One Direction stands out as one of the top-selling music acts ever, with a staggering 70 million records sold globally. This British boy band also made history by being the first ensemble to have their initial four albums debut at the top of the Billboard 200 chart.
The members of the group included Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik, who departed in 2015. In January 2016, the band announced an indefinite hiatus.
Among their popular tracks are “What Makes You Beautiful,””Best Song Ever,”and “Story of My Life,”which have all achieved high rankings on numerous international music charts.
This renowned boy band has garnered numerous accolades, such as seven BRIT Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, and six Billboard Music Awards. This article delves into some of One Direction’s most memorable hits.
Disclaimer: Rankings are based on Spotify streams as of the date of this writing.
Top One Direction Tracks to Enjoy in 2024: Night Changes, Story of My Life, and More
1) Night Changes (1,765,298,184 Spotify streams)
Released on November 14, 2014, as the second single from their album “Four,””Night Changes”encapsulates the exhilarating yet intimidating journey of falling in love. This folk-pop track explores themes of uncertainty and romantic chase, highlighting the vibrant and hopeful spirit of youth.
The second verse dives deeper into these themes:
“Chasing her tonight, doubts are running ’round her head/ He’s waiting, hides behind a cigarette/ Heart is beating loud and she doesn’t want it to stop/ Moving too fast, moon is lightin’ up her skin/ She’s falling, doesn’t even know it yet.”
This song has achieved over a million sales in the US, earning a platinum certification from the RIAA.
2) Story of My Life (1,394,224,784 Spotify streams)
“Story of My Life,”a poignant pop ballad, delves into nostalgia, vulnerability, and unreciprocated love. The first verse exemplifies these themes:
“Written in these walls are the stories that I can’t explain/ I leave my heart open, but it stays right here empty for days/ She told me in the mornin’ she don’t feel the same about us in her bones/ It seems to me that when I die, these words will be written on my stone.”
This track was launched on October 28, 2013, as the second single from the highly praised album “Midnight Memories.”The song was collaboratively written by the band and John Ryan, Jamie Scott, and Julian Bunetta.
“Story of My Life”climbed to number 6 and 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart, respectively.
3) What Makes You Beautiful (1,387,783,291 Spotify streams)
Marking their debut single, “What Makes You Beautiful”later emerged as the lead song from their first studio album, “Up All Night.”Released on September 11, 2011, this energetic track was co-written by Texas-born songwriter Savan Kotecha along with Carl Falk and Rami Yacoub.
This dance-pop anthem champions authenticity, self-love, and confidence, encouraging listeners to recognize their inherent beauty without succumbing to societal pressures. The opening lines convey this message:
“You’re insecure, don’t know what for/ You’re turnin’ heads when you walk through the door/ Don’t need makeup to cover up (Huh)/ Bein’ the way that you are is enough.”
“What Makes You Beautiful”has been designated quadruple platinum in the United States and reached the summit of the UK Singles chart.
4) Drag Me Down (1,191,369,902 Spotify streams)
Debuting on July 31, 2015, as the lead single from their album “Made In The A.M.,””Drag Me Down”was One Direction’s first release following Zayn Malik’s exit from the group. The song reflects on how love can profoundly transform a person’s life and outlook.
The pre-chorus tells a compelling story:
“If I didn’t have you, there would be nothing left/ The shell of a man that could never be his best/ If I didn’t have you, I’d never see the sun/ You taught me how to be someone, yeah.”
This track marked a milestone as it became the group’s first single to top charts in Australia and France.
5) Perfect (928,684,534 Spotify streams)
“Perfect”is an upbeat pop song that contrasts idealism with reality. The initial verse sets the tone:
“I might never be your knight in shinin’ armour/ I might never be the one you take home to mother/ And I might never be the one who brings you flowers/ But I can be the one, be the one tonight,”
This single was unveiled on October 16, 2015, as part of One Direction’s fifth album, “Made In The A.M.”Notable contributors to this track include Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Julian Bunetta, and Jesse Shatkin.
“Perfect”became One Direction’s last single to enter the Billboard Hot 100 Top Ten, surpassing The Beatles’ previous record for most Top Ten debuts by a band.
6) Steal My Girl (885,473,753 Spotify streams)
Featuring rock-inspired piano elements, “Steal My Girl”is an energetic track that also samples the classic 1983 hit “Faithfully”by Journey. The songwriting team includes Wayne Hector, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, and Ed Drewett, among others.
The song narrates a man’s devotion to his partner, determined to shield her from the pursuit of others while expressing his feelings:
“Everybody wanna steal my girl/ Everybody wanna take her heart away/ Couple billion in the whole wide world/ Find another one ’cause she belongs to me,”
The accompanying music video for “Steal My Girl”debuted a year after the song’s release in 2014 and has amassed over 400 million views on YouTube.
7) 18 (713,854,826 Spotify streams)
Released on November 17, 2014, as a promo single from One Direction’s album “Four,””18″achieved commercial success and received gold certifications in both the UK and Australia.
The lyrics convey a deep sense of yearning and affection, rooted in nostalgia. It captures the genuine emotions and innocence associated with young love. The chorus expresses:
“I have loved you since we were eighteen/ Long before we both thought the same thing/ To be loved and to be in love/ All I can do is say that these arms were made for holdin’ you, oh/ I wanna love like you made me feel/ When we were eighteen,”
Other notable tracks from One Direction include “You & I,””Little Things,”and “Best Song Ever.”
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