cultural heritage, take loads of pictures and just have a great time in a new and unfamiliar city, a personal guide is the way to go. It’s great if you have a friend showing you around or if you’re on an organized tour – but not all hidden tourist gems find their way into the generic program, you know. The tour schedule might not suit you, the attractions list might not have all the sights you had in mind, rolling together with a large group of people in a predetermined path might not be your way of spending time – there are plenty of reasons why people choose personal guides. If you are on a business trip, sightseeing might not be a top priority on your list of to-do things. But if there’s some free time left and you are in the mood to spend it discovering the various Moscow’s attractions, feel free to contact me and I’ll make sure you won’t regret it.

Only with a guide you’ll be able to survive the maze of Moscow’s streets

Moscow isn’t exactly the easiest city to find one’s way around if you are a foreign tourist or a businessman. Luckily, you’ve already had your stay planned beforehand by yourself or by other people responsible for that, with all the transportation and guide services arranged for. But what if you’d like to veer off the beaten path a little bit and check out something that’s not on your tour program? If you came by yourself and have no one to take care of meet and greet service in a Moscow airport, you might find yourself a little bit confused and overwhelmed. The language barrier can make things even more complicated if you don’t have someone who can translate with you – not so many people can speak English here, let alone other foreign languages. Feeling stranded in the airport in Moscow and being absolutely confused by the transportation system of the city is definitely not the best way to start your trip, so give a thought to the meet & greet service I can provide you straight from any Moscow international airportcustoms and passport control.

There are five airports in Moscow. Domodedovo airport and Sheremetyevo airport are the two international airports that most foreign visitors will arrive at. These two handle most of the international traffic, so they’re going to be your gateway to the city and the country. The customs procedures and passport control are nothing special; everything’s pretty much as you would expect them to be in any major airport around the globe. First you go through passport control. After you’ve got the stamps, you are free to pick up your luggage. Then it’s time for the customs proceedings. Just be sure to declare all your valuable possessions or large amounts of cash and hold to those papers until the day of departure, as you’ll need them when you depart. The time it takes to pass all the controls may vary depending on how many flights have arrived around that time; generally it takes anything from half an hour to an hour or more if it’s a particularly busy time.

Even locals get lost in Moscow sometimes, being a foreigner doesn’t help the situation

After you are done with all the paperwork, you walk out into the arrivals hall and are basically free to go about your business. If you’re not a first time visitor, can speak Russian or just feel confident exploring and finding your own way around Moscow, you can call a taxi, catch a train or a bus straight out of the airport and get to the city proper. After that, there’s a variety of ways to get where you want – but I’ve got to warn you that sometimes navigating Moscow can be hard even for a local. The public transportation system is fairly complex, the traffic is intense, and, as I said before, the language barrier can really get in your way when you need to find the simplest and quickest route around the city.

In most cases you’ll be much better off with someone who’ll take care of all that stuff for you, leaving your hands and mind free to enjoy the trip. We can arrange the meeting in airport if you provide me your contact and arrival data. Usually, I’d be holding a card with your name in the Moscow airport arrivals hall, standing near an easy-to-spot landmark right close to where you’ll be coming from. Of course, I can also provide you with photos of me so that you’d have an easier time finding me in the crowd. In case of an emergency you can also contact me via the cell phone number I will provide you with. I will wait for you to go through all the paperwork and customs control. Don’t worry if it takes a while, or if your plane is delayed – I’ll still be there to pick you up right after you’re done. It would be great if we could work out a preliminary schedule for your stay in Moscow, but there’s absolutely nothing stopping you from changing anything mid-course. I’m completely open to your suggestions any time during your stay in Moscow – just tell me what you need, and I’ll use all my knowledge and experience to guarantee you’ll have an unforgettably pleasant visit to Moscow.

