If you’re like me, you had a point in your youthful middle school years when you were a huge fan of the popular boy band, One Direction.
Throughout junior high, the 1D boys were all I could think and talk about, much to the annoyance of my friends and family. I bought merch, played CDs, went to concerts, everything a pre-teen, obsessive girl could have dreamed of having regarding her favorite band.
Now that I’m at the collegiate stage of my young adult life, I look back on my time in junior high both fondly and with cringe. I am going to take a deep dive into the fond memories of that period in my life and name the top 5 One Direction songs that bring me back to seventh grade, starting with some of my go-to songs and leading up to my ultimate pick.
- No Control
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This song came out in their fourth album, “Four,” in 2014. It holds a special spot in my heart because it was the first song we got that showcased the voice of Louis Tomlinson, an often overlooked member of the band in my opinion.
- Best Song Ever
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A lot of people aside from the One Direction fan base have heard this song. It was released as a single in 2013 and featured in their third album, “Midnight Memories.” A specific memory I have tied to this song is of my uncle and I dancing to it at my cousin’s wedding when I was in 6th grade. We were the only two people on the dance floor and everyone was cheering us on. To this day, 7 years later, it’s still a topic of discussion during family gatherings (or video chats).
- Night Changes
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This song came out when I was in 7th grade and I vividly remember watching the music video to this song, as it took us (the viewers) on a point of view adventure of what it would be like to go on a date with each of the boys, even if they inevitably went wrong by the end of the “dates.” Either way, it was still a fantasy of mine to go on a date with, the one & only, Harry Styles, no matter how badly it could end.
- Diana
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This is a lesser known One Direction song, as they didn’t release it as a single and it’s right in the middle of their third album, so for the most part, only die hard fans will actively remember it. There are different interpretations of the deeper meaning of this song, but I had always interpreted it as their message to their fans who were actively having a hard time fighting depression. With lyrics like, “Let me be the one to lift your heart up and save your life. I don’t think you even realize, baby, you’ve been saving mine,” it’s hard for me to imagine the song any other way than an ode to their fans who are hanging on by a thread, and that speaks volumes.
- 18
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Drum roll, please! My number one pick for the most nostalgic One Direction song is called “18.” Are we surprised that it’s a love song? I remember hearing this for the first time and resonating with the emotion Harry was putting into the words and sentences he was singing. Not to mention, back in the day there were a group of fans that had a theory that Harry and Louis were secretly more than just band mates, which I was a part of, and we all loved the idea that this beautiful love song could be about their love for each other. If you know their history, the connection of the lyrics Louis sings at the bridge, “I have loved you since we were 18, long before we both thought the same thing,” makes a lot more sense, but if you don’t know, please just take my word for it.
Just like that, there are my 5 top One Direction songs that take me back to junior high, when times were a tad bit simpler. Hopefully it was interesting to read, and if nothing else, I hope it evoked nostalgic memories for you & your favorite band/singer, whoever they may be.