Happy 10th anniversary, One Direction!
One Direction is one of the defining pop groups of the first half of the 2010s, in part because the UK boy band was also one of the most prolific pop artists of that period, releasing five full-length albums in five years.
Over the course of their time together, 1D exploded in popularity and reached stadium status, bringing a host of colorful hits to the masses and conjuring profane screams from thousands of teenagers. Zayn, Harry, Liam, Niall and Louis released singles as diverse as “Little Things”, “Midnight Memories” and “One Thing”, which eventually became a mainstay on the US singles chart.
In honor of its tenth anniversary today (July 23), check out One Direction’s 10 biggest songs, including each song’s Hot 100 peak position and debut date.
10) Only one direction – “Small things”
Peak 100 hot position: No. 33
Debut Date: January 12, 2013
The only direct One Direction ballad featured on this list, “Little Things” draws its silent footage from co-writer Ed Sheeran, who helped the boy band show their sensitive side after playful hits like “What Makes You Beautiful” and “Live While we are young.”
9) Only one direction – “One thing”
Peak position 100 hot: No. 39
Debut Date: July 7, 2012
It’s not an easy task to follow a revolutionary hit like “What Makes You Beautiful”, but this animated One Direction song performed admirably as the second single from I wake up all night, entering the Top 40 of the Hot 100 and confirming that One Direction was not a one-hit wonder.
8) Only one direction – “Steal my girl”
Peak 100 hot position: No. 13
Debut Date: October 18, 2014
The main single of Four He continued to inject some lighter sand rocks into the upper reaches of the Hot 100, debuting at # 13.
7. One Direction – “Night changes”
Peak 100 hot position: No. 31
Debut Date: December 13, 2014
The second and final single from the fourth 1D studio album Four, the sweet (and bittersweet) “Night Changes” is the group’s last single to feature Zayn Malik, who left the group in March 2015.
6) Only one direction – “Lets live while we are young”
Peak 100 hot position: No. 3
Debut Date: October 20, 2012
One Direction mania had officially invaded the United States when “Live While We Young” was released as the lead single for the second album Take me Home, and the carefree anthem immediately leaked into the Top 100 of the Hot 100 upon its release.
5. One Direction – “Perfect”
Peak position 100 hot: No. 10
Debut Date: November 7, 2015
The aptly named “Perfect” from 1D’s fifth studio album Done in the morning., still slaps five years later.
4) Only one direction – “Best song ever”
Peak 100 hot position: No. 2
Debut Date: August 10, 2013
A No. 1 single on the Hot 100 chart still eludes the One Direction guys, but “Best Song Ever” came very close when it debuted at No. 2 in the summer of 2013. The introduction of the riff “Baba O’Riley” It’s a great touch, but the entire second verse, better known as Daddy Dentist vs. Dirty Mouth, should be the highlight in this case.
3. One Direction – “Drag me down”
Peak 100 hot position: No. 3
Debut Date: August 22, 2015
Perhaps the group’s strongest single after Zayn Malik’s departure, “Drag Me Down” is a completely catchy pop rock masterpiece. “The best news for One Direction fans is that the quartet doesn’t sound incomplete: The group makes up for Malik’s absence by giving each member enough time to shine, and the harmonies resound admirably in the pre-chorus call and response parts. ” BillboardJason Lipshutz wrote at the time.
two) Only one direction – “Story of my life”
Peak 100 hot position: No. 6
Debut Date: November 16, 2013
Although slower than “Best Song Ever” and taking longer to enter the Hot 100, the “Story of My Life” with folk tints eventually became the biggest hit and one of the group’s signature successes thanks to its longer life. lapse in the table.
one) Only one direction – “What makes you beautiful”
Peak 100 hot position: No. 4
Debut Date: April 21, 2012
For many Americans, “What Makes You Beautiful” was their introduction to One Direction’s harmonious British harmonies, and with its immaculate pop tunes and charming lyrics, it was an introduction. “What Makes You Beautiful” unleashed a quarter decade of pop culture dominance for all five pieces.
This chart is based on actual performance on the weekly Billboard Hot 100 through chart on July 25, 2020. Songs are ranked according to an inverse point system, with weeks ranking # 1 earning the highest value and weeks at No. 100 getting the least. Due to changes in charting methodology over the years, certain epochs are weighted differently to account for chart rotation rates over various periods.