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• A Case with Wrong Parking (Part I) With posting this picture of the Dworak family and me (taken by a passing tourist as we stood in Red Square in front of St. Basil's cathedral), I would like to tell you the story of their last day in Moscow and the big problem we were about to encounter.
• A Case with Wrong Parking (Part II) On May 4th about 5 PM, after seeing off my Austrian clients, Rupert, Alexandra, Victor and Jana, at Domodedovo airport, I was able to quickly get a ticket and catch the "AeroExpress" train which goes to  Paveletsky railway station in the center of Moscow within 45 minutes.
• A Case with Wrong Parking (Part III) ...A short time later, after seeing my wife off to her work at the hospital very early in the morning  (7 am) and while it was still night in Austria, I went downtown to take some interesting photos during the last repetition of Victory Parade on the Red Square I met on Tverskaya street one photographer from Minsk (capital of Belorussia) and one from St.
• Cold weather in Moscow During last several days the weather in Moscow became very cold: last night it was about -22...-24 C and during the day - about - 15 C. I am very happy right now that recently I bought a very good winter coat, made in Finland by special "Valtherm" technology.
• Improving Services with New Honda CR-V 2012 Let’s me introduce my new car, new Honda CR-V (2012), that I got yesterday on August 17 2012. It is the save and comfortable compact crossover that perfectly fits for family and business use taking into account specific of road condition and traffic in Russia.
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Chan Kim makes first career PGA TOUR ace after learning of friend's passing

Holes out with pitching wedge from 157 yards at texas children’s houston open.

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HOUSTON – Call it divine intervention.

One day after learning of a close friend’s passing, Chan Kim made a hole-in-one at the par-3 ninth hole in Friday’s second round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open, marking his first career PGA TOUR ace.

Kim, a first-year TOUR member, took pitching wedge from 157 yards Friday on the front nine’s closing hole at Memorial Park Golf Course. The ball landed on the green’s front portion, some 15 feet short of the hole, and one-hopped into the cup.

“After I made that ace … I just would have thought that maybe he was looking down,” Kim said Friday, “just trying to give me a miracle.”

Chan Kim makes a hole-in-one on No. 9 at Houston Open

Kim proceeded to card a second-round 67 at the Texas Children’s Houston Open for a 2-under 138 total, safely inside the cut line. His ace was the second at No. 9 since the event moved to Memorial Park in 2020 and the fourth overall.

After learning of his friend’s passing on Thursday evening, Kim was particularly motivated to play well Friday – and he did just that.

“From high school, we were on the same golf team," Kim said Friday. "Both him and his brother I've known for a while. We actually just played some golf when I was home before Mexico (Open at Vidanta). And we normally game a lot, so I'm a big 'Call of Duty' fan, so we literally played the week of THE PLAYERS. It was just kind of sudden.

“Today was kind of a special round. Regardless of how it went, it was nice to play for something a little bit more than just myself.”

The ace also made amends for a cruel break at this year’s Sony Open in Hawaii, where his tee shot at the par-3 11th hole on Thursday rattled the flagstick, but he subsequently made bogey and missed the cut that week by one stroke.

“Getting a hole-in-one is very, very lucky, but I feel like the TOUR kind of owed me one because I flew one in on 11 at Sony and it popped out 60 feet and ended up three-putting for bogey,” Kim noted Friday. “I felt like I was owed one, for sure.”

A late bloomer who spent some time playing the Japan Golf Tour, Kim, who earned his TOUR card via his top-30 finish on the Korn Ferry Tour last season, has gotten off to a solid start this year. He finished T14 at The American Express and T8 at the Mexico Open at Vidanta. This will mark his sixth straight made cut, including his maiden start at THE PLAYERS Championship two weeks ago.

The Arizona State product, who still lives in Arizona, is 118th in the Official World Golf Ranking and 92nd in the FedExCup.

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2024 Houston Open one and done picks, top sleepers, rankings: PGA Tour predictions, expert golf betting advice

Mike mcclure locked in his expert pga one and done golf picks, projected leaderboard, and sleepers for texas children's houston open 2024 at memorial park golf course in houston.

