On this day in 2010, One Direction was formed on the X Factor in the UK by Simon Cowell which ended up being an iconic moment that changed the course of popular music in the mid-2010s. Unbeknownst to Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, and Zayn Malik at the time, One Direction was going to go on on to be one of (if not the) biggest boybands in the world.
It took little to no time for news of their talent to spread far and wide while they were on the X Factor. even though they came in third place. But they wasted no time when it came to sticking together and getting down to working on their debut album Up All Night, which was released in September 2011. Historically, it’s always been incredibly hard for UK music acts to break in the United States, but Up All Night allowed One Direction to break down every wall not even just in the U.S. but across the globe. They were the first UK group to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 Chart. With each album release, the band kept growing exponentially conquering just about every major chart and radio station across the globe. Their success also earned them seven Brit Awards, seven American Music Awards, six Billboard Music Awards, and as of 2018 they were the most awarded act at the Teen Choice Awards holding 28 wins from 31 nominations.
Over the course of their careers, the band had an incredible run that included five full-length albums and four sold-out world tours (including two massive worldwide stadium tours). They were operating at a time where Hip-Hop, Rap, and traditional Rock music were flourishing, making it harder for a lot of pop acts to hang in on the charts. But One Direction broke through the norm at the time shattering records and redefining what it means to be a boyband. They were hellbent on steering away from the classic boyband image left behind by the Backstreet Boys, 98 Degrees, and NSYNC (to name a few). One Direction worked to combine influences from all five members, sometimes giving the band a guitar-driven rock edge, or softer R&B-inspired ballads. Needless to say, they were focused on making sure their music was something kids, teenagers, and parents-alike could all enjoy.
In the time of One Direction, the band’s fans really used the opportunity to redefine what it means to be a “fangirl.” From the start of the band, fans showed their unconditional support across social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr which is a massive attribute to the band’s success. Being a fangirl no longer felt like a shameful word, allowing fans to feel like they could be loud and proud when it came to their support for the band. The power behind their fanbase to this day is still unparalleled. The support, love, respect, and desire still drives fans to show support for the band amidst the hiatus, but also for each member’s side projects.
There’s no doubt that One Direction created a massive worldwide community with their music. Nearly five years after the band announced their indefinite hiatus, fans are still reeling for the five of them to reunite. The impact One Direction had on popular music and on their fans are both relationships and accomplishments that will stand the test of time.
Relive your favorite One Direction memories with the “10 Years of One Direction” video below:
Celebrate 10 Years Of One Direction with our Staff Picks playlist:
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