It’s the fans that make you what you are but in the case of One Direction, the fans have actually become more interesting than the group themselves.
On Monday night, the Anglo-Irish boyband played the first of two consecutive nights at MetLife Stadium and the simple act of walking on stage brought a reaction that was loud enough to knock you off your feet. Teen sensations are nothing new but One Direction have used social media to attract a following so rabid that it’s almost scary.
It’s not something they get enough credit for but the band’s four-year career has thrown up plenty of pop gold and songs such as the buoyant hit “Kiss You” and the Clash-referencing “Live While We’re Young” lit up the set early on. In truth, they could have played a free-jazz version of the Mongolian national anthem and maniacal screams would have still ensued.
But as personalities, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne are one-step up from card board cutouts. Hearing each member attempt to ingratiate themselves to the crowd was mind-numbingly repetitious. The amount of times they all mentioned watching Super Bowl XLVIII (played in the same stadium) must have been in the double digits and although it’s nice to know they’re humble, they really didn’t need to give extended speeches of gratitude for their success every ten minutes.
Thankfully, One Direction’s fans picked up the slack for their tame, gormless performance. They were the true spectacle, dancing joyously and squealing like young women possessed but it’s not something the band can rely on forever. Once their fans learn that there are better, more charismatic pop options to be had, there will truly only be one direction. And that’s down.
Already vying for 1D’s spot at the top are openers 5 Seconds Of Summer. The goofy, instantly likable Australians proudly showed off their ’90s punk influences (literally in the case of bassist Calum Hood who sported a Green Day t-shirt). But the credible influences pale in comparison to such maddeningly catchy songs such as “18” and “She Looks So Perfect,” while a fuzzy cover version of Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” fitted so neatly into their set that it could have easily passed as one of their own.
One Direction should be worried, for the kids who pop today will rock tomorrow.