The push towards the 2024 Masters is on with the PGA Tour descending upon the Lone Star State this week for the 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler headlines the 2024 Houston Open field. Scheffler, a Texas native, notched outright wins in his last two starts at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship, and enters this week as the heavy betting favorite at 14-5 in the latest 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open odds. He is followed by Wyndham Clark (14-1), Tony Finau (18-1), Will Zalatoris (18-1), Sahith Theegala (20-1), Jason Day (28-1), and Si Woo Kim (35-1). The total 2024 Houston Open purse is $9.1 million, with the winner's share coming in at $1.638 million. The winner of this event will also earn 500 FedEx Cup points. 

In a wide open field, would it make sense to back Scheffler this week in One and Done pools? Or would this be a good week to target a long shot like Beau Hossler, Billy Horschel, or Kurt Kitayama? Before locking in your 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open one and done picks, you need to see what SportsLine DFS pro and PGA expert Mike McClure has to say . 

The One and Done format is growing in popularity. It has several noticeable similarities to NFL Survivor pools, with the main difference being entries are not eliminated with a bad week. Players pick one golfer per week and earn points based on their selected golfer's prize money for that tournament. Golfers can only be used once per season, and the point format makes nailing majors, signature events, and big money tournaments critical.

McClure is a DFS legend with over $2 million in career winnings, and he's been red-hot on his PGA picks dating back to the PGA Tour restart in June of 2020. McClure uses his proprietary simulation model to analyze the field and crush his  golf picks .

McClure has been on fire with his One and Done picks in 2024. At The American Express he backed Justin Thomas, who finished in third place and took home $635,600. At the Genesis Invitational, McClure tabbed Patrick Cantlay, who finished in fourth place at the signature event, as his top OAD pick. At the Cognizant Classic, McClure's top one and done pick, Min Woo Lee, finished in a tie for second place. Finally, at the Arnold Palmer Invitation, another signature event, McClure recommended using Scottie Scheffler and Will Zalatoris. The Result: Scheffler won the event by five strokes, and Zalatoris finished in fourth place.

His hot steak continued at the Players Championship, where McClure again recommended using Scheffler (if was still available) and Xander Schauffele. Both players were in contention until the end, with Scheffler coming out with the win and Schauffele finishing in second place. Then, at last week's Valspar Championship, McClure recommended using Cameron Young, who finished in second place, in OAD pools.

Now, McClure has dialed in on the Texas Children's Houston Open golf tournament and just locked in his one and done picks and PGA predictions. They are a must-see for any player looking for an edge in their One and Done pool. You can only see McClure's Texas Children's Houston Open 2024 one and done picks at SportsLine .

Top 2024 Houston One and Done picks

One of McClure's top OAD picks this week at Memorial Park is 30-year-old Wyndham Clark. The reigning U.S. Open champion has three career PGA Tour victories, with one of those coming at this year's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Clark also notched a win at this year's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and finished in second place at The Players and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. 

The Denver, Colo. native has climbed to No. 4 in the Official World Golf Ranking and has become a threat to win any tournament he enters. Clark enters this week ranked third on the PGA Tour in total strokes gained (1.869), eighth in strokes gained tee-to-green (1.214), 12th in strokes gained putting (0.656), and 17th in strokes gained on approach (0.615). With the Houston Open field being wide open, McClure expects Clark to be in contention until the end.  You can see who else to back at SportsLine .

How to make Texas Children's Houston Open 2024 One and Done picks

McClure is also targeting another golfer for his 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open one and done picks who has a long track record of success against elite competition. This former major championship winner has the ability to win any tournament he enters, and is one of the most talented golfers in this field. You can find out who it is, and check out all of McClure's Texas Children's Houston Open one and done picks at SportsLine .

Who wins the the Texas Children's Houston Open 2024, and which golfers should you target for your PGA one and done picks this week at Memorial Park Golf Course? Visit SportsLine now to get Mike McClure's Texas Children's Houston Open 2024 one and done picks, all from the DFS pro who called Nick Taylor's epic win at the RBC Canadian Open and Rickie Fowler's win at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in 2023, and Scottie Scheffler's win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational , and find out.

