In just four years, One Direction have cultivated a feverish fan base so strong that the boy band can sell out US stadiums, a feat that mirrors ’N Sync’s success more than a decade ago and an achievement only a handful of musicians can claim.
But 1D are a new-age boy band. They don't dance or play instruments (really). Instead, they are part-charming, part-edgy and have impressive voices. The five-piece, who were formed on the British version of The X Factor in 2010, provided some memorable moments at a recent sold-out MetLife Stadium show in East Rutherford, New Jersey
The band are bringing their On the Road tour to Dubai on April 4.
1D kicked off the concert with heavy fireworks, matched with screaming, screeching, yelling and crying from more than 80,000 passionate fans – and their parents – who filled the venue for the Where We Are tour. They started with the title track from their third platinum-selling album, Midnight Memories, offering their most rock 'n' roll moment of the night as Niall Horan played the guitar and Liam Payne sported a New York Giants jersey.
But during that song, and other upbeat ones, you couldn't hear the voices of the band members – including Harry Styles, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson – over the loud instruments and heavy bass. During Rock Me, though, the boys worked the centre of the stage nicely, each placed in a corner and singing directly to fans. However, most of the time, they were sloppy and out of place.
There was no real choreography on stage. While one sang, another did a silly dance, looked awkwardly into the camera that was taping the show or playfully shoved the other. Even when Horan spoke seriously to the crowd about how the band were humbled to perform at stadiums – they all mentioned the Super Bowl nearly a dozen times because it was held at MetLife Stadium this year – Payne uttered mindless words into his microphone. And at one point, Styles ate a banana on stage.
The band don’t seem to take themselves seriously – which can be a good thing – but that makes it hard to take their musicianship seriously.
1D shone when band members sang slower songs such as Don't Forget Where You Belong, the recent hit You & I and Moments, where Malik's voice was striking. The simpler performances were tighter and gave each member a position onstage, showcasing the group's brotherhood and talents.
That’s probably the direction that One Direction should take.
