As a diehard directioner, I think it is imperative that I eventually review every One Direction album ever created. We will start with their first-ever album, Up All Night.
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“What Makes You Beautiful”
“What Makes You Beautiful” was One Direction’s first hit single which eventually led to their quick fame. Although some may say it became “too popular”, I think this song reminds us of where One Direction came from and how we should appreciate their success.
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“Gotta Be You”
“Gotta Be You”, in my opinion, is one of One Direction’s most dramatic songs (but we still love it). From the music video to the lyrics, this song makes you feel like you went through a breakup, even if you didn’t.
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“One Thing”
“One Thing” is an all-time classic. Whether you think it’s overplayed or not, you can’t listen to this song without doing the iconic dance. Every time I listen to this song, I appreciate and embrace being a directioner.
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More Than This
“More Than This” forces you to hit notes that you never thought you could. Similar to “Gotta Be You”, this song makes you think you went through an actual break up. This is also one of the only songs on the album where Louis and Niall have clear and meaningful solos.
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Up All Night
“Up All Night” is a complete dance and sing-along song. From the first note to the last, all five boys have you on your feet and belting the lyrics with them.
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I Wish
“I Wish” is a song that every girl dreamed one of the boys would sing to her. Its lyrics are extremely sincere, yet relatable to most.
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Tell Me a Lie
“Tell Me a Lie” is another song that I think is very underrated. It was never one of One Direction’s most popular songs, but it is very enjoyable.
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Taken
“Taken” is a song that I have mixed feelings about. Yes, I love the power of the song and the effect it has on the people listening. However, Louis and Niall have no solos, which is one of the biggest problems with this album (and something Directioners didn’t let go unnoticed).
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I Want
“I Want” is my own personal frenemy. I do love the beat of the song, however, I often skip this song when it comes on. I don’t relate to the lyrics, but I love the power in the boys’ voices during the song. This song is also amazing in concert.
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Everything About You
“Everything About You” is a song that I never loved, but still listened to. Zayn’s bridge is definitely a reason to listen to this song.
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Same Mistakes
“Same Mistakes” is EXTREMELY UNDERRATED. This song hits you right in the feels but also focuses on Zayn’s vocals really well at the end. I am still upset they didn’t make a music video for this song.
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Save You Tonight
“Save You Tonight” is another song that I have mixed feelings about. One day I will love this song, and other days I will skip it on Spotify. However, it does cover Louis’ voice very well.
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Stole My Heart
“Stole my Heart” isn’t one of my favorites, but Harry had the chorus to himself makes up for it.
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Stand Up
“Stand Up” is another song I feel like people either love or hate. I personally really like this song. It has great lyrics and great energy in concert.
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Moments
“Moments” was a song that at first I wasn’t very fond of in 2012. However, it eventually grew on me. It is one of my favorite songs on the album and has such a powerful effect on those who listen (grab the tissue box).
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Another World
“Another World” was kept from us by Spotify for YEARS. It is such a great song and is a hidden gem.
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Na Na Na
“Na Na Na” is a song I really do like, but most people I talk to tend to differ. Their main lyrics are “na na na” and “yeah yeah yeah”, so I can understand why some people don’t love this song.
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I Should Have Kissed You
“I Should Have Kissed You” is just like “Another World” as we were not able to access it for the longest time on streaming services. I think this song is a pure bop and should be played at full volume.
Although Up All Night put One Direction on the map, it did have flaws. First, Louis and Niall were not given many solo opportunities. This eventually led to their fans dragging their management on Twitter and demanded equal opportunities for the boys. Eventually, Louis and Niall got their well-deserved solos. Second, I personally believe these songs were a bit immature when you compare them to later albums. The boys were very young when they made this album and barely had any experience. I think this album helps to show the dramatic growth and maturation the band experienced through the years. Up All Night isn’t my favorite album, but it allows me to reminisce about the early days of the band.