by Nicole Garofalo, staff reporter
November 13 was an important date in the One Direction fandom. On this day, the world’s biggest boyband’s fifth album was released all around the globe. This album, entitled Made in the A.M., debuted at number one in the UK and number two in the US. In addition, it definitely shows off the group’s musical progression.
Five albums in five years, four tours in four and a half years; One Direction have barely gotten a break since they placed third on the British televised singing competition show The X Factor. Since their hectic nonstop schedule, the boys have announced that they will be going on a year long – possibly even two year long – break beginning after the promotion of their newest album. Considering this, plus the fact that former member Zayn Malik made an abrupt departure from the group back in March 2015, the band vowed to make this record their best to date.
If someone who is not an avid fan of One Direction was asked what type of music genre the group would fall under, there’s a good chance the answer received would be generic pop – the usual music style expected from a boyband. However, if someone were to listen to songs by the group other than their overplayed first single “What Makes You Beautiful,” they would see that this isn’t entirely true. Since their first studio album Up All Night, the sound of One Direction’s music has matured along with the members. As the years went on, it is apparent that the group added more of an edgy sound to their music.
“I think the sound’s matured a lot, but gradually. We didn’t try to shock anyone. We always said that we didn’t want to change our sound too much because you end up scaring people off and stuff. We tried to slowly get it to a place that was mature, and I think we’ve done that,” group member Niall Horan said.
As stated previously, former One Direction member Malik left the group before they began recording this fifth album. Although Malik’s voice is missed by many fans, a handful would agree that this album is better without him.
“The album is great the way it is. Listening to the songs, I can’t imagine Zayn being in some of them. There’s not really a place for him anywhere in my opinion,” junior Erika Donis said.
Made in the A.M. in particular has a very diverse sound. Songs such as “Olivia” and “I Want to Write You a Song” give off more of a Beatles vibe, with cutesy lyrics such as “I want to write you a song / one as beautiful as you are sweet.” Meanwhile, “Long Way Down” has more country roots, and “What a Feeling” sounds as if it came off of a Fleetwood Mac record.
Of course, there are multiple pure love songs heard on the album, but that would be expected. “If I Could Fly” and “Love You Goodbye” are the two love songs that really show off the band members’ vocal abilities and lyric writing techniques.
“If I Could Fly,” written by One Direction member Harry Styles, along with Johan Carlsson and Ross Golan, tells the story of a couple being separated by distance and one of them questioning their significant other’s loyalty. The one accused attempts to tell the other they are theirs and only theirs by saying “for your eyes only / I’ll show you my heart” and “I’m missing half of me / when we’re apart.” However, “Love You Goodbye,” written by band member Louis Tomlinson, including Julian Bunetta and Jacob Kasher, describes a failing love. The person’s whose point of view is shown through the song begs for just one more chance.
“I feel like we were kind of in love with the songs before we’d even kicked off recording. That’s one of the things with this album, we really loved the songs from the start. We kind of knew what the album was gonna be before we even sang it,” group member Liam Payne said in an interview when asked about the process of making Made in the A.M.
No song on the album sounds the same, and that’s what’s so great about it. The variety of genres heard on this record shows how credible and musically talented the four boys in One Direction are.
Despite what goes around, One Direction is not just another boyband whose name will fade after a few years or so. It’s been a little over five years since they were joined together by Simon Cowell, and the boys still aren’t done. Sure, they’re taking a break from touring for about a year, but that’s normal for an artist; they’ll be back. As said in another track off Made in the A.M., Walking in the Wind, “this is not the end / I’ll see your face again.”
