How could you forget the moment your ears first heard Zayn Malik’s unique voice in What Makes You Beautiful, the hit song that was released 5 whole years ago. I remember watching a commercial during i-Carly and seeing five amazingly gorgeous British lads walk across a beach and becoming an instant fan.
If you’ve learned all the boys information down to their social security number, watched their X-Factor days, bought albums and merchandise, read fanfiction, watched video tours, know of the “No Jimmy Protested” and “I like girls who eat carrots” jokes, and shipped Larry, then you’re part of the elite group known as “Directioners.” The first step of initiation was knowing that we were never obsessed, just dedicated!
I have to admit that I haven’t followed 1D much over the recent years, but when I checked in on the social media accounts, it came me by surprise that Louis was a father (hooray) and Zayn left the band on not so good terms (boo).
The 23-year-old musician, however, seems to be taking a dramatic turn in his musical career. While he’s always had the edge and sex appeal, it’s oozing now. Pillowtalk anyone? The video for this sultry song that features his model girlfriend Gigi Hadid has a whopping 167,061,204 views (and climbing!).
Looks wise, not much has changed, but he seemed to wave goodbye to his pop/rock days and hello to the world of R&B and Hip-Hop. Zayn is featured on Chris Brown’s Back to Sleep single alongside Usher, and Lil Wayne recently remixed Pillowtalk (a.k.a. if the song wasn’t appropriate then, it’s totally isn’t now.)
Zayn’s album “Mind of Mine” will be released on March 25, 2016. Guess his NYE tweet “Z016” was correct. It’s his year. Likely we’ll be hearing more not-mom-approved tunes, which is completely fine with me. But I do wonder how young fans feel? Sure he left the band, but he’s still Zayn, the attractive bad boy member with the voice of an angel.
If I was him, I would have taken on a new persona and went as “Z”. That way there’s no affiliation with any unwanted past memories, but I guess Zayn’s telling us this is who he always was and what can a true Directioner do but respect it?