One Direction has sold over 50 million records and sold out stadiums all around the world, making them one of the biggest music acts right now. They've been able to gather a numerous and loyal fanbase that, in differents states of crazines, follows their every move. Despite all of this success, they always seem to struggle with one thing: good singles. They top the album charts, but their terrible choices stops them from achieving that same success in the single charts.
With the release of Drag Me Down -the first single of their fifth album- One Direction achieved their best single lauch ever, with it topping the UK Singles Chart and becoming the best debut this year at the Billboard Hot 100 landing at #3. The future seems bright, but let's take a look at their past albums in search for those songs that should have been better single choices.
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UP ALL NIGHT
- Their debut single What Makes You Beautiful reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Their second single Gotta Be You entered and peaked the UK Singles Chart at #3 but didn't enter the US Billboard Hot 100.
- One Thing peaked at #9 in the UK and at #39 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- More Than This reached a modest #86 on the UK Singles Chart.
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TELL ME A LIE
STOLE MY HEART
MOMENTS
ANOTHER WORLD
What Makes You Beautiful and One Thing are the best singles from One Direction's debut album, catchy pop songs that get stuck in your head against your will. They did amazingly well on the charts considering the boys were newcomers, but here are some songs from Up All Night that should have been singles:
TELL ME A LIE
This Zayn centered track is a pop rock song that was clearly a premonition for March 2015. It was written by Kelly Clarkson and was originally intended for her album Stronger.
STOLE MY HEART
This dance-pop song makes you want to dance all night with your gal pals because of that sick beat. Very radio friendly.
MOMENTS
One Direction seems to always follow the same plan: the second single is a ballad. Moments makes your tears stream down your face because is beautiful, the best ballad in the album. It charted at #118 on the UK Singles Chart even without it beeing a single
ANOTHER WORLD
Sadly, some people don't know about the first ever One Direction song about sex because it was one of the bonus tracks, but this is a pop masterpiece.
TAKE ME HOME
TAKE ME HOME
- Live While We're Young entered and peaked at #3 on both the UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100.
- Kiss You peaked at #9 on the UK Singles Chart and after a few weeks where it struggled to mantain a spot at the Billboard Hot 100, it reached number 46.
- Little Things became One Direction's second #1 on the UK and peaked at #33 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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C'MON C'MON
HEART ATTACK
ROCK ME
THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT US
MIDNIGHT MEMORIES
Kiss You is the best single from One Direction's sophomore album but it doesn't reflect in the charts. Despite it's success in the UK, Little Things is one of One Direction's worst songs (imo), so let's see which tracks from Take Me Home should have been singles (bear with me because it was so fucking hard to choose, this album is pop perfection):
C'MON C'MON
C'mon C'mon is a dance-pop song about frotting on the dance floor, what else could you ask for.
HEART ATTACK
This is a pop song about heartbreak, the perfect soundtrack while you plan the murder of your asshole ex.
ROCK ME
Rock Me is a pop-rock song that starts off as cute and then hits the pedal heavy metal and shows you how hard they care. It charted at #98 on the US Billboard Hot 100 even without it beeing a single.
THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT US
They Don't Know About Us is a ballad and one of their best songs in general. It's a fan favourite and makes everyone hate them because they never performed it live #JusticeForTDKAU
MIDNIGHT MEMORIES
- Best Song Ever peaked on both the UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100 at #2.
- Story Of My Life reached #2 in the UK and #6 in the US.
- Midnight Memories reached a modest #39 on the UK Singles Chart and #12 on the Billboar Hot 100.
- You & I debuted and peaked at #19 and #68 on the UK Singles Chart and Billboard Hot 100 respectively.
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HAPPILY
THROUGH THE DARK
LITTLE WHITE LIES
BETTER THAN WORDS
Story Of My Life is One Direction's second hit after What Makes You Beautiful, but it failed to top the charts. Best Song Ever reached a meritorious #2 considering that Midnight Memories and You & I both flopped. Here are the songs from this album that should have been singles:
HAPPILY
It was co-written by Harry Savan Kotecha and Carl Falk, has folk influences and is on fire. They released Midnigt Memories around the last bloom of folk music, so this would have had good radio play. It charted at #120 on the UK Singles Chart even without it beeing a single
THROUGH THE DARK
Through the Dark is a ballad that showcases how stupid they are because they performed it at Saturday Night Live and people really liked it, but insted of realising it as a single they chose Midnight Memories #JusticeForTTD
LITTLE WHITE LIES
Little White Lies is a pop-rock song with questionable lyrics but sick guitars, very fun to lipsync to while in the car. It was co-written by Louis, Liam and their team.
BETTER THAN WORDS
Better Than Words is a fun pop song written using other song's titles. It's famous and a fan favourite because of Niall's crotch grab when they play it live.
FOUR
FOUR
- Steal My Girl ranked at 3 on the UK Singles Chart and reached number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
- Night Changes peaked at #7 in the UK and reached a discreet #31 in the US.
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FOOL'S GOLD
FIREPROOF
STOCKHOLM SYNDROME
CHANGE YOUR TICKET
Special Mention to No Control for all the fan hard work.
Both singles from this album are the perfect example of bad choices. Four is One Direction's most solid and mature album, but the singles are the weakest songs from it. Here are the songs that represent the quality of Four and should have been singles:
FOOL'S GOLD
The ballad chosen from this album should have been this one. Simply Beautiful.
FIREPROOF
Fireproof takes us to the old rock days and showcases perfectly One Direction's evolution from their pop era.
STOCKHOLM SYNDROME
One of their best songs without a doubt, mysterious and sensual.
CHANGE YOUR TICKET
Change Your Ticket is a bonus track, but this indie rock song is the perfect soundtrack for a friends with benefits situation.
Special Mention to No Control for all the fan hard work.
Youtube: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12/13/14/15/16
Wikipedia: 1/2/3/4/5
Which One Direction song would you have chosen as a single, ONTD?