One Direction
The band came together at the boot camp stage of The X Factor 2010 and made it all the way to the final before finishing 3rd. Their global smash debut album, ‘Up All Night’, has sold over 5 million copies and reached #1 in 17 countries. Their BRIT Award winning debut single ‘What Makes You Beautiful’ entered the charts at #1 in the UK. In the U.S., ‘What Makes You Beautiful’ sold more than 131,000 copies in its first week, debuting at #12 on the Billboard Digital Songs chart. Their #28 debut on the Billboard Hot 100 marked the highest debut from a British Group since the Spice Girls in 1998. ’Up All Night’ also debuted at #1 on the US Billboard 200 chart with over 176,000 copies sold in week 1 alone. This made chart history, as 1D became the first British group ever to debut at #1 in the US with their debut album release.
The bands highly anticipated second album, ‘Take Me Home’ has also to date sold over 5 million copies worldwide and reached number 1 in 37 countries. In the summer of 2013 One Direction made their movie debut with their massive hit 3D concert movie and documentary One Direction: This Is Us. The film has been a phenomenal success, topping the UK and US box offices and grossing an incredible $67 Million worldwide.
Their third studio album titled ‘Midnight Memories’ was released globally on November 25th 2013 and features the smash singles ‘Best Song Ever’, ‘Story Of My Life’, title track ‘Midnight Memories’ and ‘You & I’. The fastest-selling album in the UK in 2013, it shot to number 1 in an incredible 31 countries including the USA, UK and Australia.
1D are no strangers to big venues, having ended 2012 selling out Madison Square Garden in less than 10 minutes. 2013 was just as exciting for the boys as they took their Take Me Home Tour to Europe, America, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, winning a BRIT Award, 2 American Music Awards, 3 Billboard Music Awards, 6 Teen Choice Awards and an MTV Video Music Award along the way.
2014 is proving to be just as exciting. They kicked off the year by winning 2 BRIT awards for ‘Best Video” and ‘Global Success’ and released the single ‘You and I’ on May 25th. As well as this, they have embarked on the North American leg of their worldwide ‘Where We Are’ stadium tour, having already completed legs in Europe, South America and UK & Ireland. For more details on the tour visit www.onebigannouncement.com.
On the 19th May 2014 the guys announced details of their ‘On The Road Again’ 2015 Tour. Starting off in Australia before heading to Japan, the tour will then see them play for the first time in Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Philippines, Indonesia, South Africa and Dubai. For more details visit www.ontheroadagain1d.com.
They announced the upcoming release of their fourth album on 8th September, immediately shooting it to number one in the iTunes chart in 65 countries. Titled ‘FOUR’, the new record will be released through Syco Music and Columbia Records on 17th November 2014. The first single off the album, ‘Steal My Girl’ is out now.
One Direction All Music Guide Biography
Following the success of JLS and the Wanted, X Factor contestants One Direction were the next group of heartthrobs to help revive the previously dying concept of the boy band. Niall Horan from Mullingar, Ireland; Zayn Malik from Bradford; Harry Styles from Cheshire; Louis Tomlinson from Doncaster, and Liam Payne from Wolverhampton (the latter had previously reached the judge's house stages of The X Factor as a 14-year-old back in 2008) originally entered the 2010 seventh series of the talent show as individuals, but following a suggestion from guest judge Nicole Scherzinger, they were grouped together to becomeOne Direction. Mentored by Simon Cowell, they soon became one of the favorites to win the show, thanks to renditions of Kelly Clarkson's "My Life Would Suck Without You," Elton John's "Something About the Way You Look Tonight," and Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart." However, despite receiving a standing ovation for their duet with Robbie Williams ("She's the One") in the live final, they eventually finished third behind Rebecca Ferguson and winner Matt Cardle. Spotting the potential of five Justin Bieber-esque teen pinups, Cowellsigned them to his Syco label in a £2million deal, and after performing on the X Factor tour, the quintet began work on their debut album with Savan Kotecha(Britney Spears, Enrique Iglesias). Following a sponsorship deal with Nintendo DS and a book, Forever Young, named after their cover of the Alphaville classic that was intended to be their winner's song, they released their first single, "What Makes You Beautiful," in late 2011. The full-length album Up All Night followed soon after. In 2012, One Direction became the first British band to debut on top of the Billboard 200 list when Up All Night sold over 176,000 copies during its first week of release in America. In late 2012, One Direction released their sophomore album, Take Me Home. Highlighting more of the band's melodic pop,Take Me Home featured songs and production via Sweden's Carl Falk, Rami Yacoub, and Savan Kotecha, who worked on Up All Night, as well as contributions from singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran. The album proved to be another smash and topped charts around the world, as did the singles "Live While We're Young" and "Little Things." One Direction then embarked on a globe-spanning tour in which the band played over 100 shows, including six sold-out nights at London's very large O2 Arena. At the same time they were being filmed by director Morgan Spurlock for This Is Us, a mix of documentary and concert footage that proved to be successful at the box office when it was released in August of 2013. While they were touring, One Direction also began work on their third album, Midnight Memories. Released just in time for the 2013 holidays, the record featured songwriting input from all the guys, a new production team, and some new folk and '80s hair metal influences. ~ Jon O'Brien, Rovi
