Nicki vs. Miley, Drake vs. Meek Mill, Mayweather vs. Rousey, Tyler, the Creator vs. the United Kingdom – these are all great duels, but they’re also so last season. The next hot celebrity row is slated for next month and will result in the dethroning of one of pop music’s biggest artists.
Justin Bieber confirmed at the end of August that his first album in two years, named “Purpose,” would be released on Nov. 13. No biggie, right?
Well, it wasn’t… until Sept. 22 when One Direction posted a video announcing that their fifth album would be titled Made In The A.M. and was available to preorder for a Nov. 13 release.
The announcement sent Beliebers and Directioners alike into a frenzy, and rightfully so. While artists release albums simultaneously all the time, this occasion proves to be a little different and a lot more important. Both Bieber and 1D have a great deal at stake over their next albums, and it’s not just bragging rights. The British/Irish boy band has had four consecutive No. 1 albums since their debut in 2011, and Bieber has had five No. 1 records spanning his six-year career. Both albums being released on the same day means someone will have to settle with being second for the first time in their careers.
There will be drama, regardless, but I can truly see either side winning this showdown. Here are my reasons for both teams taking the victory.
Round 1 – #TEAMBIEBER
The Atlanta-bred Canadian has had a pretty rough time in the press over the past couple of years (#FreeBieber), but he’s said numerous times that he’s trying to better his image and show people that the bad boy who peed in the mop bucket isn’t the real Justin Bieber.
Ever since his Comedy Central Roast last March, Bieber’s been gaining more and more respect outside his fan base, which can only help with a new album release. His fans want him to see that he and his music will be accepted with open arms, so it’s quite possible they’ll break chart records trying to do so. Just imagine how happy Biebs would be if he was No. 1 – he might cry again.
He hasn’t toured or released an album since 2013, so the hype from the excruciating wait combined with the success of his first No. 1 hit What Do You Mean? is poised to make Bieber possibly the biggest comeback story of the decade.
Round 2 – #TEAM1D
With the loss of a member and speculated declines in ticket sales, many assumed the remaining boys of 1D would hang up their hats and go their separate ways in 2015. However, they continued their worldwide “On The Road Again” stadium and arena tour (they’re currently touring the U.K.) and have proven they’re still a force to be reckoned with on the charts with Drag Me Down.
1D is no stranger to breaking records, as they’ve been doing so since 2011. The then-quintet were the first U.K. group to have a No. 1 debut record, and their last album, Four, gave the boys the distinction of being the only group in history to enter the charts at No. 1 with their first four albums. Pretty stiff competition for Bieber from a statistical point, I’m afraid.
But from a fan perspective, Made In The A.M. becomes even more important because it marks the final recording the group will release before its indefinite hiatus next year. To have 1D take their leave with anything less than another No. 1 is simply unthinkable for the self-proclaimed most dedicated fans in the world.
Bieber already voiced his opinion on the outcome of the duel with a video Tuesday on Snapchat, saying, “The face you make when you come out with an album the same day as Justin Bieber,” followed by an expression one could compare to The Scream. 1D’s shade-master Louis Tomlinson took no time to respond with his own banter the next day on the “One Direction: Live From London” Snapchat story. Tomlinson entitled his own Scream-worthy face with, “That face you pull when you play the last night at the O2.” Who will the real winner be? Only the November charts will tell.
Who do you think will be on top?
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