The British are coming, the British are coming! Now this isn’t colonial times and I’m no Paul Revere, but one thing is clear; the British are most definitely here.
The most notable invaders at the moment are boy band One Direction. Members Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Niall Horan (the Irish one), Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson (who should all change their names to perfect because that’s what they are) have made history in their short two years as a band.
Their debut album “Up All Night,” which is what they caused their fans to be, was the first to enter the U.S. Billboard 200 chart at No. 1 by a British group. It’s highly unlikely that there’s anyone who hasn’t heard the lead single off that album, “What Makes You Beautiful.” If you haven’t heard it then I’m not sure what rock you’ve been living under as it was literally everywhere this year. Although the lyrics leave something to be desired (so because I don’t know I’m beautiful that’s why I’m beautiful?) it is undeniable that with that one song they were destined to be a hit.
They’ve managed to gain all their success and fame while being a boy band that really isn’t a boy band. That may sound weird so let me explain. There’s no awkward dance numbers, no matching outfits, and get this: these five boys can actually sing! In fact, the only characteristic of a boy band that One Direction fulfills is that they’re all boys in a band.
From their humble beginnings on the “The X Factor UK” the boys, as they are affectionately called by their fans (me), have gone on to perform on “Saturday Night Live,” the MTV Video Music Awards and the closing ceremony of the Summer Olympics.
Despite the love and success there are people who dislike them. These people should remain anonymous or else fear the wrath of Directioners everywhere. Any negative comment brought up about the boys will be quickly shot down no matter the nature or validity of the comment; the fans are crazy like that. And with the recent release of their second album “Take Me Home” their fans will be on the hunt for anyone talking down on the boys.
One Direction have outdone themselves with their new album, not falling to the sophomore slump. With added guitar riffs and a more mature sound they manage to break out of the image of a stereotypical boy band. Working with other British artists like Ed Sheeran and Tom Fletcher, lead singer of the band McFly, they co wrote five of their songs. They worked with Sheeran on their first album and it’s obvious what songs he wrote this time around. His involvement with the boys have caused him to have a large fanbase of teenage girls but he deserves it all.
British artists have crossed the sea and welcomed with open arms into America. One Direction seems to have found a permanent place among the big stars and in the hearts of many screaming fans.
