One Direction’s Impact on Notre Dame
They stayed Up All Night creating Midnight Memories that were Made In The AM, and when the clock struck Four, they could finally Take Me Home.
In 2010, five teenagers took the world by storm on the X-Factor. By 2015, they were the world’s biggest band, selling out stadium tours and amassing a social media following of over 31 million- a number which actually won a Guinness World Record for the largest number of followers for a music group. Almost seven years after the band went on an indefinite hiatus, their impact on the world and the music industry is still visible. As of December 2021, the group has 26.2 million monthly listeners, making them the 99th most streamed artist globally.
To many Notre Dame students, the band has a much more personal meaning than just these statistics. One Direction’s music has gotten many Notre Dame students through tough or anxiety-inducing periods in their lives, from the pandemic to the first day of high school and more. One student declared, “They’re the reason I get up in the morning.” Another stated, “They saved my life.”
52.6% of poll respondents stated that One Direction has impacted them in some way. While only 55.3% listened to their music before their hiatus, 66.4% of respondents now listen to their music or the solo music of the band members. Some popular favorite songs of ND students are Infinity, They Don’t Know About Us, History, Story Of My Life, and What Makes You Beautiful.
Harry Styles holds the title of ND’s most popular member with 51.9% of the votes. Next up is Niall Horan with 18.5%, closely followed by Zayn Malik at 14.8% of the votes. Louis Tomlinson has 11.1%, and last but certainly not least is Liam Payne with 3.7%. The former band members’ current individual popularity in terms of their solo careers definitely impacts this ranking. Harry Styles is arguably the most widely popular member of the band; with a new album set to be released, two movies in the works, and the second leg of his world tour coming up this year, the stage is set for Styles to retain his top spot.
Tomlinson has also confirmed an upcoming album release, and Horan and Payne have taken to Instagram to share pictures of themselves recording music. Though Malik has not hinted at any upcoming releases, fans are hopeful for new content from all five of them this year.
Contrary to popular opinion, the secret to One Direction’s popularity does not lie in their looks or their reputation. It lies in the impact they have had on their fanbase; they are beacons of hope, for their fans know that they will “carry [them] through the dark.”