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Dec 28 2016

7 First Impressions of Moscow, Russia (From a Street Photography Perspective)

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the second largest city in Europe by population. It’s an urban, cosmopolitan city of the highest level, with more than enough glitz to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of European and Russian that makes it stand out on its own. And the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen.

So here are my first impressions of Moscow, from my personal Street Photographer perspective…

7 First Impressions of Moscow  (From a Street Photography Perspective)

1. big city with so much to discover.

It’s no secret that Moscow is a big city, but it can feel even bigger with how spread out much of it is. This is especially true if you compare it to cities outside of Asia. If I compared it to cities in Europe, I’d probably say only Istanbul would warrant more time to really discover the depths of this city. Most only explore around the Red Square and surrounding area, but that is such a small part of the city. Although, that central area does give you plenty to see on its own. 

Fortunately, I had a good friend living in the city to show me around, but it opened up my eyes even more to how much there is to discover in Moscow. It’s a big city with a variety of atmosphere that can take you from “east” to “west” and trendy to rugged depending on where you go. I’d imagine you’d have to live here a while to really know the city.

2. Museum Metro

The Moscow metro system was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union and today includes 203 stations across 340km of routes. The elaborate system has some of the deepest stations in the world too, with escalators that seem to go on forever. None of this is what makes it so special, though. Many of its stations feel like stepping inside a museum, making it without a doubt the most interesting and beautiful metro system I’ve been in.

When built, Stalin wanted to make the metro stations “palaces for the people” with marble, chandeliers, and grand architecture. The best part is the variety of architecture and styles used, making many of the stations a completely different experience visually. You could easily spend a whole day traveling the stations and there are even tours available for people who wish to do just that. My advice, though, would be just to buy a ticket and hop on and off at different stations, while exploring different lines. The museum-like surrounding mixed with the crowds of characters can make for a great photography experience.

Since there are so many stations, here are some of my favorites to definitely check out:

• Novoslobodskaya 
• Mayakovskaya
• Elektrozavodskaya 
• Komsomolskaya 
• Ploschad Revolyutsii
• Dostoyevskaya
• Prospekt Mira

3. Not as walkable as Saint-Petersburg

While Saint-Petersburg feels very walkable for a city its size, Moscow can feel very spread out, even for its bigger size. Outside of the Red Square area, you can have a lot of walking before getting anywhere very interesting, so you’ll need to take the metro a lot if you really want to explore the city. Maps are deceiving here too, it will always be further than it looks.

Another reason it’s less walkable than Saint-Petersburg is its completely different set-up. Moscow’s streets are mostly contstructed in rings with narrow, winding streets in-between. This is common with medieval city cities that used to be confined by walls, but you usually don’t have it in a city this massive. Saint-Petersburg has a more grid-like pattern that also uses the canals to help you know your way around. When it comes to navigating on foot in Moscow, it can be more difficult, so bring a map and take the metro when needed. It’s why Moscow’s metro carries more passengers per day than the London and Paris subways combined.

4.  Gorky Park is like a Russian Central Park

One of the most famous places in Moscow is Gorky Park. The official name is Maxim Gorky’s Central Park of Culture & Leisure, which gives you an idea of what goes on here. When built, it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union. Divided into two parts, it stretches along Moscow River. One end contains fair rides, foods stands, tennis courts, a sports club, a lake for boat rides, and more. This end brings more active life due to its number of attractions, while the other end is more relaxed, where you’ll find gardens, trees, older buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Gorky Park attracts mostly locals so it’s a good spot to capture the non-tourist side of Moscow life. Muscovites come here to escape the city and unwind in a picturesque setting. The park remains alive outside of the warmer months too, especially when the lake turns into the city’s largest outdoor skating rink. I’d recommend taking the metro out here to spend at least half a day exploring the massive park’s life with your camera.

