One Direction: Official Top 20 biggest songs ever in UK revealed
16.06.2023 - 07:05
/ officialcharts.com
Can you believe it's been more than seven years since One Direction went on an indefinite hiatus? Since then, all five band members – Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Niall Horan – have launched successful solo careers, continuing the group's legacy as a global pop phenomenon.
Looking back, it's incredible to witness just how much 1D packed in during their initial six-year run. They released five albums – Up All Night (2011), Take Me Home (2012), Midnight Memories (2013), Four (2014) and Made in the A.M. (2015) – embarked on four headline tours, and racked up 28 Top 75 singles in the UK. Four of those singles, beginning with their 2011 debut What Makes You Beautiful, made it to Number 1.
As Niall heads for another Number 1 with – this time on the Official Albums Chart, with his third solo effort The Show – we're taking the opportunity to unveil the era-defining boyband's Official Top 20 biggest songs in the UK.
Warning: you will end up wanting to revisit their gleaming back catalogue after reading this.
Released in July 2015, Made in the A.M.'s lead single was the band's first without Zayn, who had departed that March. One of the band's rockiest singles, it became their fourth Number 1 in the UK, confirming that One Direction were very much still viable as a four-piece.
Co-written by Ed Sheeran, this folky ballad became One Direction's second Number 1 hit when it was released as Take Me Home's second single. Its sensitive and empathetic lyrics about embracing your flaws have made it a firm and enduring favourite with the band's fans.
Co-written by Liam and Louis, this singalong bop is – sob! – the group's final single to date. The wistful music video features clips from the band's many