A furrylittlegnome first! Although she enjoys listening to Mumford & Sons, Scissor Sisters, Lady GaGa, Ed Sheeran and Those Darlins, never in a million years did gnome think that she would be a fan of a band geared towards the younger crowd.
One Direction at the 2012 Kids Choice Awards in Los Angeles, California. Photo from “The Sun”
Yesterday, a twelve year-old said to me, One Direction is the biggest boy band in the world”! Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Liam Payne and Niall Horan. Ask any tween about these young men and chances are, they would be able to tell you when their birthdays are, where they are from and what their favorite color is.
One Direction had an awkward beginning. Each band member had entered “The X Factor” (UK edition) in 2010 as solo artists. After not qualifying for the next round, it was suggested by one of the judges (Nicole Scherzinger) to join forces and enter the competition as a group and was named One Direction. The English/Ireland band, under music mogul Simon Cowell’s leadership, was a hit and advanced to the final round of “The X Factor”, eventually placing third in the competition.
After several live performances in the United Kingdom in support of “The X Factor”, under Cowell’s management, One Direction released its first single “What Makes You Beautiful” in 2011. It debuted at #1 on the British charts. The band released their first album, “Up All Night” later that year that debuted at #2.
On Valentine’s Day, 2012, due to popular demand, “What Makes You Beautiful” debuted in the United States – soaring in at #1 on the Billboard charts. The guitar riff at the beginning of the song is catchy and is quickly followed Liam Payne’s voice.
The lyrics are innocent. The song tells a story about a young lady who does not have enough self-confidence to realize she is beautiful. It is up to the boys in the band to let her know that she is.
“You’re insecure, don’t know what for.
You’re turning heads when you walk through the door.
Don’t need make up to cover up
Being the way that you are is enough.
Everyone else in the room can see it
Everyone else but you…”
Forget about the biggest boy band in the world. It seems as though One Direction could be the biggest British band in the world. “Up All Night” debuted at #1 in the United States – something no other British artist (that includes The Beatles and The Spice Girls) has been able to do.
furrylittlegnome 
WOW Gnome! You know an awful lot about this band! You even know their names!!!!
Furry must admit, she had to look up the names and their background…
That makes me feel better! 🙂