5. Half the city under construction

European cities in general seem to be filled with more construction than usual lately. But while this won’t be true forever, Moscow was filled with the most I’ve ever seen. Moscow already has the most skyscrapers in Europe, with many being less than a decade old. In only the last few years, the three tallest skyscrapers in Europe have opened here, giving it five of Europe’s ten tallest. The 2018 FIFA Word Cup is bringing much of this on, but the city is pushing to complete a skyline here than will rival any in the world.

The recession has slowed down the construction some, but the government is pushing it on. So all over the city, there were sidewalks covered with wood boards and lined with striped construction walls. At first, it was a little disappointing from a street photography perspective to see so much blocked by construction. After a while, though, it became something to capture. The striped construction materials and signs are colorful and all the workers created some interesting activity. It will be interesting to see what the city looks like when everything is complete, but for now, the construction provides interest itself.

6. Learn the Russian Alphabet

Much of Moscow, including the metro system, doesn’t use english. The Russian alphabet uses letters from the Cyrillic script, which if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know the sounds, it can be hard to decipher the words. This is most important for street names and metro stops when trying to get around. It can save confusion and make it easier getting around if you learn the basic alphabet. At the very least then, you can sound out the words to see which are similar in the english conversion, which can help matching them to maps. When out shooting street photography, getting around is as important as anything. So save yourself some time and frustration by learning the Russian Alphabet.

7. Where East Meets West

Modern skyscrapers mixed with amazing architecture, a world-class metro system with a museum-like beauty, trendy fashion and chic clubs, Moscow is a rich mix of Russian culture and history in a more European package. There is a push to keep the Russian culture, while pushing forward with a modern metropolis the whole world will envy. This comes with an impressive skyline and modernities with soviet emblems and atmosphere mixed in for good measure.

It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet nostalgia, and a whole lot more.

Russia’s Metropolis

Moscow is famous around the world, but it might not be completely what you expect from Russia’s capital. The city’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it brings something changed over time since its Soviet days. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. Most might say it feels more like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

The urban sprawl of Moscow can be intimidating, but give it enough time and you’ll be rewarded with plenty to discover. All with the world’s best metro system to take you around.

If any of you have been to Moscow before, tell me about your experience and impressions of the city and country in the comments below! And stay tuned for more on Moscow, including some of the best Street Photography shots I captured while there.

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(from a street photographer’s perspective)

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Around Rizhskaya Metro Station

Rizhsky railway station and moscow railway museum.

Rizhsky Railway Station is one of Moscow's nine railway stations.  It was opened in 1901 and was originally known as Vindavsky Railway Station after the Latvian city of Venta which was then known as Vindava.  It was later renamed Baltiysky, after the Baltic, and the Rzhevsky, after the city of Rzhev, before finally becoming Rizhsky after the Latvian capital of Riga.  The city serves long distance trains heading to Riga (including the Latvia-Express) and to the Pskov Region.  In addition suburban trains also head in the direction of Volokolamsk and Istra.

Moscow Railway Museum at Rizhsky Railway Station

Just next to Rizhsky Railway Station is Moscow Railway Museum at Rizhsky Railway Station which is a branch of the Moscow Railway Museum which was opened in 2004.  Unlike the main museum outside Paveletsky Railway Station, this branch is predominantly an outdoor museum exhibiting old types of trains.  In total there are over 60 exhibits including 12 steam engines, 10 diesel locomotives, seven electric trains and three wagons.  Many of the museum's exhibits are often used in films and television programmes.

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4 Men Showing Signs of Beating Charged With Terrorism After Moscow Attack

The four accused of carrying out an assault at a concert hall near Moscow are migrant laborers from Tajikistan. They face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

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By Neil MacFarquhar

• March 24, 2024

The four men suspected of carrying out a bloody attack on a concert hall near Moscow, killing at least 137 people, were arraigned in a district court late Sunday and charged with committing a terrorist act.

The four, who were from Tajikistan but worked as migrant laborers in Russia, were remanded in custody until May 22, according to state and independent media outlets reporting from the proceedings, at Basmanny District Court. They face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The press service of the court only announced that the first two defendants, Dalerjon B. Mirzoyev and Saidakrami M. Rachalbalizoda, pleaded guilty to the charges. It did not specify any plea from the other two, Mediazona, an independent news outlet, reported.

