The Anglo-Irish boy band One Direction are a worldwide success story. Their first CD is at the top of the hit parades in Britain, Europe, the USA and Australia. Band members Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson are on the front pages of newspapers all over the world.
The x factor
One Direction are the creation of Simon Cowell. During the 2010 edition of The X Factor the boys auditioned as individual singers. The X Factor judges rejected them, but Nicole Scherzinger thought the five boys were very talented. She saw their potential as a boy band.
The boys agreed and formed One Direction. They spent a week practising in a bungalow in Harry Styles’ garden. Zayn Malik remembers: “It was difficult. We didn’t even know what harmony was!” Styles suggested the name of the group, ‘One Direction’. He explained that they all wanted one thing: success.
star quality
One Direction didn’t win X Factor. They came third, but Simon Cowell saw the number of fans outside the television studios. He knew they were stars. He gave them a £2 million recording contract in January 2011.
a record
The band appeared around the UK on The X Factor tour. One Direction’s popularity grew and grew, especially through social networks like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Their management have a social media team. And all the boys are on Twitter. They have over 6 million Twitter followers. Their debut single What Makes You Beautiful entered the UK singles chart at number one on 18th September, 2011. One Direction’s first album Up All Night was also a worldwide success. It entered the US Billboard charts at number one. One Direction were the first UK group in history to do this.
The magic formula
So what is the secret of One Direction’s success? It’s the brilliant mix of characters in the group. Horan is the pretty one. Malik is quiet and mysterious. Payne is sensible. Styles is natural and charming. And Tomlinson is funny. Altogether they have a unique chemistry. It is a formula that equals success!
Mini-Bios
Niall Horan was born in 1993. He’s from Mullingar, Ireland. He auditioned for The X Factor at 16. He is inspired by Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé.
Liam Payne (1993) is from Wolverhampton, England. He was bullied as a child and learnt to box. He appeared on The X Factor in 2008, but they rejected him in the fourth round, Cowell said he was too young. His influences are Justin Timberlake and Gary Barlow.
Zayn Malik (1993) is from Bradford, England. He entered The X Factor for the experience. He has seven tattoos, including a silver fern on his neck. He loves Bruno Mars.
Harry Styles (1994) is from Evesham, England. Styles was the lead singer of the band White Eskimo. His greatest influences are Elvis Presley and Coldplay.
Louis Tomlinson (1991) is from Doncaster, England. He went to acting school and appeared in several television dramas, including the BBC’s Waterloo Road. He is a big fanof Take That star Robbie Williams.