The men looked severely battered and injured as each of them was brought into the courtroom separately. Videos of them being tortured and beaten while under interrogation circulated widely on Russian social media.

Muhammadsobir Z. Fayzov, a 19-year-old barber and the youngest of the men charged, was rolled into the courtroom from a hospital emergency room on a tall, orange wheelchair, attended by a doctor, the reports said. He sat propped up in the wheelchair inside the glass cage for defendants, wearing a catheter and an open hospital gown with his chest partially exposed. Often speaking in Tajik through a translator, he answered questions about his biography quietly and stammered, according to Mediazona.

Mr. Rachabalizoda, 30, had a large bandage hanging off the right side of his head where interrogators had sliced off a part of his ear and forced it into his mouth, the reports said, with the cutting captured in a video that spread online.

The judge allowed the press to witness only parts of the hearings, citing concerns that sensitive details about the investigation might be revealed or the lives of court workers put at risk. It is not an unusual ruling in Russia.

Russia’s Federal Security Services announced on Saturday that 11 people had been detained, including the four charged men, who were arrested after the car they were fleeing in was intercepted by the authorities 230 miles southwest of Moscow.

In the attack, on Friday night, four gunmen opened fire inside the hall just as a rock concert by the group Piknik was due to start. They also set off explosive devices that ignited the building and eventually caused its roof to collapse. Aside from the dead, there were 182 injured, and more than 100 remain hospitalized, according to the regional health ministry.

President Vladimir V. Putin used the fact that the highway where the men were detained leads to Ukraine to suggest that the attack was somehow linked to Ukraine’s war effort. But the United States has said repeatedly that the attack was the work of an extremist jihadi organization, the Islamic State, which claimed responsibility.

The first charged, Mr. Mirzoyev, who had a black eye and cuts and bruises all over his face, leaned for support against the glass wall of the court cage as the charge against him was read. Mr. Mirzoyev, 32, has four children and had a temporary residence permit in the southern Siberian city of Novosibirsk, but it had expired, the reports said.

Mr. Rachabalizoda, married with a child, said he was legally registered in Russia but did not remember where.

The fourth man charged, Shamsidin Fariduni, 25, married with an 8-month-old baby, worked in a factory producing parquet in the Russian city of Podolsk, just southwest of Moscow. He had also worked as a handyman in Krasnogorsk, the Moscow suburb where the attack took place at Crocus City Hall, at a concert venue within a sprawling shopping complex just outside the Moscow city limits.

The Islamic State has been able to recruit hundreds of adherents among migrant laborers from Central Asia in Russia who are often angry about the discrimination they frequently face.

Alina Lobzina , Paul Sonne and Milana Mazaeva contributed reporting.

Neil MacFarquhar has been a Times reporter since 1995, writing about a range of topics from war to politics to the arts, both internationally and in the United States. More about Neil MacFarquhar

Our Coverage of the War in Ukraine

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Ahead of the U.S. elections, Russia is intensifying efforts to elevate candidates  who oppose aid for Ukraine and support isolationism, disinformation experts say.

President Vladimir Putin said that claims Russia planned to invade other countries were “nonsense,” but warned them against hosting  warplanes meant for Ukraine.

A large-scale Russian missile and drone attack damaged power plants  and caused blackouts for more than a million Ukrainians in what Ukrainian officials said was one of the war’s largest assaults on energy infrastructure.

Symbolism or Strategy?: Ukrainians say that defending places with little strategic value is worth the cost in casualties and weapons , because the attacking Russians pay an even higher price. American officials aren’t so sure.

Elaborate Tales: As the Ukraine war grinds on, the Kremlin has created increasingly complex fabrications online  to discredit Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, and undermine the country’s support in the West.

Targeting Russia’s Oil Industry: With its army short of ammunition and troops to break the deadlock on the battlefield, Kyiv has increasingly taken the fight beyond the Ukrainian border, attacking oil infrastructure deep in Russian territory .

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